Tag: Christianity

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

A Great Reward – Tim Challies
I was recently transfixed by Psalm 19 and David’s sheer joy at this great gift of God….

What Is Discernment? – Sinclair Ferguson (Ligonier)
So discernment is learning to think God’s thoughts after Him, practically and spiritually; it means having a sense of how things look in God’s eyes….

Are You Out of (Evangelism) Shape – Erik Raymond
Consider this: how would your day-to-day tasks look different if you did them with evangelistic intentionality?

Seduction and the Cost of Saying “No” – Mark Howard (TGC)
Our youth are engaged in a spiritual battle for their affections and their allegiance. Let’s not minimize the danger of our culture’s seduction, nor the cost that comes with our youth’s resisting the American way in the name of Jesus. 

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Human Strength

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah2 Comments

In Isaiah 31, Judah was trusting in Egypt because they were very strong. They had human strength. Still today we are tempted to put our hope in human strength.

We put our hope in political power. We think that if we just get the right people into office, we can fix our country. But what happens when they fail to accomplish what they promised? Human strength can fail. Are we trusting in political power or the one true God?

We put our hope in military power. We think that if we are strong enough, we will be safe. But what happens when terrorists fly planes into buildings? What happens when the strongest military in the world can’t stop fanatical rebel groups? Human strength can fail. Are we trusting in military power or the one true God?

We put our hope in our own effort to build the church. We think that if we can just work hard enough, make the right plans, have the right methods, adopt the latest strategy or program, that our church will really take off. But God is the one who draws people to Himself. God is the one who changes lives. God is the one who brings growth in the Christian life. Are we trusting in our own efforts or in the one true God?

We put our hope in our own strength, our own ability. But human strength will fail. We are often weak. And yet God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). Are we trusting in our own strength or in the one true God?

It is not that political power or military might or our effort or our ability are wrong, but they are the wrong place to put our hope. God calls us to put our hope in Him.

Are you trusting in human strength or in the one true God?

I Like to Think of God As…

On By BrianIn 10C Quotes

pathwaytofreedomImagination is a wonderful gift, but when we use it to conjure up our own image of God it leads us astray. It is quite common to hear people say, “I like to think of God as…” and then add whatever picture they have in mind. The problem is that our view of God is to be defined by His revelation of Himself in the Bible, and when we conceive of Him apart from that, it will be misleading at best. Anything we imagine will be inevitably less than God, and when that which is less than God is used to portray God, we are led quickly to blasphemy and idolatry.

– Alistair Begg in Pathway to Freedom

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 31

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

O God our hope – our Holy Lord
Of wisdom, power, and love
Whose judgment’s like a mighty sword
The Lord of Hosts above

O God our hope for each new day
Lord may we turn to you
For all of life, Lord let us pray
Our gaze set firm on you

– From a sermon on Isaiah 31
(To the tune of “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)

Numbers

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

In Isaiah 31, Judah was trusting in Egypt because they had a large army. They had the numbers to maybe defeat the Assyrians. Still today we are tempted to put our hope in numbers.

We put our hope in polls. We want to be in the majority. But what happens when we find that we are in the minority? Christians quickly are becoming the minority when it comes to Biblical morality. Does that bother us? Are we trusting in numbers or in the one true God?

We put our hope in big numbers. Big churches are impressive. Small churches are, well, just small. And yet throughout the Bible and church history, God often does great things with just a few, or even one. Are we trusting in numbers or in the one true God?

We put our hope in the numbers in our bank account. If the number is big, there is a sense of security. If the number is small, there is a sense of anxiety. And yet God can take care of us regardless of what is in our bank accounts. Are we trusting in numbers or in the one true God?

We put our hope in the number of friends we have – both real and pretend (think Facebook). We can become obsessed with how popular we are. How many people are liking my post? And yet our significance has nothing to do with our popularity. Are we trusting in numbers or in the one true God?

It is not that being in the majority or having a big church or having lots of money or friends is a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with numbers; it is just the wrong place to put our hope. God calls us to find our hope in Him.

Are you trusting in numbers or in the one true God?

Six Reasons to Have No Other Gods

On By BrianIn Idolatry, Ten Commandments

In the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3), God commands us to have no other gods before Him. Why? Here are six reasons not to have other gods:

First, God spoke this command (v1). God Himself commands it – and that should really be enough for us.

Second, God is our God (v2). He has entered into a relationship with us, and we are his people. We ought to show the same allegiance to God that he shows to us.

Third, God saved us (v3). As God saved Israel from slavery to Egypt, so God has saved us from slavery to sin. And we ought to respond with grateful allegiance.

Fourth, God is our Creator (Genesis 1-2). As such we owe our very existence to Him. And so he should be first in our lives.

Fifth, God is the only true God (Psalm 86:10). How foolish for us to exchange fake gods for the one true God. What a horrible slight to God to follow fake gods.

Sixth, God is greater than all the fake gods. He showed Himself greater than the Egyptian gods through the ten plagues. He showed Himself greater than Baal on the mountain in the contest between Elijah and Baal’s prophets. As the one true God he is greater than all fake gods. He can truly help us. He can truly satisfy us. He is greater.

Can you think of other reasons to have no other gods?