Praise to the Branch, the coming King
His sin-cleansed people all will sing
Safe in his presence we will dwell
And of his glory, beauty tell
– From a sermon on Isaiah 4:2-6
Tag: Discipleship
In the Hands of the Father
We are in the hands of a Father, who is at this moment doing for us precisely the thing which we ourselves should ask at his hands,
if we knew, as he does, what is best for us.
– Charles Simeon as quoted in Charles Simeon by Derek Prime
Songs of Passion: Holy Spirit
This song is also a great prayer:
God Will Be Glorified in Men
Our great comfort is, that God reigneth,
and that he will ultimately be glorified in men,
whether they will or not.
He can not only work without them, but against them,
or even by them against their own designs.
– Charles Simeon as quoted in Charles Simeon by Derek Prime
The Proud Ways of Man
For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob,
because they are full of things from the east
and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines,
and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures;
their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.
Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their own fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:6-8, ESV)
In this passage, we see the proud ways of man. These verses could be summed up with the words sung by Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way.” While the nations will one day gather to hear the Word of God (v2-4), Jacob proudly goes to the nations for their worldly wisdom (v6). While the nations will one day pursue and trust in God’s Word (v2-4), Jacob proudly pursues and trusts in material wealth and military power (v7). While the nations will one day own God as the one true God (v2-4), Jacob proudly worships idols, no-gods – the work of their own hands.
Jacob proudly refused to walk in the light of the Lord (v5), instead choosing to walk in the way of the nations. They proudly disobeyed God’s law which specifically forbid them to do the very things they were doing (see Deuteronomy 17:14-17, 18:9-14, etc.). They proudly chose to do it their own way.
Jacob’s proud ways were a proud declaration: “I am god. I am going to do whatever I want to do. I won’t bend the knee to God. I’m going to do it my way.” And so they sought to exalt themselves above God, above their Creator, above their King. They committed treason, rebellion against God.
Are there areas in our lives where we are proudly choosing to do it our own way? Are we doing life our way or God’s way? May God help us to forsake the proud ways of man, and boldly choose to do life God’s way.
The Celebrations in Eternity
The celebrations in eternity that are recorded in Scripture are not about human position, power, or achievement. They are about God’s position, God’s power, God’s faithfulness, and God’s grace. They celebrate God’s victory over evil and the eternal life God gives us. These celebrations remind us of what is essential and truly important, and they welcome us to live in light of these values today…
In a world that idolizes power, position, fame, and material wealth, we constantly need our sense of what is important clarified and reoriented. The celebrations of eternity provide for us a check of our internal importance meter and call us to live and work in light of what is truly eternally important. They remind us not to let things that are meant to point to Jesus become the things that replace Jesus in the here and now.
– Paul David Tripp in Forever
Sermon Songs
They say prides goes before a fall
God will humble the pride of all
Before Him show humility
Come and acknowledge your frailty
Confess your sin, seek His mercy
Exalt your God, He is worthy
Walk in His light, His Word obey
Seek Him, trust Him, do it His way
– From a sermon on Isaiah 2:6-22
Passion Points
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
A Surprising Work of God, Part One – Kevin DeYoung
A Surprising Work of God, Part Two – Kevin DeYoung
Charles Wesley – Tim Challies
Charles Wesley’s “And Can It Be”: Background and Scriptural Allusions – Justin Taylor
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating God’s amazing love!
The Destructive Force of Self-Glory
There is no more destructive force in a relationship than self-glory. When I make everything all about me – all about the things I want, the things I feel, and the things I need – I will be endlessly demanding and dissatisfied. When I am in the center of my world, I won’t so much love you as I will work to co-opt you into the service of my little kingdom of one. I will be much more concerned about my agenda for you than about God’s will for you. I will judge you, not by the laws of God’s kingdom, but by the laws of my kingdom. If you help me get what I want, I will be kind to you, but if you get in the way of what I want, I will do what is necessary to get you back in line with the purposes of my kingdom of one.
– Paul David Tripp in Forever
Who Is the Center?
A relationship in which both parties have inserted themselves into the center of their worlds so that everything is all about them will be one of constant conflict, hurt, discouragement, frustration, and anger. Eternity reminds us that life has not and will not work according to our plan, for the world is moving according to the plan of Another. Eternity humbles us with the inescapable reality that we have been born into a universe that, by its very nature, is a celebration of Another.
– Paul David Tripp in Forever
Brian J. Mikul 