Journal for Christ

Monday, July 9, 2018

"If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em???"

July 5-9, 2018

Worship: Everything Is Mine In You by Christy Nockels

Everything is mine in You
Even when my heart is breaking
Everything is mine in You
Even when my hands are empty
Everything is mine in You
Oh, in You

Everything is mine in You
I can trust You with my longing
Everything is mine in You
Even when the road is lonely
Everything is mine in You
Oh, in You, Lord

'Cause You are, master over all
And You say, You are my inheritance
And in You, I have everything I need
And You are, seated in the heavenlies
And You say, forever You're my hiding place
And in You, I have everything I need

Everything is mine in You
And I know my future's bright
Everything is mine in You
Past or present, death, and life
Everything is mine in You
Oh, in You, Lord

'Cause You are, master over all
And You say, You are my inheritance
And in You, I have everything I need
And You are, seated in the heavenlies
And You say, forever You're my hiding place
And in You, I have everything I need

Against all hope
Help me hope
Against all fear
Draw me near
Against all hope
Help me hope
Against all fear
Draw me near
Against all hope
I will hope
Against all fear
I will draw near
I am drawing near to You, Lord

'Cause You are, master over all
And You say, You are my inheritance
And in You, I have everything I need
(Everything I need, Lord)
And You are, seated in the heavenlies
And You say, forever You're my hiding place
And in You, I have everything I need

Everything You are
You're mine, You're mine

Pry our fingers from the earthly
Oh let us love Your glory
Everything is ours, everything is ours in You[x3]

Lyrics: http://www.lyricshall.com/lyrics/Christy+Nockels/Everything+Is+Mine+In+You/

Video: https://youtu.be/zokDEfvD5gY

Witness:

I heard this song several weeks ago and saved the link for the time when I finished my previous journal entry. Listening to it again has been such a blessing. There is a depth in these simple lyrics. On the surface, someone might ascribe some sort of entitlement theology that pervades much of Christianity today. But anyone who listens to the words thoughtfully will see that this is not the case. This is a song harkening back to Psalm 23 and Ephesians 1:3. The inspiration for this song comes from, I believe, Paul’s declaration in 1 Cor. 3:21-23.

Ps 23:1

23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

NIV

Eph 1:3-4

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

NIV

1 Cor 3:21-23

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

NIV

This is the pilgrim’s prayer. One that is oft found on the lips of every saint on the path toward the celestial city of God. They are trusting and hoping in the one who supplies all their needs, yet not seeing the provision fully materialize yet. And struggling with hope and fear while asking for the strength they need to sustain them in the waiting. Testifying that in the waiting they will walk by faith, believing their petitions will be answered.

This is the pilgrim’s possession. Not the fleeting inheritances we may receive in the present life which cannot follow into the next. These are the blessings and riches promised by God in this life and the life to come. Riches not of gold and silver and precious stones, which are of great value only in this life. No, their inheritance is God Himself, who is of infinite worth. And because of this, the inexhaustible riches of God are at our disposal as He sees fits to provide them according to our needs and His good pleasure.

Yet, we all wrestle with the temptations and lure of earthly things. Even today precious time was lost before starting my quiet time. I had received a notice in the mail from Publishing Clearing House giving me a code to enter a sweepstake where I could win $1000 instantly or be put in a drawing for $10,000. I thought why not. However, as anyone knows who has entered these type of drawings, you are continually bombarded with pages of offers on products and magazines. You are also enticed to enter myriads of special drawings (and a sea of more offers). If one is not careful a lot of time can be wasted on these types of offers that one only has a minuscule chance of ever winning and the real prize of time in God’s presence and word is lost.

This is the pilgrim’s profession. When all hope seems lost, they will hope. And when fear surrounds them seeking to separate them from God’s presence, they will draw near to Him. Not by their own strength, but the power He provides. Recognizing that He is sovereign over all and His will cannot be thwarted.

Finally, this is the pilgrim’s plea. They know that the world has temptations that can lead their heart astray. That fear and waffling faith can cause them to cling tightly to earthly things which weigh them down and impede their progress on the road to life eternal. Therefore, the pilgrim earnestly implores:

Pry our fingers from the earthly
Oh let us love Your glory
Everything is ours, everything is ours in You

WORD:

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence. *

13 I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

NIV (1984)

* spouting malicious accusations

NIV (2011)

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the right path,

for my enemies are waiting for me.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands.

For they accuse me of things I've never done;

with every breath they threaten me with violence.

13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness

while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:11-28:1

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

ESV

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

David did not subscribe to the philosophy of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Such a way may have been easier on David. Many throughout history have succumbed to this pernicious way of life - Self-preservation over principle. David would have none of it. He wanted to know and follow God’s way and not give into the will of his enemies. Surrendering to his enemies was not an option, for it brought no glory to God and betrayed the very trust he had testified to in verses 1-4. It would definitely not usher him into God’s presence, nor would it exalt him above his enemies (see verses 4-6).

Undoubtedly Verse 11 is a companion to what he declared in verse 8,

“My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.” NIV

David’s attitude was that of the sons of Korah, who were the gatekeepers of the tabernacle.

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper

in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents

of the wicked.

Ps 84:10 NIV

Our Lord, when faced with the temptation to give allegiance to satan (I choose to never capitalize this name) by bowing down to him (and thus joining him) refused and elected the way of his Father instead. But you say that was Jesus. He knew He was mightier than the devil by way of the fact that the Creator is greater than the creature. However, as the Son of Man, in His position of weakness and humility chose the Father who is greater than all rather than bow to His enemies. And David knew the Greater One as well who was:

… my light and my salvation —

whom shall I fear?

… the stronghold of my life —

of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps 27:1 NIV

And we recognize also:

…All things are y[ours], whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are y[ours], and you[we] are of Christ, and Christ is of God. 1 Cor 3:21b-23 NIV [brackets added]

We refuse the spirit of Demas – “loved this world” 2 Tim 4:10 NIV

We receive the warnings and promises –

Let those who love the Lord hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Ps 97:10 NIV

And –

Love the Lord, all his saints!

The Lord preserves the faithful,

but the proud he pays back in full.

Be strong and take heart,

all you who hope in the Lord.

Ps 31:23-24 NIV

And –

So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

"But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

Josh 23:11-13 NIV

We request –

Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,

to take part in wicked deeds

with men who are evildoers;

let me not eat of their delicacies.

Let a righteous man strike

me — it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head.

My head will not refuse it.

Yet my prayer is ever against

the deeds of evildoers …

Ps 141:4-5 NIV

And we recite and reassert –

But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

Ps 73:28 NIV

In the end, we know as David knows, that we never have to “join ‘em” because in Christ we always will have the victory.

With God we will gain the victory,

and he will trample down our enemies.

Ps 60:12 NIV

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:57 NIV

And if you are patient enough to read this familiar passage to close on –

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 8:28-39 NIV

“If you can’t beat them.”

Oh, what folly

“Join them.”

Said Melancholy

“We are more than conquerors.”

Oh, what relief

“Through Him who loved us.”

Said Belief

Monday, July 2, 2018

Teach Me

This journal entry has taken a long time to complete. As you can see, I began this entry on the 5th of June, and it is now July 2nd. There were several reasons for this - fatigue, research time figured largely in the delay, but the most significant factor was probably the vacation I took at the end of June. I left to see my kids and grandkids on Friday, June 22nd and returned this morning. Tonight I have edited and put the final touches on it. I hope it is coherent and edifying.

June 5, 2018

Worship: Already All I Need by Christy Nockels

Asking where You are Lord, wondering where You've been

Is like standing in a hurricane trying to find the wind

Hoping for Your mercy to meet me where I am

Is forgetting that your thoughts for me outnumber the sand

You fill the sun with morning light

You bent the moon to lead the night

You clothed the lilies bright and beautiful

You're already all I need

Already everything that I could hope for

You're already all I need

You've already set me free, already making me more like you

You're already all I need

Jesus, You're already all I need.

Walking through this life without your freedom in my heart

Is like holding onto shackles that You have torn apart

So remind me of your promises and all that You have done

In this world, I will have trouble, but You have overcome

And every gift that I receive, You determined just for me

But nothing I desire compares to You

You're already all I need

Already everything that I could hope for

You're already all I need

You've already set me free, already making me more like you

You're already all I need

Jesus, You're already all I need.

In your fullness, You're my all in all

And in your healing, I'm forever made whole

And in your freedom, Your love overflows and carries me

You carry me, yes You carry me, You carry me

You're already all I need

Already everything that I could hope for

You're already all I need

You've already set me free, already making me more like you

You're already all I need

Jesus, You're already all I need.

Already all I need

AZLyrics Christy Nockels Lyrics

album: "Into The Glorious" (2012)

Lyrics: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/christynockels/alreadyallineed.html

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByzjJ4nvH8&feature=youtu.be

Witness:

I am sitting here before my computer and eating dinner. Feeling drained, not because I did anything strenuous today, but because of a sense of loss. Loss of sleep as always, but much more than that. I reread an entry from August 21, 2015. It was the year anniversary of my father’s death, so I felt the sense of loss over loved ones (living and dead). I also sat here thinking about my faith and how weak it was. The devil (or me, or one of his minions) sought to make me give up. The sinister lie spoken in my mind said, "After all, you always have and are fighting against doubt. Surely the Lord will say to you, 'Depart from me, I never knew you.'” But I quickly rebuked those thoughts. Above all these things, there was a sense of the loss of God’s presence in my life.

Driving back from the store earlier, I caught the tail end of a sermon by John Piper. The title of his message was, “A Generation Passionate for God’s Holiness.” Even though it was the end of the sermon, it was all I needed to hear to prick my heart and my memory. Here is a small excerpt from it:

I’ll say it again. The love of God is his passion to sustain and uphold and exult his holiness and his Son for your everlasting enjoyment. If you put yourself at the center, you’re suicidal. Because it robs you of the very glory of God and his enjoyment. Now if this happens and I pray it happens that God would turn this generation into a generation passionate for the holiness of God, everything would change. Everything would change. Your view of sin would change if he gave you a passion for the holiness of God. You would no longer think in terms of sin as the damaging of man, but as the dishonoring of God. You would no longer think of sin as the choice of pleasure, but the lust of pleasure. It would change the way you view the righteousness of God, you would no longer think of the righteousness of God as simply doing what is right by you. You would think the righteousness of God is his unswerving allegiance to always be right by himself, that is to exalt what is definitively worthy, namely his holiness and his glory. It would change the way you look at the cross. Oh, it will be precious. You would think “I love the cross. I love the cross.” But you would think about your love for the cross not like you’re told in so many books and so many sermons that there you can see how much you are valuable to God. But rather you would stand at the cross and see two things. You would see how infinitely valuable the holiness, the righteousness and honor of God is that when you trample it under foot by your sins, God knew the only way to vindicate his righteousness was to slay his own Son. That’s how serious your sin is. That’s how glorious God is. It’s not about your worth. And the other thing that you will see at the cross is that this is how much he was willing to pay to make you happy in his holiness — if you will be changed.¹

Thoughts flooded my mind. I remembered how I was saved. Not by recognizing that I had offended the holiness of God, but because I didn’t want to go to hell. I knew I was a sinner and fear of an eternity in hell did not appeal to me. I realized that God’s holiness was not the means in my life to joy and happiness then, nor was it now. That being happy in His holiness was not what I sought now, but happiness in the lack of pain and suffering and loneliness. I was looking for signs and wonders. I was looking for God to show up and rescue me. But that’s the point. He did, it just wasn’t in the way I was looking for. Who would think of God’s holiness as the way to my comfort and happiness? That making God the center of my joy and not myself was the answer to my woe. Yet all the way home I kept saying, “God I don’t feel that way, please make me feel that passion that You have for Your holiness. Let me love the thought of Your holiness.” I am still praying for the change of mind and heart and understanding in all this. In the meantime, I will sing the words that were being sung when I sat down to write tonight.

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted

high in praise

And it's You we adore

Singing Alleluia

Lord, I am waiting

for You to change my heart and mind.

To wean me from myself.

and wed me to the love of Your glory and holiness.

To find my joy primarily in who You are

and not ultimately in what You can do or provide for me.

To find, above all, my happiness in what You did

to make a way for me to revel in all that You are

and be satisfied in it throughout my life and for eternity.

~ Amen

¹https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/a-generation-passionate-for-gods-holiness

WORD:

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence. *

13 I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

NIV (1984)

* spouting malicious accusations

NIV (2011)

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the right path,

for my enemies are waiting for me.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands.

For they accuse me of things I've never done;

with every breath they threaten me with violence.

13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness

while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Ps 27:11-14

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:11-28:1

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

ESV

“Teach me” is a prayer that David alone in the Bible seems to pray, with one exception. These words are found on the lips of Moses as recorded in Exodus. Regarding the actual words used that are the same in each verse only the phrase “your ways” are the same.

Below I have the verses where David is seeking to know God’s ways and paths. I have also included the passage from Exodus. I have highlighted the words that appear in a verse that also are used in the others. I have color coded each word so you can see where the same word (in Hebrew) is used in each of the verses. The phrase “your ways” is used in 4 of the 5 relevant verses.

The word for “teach” in Exodus 33:13 is “yada” literally means “to know.” It is the same word used in the phrase that immediately follows – “I may know You.” It is the same word used in the preceding verse where Moses testifies to the fact that God has said, “I know you by name, and you have found favor with me.” (Ex 33:12 NIV). Moses seems to be saying, “Lord you know me, now please make me know Your ways so that I may know You.” What a difference between how Moses and David prayed and much of the prayers prayed today. I include myself in this. Why we pray should be first and foremost theocentric, as opposed to anthropocentric and self-gratifying. Moses wanted to know God’s way to know God Himself and to stay on the path of favor. This calls to mind what the Apostle Peter said:

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV

In David’s case, at first glance, one might see David’s prayer as focusing solely on his plight and pleading for help. David is pleading for help, but he is asking for guidance from God so that he would not give his enemies ammunition nor break the covenant he had with God. One might think that David is merely asking for God to guide him geographically, but I believe that David asked for something deeper than just that. I believe David saw in God’s providential protection a spiritual and ethical dimension of guidance that he desired. He didn’t want to lower himself to the depraved level of his enemies. Instead, he sought to rise above them in his manner of conduct and character.

Ex 33:13

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

Ps 25:4

Show me your ways, O Lord,

teach me your paths;

NIV

Ps 26:12

12 My feet stand on level ground;

in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.

NIV

Ps 27:11

11 Teach me your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

NIV

Ps 5:8

8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies —

make straight your way before me.

NIV

Ps 86:11

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

NIV

Final Thought:

Even though the word for “teach” may vary in each passage, the phrase “Your way” is the same in all. No matter how we approach the Lord in prayer petitioning Him for guidance, the penultimate goal is the same – to know and do His will. And the ultimate goal is found in the answer to the first question in the Westminister Larger Catechism:

Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

Monday, July 9, 2018

"If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em???"

Monday, July 2, 2018

Teach Me

About Me