A Heart Fully Alive

“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
-Saint Irenaeus

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” 
Ephesians 1:18

Idols

For the past month or so, after watching a sermon about idols by Mark Driscoll, it’s been pretty obvious for me that I have idols I have in my life.  Of course, as Christians, we probably realize that there’s always something that we seem to put above God. 

I’m thankful that God has shown me what the idols may be, but getting them out is another matter.  I find that when I overcome one idol, another one suddenly comes.  It’ll definitely require a lot of discipline.

“Change won’t happen through ‘trying harder’ but only through encountering the radical grace of God.”
- Tim Keller

Pray that God would reveal Himself, and that I would continue to see Him as more precious than anything else.  That the problem of worshipping other things other than God would not seem appealing.

Serving in CCF Committee

So this Spring term (May-Aug) has been the first term serving on the CCF Committee.  Experience has been good overall. 

It’s a blessing to be able to serve the fellowship as a whole, and be able to be more intimately involved with how the fellowship runs.  Committee meetings have also served as a "mini cell group”; which is good, because I chose not to join a DG this term due to business of serving on Committee as well as doing Outreach.

I’ve also learned some lessons.  I would say that I wasn’t focused enough this term on how I wanted to serve the fellowship and what my purpose was being on Committee.  I felt many times that I was just doing/serving and not motivated on why I was doing what I was doing. For Friday nights, I would either be doing worship or had something I needed to do.  At times, I know I wasn’t worshipping God with my all as I was focused on making sure things would be fine; which is a little ironic. 

So as I serve on Committee for the coming year (2011-12), I definitely want to take some more time before the year starts to gather where God has called me to lead/serve.  I need to continue to seek God’s will onto where my role in the fellowship will be.  I don’t want to get caught up with the “busyness” or the amount of logistics that may need to be accomplished.  I want to have my eyes fixed on Christ, and the mission to which He has called me to.

I’ll be serving as Communications for the coming year.  So as I seek God’s will, and figure out what it would me to be the person who is the “bridge” between Committee and the rest of the fellowship, I would ask for your prayers for wisdom and discipline.

The Cross of Christ

“As to the object of your affections, in an especial manner, let it be the cross of Christ, which has exceeding efficacy towards the disappointment of the whole work of indwelling sin: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14). The cross of Christ he [Paul] gloried and rejoiced in; this his heart was set upon; and these were the effects of it—it crucified the world unto him, made it a dead and undesirable thing. The baits and pleasures of sin are taken all of them out of the world. . . . If the heart be filled with the cross of Christ, it casts death and undesirableness upon them all; it leaves no seeming beauty, no appearing pleasure or comeliness, in them. Again, says he, “It crucifies me to the world; makes my heart, my affections, my desires, dead unto any of these things.” It roots up corrupt lusts and affections, leaves no principle to go forth and make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Labor, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ . . . that there may be no room for sin.”

-John Owen, On Indwelling Sin in Believers

Work like an Armenian, Sleep like a Calvinist?

I don’t get it..why can only Calvinists “sleep well”?  I don’t know whether I’m Calvinist or Armenian..all I know is that I can rest fully in Christ.  I am saved by grace through faith, not of myself, but in Christ alone.  I can boast only in Christ.  He is my rock and my salvation.  Salvation comes from the Lord.  The gospel of Christ bought our justification, reconciliation, sanctification and so much more.  I am free from sin, and rest in knowing that He who started a good work in me will finish it. 

“And so I submit for your consideration that we live and sleep simply as Christians. We should work hard without reservation and we can sleep well knowing God is sovereign.” – from http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2010/04/work-like-an-arminian-sleep-like-a-calvinist/

If Christians can say that we can’t explain the Trinity because we can’t understand God with our limited minds, then why do we need to try to explain Calvinism and Armenianism?

Matt Chandler sermon from #TGC11 quotes (paraphrased)

“Human beings have a rejoicing problem. We rejoice only on the surface (the created, not the creator).”

“Glorifying and delighting in the creature rather than his Creator is blasphemous vanity."

“God constantly calls us back to remembrance of what he has done in us and for us for his own glory."

“Remembering rightly redeems our rejoicing."

"We do not move on from the gospel. It saves, it sustains us, in which you now stand.”

“Paul is constantly preaching the gospel over and over to Christians because we constantly forget."

“Paul is the most free and untouchable person I know. “We’re going to kill you.” “Yes! I’m GOING HOME!” “We’re going to let you live!” “To live is Christ” “We’re going to torture you.” “Share in Christ’s sufferings!” “We’re going to put you in prison Paul” “Ok, I’ll just convert all your prisoners and guards…”
Why was he untouchable? The Gospel."

“You find out if you understand the gospel when you fail. Approach the throne of grace w/ confidence? Or go away to “clean yourself” before going back to God? If we don’t approach the throne of grace boldly after sinning, we don’t understand or we forgot the Gospel."

“What Christ has done = our unshakable firm foundation.”

3 main points:

1. Be regenerate: believe the gospel
2. Live in constant meditation on the gospel
3. Walk by spirit, not by flesh: marvel at the gospel

Click here for Audio of Sermon

Peace and Comfort

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives , so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

“May your unfailing love be my comfort”
Psalm 119:76

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is see is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“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.”
Romans 8:28

Grant us supernatural peace and comfort O Lord!

Wait upon You

If I can say it's ok (and even important) to use 20 mins to "relax", listen to music, go on facebook, when I have tons to study for, then why not use it to wait upon God or read His Word!  How much more important is that!

I hear of people saying things about how when you’re busy, how can you NOT pray!... or “too busy not to pray”!  I can’t say I feel that way.  How often would I say, “Ok God, I’m really really really busy right now, so I HAVE to spend some time with you in prayer!” 

Help me not neglect You during these exam times!

Freedom

Do you know what freedom feels like? 

How many Christians actually live like they are FREE? Not bound by the law, free from the need to perform and to act by our own righteousness, not bound by sin…

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Romans 6:14

How many Christians learn about God’s grace, and Christ’s work on the cross, but then think of all the acts of righteousness they have to do to be Christian?!  We are free from the law!  Christ died so that we didn’t have to provide our own righteousness!  His righteousness is imputed on us, and the Spirit is actively working out our sanctification!

O Joy!

Why Calvinism Works for me (HOPE)

With a Breaking-Down the Brick Walls cell group meeting today about Calvinism, I wanted to blog about how it has affected how I view God, and my experiences. 

I won’t explain all the points/theologies of Calvinism, but some of the main points it stresses is the complete sovereignty of God and the depravity of man.

Both of those points (God’s sovereignty, and man’s depravity) are supported by the Bible.  If you want tons of Scripture references of Calvinism see Desiring God’s website (which explains the five points of Calvinism, TULIP).  I’m not going to get into that, because the main things I want to say here are why it has worked for me, in my personal experience.  (plus, I’m not an expert on it either)

I believe in the depravity of man not only because the Bible talks about it, but also because in my own experience, I find I am completely depraved.  Every part of me wants to turn away from God, wants to disobey Him and sin.  Many times in the past, I would stray from God, and the only thing that brought me back to Him was His grace.  God would use people, brothers/sisters, to wake me up.  I am only who I am today because of the place God put me, and the people He put in my life.  There are times when I just suddenly understand God’s grace, and can attribute it to none other than the Spirit gradually working and changing me.  I can’t boast in anything that I do now, or who I am, because it is all because of Christ alone.  If it were not for His relentlessness, I would still be blind and dead, and not able to to desire Him. 

Because I believe in the sovereignty of God and my own depravity, I also have hope.  If it were up to myself, I just would not be able to trust in my own flesh to do anything good or righteous.  But it is God who works in me to will and to work for His good pleasure.  I don’t need to despair for my sinfulness, because I know that it’s not because of what I do, but what Christ has done on the cross and continues to do in me through His Holy Spirit.

I think one thing a lot of us struggle with is understanding Christ’s forgiveness (EDIT: and the mortification of sin).  We sin, and instead of going to God for forgiveness, we distance ourselves from Him, thinking we aren’t “worthy”.  We have to understand that Christ has already forgiven us and that the Spirit is working in us to conform us into Christ’s image.  If we just think of how we aren’t “good enough”, or “I’m not doing enough”, “I’m sinning too much”, then we don’t understand that it doesn’t depend on us, but on God to change us.  Trust in Him that He WILL finish the work He started in us.

A view and understanding of God’s sovereignty also allows us to not be anxious in anything we do.  Whatever happens, no matter the circumstances, we can trust in a God who is almighty and has everything under control.  I don’t have to worry about school, fellowship, my own relationship with God, career, etc etc, because I know that no matter what happens, God is King over His creation.  He will accomplish whatever brings Him glory and lead us to Him in everything, all for His name’s sake.

Now does that mean we just sit idle? NO…  If I believe in a God of such grace and love, how can I not worship and praise Him?  How can I just sit there and be content in not actively killing my sin and making disciples!  If the Spirit is in me, I believe that He will continue to convict me of my sin and teach and mold me to Christ's likeness in everything.  There’s a difference between trying to conform yourself into Christ’s image by your own strength, and just waiting and relying on God to do it.  It is both God who works in me and an active effort on my part to accomplish what is to be done.

This view of God’s sovereignty and our depravity also allows me to say that no man is better than another.  We ALL fall short of the glory of God, no one is righteous.  Any good thing that I see my brother/sister do is not because of his/her own effort, but because of God’s grace.

I think one thing that people (or me at least) have struggled with in the past, is seeing the passion of other brothers and sisters.  Sometimes, I look at their passion or what they are doing, and tell myself: “Why am I not doing that?  Why am I not desiring God that much?”.  It’s good to look up to other godly people in our lives and strive to be like them (though ultimately we strive to be like Christ), but it can lead to despair if we realize we don’t and can’t have that same passion if we rely on ourselves.  But if I believe in man’s total depravity and God’s sovereign grace in all of us, then I would understand that the passion and desires that I see in other people are not because they are any better than me, but because it is God working in them.  It is completely because of God!  And He will work in me to do the same!  I need to stop looking focusing so much on what I need to do and how much sin I’m committing and instead look to what Christ has done (not that it’s not good to see to evaluate and examine one’s life and faith, because the Bible tells us to do that, but ultimately our main focus is on God’s love and work in us and not ours).

I believe in God’s complete sovereignty but also that we have free will.  I think both can be true (both from the Bible and from my own experience, I’m actively choosing to write this blog aren’t I?  But I’ve learnt these things and am only able to write them because of God’s grace).

I also know that with Calvinism comes many other controversial subjects like unconditional election, etc.  But this post was more about how it has affected my view on life, etc than an explanation of the points of Calvinsim (because I myself don’t know completely of how I would answer all the possible questions/controversies that could come up).

It’s possible that sometimes we just have a mix up with terms and definitions.  Someone who says they are Armenian could also believe in a lot of the same things I’ve pointed but still say they are more Armenian than Calvinist.  We believe in the same God, but if He is God, then is it right to limit Him to the confines of the human mind?

EDIT: Armenians also hold to Total Depravity.  And I want to note I don’t know enough to say I can conclusively take a side (I lean more towards Calvinism).  Neither do I/we need to.

EDIT2:

My Hope is Not in Myself but in Christ - Paul Washer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ941ERut2M
Doesn't depend on us but on God!!