Archive for the 'New Testament' Category

Fear that Leads to Comfort

Published on October 31, 2011 in Acts and Proverbs. 1 Comment

Dan Phillips has written an excellent post on why fear and comfort are a healthy combination.

Wouldn’t you think that “fear” and “comfort” are antonyms, like “love” and “hate,” or “darkness” and “light”?

In a Biblical context, we might most quickly associate the word “fear” with “of the LORD,” or “of Yahweh.” That topic — “the fear of Yahweh” — is a major Biblical theme. Clearly, in Proverbs, it is a literally foundational thought (cf. 1:7; 9:10; 31:30). In the Proverbs book, a chapter of 40+ pages traces the concept its older Old Testament appearances, just so we can begin to understand of Solomon’s use throughout the book of Proverbs. One discovery is that the concept itself frames and must color our understanding of each individual verse within the entire book.

When we develop the concept Biblically, we feel the burden to show that the fear of Yahweh is not (as some might think) an Old Testament concept as opposed to a New Testament concept. Indeed, it is quite literally a pan-Biblical concept.

This stood out to me in a recent daily Bible reading. Acts 9:31 leapt out at me in this context:

Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησία καθ᾽ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχεν εἰρήνην οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνετο.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Read the rest here.

Instant? Not always. “After a while. . . we feel refreshed and renewed”

Published on September 26, 2011 in Matthew and Sanctification. 1 Comment

Refreshment and renewal isn’t always instant.

Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”

So the invitation is to come and abide with Jesus and to learn from Him. But the way of the righteousness isn’t instant brightness. Indeed, at first it may not seem that things are any better. But for those who walk by faith they will see the way will shiner ever brighter until the full light of day (Proverbs 4:18-19).

Frederick Bruner (The Christbook, 540) comments:

After a while, as we listen to Jesus and see to obey his teachings in life, we find that his lessons are a better way to live, his gentleness is relaxing, and his focus is refreshing. We find that deep down in our souls–in our psyches (the actual word used here) – - we feel refreshed and renewed. There are finally no techniques for the renewal of Christians or congregations; there is simply taking Jesus seriously in his Word, especially his forgiveness of sins (Calvin).

The Sermon on the Mount

Published on September 25, 2011 in Sermon on the mount. 0 Comments

Incredible.

Sermon on the Mount from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

HT: Z

Mike Wittmer: Golden Handcuffs

Published on September 19, 2011 in Acts. 2 Comments

Mike Wittmer writes this brief but powerful devotional:

Friends of mine are acquainted with a media leader. He invited them to appear on his television show to talk about a family tragedy, and he was so impressed by their faith in Christ that he invited them back. When I asked my friends about their experience, they said that the news anchor seemed to be in awe of their faith. He didn’t think he could ever have such faith himself, and he marveled at how they had survived—and even thrived—through an ordeal that would have ruined many families. But when they suggested that he could enjoy a similar,
sustaining relationship with Jesus, he replied that such faith was not for him, because he was “spiritual but not religious.”

Or maybe he just has too much to lose. It’s difficult to give your life to Christ if it means putting a lucrative career in jeopardy. The man knows that his conversion would make news, and may well cost him tens of millions of dollars in annual income and the fame and influence he has worked his entire life to achieve.

This cultural leader seems like King Agrippa . . .

Here to read the rest.

What Moses Did Wrong

Published on May 26, 2011 in Leadership and Sermon on the mount. 0 Comments

Tim Keller reflects on the nature of Moses’s mistake, and in so doing gives leaders a timely exhortation:

I have always found Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:21-22 to be shattering. He begins by reminding his listeners that anyone who murders will be judged. But then he gives three case studies of actions that seem far less serious than murder.

I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca” is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.

To be bitter and angry in your heart toward someone can lead to great evil, so that makes some sense. But the term raca means only something like “you air-head!” and the word translated fool is likewise not an outrageous or cutting insult. Jesus’ listeners would likely have been smiling as they heard these terms and would have been shocked as he ended the sentence threatening them with hell-fire! What was Jesus’ point? “The deliberate paradox of Jesus’ pronouncement is that ordinary insults may betray an attitude of contempt which God takes extremely seriously” (R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, p. 201).

This passage helps me understand Numbers 20. As in Exodus 17, the children of Israel are in the desert wilderness facing parching thirst. They charge Moses with being, at worst, evil or, at best, an incompetent leader. Again, God tells Moses to go to “that rock.” This time however he tells him to speak to it, and the rock will pour out water sufficient for everyone (v.8). Moses gathers everyone at the rock, but instead of speaking to the rock, he angrily upbraids the people. “Listen, you rebels!” he cries. “Must we bring you water out of this rock [again]?” (v.10) Striking the rock with his staff in his fury, the water comes out. God, however, tells Moses that he now would not enter the Promised Land, because Moses “did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites” (v.12).

What did Moses do wrong?

Read the rest here.

Saved from God

Published on May 2, 2011 in John, Quotes, Romans and Soteriology. 1 Comment

R.C. Sproul:

. . . I said, “Do you want to know what you are saved from? In a word, you are saved from God.” They just gasped and to this day when I attend that convention people come up to me and say, “I had never thought of that until I heard your message.” It is God who saves people from God because his wrath is stored up against the day of wrath, and he most certainly will demonstrate, as he has demonstrated his love toward us “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Commentary on Romans, 161, emphasis added).

Sproule references Romans 5:8 in making his point, but John 3:36 also comes to mind:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36).

Ancient Tsunami Warnings and Lives Built on the Beach

Published on April 21, 2011 in Matthew and Word of God. 3 Comments

Our hearts continue to go out to the people of Japan.  In the below thought, I am not making a point about the Japanese people.  But, I am noticing how the Bible uses this picture of building on the beach to illustrate an important truth for everyone.

Specifically, a New York Times article reminds us of the physical danger of ignoring wisdom and building in the wrong place.  Surely, this is the sort of picture Jesus had in mind when he said if we hear his words and don’t do them we are like a man who builds his house on the beach (Matthew 7:24-27).”

To hear the Words of Christ and not do them is to build on the beach.

Ko Sosaki for the New York Times.

ANEYOSHI, Japan — The stone tablet has stood on this forested hillside since before they were born, but the villagers have faithfully obeyed the stark warning carved on its weathered face: “Do not build your homes below this point!”

Ko Sasaki for The New York Times

Tamishige Kimura, village leader of Aneyoshi, Japan, took a walk with his grandson this week.

Residents say this injunction from their ancestors kept their tiny village of 11 households safely out of reach of the deadly tsunami last month that wiped out hundreds of miles of Japanese coast and rose to record heights near here. The waves stopped just 300 feet below the stone.

“They knew the horrors of tsunamis, so they erected that stone to warn us,” said Tamishige Kimura, 64, the village leader of Aneyoshi.

Read the whole thing here.

Words to look for in Philippians

Published on March 1, 2011 in New Testament and Philippians. 0 Comments

Read Philippians several times, each time focusing on a different word or concept such as “joy,” “fellowship/partnership,” or “mind.”

On Saturday @ 5:00 PM, we are beginning a 6 week Saturday series at our church called, “The Joy Assignment.”  We are focusing on the book of Philippians and I can’t wait.

One thing I would encourage our church family to do is to read Philippians multiple times to get to know it.  It’s a very brief letter and can be read very easily in one setting.

If you’re like me, once you know a book fairly well, it is sometimes difficult to force your mind to think carefully during each reading. One way to counteract this is to choose a key word such as “joy” and then trace its appearances through the book.  What does Philippians have to say about “rejoicing”?  Or, what does it have to say about “fellowship” or “partnerships”?

Remember – - you are always well served to rinse your mind with the Word. Read passages repeatedly.  Read them aloud. Read them from different translations.  ”The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, the statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple . . . (Psalm 19:7-11).”

Exuberant Joy

Published on September 30, 2010 in Jude. 0 Comments

True believers are promised exuberant joy.  Meditate on the benediction of the book of Jude if your joy meter is reading low.

Earlier this week I posted on the oft neglected book of Jude.  This book is a gold mine.  If nothing else read the beautiful benediction:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  Jude 24-25.

The benediction is addressed to God who is able to present His people into his glorious present with “great joy.”

The word translated “great joy” is αγαλλίασις / analliasis appears only 5 times in the New Testament so we can easily review each of the other four:

"And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,(Lk 1:14)."

"For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.(Lk 1:44)."

"And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,(Ac 2:46)."

“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(Heb 1:9)."

Notice that two of the four uses reference the birth of our Lord.  The third is about the early church.

If you know Christ, then soon He will present you before His glorious presence and you will know exuberant joy.

And, why not read Jude?  It’s only 25 verses.

Would you take a few minutes to read Jude and then share one observation?

Published on September 28, 2010 in Jude. 2 Comments

When was the last time you read Jude?  You can read it in a few minutes.  Why not read it today and let us know if anything strikes you.  It might really encourage others who read this blog.

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One of the most neglected sections of Scripture is the book of Jude in the New Testament.  Even though it can be read in only a few minutes (25 verses total) and is incredibly rich, seldom do we hear much about Jude.

Joe Thorn is fixing to begin a new series on Jude and his team developed some cool artwork (see below).  Joe’s new series, along with a recent post and sermon by C.J. Mahaney, has me thinking in a renewed way about Jude.  (It’s about spiritual dryness – - you really should read the post or listen to the sermon).

Post image for New Sermon Series: Jude

More at Joe’s site here.

Update: See this excellent post by Patricia Hunter.  With concise words and photography, she zeros in on the central thought of Jude.