God’s way is the perfect way (part 3)

God’s ways are revealed not discovered.

Romans 11:33

(33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchableare his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

God reveals His will for our lives through the Bible.  If He did not reveal Himself, we would certainly have not known anything about Him.  The word “depth” suggests profundity, and mystery.  The words “unsearchable,” and “past finding out” are telling us that He is beyond the scope our finite minds.  How could we possibly come to the knowledge of God had it not been for the Bible?  Thank God for His self-disclosure.  He intends for us, as His children (being saved by the merits of Christ alone), to live by His words.  We do not have to be ignorant of God’s will and way for our lives.  Any good thing that we posses, comes primarily from God, He is gracious enough to reveal His Word to us.  His word is clear, infallible and sufficient.  Are you careful to obey the truths that you see in God’s Word?

God’s way is the perfect way (part 2)

A consideration of God’s way:

Isa. 55:8-9

(8)  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

(9)  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

First, God’s way is not naturally the way we would choose.  Just read the Bible and you will notice how different, how opposite God does things from the way we would do things.  This is a very important consideration.  God is different from all of His creation.  And because of sin, we have a propensity to go our own way, apart from God – the very God who created us.  Rebellion is the height of ingratitude and stupidity.  If you truly desire to go God’s way in every area of life, you must first understand there will be a struggle.  Our sinful nature, our carnal desire, our way is not God’s way.  We must go to God and ask Him to strengthen us to go His way.  A Confession or acknowledgment of this truth is vital, and must be professed repeatedly until we reach our glorification in Christ.

Second, God’s way is the best way.  Our reasoning or circumstances will at times oppose God’s ways, but by trusting God and obeying Him, we bring God to bear upon our situation.  With humble dependence upon Him, we can pray to God with confidence, claim His promises, and know His presence is with us.  It is best to go God’s way.

God’s Way is the Perfect Way (part 1)

Psalm 18:30-32

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

A closer look:

Perfect – integrity; turth, without blemish, complete or whole.
Tried – pure; tested;
Buckler – a shield
Gird – give; to bind (or compass) about

The Bible teaches us that God’s way is perfect.  His doings, His wisdom, His judgments, His character, indeed everything about Him is perfect.  Since God is our Creator, He has a perfect way that He desires for us to walk.  When we compare our ways against His ways, it looks pretty obvious that our ways are not perfect.  We don’t always do good and right.  Is there not a desire in your heart to live a perfect life?  Not that you can live entirely sinless or without flaw, but the idea of perfect in this Scripture passage, and in many others is that we are lacking or wanting in nothing.  God has a perfect will and way for each and everyone of us.  He has a perfect marriage partner for many. He has a perfect career or job or vocation for you.  He has a perfect church, which is what we all need to be a part of.  He has a perfect home that He desires for all to have.  When we look at verse 32, we can see that although our way isn’t naturally perfect, if we forsake our way, or turn over our way to go God’s way, then He can make our way perfect.  God can give us the marriage that we ought to have.  God can give us the church life, and work, and everything else so that we can confidently say…that He makes my way perfect.  I am glad that if I walk the path that God has revealed to me in the Bible, that I can live the perfect life that God intended for me to live.

He is Able (part 2)

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

The Lord Jesus is able to save.  No one else can do this.  Throughout history there have been great men who have accomplished extraordinary things.  Abraham, that great man of faith, founded the nation of Israel.  Moses, an equally great man, was used by God to liberate Israel from Egyptian slavery.  In American History, great men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin went though extraordinary measures to secure a new and free nation.  Then there were men of renown religious courage and strength who stood for Bible truth; men like John the Baptist, the Apostles, Paul and Silas, Mark and Luke.  Then there were men of more modern times like William Tyndale, C.H. Spurgeon, and a host of other strong men who stood for God.  But all in all no man is able to save.  They maybe able to do many great things, but they cannot do the greatest things: secure the Salvation of mankind; satisfy the just and righteous wrath of God; and reconcile a holy God with sinful man.  Only Christ can do this.  Mankind in all his glory cannot save one soul from eternal retribution.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do so.  Isaiah 59:1 says this “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”  Praise God, He is able to save.

He is Able (part 1)

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  (Hebrews 7:25)

He is able – that simply means that Christ alone is able to save.  Not a minister, not a church, not an ordinance, nor a religious ritual can save.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save a soul.  There was a time when I relied on my religious works for salvation.  I thought I had to do things in order to gain points with God.  It was pitiful.  One day, I was doing good (at least I thought that way in my mind); the next day, I was miserable because of sin.  But when I finally came to the point where I realized that Christ was all I needed, that His work on the cross was the only work that could pay for my sins, then  I rested in the fact that Christ alone was able to save.  Not my works, but His work saves.  Not my merits, but His merits gained salvation.  Indeed, He alone is able.

The Homily — Illustrations

I like a good steak.  For me, medium-well please.  The steak should be juicy, full of flavor, savory, hot, and complimented with creamy mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, and something like a simple salad.  This steak illustration illustrates what good preaching is like.  The meat of the matter is God’s Word.  The Word is the main course of good preaching.  Unfortunately, in our day and age many aren’t interested in the meat of the Word.  Rather, they are scrounging around for the
illustration.  The story replaces the Scriptures as the main thing.  Experience is elevated to a higher plane than doctrine.  When the speaker tells either a “tear-jerker” or a humorous one the sermon review is “a good one,” and that almost instantaneously.  When stuff like this goes on, it’s like going to a steakhouse to by-pass the steak and enjoy the salad instead.  Illustrations are important. They have their proper place in the sermon,  but when the illustration becomes the main thing, the sermon loses its potency.  Part of the problem is the misguided speaker.  The other problem is the listener who lacks discernment listening for the story instead of listening to the Scriptures.

A blessing from Harry Ironside

I have heard of Dr. Harry Ironside from when I was in Bible College. I have a healthy respect for his Bible Commentaries. I listened to a series of messages on Isaiah from an actual live recording of his Bible class on sermonaudio.com. What a blessing. He was an even better speaker than what I had imagined. I wanted to share a blessing that I got from his observation and experience.

He was traveling via train (I guess he really liked that) when a gypsy fortune teller woman grabbed his palm and was intending to tell him about his past, present, and future. He took his New Testament and showed her about his past, present, and future. He is just a good man.

My Past:

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

My Present:

Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

My Future:

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 11:1-4

Gen 11:1-4 “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. (2) And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. (3) And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. (4) And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

“What a difference there is between men’s building and God’s; when men build their Babel, brick and slime are their best materials; but when God builds His
Jerusalem, He lays even the foundations of it with sapphires, and all its borders with pleasant stones.  Isa. 54:11, 12; Rev. 21:19.”

Post Christmas blessing – Our Lord Emmanuel

(Matthew 1:23)
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

As God was literally with Mary and Joseph, and the rest of the New Testament Bible characters through the incarnate Son, so He truly is with us today.  He will always be with us.  As we serve Him, His presence will always be with us.  Matthew 28:20 says: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Truly the Lord Jesus is Emmanuel.

Christian Meditation (part 4) A Careful Reflection

What are we to meditate on?  Thankfully, the Bible has the answers:

1.  We are to meditate on the person and character of God:

(Psalm 63:6)
“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

(Psalm 104:34)
“My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”

When you read the Bible, take careful notice of God’s person and character.  Think about the things He said.  Pay attention to His attributes.  Jot them down, and include the Bible verse and reference.  Commit them to memory.  Meditating on God and His majesty is a great blessing.

2.  We are to meditate on His works:

(Psalm 77:12)
“I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

(Psalm 143:5)
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.”

God’s work not only consists of Creation and Salvation, but also that of His providential care.  He is continually working in our lives.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is the background of our lives working out His perfect will and way, in and through us?

3.  We are to meditate on His Word:

(Psalm 119:15)
“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”

(Psalm 119:48)
“My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

(Psalm 119:97)
“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

A Christian who is daily in the word, and careful to reflect upon the Scriptures throughout the day, will gain victory over sin, self, and Satan.