Journal for Christ: March 2018

Sunday, March 11, 2018

The terminus ad quem of all spiritual activity

March 11, 2018

Worship: Sovereign Over Us by Aaron Keyes and sung by Shane & Shane

There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You're sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You're teaching us to trust

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the Heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You're the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround, and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good and for Your glory
Even in the valley, You are faithful
You're working for our good
You're working for our good and for Your glory

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

You're faithful forever
Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us Songwriters: Aaron Keyes / Bryan Brown / Jack Mooring

Sovereign Over Us lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Lyrics: https://genius.com/Shane-and-shane-sovereign-over-us-lyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/Dl9a7sE4bcM?list=RDDl9a7sE4bcM

Witness:

This song is so filled with the truth of Scripture and the essence of who our God is. It shows where theology intersects with life, especially in suffering. It is theocentric in an anthropocentric age, and yet that centricity does not exclude us. It is a glorious

THOU-i confessional song.

God…

You meet us

You love us

You sanctify us

You teach us

You are working for our good

You are working for Your glory

God, You are…

Wisdom unimaginable

Reigning high above

Compassionate and Kind

Faithful forever

Perfect in Love

Sovereign over us

WORD:

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

NIV (84)

Ps 27:4-6

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

ESV

1. Presence – David earnestly desired to personally experience God’s presence – v. 4

2. Protection – Which led to experiencing God’s protection – vs. 5

3. Promotion – And experiencing exaltation – v. 6

4. Praise – And culminating in God’s praise – v. 6

Here we have arrived at the terminus ad quem* of all spiritual activity (see 1 Cor. 10:31) – Worship. In God’s presence, he found beauty and blessing. He found protection and promotion. Specifically, he expected to be exalted (“my head shall be lifted up”) over the enemies that were surrounding him (see also vs. 2-3). But all these things must culminate in the glory of God expressed in praise and worship from a heart full of joy. Godly joy – our purist and highest joy – comes from a heart totally satisfied in God and Him alone. It cannot help but issue forth in praise of the object of its praise. If all we do and seek does not end in praise of God, then our joy is mere self-seeking and self-serving folly. If our joy is not planted in the soil of divine satisfaction, then it will bear no fruit and die on the vine. The sad thing is that we may not realize that it has died or if we do we will continue to seek out lesser things to bring us the joy we seek. Like John Piper says quoting C.S. Lewis:

… our problem as human beings is not that our desires are too strong, but that our desires are too weak. I thought my desires were the problem. Lewis says, No, your desires aren’t the problem. The weakness of your desires are the problem. You are like a child fooling about in slums with your mud pies because you can’t imagine what a holiday at the sea is like. In other words, your desires for the great things that God is offering you are way too small. Your problem is not big desires, but small desires for big things.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-christian-hedonism

Oh Lord transform my small desires into one great desire to be in Your presence and protection, and in joy worship You all the days of my life and on into eternity.

*noun, Latin.

1. the end to which; aim; goal; final or latest limiting point. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/terminus

Friday, March 9, 2018

God's gracious exaltation

March 9, 2018

Worship: We Trust in the Name of The Lord as sung by Steve Green

We Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

Some trust in chariots

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Some trust in horses

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Chorus:

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

His love never fails

His name will always prevail

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Some trust in the works they do

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

‘Cause by His grace all the work is through

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Chorus

Oh glory to the name

The name of our salvation

Oh glory to the name above all names

The name of the Lord our God

Some trust in the wealth of things

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

The name worth more than anything

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Chorus

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

His love never fails

His name will always prevail

We trust in the name of the Lord our

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman

Copyright 1994 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. and Sparrow Song (a div. of Sparrow Song and, Peach Hill Songs admin. by Careers-BMG Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

Lyrics: http://stevegreenministries.org/product/we-trust-in-the-name-of-the-lord-our-god-4/

Video: https://youtu.be/WVA88_Yieqw

I chose this classic song based on a text my friend Andrew Lubinga from Uganda sent me. This is what he wrote:

Jehovah is your name,

mighty warrior, great in

battle, Jehovah is your

name. Psalm 20:7. Some

trust in chariots, and some

in horses, but we will

remember the name of the

LORD our God. Jesus the

mighty Warrior is on your

side today and always.

Hallelujah.

He wrote this even though he was sick.

Witness:

I was listening to a message the other day about the “strong arm of God.” It was part of a conference that took place back in 2004. The speaker had been assigned to speak about God’s omnipotence. In the message, he also made mention of God’s infinity. As he spoke about the infinite power of our God, the typical age-old question arose in my mind. It’s a snarky sort of question sometimes asked in jest and sometimes in all seriousness by the less pensive among us. It’s the question, “Can God create a rock too heavy for Him to lift?” The answer is no because it does not accord with reality. In fact, the speaker mentioned this question that has been asked by theologians in church history who wanted to sound clever. The speaker’s response was more simple and direct: “That’s just stupid. It’s really not foolish, it’s just stupid.” And of course, he is right. But I meditated on this further and thought of how comforting this was to the believer. Because He cannot, there is nothing in creation including the devil that is greater and mightier than Our God. He will not and cannot be defeated. Therefore, we are safe in His all-powerful arms. Furthermore, He is Truth, so He cannot lie. What He says He will do, He will do, because He cannot lie and He has the power to make it come true. Why God does or doesn’t is wrapped up in His will which is often unknown to us, and we are called on to trust Him. And we can trust Him because He omnipotent and cannot lie and He is also good and loving. And His steadfast love and goodness have been revealed in His acts in the Bible and experienced in our lives. Therefore we are called upon to remember as Psalm 20:7 testifies. And in remembering hope is born. That confident expectation that even in our sufferings, He will bring to pass His promise of “an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV)

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d6/ee/9e/d6ee9e0c311baa46f3a63f884749af6c--encouraging-verses-inspirational-scriptures.jpg

Ex 3:14

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.

NIV

(And by implication: I will continue to be what I have always been!)

WORD:

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

NIV (84)

Ps 27:4-6

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

ESV

1. Presence – David earnestly desired to personally experience God’s presence – v. 4

2. Protection – Which led to experiencing God’s protection – vs. 5

3. Promotion – And experiencing exaltation – v. 6

4. Praise – And culminating in God’s praise – v. 6

Verse 6 begins with the phrase, “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me” (ESV). He said this based on the end of verse 5 which spoke of God lifting him up “high upon a rock” (ESV). But David is speaking now about something more than protection from his enemies that surrounded him at the moment. The NLT I believe is wrong and misleading here by translating the Hebrew text here to say, “I will hold my head high.” We all know what this English phrase means:

to be very confident and proud

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/hold-your-head-up-high.

To be confident or proud:

pride yourself on something,

congratulate yourself,

be a credit to someone...

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/hold-your-head-up-high

To walk with confidence and pride,

especially as a way to show that

one is not ashamed of something.

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hold+head+high

I do not believe David was talking about being proud. We know that God’s Word says,

Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall.

Prov 16:18 NIV

Nor do I believe that David is speaking of confidence or lack of shame, though those indeed can be some of the resulting benefits of what I think David is saying here.

We can understand what David is saying by looking at how the word “head” is used in Scripture. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary has this helpful synopsis of its use in Scripture:

HEAD

The position of a person's head symbolized various emotions. Wagging the head meant derision; bowing the head showed grief; covering the head with one's hand suggested shame (2 Sam 13:19; Isa 58:5; Mark 15:29). To lift up a person's head was to elevate him to higher rank (Gen 40:20; Jer 52:31). For blood to be on the head of someone meant for that person to bear responsibility and guilt for some specified action (Josh 2:19; Acts 18:6). To heap coals of fire on someone's head meant to make an enemy ashamed by treating him well (Rom 12:20).

In Psalm 3:3 we have a similar expression of protection and promotion:

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Ps 3:3 NIV

Therefore, I believe David is speaking of the exaltation that comes from dwelling in God’s presence and abiding in Him. This takes humility and trust.

Humble yourselves, therefore,

under God's mighty hand,

that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6 NIV

In verses 1-3 we see God’s preserving power. In verses 4-6 His protecting presence. Certainly from these actions of God David could be confident (v. 3), and full of joy (v. 6). Lord let me seek Your glory and accept with humility Your gracious exaltation. I will not seek the glory of man which is fleeting and vain, but evermore Your highest blessings. In Your Son’s Majestic Name which is above all. Amen

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Humble Exaltation

March 4, 2018

Worship: Holy by Matt Redman

What heart could hold the weight of Your love
And know the heights of Your great worth
What eyes could look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun 2X

[Chorus]
You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Your name alone has power to raise us
Your light will shine when all else fades
Our eyes will look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?

[Chorus]
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Who shall we say You are
You're the living God
Who shall we say You are
You're the great I am
The highest name of all
You are all You say You are

[Chorus]2X

And You shall come again in glory
To judge the living and the dead
All eyes now look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?
You're holy
Only You are holy

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are (6X)

Writer/s: JASON INGRAM, JONAS MYRIN, MATT REDMAN
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Spirit Music Group, ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Lyrics: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=23559

Video: https://youtu.be/nQ8MFn4yikA

Note: This is a very Christ-exalting song. However, there may be a “Oneness doctrine” that might be inferred from the song because of its exclusion of the Father and the Holy Spirit in the lyrics and the line in the song which says, Who is like You, God?.” Matt Redman does not come from a Oneness denominational background such as the United Pentecostals. Therefore, I don’t believe that was his intention in writing the song. To avoid such an inference, I would change the lyrics to say, “Who is like You, Lord?”

Witness:

The other night at work, an undefined feeling of anxiousness began to well up inside of me. At first, I thought it was because things felt out of control and disorganized in my life. I thought,

“If I could just get things like my finances under control or If I could just plan my time better, then I wouldn’t feel this anxiety. If I could just be assured of the future. If I could do something concerning my wife, children’s problems, and finances. If I just had more faith to trust and to know all will work out in the end.”

As I continued to mull over this feeling it dawned on me that God was the source of my anxiety. Now before you pick up stones to throw at me, let me explain. God is sovereign. He brings all things to pass for a purpose. God was allowing this anxiety to gnaw at me to reveal to me that I am not in control.

HE IS IN CONTROL!!!

WORD:

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

NIV (84)

Ps 27:4-6

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

ESV

1. Presence – David earnestly desired to personally experience God’s presence – v. 4

2. Protection – Which led to experiencing God’s protection – vs. 5

3. Promotion – And experiencing exaltation – v. 6

4. Praise – And culminating in God’s praise – v. 6

Building upon the presence and protection David spoke of in verses 4-5 is the promotion David expected to come from such protection. I hesitate to use the word “promotion” because it usually refers to a position earned through hard work and effort (though it could also come through favoritism or nepotism). That is not the case here. Before I delve into the details of verse 6, I want to make that clear. For this “promotion” or “exaltation" is wholly because of God's grace. It comes from seeking and dwelling in God’s presence. Because of the battle we face every day - the conflict between our flesh and our spirit – we must examine our motives when it comes to our Christian walk. Our desire for the bountiful blessings of the Triune God in our life can quickly become a blasphemous grab for position and power and prestige.

Consider these examples:

· Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." Mark 10:35-40 NIV

· When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! Acts 8:18-21 NIV

· "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Luke 20:46-47 NIV

Such desires come from a distorted view of God’s sovereignty and one’s own self-importance.

The antidote to these distortions is:

· Done Humility - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 NIV (see also 1 Peter 5:5-6)

· Deflect Praise - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 NIV

· Do for Others - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4 NIV

Humility Is
Philippians 2:5–11 (HCSB)
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing
in the form of God, d...

https://www.slideshare.net/DavidTurner28/the-christ-centered-life-philippians-2111

https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/1%20Cor%2010.31

https://img.heartlight.org/cards/g/1peter5_6-7.jpg

Sunday, March 11, 2018

The terminus ad quem of all spiritual activity

Friday, March 9, 2018

God's gracious exaltation

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Humble Exaltation

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