Fleeing from Sin; Looking to Christ

"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it."

Proverbs 22:3

As an aspiring pastor, I am discouraged by the news of infidelity and immoral living on the part of ministers of the gospel, and evangelical ministers at that. The shame that is brought to the name of Christ and the disservice such actions that are made public cause me to pause. I often wonder if I am ready for such an endeavor as I feel weaker than many of these strong men. But it causes me to be thankful that greater is the one who is in me than the one who is in the world. It causes me to consider more effective ways to hide myself from sin and flee from wickedness. And it causes me to desire a greater love for the gospel so that I would value eternal things much more than the temporary pleasures of this world, and so defeat the flesh (Hebrews 11:24-28).

Certainly there is comfort in knowing that God will forgive sins and keep all of of the believing ones who have truly come to the Son until the end (John 6:40). There are those who are not truly saved who falter and never repent, but God keeps his own. However, those who we look up to the most, those who we think will never fall, so often let their guard down and have moments of weakness. David, a man after God's own heart did, and certainly suffered the consequences.

Of course then, I cannot think that I am strong in and of myself. I cannot at any point take off my armor and rest from the battle. My attitude should be one like Paul's: "Therefore let anyone who think that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

As the very next verse indicates, I need not despair when I see sin in my own life and in godly men. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The sin in other's lives points to my own need for the gospel. I can bring to the table nothing when it comes to salvation. No good work or offering is sufficient to save me (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ saves me through faith alone (Titus 3:5-7) and Christ alone keeps me (Romans 5:1). Only by the merits of Christ's atoning work on the cross can I have any hope in battling sin (Romans 6:12-14). And only by looking to him as my reward through faith, as Moses and Joseph demonstrated, can I be freed from sin and death finally (Hebrews 11:24-28). This reality frees me to consider sin as satisfying, but as dung compared to the gold of Christ and his presence.

O for a heart to find the gospel afresh time and time again and so persevere to the end (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Forgetfulness and the Human Heart

"And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, 'Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts heardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?"

Mark 8:17-18

In reading this passage this morning I was greatly convicted. While considering the situation of the disciples I stand as a guilty man rather than a critic. In so many cases, I myself have been one to easily forget what God has done and instead look at my immediate circumstances and put my trust in something other than God. Such a mentality and heart condition is sinful and is at its root prideful, and therefore is a detriment to my own life.

The disciples had just come from an area in which Jesus compassionately and graciously multiplied a few loaves of bread to an amount that could feed four thousand men. Just a short time before that, he fed five thousand men (not including women and children), and showed His power over nature itself by calming the storm. This man clearly was the Son of God, and the discpiles knew this to be the case. But then, in a complete 180 degree turn, they while not bringing bread to meet their hunger, grow weary and start to worry. Jesus, seeing this, states, "Are your hearts heardened? Having eyes, do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? Do you not remember?"

Jesus states the disciples condition quite plainly in this passage: both the disciples minds and hearts are aversely affected by the deceitfulness of sin. They have forgotten what God has done in feeding the five thousand and four thousand just a short time ago, and thus have failed to keep in the back of their minds the past grace of God. At the same time, they refused to look and trust in the One that was right next to them, who they rightly believed to be the Messiah, and see the present state of grace that was given. And finally, and closely related to it, their lack of trust in God's provision was a stiff-arm of who Jesus was and what He would continue to do. They pridefully looked to their circumstances and themselves then as being key to their survival, rather than to God. And according to Jesus, this was not just a memory lapse, but a condition of the heardening of their hearts.

One thing is certain: these two realities are closely related. Having one's mind set on the past graces of God is a primary way that one can set their heart in a direction of trust in God. But this is not enough. One could easily look at an historical reality and see the good and merciful things that Jesus has done and not have it mean anything for the individual in question. One must also see and taste who Jesus is (Mk. 8:29) (and who Jesus is for us) and what He promises to do for us and ultimately for His name sake in order to trust completely in Him. Only then will economic situations and emotional situations be light in comparison to the burden that has been lifted from our shoulders.

So trust Him. Jesus is not just a political and social figurehead for good in this world. Jesus is God. He can make a few loaves and fish multiply to feed thousands, so trust Him. Trust Him because He always keeps His promises. Christ, through his death has secured salvation for all who would find Him trustworthy. For those who treasure Jesus, God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

Mohler: The Floodgate is Now Open -- President Obama and the Vulnerable Embryo

Below is Dr. Albert Mohler's blog for March 9th, which is the day that Obama reversed the ban on federal funding for stem cell research...We will be discussing this further on Light and Heat but for now here are the words from a man who describes the situation eloquently:

"President Barack Obama today signed an executive order that reverses the Bush administration's restrictions on federal funding for research that involves the destruction of human embryos. In a White House ceremony, President Obama said that Americans “have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research; that the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight the perils can be avoided.”

The President made a campaign promise to take this action, but in the weeks just after his inauguration he had made comments suggesting that he would prefer for Congress to lift the Bush restrictions by legislation. Nevertheless, today's White House ceremony was thoroughly orchestrated and media had advance notice as of last Friday.

The President's new policy means that federal funding will now go to researchers whose work with human embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of additional human embryos. This represents a monumental moral shift. The United States government is now in the business of supporting the destruction of human embryos through federal funding of stem cell research.

President Obama spoke to the moral issues involved when he stated: “Many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research. I understand their concerns, and we must respect their point of view.”

But the President clearly does not share these concerns, and it is unclear what he means by respecting the point of view of those who rightly understand the issue as tax-supported homicide.

The President also appeared to suggest that Congress should lift other restrictions, though he did not directly call for a repeal of the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which prohibits some forms of research funded by the federal government.

President Obama is now personally responsible for research that will involve the intentional destruction of human embryos. This comes even as the ideological roots of this conflict have become increasingly clear. Credible alternatives to research that would require the destruction of human embryos have become available, even as the most promising avenues of medical research are now using adult stem cells, which avoids the moral issues involved in the use of human embryos.

The scientific community increasingly appears to have drawn a line in the sand on this issue. The insistence that embryos must be destroyed is a matter of ideology. Some researchers seem to resist any alternative source of stem cells, no matter how great its potential.

President Obama pledged to support research "with proper guidelines and strict oversight," but his own policy removes the guidelines that protected the embryo. The President said he would hold the line by opposing human reproductive cloning, but this is a line he will find difficult to hold or to defend.

And when President Obama spoke of "strict oversight," he offered no assurance of what this might mean. Even more troubling, with his announcement of reversing the Bush policy the President also issued an official White House statement indicating that he would shield scientific policy from political considerations.

One of his most influential scientific advisors, Harold Varmus, told The Washington Post, "This is consistent with the president's determination to use sound scientific practice, responsible practice of science and evidence, instead of dogma in developing federal policy."

The "instead of dogma" language is a direct criticism of the Bush administration policies. President Obama delivered a rebuke to the Bush administration in this new statement of policy, but the new President is either disingenuous or deceptive when he suggests that science can ever be free from political considerations. Science does not happen in a vacuum. Scientific research takes place in a social and political context, and when the federal government is involved through funding of that research, such research is intensely political. The space race was fueled by the ideological context of the Cold War. Decisions about research priorities and policies is hotly political. So is President Obama's new policy that will lead to the destruction of more human embryos.

Those wondering when President Obama would make a clear move on a matter that involves the sanctity of human life now have their answer -- and its consequences. When President Obama says he will "respect" the point of view that such research is immoral, his respect is hard to detect.

When human embryos are destroyed in the name of medical advancement, we make a deal with the Culture of Death and sacrifice embryonic human beings for the hope of medical advances. We all hope and pray for those advances, and for treatments to cure or treat intractable diseases. But there are valid alternatives to the use of human embryos.

The vulnerable human embryo is now at greater risk than ever before. And this, inevitably, means that every single human life is devalued by this decision."

(Read more great commentary at http://www.albertmohler.com/)

Spurgeon Devotion

"There is therefore now no condemnation." (Romans 8:1)

Come, my soul, think thou of this. Believing in Jesus, thou art actually and effectually cleared from guilt; thou art led out of thy prison. Thou art no more in fetters as a bond-slave; thou art delivered now from the bondage of the law; thou art freed from sin, and canst walk at large as a freeman, thy Saviour's blood has procured thy full discharge. Thou hast a right now to approach thy Father's throne. No flames of vengeance are there to scare thee now; no fiery sword; justice cannot smite the innocent. Thy disabilities are taken away: thou wast once unable to see thy Father's face: thou canst see it now. Thou couldst not speak with Him: but now thou hast access with boldness. Once there was a fear of hell upon thee; but thou hast no fear of it now, for how can there be punishment for the guiltless? He who believeth is not condemned, and cannot be punished. And more than all, the privileges thou mightst have enjoyed, if thou hadst never sinned, are thine now thou art justified. All the blessings which thou wouldst have had if thou hadst kept the law, and more, are thine, because Christ has kept it for thee. All the love and the acceptance which perfect obedience could have obtained of God, belong to thee, because Christ was perfectly obedient on thy behalf, and hath imputed all His merits to thy account, that thou mightst be exceeding rich through Him, who for thy sake became exceeding poor. Oh! how great the debt of love and gratitude thou owest to thy Saviour!

"A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear with Thy righteousness on,
My person and offerings to bring:
The terrors of law and of God,
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view."

The Healing Power of Laughter

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation." (Psalm 42:5)

Just the other day I watched a sermon on the Trinity Broadcasting Network by Joel Osteen, entitled, "The Healing Power of Laughter." Upon first glance I thought that this was going to be quite the interesting sermon, and was I ever right.

Granted the overall message was decent: God wants you to be happy. God is displeased when you are depressed because it is not becoming to you as a human. Relationships are not helped either when you are not happy. But that is as far as the sermon went. He did not talk about God wanting us to be happy in HIM. The discussion was not about how God is displeased when we are depressed because it necessarily entails a lack of a hope in God. Nowhere did the pastor say that your attitudinal relationship to your wife is important insofar as it displays in physical form Christ's relationship to the church.

When speaking to a crowd of tens of thousands, Mr. Osteen limited his remedy of sadness and depression to the symptom of a lack of laughter, rather than to the deep issue of a lack of joy that comes from seeing and savoring one who died to set us free from sin and death (Phil. 4:4). His sermon was laden with story after story of how if we just learn to laugh and gain more of a sense of humor, the seriousness of life is largely swept away. This is a true ideal, but it is not a Christian ideal. It is a remedy, but it is not a long lasting remedy in the midst of tribulation and persecution. What is needed most is not more laughter, but more joy in Jesus (Ps. 37:4). This is when we will understand our suffering to be light and momentary afflictions (2 Cor. 4:17) that do not compare to the glory that will be ours in heaven (Ps. 16:11). This is when we can confront the pressures of life by going to the rock that is higher than ourselves (Ps. 61:2). And this is when the world will notice a difference in our lives and will question the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15).

It is bad enough that the Bible was used very little, if at all in the sermon. What was most disheartening was that the true remedy for depression and the true Source of joy and happiness was skimmed over. May our practical life not be limited to such frothful secular ideals, but may we rejoice in joy unspeakable, that is, the Christian joy of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:6).

What is the Recession For?

Pastor and author John Piper recently preached concerning the economic recession (among other things) and gave five reasons why God has allowed this recession to take place. Here is a small summary of the reasons he gives:

1. He intends for this recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing. 2. He intends to wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. He intends to relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods, in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. He intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. He intends for the church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.

You can listen or read the sermon in its entirety by clicking on the link below.

(http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/3566_What_Is_the_Recession_For/)

Moses is Not the Hero When the Red Sea Parts

"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses." (Exodus 14:30-31)

The mistake is often made when reading the story of the ten plagues and the exodus that Moses is the hero. At least this is what is often communicated in our children's Sunday School classes. "Moses," we hear, "did something that we are often afraid to do: Moses stood up to evil. Moses stood up against the evil Pharaoh and brought Israel out of Egypt. Moses stretched out his hand and staff and parted the Red Sea so that all of God's people could get through. Wow, isn't that amazing?"

It is quite an oversight to say that Moses parted the Red Sea. Actually, God parted the Red Sea. God brought the ten plagues upon Egypt to display his power among them and to show them that he alone is Lord and worthy of worship.

We see this from the very beginning of the story when Moses is first called to go back to Egypt when God says that he will harden the leader's heart so that he will not let the people go (Exodus 4:21). By doing so, God is revealing that he has a plan to display his power among the Egyptians and the people of Israel. And in fact, this is confirmed later during the seventh plague of hail as Moses is before Pharaoh. "But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth" (Exodus 9:16).

And after all of the plagues are completed God desires to say in even more direct terms the entire reason for the drama: "And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh..." (Exodus 14:17-18).

Growing up, this message was not the primary message that was taught to me when I was learning the story. The message that was taught to me was one of facts: this plague happened, and then that one, and then that one. And the main character was Moses. But, as one can see, the main character according to the narration given is God.

God is the one to whom the Israelites fear and believe in when it is all said and done, and this is the reason why this and all of the other accounts of the biblical authors is given. That is, to demonstrate who God is, how powerful he is, and how we as sinful humans can enjoy him forever. This same God who displayed his power among the Egyptians will one day call all men to account for their deeds based on his standard of holiness.

We, just like the Egyptians in Moses' day, are not holy. We are far from it. None of us is righteous according to Romans 3 and no one pleases him. So there lies problem because as Hebrews 12:14 tells us, without holiness no one will see the Lord. But Christ is holy, Jesus is perfect and died and rose again according to the Scriptures so in him we might have hope (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, God is merciful as well as just and has given his Son to be the propitiation for our sins so that if we trust in him we will have eternal life. Now that is a glorious plan for which God alone receives the honor and praise!