Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.
I think we live in an age of great discontent, and it has infected even Christians. The book of Ecclesiastes is largely about one man's search for contentment in life "under the sun." He is only able to find fleeting glimpses. Only in the Lord is he able to find any meaning, but yet we still search.
One of the greatest areas of discontentment that I see in our time is in the area of marriage. I have watched marriages crumble. It is not a pretty sight. Why does this happen? Discontentment. Not with our spouses so much ... but with God! You may be saying "wait a minute! How is that discontentment with God." Let's look at the words of Ecclesiastes.
The author of Ecclesiastes tells us to "Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life" The command and advice are clear. Our spouse is to be a source of joy for us. Some may say, "Wait a minute, you don't know my wife (or husband)." And you are right, I don't. I may not know all of the circumstances. But this is not about the circumstances, this is about the heart. Too often failure begins when our joy comes to an end. We stop enjoying for a multitude of reasons - time, distance, our crowded lifes, etc. It may not come to a screeching halt, it may just slowly coast to a stop, but it stops. And we let it. Then we wonder what happened. Only once the troubles start do we notice that we lost momentum. The writer of Ecclesiastes says to do this "all the days of our vain lives" It does not have time limits to it. yes, he describes them as vain lives, but that's is looking at life under the sun without God.
He goes on to say "...that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun." Here is where the discontentment with God comes into the picture. When we fail to see that our wife or husband is given to us by the hand of God, we will never cherish them as we ought. When we see our selection of a mate only as some decision that we made, we can later think that we are later entitled to change our minds. That is bad enough. But what is even worse, with that kind of thinking we spit in the face of God's providence and provision. The Lord our God has given us all that we have and has made each choice with great care and for HIS GLORY. Our spouse is our "portion in life." A portion is a good thing. It is an inheritance. If we begin to see our wives and husbands as gifts from the Lord and treasure them as such, we are much less likely to be discontent. But instead some how we think we know better that God, and that we know what will really fill our empty hearts. Then we chase after wind, and wonder why it does nothing for us and we need more.
What are we to do when our spouses are no longer content, but we desire contentment and joy in God's provision. That is a little harde to answer. I am still working on that one. I think the answer has something to do with learning to be content with God Himself, and not just the things He provides. Things change. Circumstances change. New things come along. New providences happen everyday. But our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
On a personal note, I want to say THANK YOU to my wife. Though I don't express it nearly enough. You are a source of joy to me. As I watch others fall apart around us, you remain faithful. Michele, I love you, and I enjoy life with you.
Pastor Sloan
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Jonathan Edwards on Prayer
The spirit of prayer is a holy spirit, a gracious spirit. We read of the spirit of grace and supplication: Zech. xii. 10. “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications.”—Wherever there is a true spirit of supplication, there is the spirit of grace. The true spirit of prayer is no other than God’s own spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from God, so doth it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to God to converse with him by prayer. Therefore the Spirit is said to make intercession for the saints with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. viii. 26.
The Spirit of God makes intercession for them, as it is that Spirit which in some respect indites their prayers, and leads them to pour out their souls before God. Therefore the saints are said to worship God in the spirit; Phil. iii. 3. “We are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit;” and John iv. 23. “The true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” The truly godly have the spirit of adoption, the spirit of a child, to which it is natural to go to God and call upon him, crying to him as to a father. ...
It is natural to one who is truly born from above to pray to God, and to pour out his soul in holy supplications before his heavenly Father. This is as natural to the new nature and life as breathing is to the nature and life of the body. But hypocrites have not this new nature. Those illuminations and affections which they had, went away, and left no change of nature. Therefore prayer naturally dies away in them, having no foundation laid in the nature of the soul. It is maintained awhile only by a certain force put upon nature. But force is not constant; and as that declines, nature will take place again. ...
The spirit of a true convert is a spirit of faith and reliance on the power, wisdom, and mercy of God, and such a spirit is naturally expressed in prayer. True prayer is nothing else but faith expressed. Hence we read of the prayer of faith; James v. 15. True christian prayer is the faith and reliance of the soul breathed forth in words. ...
(The true convert) sees himself still to be a poor, empty, helpless creature, and that he still stands in great and continual need of God’s help. He is sensible that without God he can do nothing. .... A true convert is sensible that his grace is very imperfect; and he is very far from having all that he desires. Instead of that, by conversion are begotten in him new desires which he never had before. He now finds in him holy appetites, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, a longing after more acquaintance and communion with God. So that he hath business enough still at the throne of grace; yea, his business there, instead of being diminished, is rather increased.
Sinning and praying agree not well together. If a man be constant in the duty of secret prayer, it will tend to restrain him from wilful sinning. So, on the other hand, if he allow himself in sinful practices, it will restrain him from praying.
From the sermon "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer, part 1" The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol 2.
Visit here to read the whole sermon http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.iv.viii.html
The Spirit of God makes intercession for them, as it is that Spirit which in some respect indites their prayers, and leads them to pour out their souls before God. Therefore the saints are said to worship God in the spirit; Phil. iii. 3. “We are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit;” and John iv. 23. “The true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” The truly godly have the spirit of adoption, the spirit of a child, to which it is natural to go to God and call upon him, crying to him as to a father. ...
It is natural to one who is truly born from above to pray to God, and to pour out his soul in holy supplications before his heavenly Father. This is as natural to the new nature and life as breathing is to the nature and life of the body. But hypocrites have not this new nature. Those illuminations and affections which they had, went away, and left no change of nature. Therefore prayer naturally dies away in them, having no foundation laid in the nature of the soul. It is maintained awhile only by a certain force put upon nature. But force is not constant; and as that declines, nature will take place again. ...
The spirit of a true convert is a spirit of faith and reliance on the power, wisdom, and mercy of God, and such a spirit is naturally expressed in prayer. True prayer is nothing else but faith expressed. Hence we read of the prayer of faith; James v. 15. True christian prayer is the faith and reliance of the soul breathed forth in words. ...
(The true convert) sees himself still to be a poor, empty, helpless creature, and that he still stands in great and continual need of God’s help. He is sensible that without God he can do nothing. .... A true convert is sensible that his grace is very imperfect; and he is very far from having all that he desires. Instead of that, by conversion are begotten in him new desires which he never had before. He now finds in him holy appetites, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, a longing after more acquaintance and communion with God. So that he hath business enough still at the throne of grace; yea, his business there, instead of being diminished, is rather increased.
Sinning and praying agree not well together. If a man be constant in the duty of secret prayer, it will tend to restrain him from wilful sinning. So, on the other hand, if he allow himself in sinful practices, it will restrain him from praying.
From the sermon "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer, part 1" The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol 2.
Visit here to read the whole sermon http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.iv.viii.html
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The History of Reformation Day
This article by R.C. Sproul presents a brief history of Reformation Day. By the way, if you have not checked out the new Ligonier website, do so.
Pastor Howard
Pastor Howard
Friday, October 27, 2006
What are we afraid of
Do you ever get the sense that Reformed community doesn't really want revival or reformation because they are worried about what that might look like? Or maybe it is because they know that will mean a change? Sometimes I think the church is just happy where they are ... a faithful reminant. But how can we sit idly by and watch God's name be profaned among the nations and in our nation? We see churches in our towns that reject the Bible and the Word of God as the only rule of faith and practice. We see Jesus being reduced to an example of sacrifice for us, while his deity, authority, and atoning work are called in to question or ignored outright. God is reduced to a by-stander, who does not act to bring about salvation. He simply waits to see what man will do. When man can contribute something to his own salvation, God's grace becomes unnecessary.
When I think about these things I think about the churches that are coming out from years of being subject to liberal and heretical theology. This is happening around our country. We must pray for them. Pray that these churches, people, and ministers who are being awakened to their errors by God's grace would have the wisdom and strength to continue on to recover the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. This is a different kind of reformation than the one begun in 1517 by Luther. This war is different, but the battles are the same: Scripture Alone, By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, Because of Christ Alone, To God's Glory Alone.
Pastor Sloan
When I think about these things I think about the churches that are coming out from years of being subject to liberal and heretical theology. This is happening around our country. We must pray for them. Pray that these churches, people, and ministers who are being awakened to their errors by God's grace would have the wisdom and strength to continue on to recover the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. This is a different kind of reformation than the one begun in 1517 by Luther. This war is different, but the battles are the same: Scripture Alone, By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, Because of Christ Alone, To God's Glory Alone.
Pastor Sloan
Steve Camp on Revival and Reformation
If you are not reading Steve Camp's blog on revival and reformation, you should be. What he has to say to the church is stirring to the heart and soul. Why don't we desire revival? Why don't we desire reformation?
Monday, October 23, 2006
GOD ACTING FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE
Ezekiel 20:9 (ESV) But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, ....
When we desire revival and reformation, what do we really want to happen? Why do we want it? This passage from Ezekiel declares what the heart of revival ought to be. God acting for His name's sake. God acting that His name no longer be profaned among the nations.
As I ponder the current landscape of the thing that is calling itself the church. (Most of which is far from it!), all I see is God's name being profaned. People declaring wrong to be right in the name of God. Unspeakable practices being endorse by bodies claiming to be part of Christ. Churches that have long abandoned the great tenants of the Reformation.
We are in need of a new Reformation. Let us cry out to God that He act for His name sake. Let us cry out to God that His name no longer be profaned among the nations and in our nation. This is going to be the theme of my sermon this Sunday. Let us stand up and be jealous for God's glory and His name.
When we desire revival and reformation, what do we really want to happen? Why do we want it? This passage from Ezekiel declares what the heart of revival ought to be. God acting for His name's sake. God acting that His name no longer be profaned among the nations.
As I ponder the current landscape of the thing that is calling itself the church. (Most of which is far from it!), all I see is God's name being profaned. People declaring wrong to be right in the name of God. Unspeakable practices being endorse by bodies claiming to be part of Christ. Churches that have long abandoned the great tenants of the Reformation.
We are in need of a new Reformation. Let us cry out to God that He act for His name sake. Let us cry out to God that His name no longer be profaned among the nations and in our nation. This is going to be the theme of my sermon this Sunday. Let us stand up and be jealous for God's glory and His name.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
What ought we desire:
We can not just want a society, country, or town that is full of good people. We must work and pray for a people that are changed from the inside out by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word at work in them. It is possible to see a government that is transformed – The Center For Christian Statesmen founded by D. James Kennedy is praying and working with leaders in government to transformation in our government by first of all seeking transformation in our leaders by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can not sit around and wait for our governments to bring about transformation, only God can do that. And when we does, He really does.
This is what God is doing around the Globe:
Uganda: At the invitation of the President & First Lady of Uganda, thousands of believers gathered at the turn of the millennium to celebrate the transforming hand of God upon their nation. They dedicated their nation back to God from decades of the bloodshed and evil with this public proclaimation.
“We are conscious that we have put other gods before you and worshipped them … We renounce idolatry, witchcraft and Satanism in our land … Covenanting our nation Uganda to the purposes of God and to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Vanuatu: On the island nation of Vanuatu, in a public ceremony on October 20, 2002, the Prime Minister dedicated the nation to the Lord.
Almolonga, Guatemala: The jails have closed, the police no longer carry guns, churches have grown, crops were healed are a growing in abundance.
Fiji: Christians gathered in repentance. God healed lives, and their society. Leaders of a coup came to faith in Christ while in jail. A stream whose waters were dark and bitter was healed.
These are just a few examples. Examine your heart. What do you desire?
When we speak of revival and transformation, we are not talking about a bunch of people weeping or increased numbers of church members. We are talking about a massive moving of God’s Spirit in the Word to change lives. And it must begin with us. We must be willing to be changed and moved by the Holy Spirit.
Lives are changed, towns are changed, countries are changed when they are convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sins, they seek God in repentance, they are shaken down to their core, and surrender to Jesus Christ.
We need to be moved of heart. Do you want to be moved of heart? Are you happy right where you are? Ask the Lord to have His way in your live?
This is what God is doing around the Globe:
Uganda: At the invitation of the President & First Lady of Uganda, thousands of believers gathered at the turn of the millennium to celebrate the transforming hand of God upon their nation. They dedicated their nation back to God from decades of the bloodshed and evil with this public proclaimation.
“We are conscious that we have put other gods before you and worshipped them … We renounce idolatry, witchcraft and Satanism in our land … Covenanting our nation Uganda to the purposes of God and to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Vanuatu: On the island nation of Vanuatu, in a public ceremony on October 20, 2002, the Prime Minister dedicated the nation to the Lord.
Almolonga, Guatemala: The jails have closed, the police no longer carry guns, churches have grown, crops were healed are a growing in abundance.
Fiji: Christians gathered in repentance. God healed lives, and their society. Leaders of a coup came to faith in Christ while in jail. A stream whose waters were dark and bitter was healed.
These are just a few examples. Examine your heart. What do you desire?
When we speak of revival and transformation, we are not talking about a bunch of people weeping or increased numbers of church members. We are talking about a massive moving of God’s Spirit in the Word to change lives. And it must begin with us. We must be willing to be changed and moved by the Holy Spirit.
Lives are changed, towns are changed, countries are changed when they are convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sins, they seek God in repentance, they are shaken down to their core, and surrender to Jesus Christ.
We need to be moved of heart. Do you want to be moved of heart? Are you happy right where you are? Ask the Lord to have His way in your live?
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Walt Chantry on Revival
May churches pray till the earth is swept with powerful preaching of the Word that searches men, breaks hard hearts, and carries with it the Spirit of regeneration, repentance, and faith! Let us petition the sovereign throne of our holy Lord until we receive from him those most magnificent works of the Spirit – the bowing of hearts to his lordship, the renovation of character, and that turning of the world upside down which savours of the abundant fruits of the Spirit! (p 92)
“Oh that he would pour forth his Spirit of regeneration to quicken whole nations by his grace – to the praise of his infinite glory! Oh that holiness to his church, that her purity might glisten and that she might appear beautiful on the earth! Oh that the might Monarch of our world would issue more of his Spirit of truth that understanding might deepen and proliferate through all the earth! Oh that the Spirit of worship would mightily humble assemblies before his face and draw us near to the holiest!
Pray for the Spirit. Pray for the Spirit who makes hearts love the doctrines of free and sovereign grace. Pray for the Spirit who expands hearts with a holy and reverent love for the Savior. Pray for the Spirit who makes men ready for battle against sin, patient in tribulation, zealous for the honour of God. … Pray for the Spirit of solid and Biblical revival.” (p 127)
From Signs of the Apostles: Observations on Pentecostalism Old and New by Walter J Chantry
“Oh that he would pour forth his Spirit of regeneration to quicken whole nations by his grace – to the praise of his infinite glory! Oh that holiness to his church, that her purity might glisten and that she might appear beautiful on the earth! Oh that the might Monarch of our world would issue more of his Spirit of truth that understanding might deepen and proliferate through all the earth! Oh that the Spirit of worship would mightily humble assemblies before his face and draw us near to the holiest!
Pray for the Spirit. Pray for the Spirit who makes hearts love the doctrines of free and sovereign grace. Pray for the Spirit who expands hearts with a holy and reverent love for the Savior. Pray for the Spirit who makes men ready for battle against sin, patient in tribulation, zealous for the honour of God. … Pray for the Spirit of solid and Biblical revival.” (p 127)
From Signs of the Apostles: Observations on Pentecostalism Old and New by Walter J Chantry
welcome
This is my first post. I am the Pastor of St. Paul's Reformed Church. I hope to use this blog spot as a place to post articles and links to things that will stir us up to love and good deed as well as to a lively faith
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