Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 76

For the Lord Your God Is With You

In the book of Joshua, God gives Joshua the same promise that Jesus gives to his followers in Matthew 28:

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (v. 20)

The Lord pairs his promise to Joshua with a command:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Here’s the deal: You and I often misunderstand what it means for the Lord to be “with us.” And since we misunderstand this promise, we’re bound to break the command, “Be strong and courageous.” Amid the sounds of marching multitudes, war cries, and the sighs and suspense of long nights before battle, God’s Word in Joshua rings out with the Lord’s voice declaring, “I am with you.” We have only to read the stories to see what he means.

Three Ways God Is With You
By His Word

Before Joshua ever crossed the Jordan River to begin the task God laid out for him in securing the Promised Land for God’s people, God promised Joshua his presence, and he gave him his Word.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (1:8)

Before Joshua could run into battle armed with God’s promise, he had to actually hear and know God’s Word to him and believe what God said was true. He had to treasure it in his heart so that it would come from his mouth on demand. He had to rehearse and drill the Word into his mind and heart—under the Middle Eastern stars and in the morning sun—lest when the soul-fight came, he’d be left out of shape and ill-prepared.

God was with Joshua through the raw promise he gave in speech. And he would remain with Joshua through the enduring promises he had written in the Law of Moses, if only Joshua would continually meditate on the words.

God is with you, Christian, by his Word. Will you train yourself to listen to and meditate on his voice? Like the routine of a soldier, ruminate yourself in the recordings of the voice of your commander.

By His Son

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (3:5)

The people of Israel had to be made holy, cleansed, before God would do wonders among them. The first step in pursuing holiness before conquering Jericho was for the sons of Israel to be circumcised, in accordance with God’s law. This was a sign that they were in covenant relationship with the Lord (Genesis 17:11; Joshua 5:9).

In Colossians 2:11-12, God reveals to us believers how we are consecrated before him through a new circumcision:

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are brought into covenant relationship with God.

God is with us and for us only because of his Son, who in fact is “God with us”.
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After circumcision, the Israelites pursued holiness by keeping the Passover (Joshua 5:10). They commemorated the Lord’s saving work from their slavery in Egypt, when they were rescued from death by the blood of a lamb. For the Lord had said:

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)

In the same way, the blood of Jesus Christ is a sign for us. When we believe in the name of Jesus, having faith that his sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation, we have the promise that no plague of God’s wrath, nor condemnation, will befall or destroy us (1 John 3:23; John 5:24).

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)

God, through Jesus Christ, is no longer present to destroy us on account of our sin. He is present to bless his people on account of his own Son’s sacrifice. We have relationship with him and are counted holy because of Jesus.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9)

But as we remain in this world, we still war with the presence of sin. We must continually search our hearts for any rebel inclinations that would move us to act as God’s enemy in thought, word, and deed. We too must consecrate ourselves as we expect God to be with us, confessing the sin that God’s Spirit has revealed to us, and commemorating the day the Lamb’s blood saved us from the wrath our rebellion deserves.

God is with us and for us only because of his Son, who in fact is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Joshua’s performance of the Passover looked forward in faith to the same cleansing for sin that we Christians rejoice in today. Jesus consecrated Joshua as he consecrates us—if we receive him by faith for the salvation of our souls.

Through Your Obedience

Here’s the first wonder Joshua and the people saw as they entered the Promised Land:

As soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water…the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away…And the people passed over opposite Jericho. (Joshua 3:15-16)

All these guys had to do was stick their feet in the Jordan river for God to pull a Red-Sea stunt. All they had to do was exactly what God told them to do, for him to do exactly what he said he would.

Don’t think on what you’ve got going for you. Think on who you’ve got with you.
Click To Tweet

Then Joshua neared the city he was to conquer and God said, “Okay, Joshua, march. March around this whole city full of your enemies for six days—armed. Look like you’re going into battle. On the seventh day march around the entire city seven times. Then blow trumpets and shout” (6:2-6, paraphrase).

Ok, Lord, I would be thinking, Just march and blow the horn? When will we have that Armageddon moment where we’ve got heavenly Blackhawk Down music in the background as we fight to victory? Don’t you want to display your glory?

But Joshua and the people simply obeyed:

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. (6:20)

Think about this: God’s people—soldiers in full uniform—got up for six days and were silently marching around the city of their enemies. Then they marched even more and made a ruckus. As if they did not feel ridiculous enough they were told to—shout.

Shout? Seriously God? Isn’t that a little humiliating?

And after shouting, Joshua and company were to go and fight, after a day of marching for hours.

Seriously God? Won’t my men be a little weak?

But when God commanded, Joshua obeyed. And he saw victory.

God said to him before the next battle, “Don’t fear, but go fight” (10:8), and when Joshua did so, “The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day” (v. 14).

See, God didn’t choose to arm Joshua with Captain America qualities that make for a quick showdown. In the weak, weird, and wearying steps of obedience God calls us to take, it’s made abundantly clear that God is with us. God says, “It’s not about what you’ve got going for you; I’m here. It’s not about the size of your enemy; I’m strong. I don’t need you to be strong. I need you to be silent and watch what I’ll do when you trust and obey.”

All we have to do is obey, no matter the measure of our strength or resources, and God is with us.

With the writer of Joshua, we can look back on when the foot hit the water, the trumpet blast hit the air, and the the sun stood still and say, “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” (10:14)

The Command

Since we’ve encountered the promise, we’re ready to keep the command: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (1:9).

I know what it’s like to cling to a laundry list of limitations and litanies of “but’s.” And man, I know to your core you cringe at the thought of exposing the holes in your confidence. But you’re weak—dust, flesh, fallen—and so am I; we’re so aware of it, we can’t evade it. God does not tell us to ignore it, but to confess it, and to not think it affects what he’s able to accomplish.

For the Lord has told us himself that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). A promised Savior and King dying on a cross felt ridiculously hopeless. Our God in the grave felt limiting and quite weak, to say the least. But the fact is, what was sown in dishonor was raised in glory; the body of Jesus sown into the earth in weakness on our behalf was raised in power (1 Corinthians 15:43).

He Fights for You

What’s God calling you to do that you fear?

Remember God’s servant Joshua. Joshua obeyed—blew the trumpet—and the walls of a massive city bowed to God Almighty. If God says blow, you just blow.

Don’t think on what you’ve got going for you. Think on who you’ve got with you. He’s never been beat before, not even when he hung on a cross. Yours is the victory. Trust in Jesus’ name today and faithfully obey him. He fights for you.

 

He’ll take your weakness,

Raise from it might,

Give one more reason

To cast your crown at his feet,

And keep you believing

It’s all His fight.

 

He’ll take your fear,

Raise from it faith,

Give you his shield,

As you hide in his Name,

And keep you beholding

Your Savior’s strength.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Let the Fear of the Lord Deliver You
He Can Be Trusted
For the Person Who Feels Weak

The post For the Lord Your God Is With You appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

For the Lord Your God is With You

In the book of Joshua, God gives Joshua the same promise that Jesus gives to his followers in Matthew 28:

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (v. 20)

The Lord pairs his promise to Joshua with a command:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Here’s the deal: You and I often misunderstand what it means for the Lord to be “with us.” And since we misunderstand this promise, we’re bound to break the command, “Be strong and courageous.” Amid the sounds of marching multitudes, war cries, and the sighs and suspense of long nights before battle, God’s Word in Joshua rings out with the Lord’s voice declaring, “I am with you.” We have only to read the stories to see what he means.

Three Ways God Is With You
By His Word

Before Joshua ever crossed the Jordan River to begin the task God laid out for him in securing the Promised Land for God’s people, God promised Joshua his presence, and he gave him his Word.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (1:8)

Before Joshua could run into battle armed with God’s promise, he had to actually hear and know God’s Word to him and believe what God said was true. He had to treasure it in his heart so that it would come from his mouth on demand. He had to rehearse and drill the Word into his mind and heart—under the Middle Eastern stars and in the morning sun—lest when the soul-fight came, he’d be left out of shape and ill-prepared.

God was with Joshua through the raw promise he gave in speech. And he would remain with Joshua through the enduring promises he had written in the Law of Moses, if only Joshua would continually meditate on the words.

God is with you, Christian, by his Word. Will you train yourself to listen to and meditate on his voice? Like the routine of a soldier, ruminate yourself in the recordings of the voice of your commander.

By His Son

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (3:5)

The people of Israel had to be made holy, cleansed, before God would do wonders among them. The first step in pursuing holiness before conquering Jericho was for the sons of Israel to be circumcised, in accordance with God’s law. This was a sign that they were in covenant relationship with the Lord (Genesis 17:11; Joshua 5:9).

In Colossians 2:11-12, God reveals to us believers how we are consecrated before him through a new circumcision:

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are brought into covenant relationship with God.

God is with us and for us only because of his Son, who in fact is “God with us”.
Click To Tweet

After circumcision, the Israelites pursued holiness by keeping the Passover (Joshua 5:10). They commemorated the Lord’s saving work from their slavery in Egypt, when they were rescued from death by the blood of a lamb. For the Lord had said:

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)

In the same way, the blood of Jesus Christ is a sign for us. When we believe in the name of Jesus, having faith that his sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation, we have the promise that no plague of God’s wrath, nor condemnation, will befall or destroy us (1 John 3:23; John 5:24).

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)

God, through Jesus Christ, is no longer present to destroy us on account of our sin. He is present to bless his people on account of his own Son’s sacrifice. We have relationship with him and are counted holy because of Jesus.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9)

But as we remain in this world, we still war with the presence of sin. We must continually search our hearts for any rebel inclinations that would move us to act as God’s enemy in thought, word, and deed. We too must consecrate ourselves as we expect God to be with us, confessing the sin that God’s Spirit has revealed to us, and commemorating the day the Lamb’s blood saved us from the wrath our rebellion deserves.

God is with us and for us only because of his Son, who in fact is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Joshua’s performance of the Passover looked forward in faith to the same cleansing for sin that we Christians rejoice in today. Jesus consecrated Joshua as he consecrates us—if we receive him by faith for the salvation of our souls.

Through Your Obedience

Here’s the first wonder Joshua and the people saw as they entered the Promised Land:

As soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water…the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away…And the people passed over opposite Jericho. (Joshua 3:15-16)

All these guys had to do was stick their feet in the Jordan river for God to pull a Red-Sea stunt. All they had to do was exactly what God told them to do, for him to do exactly what he said he would.

Don’t think on what you’ve got going for you. Think on who you’ve got with you.
Click To Tweet

Then Joshua neared the city he was to conquer and God said, “Okay, Joshua, march. March around this whole city full of your enemies for six days—armed. Look like you’re going into battle. On the seventh day march around the entire city seven times. Then blow trumpets and shout” (6:2-6, paraphrase).

Ok, Lord, I would be thinking, Just march and blow the horn? When will we have that Armageddon moment where we’ve got heavenly Blackhawk Down music in the background as we fight to victory? Don’t you want to display your glory?

But Joshua and the people simply obeyed:

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. (6:20)

Think about this: God’s people—soldiers in full uniform—got up for six days and were silently marching around the city of their enemies. Then they marched even more and made a ruckus. As if they did not feel ridiculous enough they were told to—shout.

Shout? Seriously God? Isn’t that a little humiliating?

And after shouting, Joshua and company were to go and fight, after a day of marching for hours.

Seriously God? Won’t my men be a little weak?

But when God commanded, Joshua obeyed. And he saw victory.

God said to him before the next battle, “Don’t fear, but go fight” (10:8), and when Joshua did so, “The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day” (v. 14).

See, God didn’t choose to arm Joshua with Captain America qualities that make for a quick showdown. In the weak, weird, and wearying steps of obedience God calls us to take, it’s made abundantly clear that God is with us. God says, “It’s not about what you’ve got going for you; I’m here. It’s not about the size of your enemy; I’m strong. I don’t need you to be strong. I need you to be silent and watch what I’ll do when you trust and obey.”

All we have to do is obey, no matter the measure of our strength or resources, and God is with us.

With the writer of Joshua, we can look back on when the foot hit the water, the trumpet blast hit the air, and the the sun stood still and say, “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” (10:14)

The Command

Since we’ve encountered the promise, we’re ready to keep the command: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (1:9).

I know what it’s like to cling to a laundry list of limitations and litanies of “but’s.” And man, I know to your core you cringe at the thought of exposing the holes in your confidence. But you’re weak—dust, flesh, fallen—and so am I; we’re so aware of it, we can’t evade it. God does not tell us to ignore it, but to confess it, and to not think it affects what he’s able to accomplish.

For the Lord has told us himself that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). A promised Savior and King dying on a cross felt ridiculously hopeless. Our God in the grave felt limiting and quite weak, to say the least. But the fact is, what was sown in dishonor was raised in glory; the body of Jesus sown into the earth in weakness on our behalf was raised in power (1 Corinthians 15:43).

He Fights for You

What’s God calling you to do that you fear?

Remember God’s servant Joshua. Joshua obeyed—blew the trumpet—and the walls of a massive city bowed to God Almighty. If God says blow, you just blow.

Don’t think on what you’ve got going for you. Think on who you’ve got with you. He’s never been beat before, not even when he hung on a cross. Yours is the victory. Trust in Jesus’ name today and faithfully obey him. He fights for you.

 

He’ll take your weakness,

Raise from it might,

Give one more reason

To cast your crown at his feet,

And keep you believing

It’s all His fight.

 

He’ll take your fear,

Raise from it faith,

Give you his shield,

As you hide in his Name,

And keep you beholding

Your Savior’s strength.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Let the Fear of the Lord Deliver You
He Can Be Trusted
For the Person Who Feels Weak

The post For the Lord Your God is With You appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Book Briefs: Heaven, So Near – So Far

Editor’s Note: Today we’re beginning a new series, “Book Briefs,” to help you stock your reading pile with excellent, gospel-centered books. Tim Augustyn, our Pastor of Ministry Resources, reads a ton (you should see his bookshelves!) and will use this series to share a brief summary of titles he’s read, along with his favorite quotations from each. We hope “Book Briefs” will help and equip you!  

Heaven, So Near – So Far Book Brief

Summary. At just over 100 pages, Heaven, So Near – So Far: The Story of Judas Iscariot (Christian Focus Publications) is short enough to read in one sitting. Author and Pastor Colin Smith faithfully and creatively tells the story of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, from a first-person perspective, so it reads like a novel.

Recommendation. I can’t think of a better book to put in your hands if you are looking for reasons to not walk away from your faith. It would also be a great book to give to a friend or family member who is in danger of walking away from Christ.

My Top 10 Quotes from Heaven, So Near – So Far

10. “I want you to know that I was neither a helpless victim nor a hideous monster. I was a person with hopes, dreams, doubts, fears, disappointments, and frustrations very much like you” (p. 10).

9. “I was ambitious. I had no interest in attaching myself to an obscure cause destined to failure. But I felt that, in Jesus, I had found a winner, and I became more determined than ever to find my way into his inner circle” (p. 21).

8. “Money is like fire: a good friend and a terrible enemy. Kept in its place, it has the power to sustain you, but when it takes control, it has the power to destroy you. Believe me: I know” (p. 40).

7. “The more you enter into sympathy with the enemies of Jesus, the less you have in common with his friends” (p. 64).

6. “It was as if Jesus were saying, “Do you really want to do this, Judas? I have already identified myself to these men. I am giving myself into their hands. Nothing will be gained by your act of treachery. Judas, don’t set yourself against me! Leave these men! Come under my protection! Step over the line right now and take your stand again with me, and with my disciples” (p. 80).

5. “That kiss was the most futile thing I ever did. I had thought of it as the centerpiece of my elaborate plan, but it accomplished nothing except to confirm my defection from being a follower of Jesus” (p. 82).

4. “As I listened to Pilate’s repeated assertion that Jesus had done nothing wrong, I wondered what had made me think I was right to betray him. To my surprise, no offense came to mind. I had betrayed him because his agenda did not align with mine” (p. 93).

3. “The last thing I remember was the sound of the branch to which I had tied the rope breaking. I fell into the darkness, and I feel that I have been falling ever since” (p. 97).

2. “The great irony of my existence here is that, though I cannot be happy in hell, I could not be happy in heaven either” (p. 100).

1. “The claims of Jesus are so exclusive and his demands so pervasive that if you do not give yourself to him completely, you will, in the end, give him up altogether. There is no middle ground” (p. 105).

RELATED POSTS:

Four Things People Often Miss About Judas (and What We Can Learn from Them)
The Ambition of Judas Iscariot
Heaven Is Nearer Than You Think

The post Book Briefs: Heaven, So Near – So Far appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Key Connections (April 20, 2018)

If You Love God, Listen to Him: Five Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day (Jimmy Needham, Desiring God)

If we want to be about the work of God, we must first be about the word of God. God’s word reveals to us his priorities and values. It shows us what breaks his heart and what makes him sing. It shows us what he is doing in the world — throughout history and right now today.

Preach the Word (Steven Lawson, Ligonier Ministries)

Tragically, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, doctrine with drama, theology with theatrics, and preaching with performances. What is so desperately needed today is for pastors to return to their highest calling—the divine summons to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:1–2).

Give Your Life Away (Chris Gee, The Master’s Seminary Blog)

Nonetheless, Paul was bold to teach every part of the Word of God. He didn’t cower away from unpopular topics that may have made people upset at him. He taught God’s truth comprehensively because he knew it was the “pure milk of the Word” by which believers “grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

The Whole in Our Holiness (Ligon Duncan, 9Marks)

Often, Christians assume that obedience conditions God’s blessing: “If I obey, God will bless me.” This logic is not in Genesis 1. Obedience does not condition God’s love, but is the sphere in which we enjoy God’s love.

The Seven Bitter Fruits of Sin (Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible)

Some sin will disgust you, and you will wonder how anyone could do such things. But other forms of sin will be attractive to you. That is where Satan deceives.

The post Key Connections (April 20, 2018) appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

The Seven Bitter Fruits of Sin

I was having breakfast with someone who was witnessing to a colleague at work. “You know, Colin,” he said, “this guy lives like the devil, but he is good at heart.” I said, “Wait a minute. How can he be good at heart if he lives like the devil? Surely, if he lives like the devil, there is something wrong with his heart!”

What you believe about sin will shape your convictions about mission and evangelism. How we engage in this work, and what we think needs to be done, will in large measure be shaped by what we believe the human problem really is.

What does the mystery of sin look like in the life of your friend, neighbor, or relative who doesn’t know Christ, doesn’t see anything of his splendor, and doesn’t yet have the life of Christ in his or her soul? Sin will produce in this person’s life seven bitter fruits:

1. Deceit

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, emphasis added)

Evil deceives. Satan makes sin look attractive. That is its nature. It always does that.

Some sin will disgust you, and you will wonder how anyone could do such things. But other forms of sin will be attractive to you. That is where Satan deceives.

2. Perishing

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, emphasis added)

Notice the present tense. There is a theme that runs through the life of a person who is without Jesus Christ, an unraveling of life that is going on now, a taking down, a becoming less. This is a process that has already begun. By nature, we are perishing.

3. Refusal

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, emphasis added)

These people heard the truth, and they refused to believe it. But the real issue here is that they refused to love it. The heart governs the life more than the head.

The greatest barrier to faith is not in the doubts of the mind, but in the desires of the heart.
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Long ago, I heard the story of an atheist who visited a church. The creed hung on one wall, the Ten Commandments hung on the other. The atheist looked at the creed and said to the pastor, “This I cannot believe.” The pastor pointed to the commandments on the other wall and said, “Are you sure it isn’t these you will not obey?” The greatest barrier to faith is not in the doubts of the mind, but in the desires of the heart.

4. Pleasure

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, emphasis added)

“Pleasure in unrighteousness” is the explanation of not believing the truth. Where the heart loves wickedness, the mind cannot embrace the truth. It’s impossible! Jesus said, “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from…God?” (John 5:44).

5. Delusion

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion… (2 Thessalonians 2:11)

This is looking down the line of what happens when a person persists in resisting Christ and pushing him away. “For this reason,” they refused to love the truth. Here are folks who have heard the truth and refused it. So God gives them what they desire. They do not want the truth, and now they are unable to receive it.

The secret power of sin is at work in you. Every time you hear the Word of God, it will make you softer or it will add another layer to the hard shell of your resistance to Christ. It never leaves you the same. Jesus said,“The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).

6. Belief

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false… (2 Thessalonians 2:11, emphasis added)

This is “the lie,” and it goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Satan said, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). “You’re a good person. You don’t need Christ’s sacrifice. You can work it out yourself.”

When a man feels he is the captain and commander of his life, that he is his own god and law, and that he can stand on his own goodness, you know he has swallowed the lie, and he is living under a powerful delusion.

7. Condemnation

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, emphasis added)

We rejoice in the Word that says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), but the reason it has meaning is right here. To those who have resisted the claims of the Savior, who have not loved the truth, but have believed the lie, Christ will say, “Depart from me; I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).

Then Jesus used an awful phrase: “The sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (8:12, emphasis added).

These are the seven bitter fruits of sin: Deceit, perishing, refusal, pleasure, delusion, belief, and ultimately condemnation. That’s why we need a Savior. This is what we need saving from!

RELATED POSTS:

What’s One Sin I Should Be Fighting?
Bible Q&A: Why Are We Called to Repentance If We Remain Sinners?
The Fruit of the Spirit or the Flesh?

[This post is an excerpt from Pastor Colin’s sermon “The Lord Jesus Christ Coming in Glory“. | Photo Credit: Lightstock]

The post The Seven Bitter Fruits of Sin appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

15 Unforgettable Quotes on Holiness from T4G18

Editor’s Note: I attended the Together For the Gospel conference this year in Louisville, Kentucky. I praise God for the men he has raised up to disciple his church all over the world and for their instruction this week, particularly on the topic of holiness. In this article, I am opening to you my notes from the messages. I hope it stokes your desire for holiness, piques your interest to listen to these excellent sermons, and moves you to worship our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matt Chandler

It is the holiness of heaven that drives out the filthiness of the world. It is the beauty of Christ that compels us to say no to what is broken and grotesque in the world. Paul says, if it’s beautiful, if it’s lovely if it’s right, if it’s good, if its pure, hang out there, stay there, dwell there (Philippians 4:8). I want to flood my life—fill my life—with joy-bringing, Jesus-exalting beauty.

Being entertained by what God finds deplorable is probably a bad usage of 30 minutes to 2 to 3 hours. If I find myself entertained by rape and incest and horrific violence and sexual perversion, what does that say about where my mind and heart are? And is Jesus sitting there with me enjoying that? Again, don’t read me wrong brothers and sisters, I’m not telling you to throw out your TV, although some of you should throw out your TV…Don’t play with sin.

I used the illustration before, I’ll use it again. There’s something broken in our minds, broken in our spirits, broken in our souls that leads us to believe that we are in control of sin in a way that is not biblically true. The way I’ll illustrate that is:

…So I’m watching this show and near the end of the show there’s this scene—they’re trying to shoot this commercial, and this commercial was going to be for shampoo or something and it’s this woman, you know this model, and they want her to lay on this male lion. And the lion attacks her and just rips her to shreds. And then they’re interviewing the trainer and the guy is like, “Couldn’t see this coming!” And I’m like, “It’s a LION; it has one purpose in all of creation—to kill stuff! It is an apex predator!” But to hear this brother talk, he talked about raising it from when it was a baby, getting it when he could just hold it, taking it for walks, combing its mane. And I just have to believe that many of us are playing with sin like this brother was playing with a lion. Oh I’ve got control of this. Oh man this is never gonna turn on me. Man for 15-20 years I have trained this sin to sit when I tell it to sin, to get in its bed when it’s time to get in bed... I would urge you brothers to not play with lions. Eventually, in season at the right time, it will turn and it will devour. Therefore put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh.

H.B. Charles

The cross is not a new strategy. God always finds a way to destroy human wisdom. In every situation God has the last word.

Kevin DeYoung

God’s immutability [unchanging nature] is good news for God’s people because God never dies, he never moves on, he never fails. His promises are yes and amen in Christ and cannot be any different. God says, “You should be out of chances, but I am not out of mercy”…We are as fickle as he is faithful.

If God’s immutability is sad news for the wicked, it is unimaginably good news for God’s people…God never dies, God never moves on, God never fails. His Word does not change; his character does not change; his decrees do not change. He is immovable in his goodness, immovable in his mercy, immovable in his purposes to be your God in Christ Jesus—always for you, never against you. He promises to justify the righteous by faith, to forgive the brokenhearted, to draw near to those who draw near to him. These promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, and they cannot be any other…“You should be out of chances, but I am not out of mercy.” Divine immutability is an attribute of perfection and a doctrine of comfort that your eternal happiness in Christ is infallibly secure. The unending glories of heaven will not be altered. God’s purpose in election will stand.

David Platt

Stop eagerly anticipating future salvation while conveniently denying present sin…you’re not safe when you’re denying sin.

Ligon Duncan

Here’s what Adam and Eve are told to do in these creation commands: “Be who you are, which is to be like me. That’s where you experience blessing, when you are who I created you to be, which is my image in this world. That’s where you find freedom. That’s where you find blessing. That’s where you find joy.” The obedience is not to condition God’s love, to get God’s love, to keep God’s love. It’s the sphere in which they enjoy God’s love and his goodness and his blessing.

And then look what happens in Genesis three…Satan is saying, “If you want to find God, disobey. That’s where your freedom is.” Whereas their experience of the blessing and supreme enjoyment of God was actually to be enjoyed in the sphere of their obedience—that’s how they’re like God. In other words, would there be a way you could supremely enjoy God and image him in this world without supremely enjoying him? Um, no. And the serpent says “Yes. There is a way you can be more than you are. That way is by disobeying God.”

Notice here that obedience in all of this is not the enemy. Obedience is not the problem. A misunderstanding of who God is, and what he has given his commands for, and the goodness of his commands—that is the problem.

Mark Dever

The Church is not a growing number of people, but a number of people growing.

Without the holiness of God, sin has no meaning and grace has no point.

If you’re not at odds with sin, you’re not at home with Jesus.

Thabiti Anyabwile

Jude 1:24:  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Here’s the marvelous news. When you look up away from yourself and you look up to God, you see a God who is able…you see a God who has capacity and competence and power. You see a God who himself is not weak. And he will use that ability to do two things in your life.

Number one, he will use that ability to keep you from finally falling, from finally stumbling. Life is full of stumbling…Now this text says that we have a God who is able to keep us from stumbling, keep us from falling away, keep us from finally failing to reach the mark that he has set for us.

And here’s the mark in the second part of what he’s able to do: He’s able to present you, beloved, me, beloved, blameless, faultless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Oh beloved, we are not sneakin’ into heaven…And when we get there, guess what beloved? Christ is going to stand us before him in his presence, in his glory, with great joy. We join the party in festal garments. We enter into heaven—full of light and laughter and joy. God is able to make you happy. To do that he first makes you holy. And then he brings you home to heaven where in holiness you can enjoy him in the happiness of eternity. He is able, beloved, to get us where he wants us, which is in his presence. And when we get there (v.25) we will sing with all the elect angels and all the redeemed of humanity to the only God—there is no other. Our Savior belongs to us through Jesus Christ our Lord and we will sing, “be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever,” and with the angels cry, “Amen!”

John MacArthur

Bad theology bewitches believers.

The great Shepherd is concerned with the sanctification of his people.

John Piper

So you die and you rise—that’s a work of God….whatever you call this moment of conversion, it is decisively—decisively— the work of God: New creation of God, new birth by the wind of God’s Spirit, mighty call of God out of the tomb of spiritual death, divine choice of God out of the darkness of the world, divine union between us and the dying and rising of Christ so we have newness of life. Whatever it’s called, it is a gift of a new nature with a new gladness in a new God through a new gospel. If God waited for us to bring this about by our so called “free will” it would never happen. Sinners do not create new life. Sinners—it is what we were before conversion, right? Sinners do not bring themselves to new birth. Sinners do not call themselves out of the tomb. Sinners do not choose themselves out of the world. Sinners do not forge a union with Christ so that his death and his life become ours. This is the work of God bringing into being a new person. And my point is that the most basic, most essential distinction between this person and the world…is not new decisions, not new deeds, not new doctrines…these are all necessary traits of the new nature. They are not most basic and most essential. Most basic and most essential is a new gladness in a new God through a new gospel.

Find the full T4G messages here .

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

11 Inspirational Quotes About Prayer
10 Needed Mind-Shifts for Your Fight for Holiness
You Are Holy (though you still live in the world)

 

The post 15 Unforgettable Quotes on Holiness from T4G18 appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Come to the Light

If we confess our sins, he [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

We are all sinners.

Every member of humanity is born dead in their corruption and sin (Ephesians 2:1). Mankind walks harmoniously under the sway of the devil at work in us (v. 2). But, from before the foundation of the world, out of his immense mercy and love, God determined to liberate us from this slavery.

The Father sent his only begotten Son to condescend into flesh to be our perfect substitute. Being both God and man, he lived in perfect obedience to God, yet undeservedly took on the wrath of his Father when he suffered and died for our sins. On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead by his Spirit.

By that same power which lifted Jesus from his grave, we are hoisted out of our graves, in which we lay dead in our sin. When we receive this marvelous good news of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin, the Holy Spirit replaces our hardened heart with a tender heart that desires to obey God and live according to his will. Out of his great love for us, God rescued us from sin for fellowship with himself!

As Christians, our sin ought to pierce our hearts, since it grieves the Lord (Ephesians 4:30).

Your battle with sin should not be news to you, nor your neighbor.
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God promises grace to those who humble themselves in confession (1 Peter 5:5-6). God delivers this promised grace by convicting us; he blesses us with true and humble contrition over our inability to be pure before him, and with grief over what our sin cost our precious Savior.

Brother and sister, confess your sin, and receive Jesus’ forgiveness, and turn away from that specifically revealed sin toward him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Fear of Confession

We have eyes to perceive our sin and understanding that our sin grieves God. But Satan implants fear in our hearts when we think about confessing our sin to other Christians. We fear condemnation and a spoiled reputation. But we can put these fears to death by two reminders.

1. We’re all in the same boat.

First, nobody possesses righteousness, or understanding, or the desire to seek after God. All fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10-11, 23). In fact, if we deny that sin is present within us, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). And “If we say we have not sinned, we make him [Jesus] a liar and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10).

The Christian friends we confess our sins to are fellow transgressors; the foundation of our faith is our universal need for a Savior. So your battle with sin should not be news to you, nor your neighbor.

2. We don’t need to fear what others think.

Second, Jesus’ obedience and sacrifice secured our acceptance in God’s sight, despite our rebellion against him (Romans 8:30-34). He has justified those who have faith in him—regardless of our past, present, and future sins—because of his own righteousness (Romans 8:33). So we have no need to fear man if God has accepted us. For,

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Confess to your brother or sister in Christ boldly. After acknowledging your sin against them and God, ask for accountability and prayer as you begin to turn away from that sin. Your guilt which crushed you will be transformed into joy because you brought your sin into the light.

The Result of Confession

When David kept his sins hidden away in silence, he tells us that his bones wasted away (Psalm 32:3). Since God’s heavy hand was upon his soul convicting him, his strength dried up like the dew on the grass in the sun’s heat (v. 4). At his wit’s end, David said,

I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

And you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

David confessed and God forgave him.

The Joy of Confession

Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven by God in Christ and whose sins are covered by Christ’s blood.

Blessed is the man whose iniquity is counted to Christ’s account on the cross and who does not deceive himself, but confesses his sins and seek forgiveness from the Lord….

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. (Psalm 32:10)

Great joy dwells in this man! The guilt that once crushed him has been lifted and absorbed by Jesus, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Brothers and sisters, we no longer stand condemned as enemies before the throne of God (Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:21). Instead, we stand with Jesus as his Bride, accepted as co-heirs of the kingdom of God.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

What sin needs to come to the light in your life?

Humble yourself before the Lord. Come out of your isolation in the dark into the fellowship of the Christ and his Church in the light. Confess your unfaithfulness to God and to your brothers and sisters. Receive God’s forgiveness, which is abundant according to the infinite riches of his grace. And rejoice in Jesus, who cleansed you by his blood, shed on the cross (1 John 1:9).

[Photo Credit: Lightstock]

RELATED POSTS:

How to Keep Your Heart: Confession
Come Into the Light
Bible Q&A: Do I Need to Confess My Sins to Other Believers?

The post Come to the Light appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

The Surprising Solution to Gossip

We are needy people who crave words that bring life,Remember Rachel Lynde, the “town gossip” in Anne of Green Gables? While none of us want her blabbermouth reputation, we often don’t mind listening in as a gossiper shares her juicy news…  

“Did you hear the Davises are moving? I think he lost his job.”

“I heard Jan had to go the hospital…do you know why?”

“What happened to that teacher who quit last year? Is there more to the story?”

Matthew Mitchell says “Sinful gossip is sharing bad news behind someone’s back out of a bad heart”. It’s entertainment. If I decided to tell you what my neighbor ate for dinner last night, it wouldn’t be gossip. But if I told you my neighbor ate dinner with a man who wasn’t her husband…you get the idea. The story just got more interesting.

A No-Win Situation

We’d all probably agree that the Bible forbids gossip, but do we know why? I found six reasons in Scripture for why gossip is wrong:

1. It’s counterproductive.

…they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. (1 Timothy 5:13)

What is gained by 20 minutes of talking about salacious details of someone else’s life? What good deed has been done? Gossip can masquerade as “sharing a prayer request,” but are you really going to give yourself in prayer for this person? We are not called to be the newsmen of the community—we are called incarnate Christ to those around us by word and deed. Time spent spreading or listening to gossip is time ill-spent.     

Time spent spreading or listening to gossip is time ill-spent.     
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2. It spreads lies.

You shall not spread a false report (Exodus 23:1a)

We all know how the game of telephone works, as gossip quickly turns to rumors based on half-truths. We need to be aware of this even if we are not sharing something firsthand. Perhaps the information you are sharing is a half-truth. If it isn’t your news to share, you can’t be guaranteed you are sharing it accurately.

3. It breaks trust.

He who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. (Proverbs 11:13b)

It’s harder to trust someone who takes the precious, personal details of your life and throws them around for reckless fun. Personal stories told in confidence are like fine china; they must be handled carefully.

Personal stories told in confidence are like fine china; they must be handled carefully.
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4. It separates friends.

A gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28b NIV)

Using the events of another person’s life for entertainment is selfish and unloving, and there are usually more relationships at stake than you and the person you are talking to. Perhaps a confidence was broken in the chain of whispers before the news reaches you. It’s wrong to further the damage. Just because you didn’t start the fire doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to stop it.   

5. It prolongs quarrels.

Without a gossip, a quarrel dies down. (Proverbs 26:20b NIV)

We have all witnessed the role that gossip plays in continuing quarrels. What was newsworthy yesterday may be mute now; but as long as the story lives, its potential to divide remains. Also, our flesh tempts us to sit as judges over people, and news that is sensational is rarely commending, often producing and prolonging quarrels.  

6. It’s often irresistible.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels. (Proverbs 18:8a NIV)

Gossip takes both the speaker and listener prisoner to its tempting feast of news, and important talk is left in the dust. The soul in front of you may have an encouraging word to share with you, or a sin they are ready to confess—but you have just offered them a tasty morsel they can’t refuse. The ministry that might have happened is now sidelined.    

A Can’t-Miss Opportunity

So, you’re talking with a co-worker, and once again she can’t wait to tell you the latest ridiculous excuse Joe made for being late to a meeting. What do you do? Preach a sermon on the evils of gossip? Put your hand in her face and walk away?

Here is the surprising solution: You love her. Ask a question about her. Tell her how you’ve been praying for her. Point out where you’ve see her grow in character. Share your admiration of how she has handled trials in her past.

We are needy people who crave words that bring life.
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Consider: What good thing does the Lord want her to know right now?

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Instead of gossiping about someone else, we can love the person in front of us by:

Focusing what’s good for building them up
Saying what “fits the occasion” (ESV) or “meets the need of the moment” (NASB)
Giving grace

Gracious speech is seasoned with salt—it’s tasty. It’s full of the lavish blessings of kindness and timely love we see poured out by Jesus onto the people he encountered while on earth. We are needy people who crave words that bring life, so we should not be satisfied with conversations that entertain at the expense of others. Especially those in our family and church, whose lives and faults we see up close. Through the power of the Spirit, we are enabled to love each other graciously and intelligently—building each other up for the good work of growing into Christ’s image.

Let’s trade no-win gossip for the can’t-miss opportunity of loving, productive, Christlike speech.

For further discussion this important topic, visit this helpful link.  

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Are Your Words Seasoned with Salt?
Gossip, Flattery, and Exaggeration
Speaking Harsh Words Like Sword Thrusts

The post The Surprising Solution to Gossip appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Key Connections (April 13, 2018)

Are We Proclaiming a Hell We Don’t Deserve—and a Christ We Do? (Peter Gurry, The Gospel Coalition)

No one will ever be punished in hell for being unlike you in some superficial way. No, they will be punished for being so profoundly like you. That’s what is really shocking about hell. It’s shocking that we all deserve this fate, not one of us excluded.

How to Almost Follow Jesus (Marshall Segal, Desiring God)

With his help, we will go wherever he calls whenever he calls, knowing that he knows best, and that anything we lose or leave behind will be repaid a hundredfold and more.

Classes & Home Groups: Complementary or Competitive (Jen Wilkin, The Village Church)

Adding a well-chosen tool to the toolbelt of discipleship simplifies the task of ensuring our people know how to love God with their minds in addition to loving Him with their hearts.

A Light in the Dark Places (Zach Barnhart, Gospel Centered Discipleship)

We ask God to give us a sign for which way to turn, but we haven’t turned the lamp on. If his Word is our lamp and a light for the road, why do we always neglect to pack it for the trip?

My Dear Sweet Girl (Tim Challies, Tim Challies)

We all sin in different ways. Some sin loudly and some sin quietly. Some sin in their actions and some in their imaginations. But it’s all sin. Our problem isn’t just what we do, but who we are!

Trust God With the Spiritual Gifts He Gives (Kristen Wetherell, Unlocking the Bible)

God hasn’t messed up in not making me like my brother or sister—he’s done so on purpose, for the sake of his Son. And how much more will the world take notice when we’re all beautifully loving one another through the use of our spiritual gifts, ultimately displaying the glory of our Savior, who first loved us?

The post Key Connections (April 13, 2018) appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

10 Prayers to Pray Before Church

Going to church is not like a trip to the grocery store, visiting a friend, or a Christian task to complete. It is a declaration that worshiping the risen Christ is more important to you than sleeping in, eating brunch, playing sports, or working around the house. It is celebrating the uniting of our broken world under the headship of Christ (Ephesians 1:10) and a proclamation to the spiritual realm of God’s manifold wisdom (3:10).

As such, we should not enter church like any other place, but should prepare our hearts in prayer. Let these 10 prayers set your mind on God’s purposes for church and prepare your heart to worship the King:

1. Lord, help me worship you with an undistracted heart.

Heavenly Father, this morning—and all of history—is about you. Please help me worship you with an undistracted heart. You know how my mind wanders to my upcoming week, present worries, and thoughts of others and other things. Help me put those thoughts away and focus on you and your glory. Would your Spirit cause my heart, soul, mind, and strength to exalt your Holy Name in my singing, listening to Your Word, and interacting with your people.

2. Lord, reveal to me the wonders of your Word.

Father, you spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1). You speak new life into your children to give us the light of the knowledge of your glory in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Give us the grace to receive your Word and rejoice in it (Psalm 119:18). Convict us of our sins and Christ’s sufficiency so that sinners would be converted (John 16:7–11), the weak strengthened, and Christ’s body built up.

3. Lord, deepen my faith and joy in the glories of your gospel.

Father, you know the multitude of sins I have committed in my life and even this past week. Help me hate my sin more and grow in grace as I contemplate what Christ has done to forgive me and free me from sin’s death grip. Open the eyes of my heart to see the glorious hope we have in Christ, your love for all of the saints, and your power at work in us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-21). Cause my heart to burn within me as we celebrate the gospel in song, learn and apply the gospel through the preached Word, and see the gospel in baptism and communion.

4. Lord, cause me to treasure your bride as you do.

Father, your Son’s bride often gets a bad rap, and assembling together can seem like a drag. But physical appearances not only betray spiritual reality, they fail to grasp the centrality of the church in your eternal purposes for this world. From men and women who were your enemies, you are assembling a community of born-again worshipers from every tribe, tongue, and nation to proclaim your matchless wisdom to the world and spiritual realm (Ephesians 3:1–10). All of history will culminate in your Son’s wedding to his beautiful bride (Revelation 21:1–2). Oh, Lord, help me treasure your bride as you do and pour myself out to build her up.

5. Lord, lead me in building others up with the gifts and opportunities you have given me.

Father, forgive me for long having a “me first” consumer mentality at church. Help me put others first and seek to use the spiritual gifts you have graciously entrusted to me to build up others (Ephesians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 14:12). Guide me in my interactions so others are blessed and you are glorified. Show me who to talk to, where to sit, and how to encourage others with Scripture. Help me be a channel of encouragement as we see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24–25).

6. Lord, may our love greatly adorn the gospel.

Father, your Son said that the love we have for our brothers and sisters will proclaim to the world that we are your disciples (John 13:34–35). Deepen our love for one another and make us eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3). Help us care for all, not showing favoritism.

Open the eyes of my heart to see the glorious hope we have in Christ.
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May love compel us to strengthen the weak, bind up the injured, and serve patiently as we remember our service to others is service to you (Matthew 25:31–46). Help us model your unfathomable love for us in our honoring of one another, and so prove to the watching world Christ has risen and reigns.

7. Lord, protect us from evil men and evil ideas.

Lord, since the beginning, the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy your glorious purposes for the world and your people. We pray for your protection against all powers and principalities seeking to sow division, anger, envy, greed, and lust among your people. Keep evil men with destructive intent and unsound doctrines far from us. Expose our culture’s ugly lies and the lies we want to believe by setting our hearts on truth that leads to love, a good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

8. Lord, guide our leadership in faithfully shepherding the flock.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of pastors and leaders. Strengthen our leaders’ faith and joy in the gospel and help them faithfully and unashamedly fulfill their ministry of shepherding the church and equipping the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11–13; 1 Peter 5:1–4). Give them great wisdom and direction in every aspect of ministry, and may their example show the church and the world who you are (Titus 2:7). Bless the wives and families of leaders with great gospel joy in the ministry. Help us honor them as your undershepherds who sacrifice much for our sake (Hebrews 13:17).

9. Lord, equip us for our mission on earth.

We are not saved by our good works, but for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Focus our hearts on the mission you have for us to share the gospel and make disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:18–20). Remind us how our marriages, family lives, work, and hobbies can be avenues to adorn the gospel through our proclamation and Christ-exalting lifestyles. Use our time as your gathered body to build us up and send us out for ministering your gospel, in the power of your Spirit, to our broken world.

10. Lord, deepen my longing for Christ’s return.

So often I pursue comfort and earthly joy in this sin-bent world when my heart should long for the return of Christ, our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Help my time among your people draw me into your holy presence and show me the glories of a sin-and suffering-free eternity where we will worship you face-to-face (Revelation 21:1–4). Oh, Lord, I long for your presence and perfect restoration! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

[This article originally appeared on Anchored in Christ.] [Photo Credit: Unsplash]

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What is the Church and Why Does it Matter, Part 1
Your Struggle With Worship, Part 1
On Worship | Isaac Watts

The post 10 Prayers to Pray Before Church appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.