Stephen W. Hiemstra's Blog, page 130
February 8, 2021
Resurrection: Monday Monologues (podcast) February 8, 2021
Ken Burtram PhotographyBy Stephen W. Hiemstra
This morning I will share a prayer and reflect on resurrection. After listening, please click here to take a brief listener survey (10 questions).
To listen, click on this link.
Hear the words; Walk the steps; Experience the joy!
Resurrection: Monday Monologues (podcast) February 8, 2021
Also see:
Monday Monologue On March 26, 2018
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net,
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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February 7, 2021
Prayer Day 12
By Stephen W. Hiemstra
Heavenly Father.
We praise you for Christ’s faithful example in life, death, and resurrection.
In the power of your Holy Spirit, banish our doubt; prosper our faith; heal our sin-sick souls; and grant us peace.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Prayer Day 12
Also see:
Believer’s Prayer
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Purchase Book: http://www.T2Pneuma.com
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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Oración Dia 12
Por Stephen W. Hiemstra
Padre Celestial.
Te alabamos por el ejemplo fiel de Jesús en la vida, la muerte, y la resurrección.
En el poder de tu Espíritu Santo, desterrar nuestras dudas; prosperar nuestra fe; sanar nuestras almas enfermas de pecado; y dar nos paz.
En el nombre de Jesús oramos, Amén.
Oración Dia 12
Ver también:
Gospel as Divine Template
Otras formas de participar en línea:
Sitio del autor: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net,
Comprar Libro: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.
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Gebetstag 12
Von Stephen W. Hiemstra
Himmlischer Vater,
Wir preisen dich für das treue Beispiel Christi in Leben, Tod und Auferstehung.
In der Kraft deines Heiligen Geistes verbanne unseren Zweifel; gedeihe unseren Glauben; heile unsere sündkranken Seelen; und gib uns Frieden.
In Jesu Namen, Amen.
Gebetstag 12
Siehe auch:
Glaubens Gebet
Andere Möglichkeiten, sich online zu engagieren:
Autoren Seite: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
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February 5, 2021
Resurrection
“The third day he rose again from the dead.” [1]
By Stephen W. Hiemstra
Why should we believe in the resurrection?
The truth of the resurrection became the most important confession of the early church. In John’s Gospel faith consists, primarily, in believing in the resurrection (John 20:25–29). Paul’s letter to the Romans states it plainly: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). Paul knew this truth first hand because the risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus—a story recorded three times in the Book of Acts [2]. At one point, the risen Christ appears to more than five hundred witnesses in just one setting (1 Cor 15:6).
The resurrection event changed the Apostle’s lives forever. Ten of the eleven faithful apostles died a martyr’s death [3]. The fact that they were willing to die for their beliefs is strong historical evidence for the truth of the resurrection.
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in Jerusalem speaks of both the prophecy of the resurrection and the eye witness accounts. Peter cites this prophecy: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Ps 16:10). The original context of the Psalm points to King David [4], but Peter, as an apostle, correctly interprets the “holy one” as referring also to Jesus (Acts 2:27–31). Peter’s next statement is most telling: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:32) Peter’s argument was both truthful and compelling because it convinced more than three thousand people to be baptized that day (Acts 2:41).
At least three reasons motivate us to believe in the resurrection. The first reason was given by Paul: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:17) We obtain forgiveness from God only because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God. A second reason follows from the first. Jesus’ resurrection makes our resurrection and eternal life possible. A third reason is that in the resurrection God attested Jesus as the Christ (Acts 17:31). Jesus’ path in life, death, and resurrection then becomes the template for our faith and the only source of our salvation (Phil 3:10–11).
Footnotes
[1] The references in this chapter to the Apostle’s Creed are all taken from FACR (2013, Q/A 23). Another translation is found in (PCUSA 1999, 2.1—2.3).
[2] Paul’s conversion was so powerful that he ceased being one of the church’s chief persecutors and he became one of the early church’s strongest evangelists (Acts 8:3). Also see: Acts 8:3–5, 22:6–8, and 26:13–15.
[3] The Apostle John was the only one of the eleven faithful disciples that did not die a martyr (Fox and Chadwick 2001, 10).
[4] The verse is a Hebrew doublet. The two parts repeat the same thought. Therefore, holy one refers to my soul.
References
Faith Alive Christian Resources (FACR). 2013. The Heidelberg Catechism. Cited: 30 August, 2013. Online: https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=372.
Fox, John and Harold J. Chadwick. 2001. The New Foxes’ Book of Martyrs (Orig Pub 1563). Gainsville, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PC USA). 1999. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—Part I: Book of Confession. Louisville, KY: Office of the General Assembly.
Resurrection
Also see:
Preface to A Christian Guide to Spirituality
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Purchase Book: http://www.T2Pneuma.com
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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Resurrección
“al tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos” [1]
Por Stephen W. Hiemstra
¿Por qué debemos creer en la resurrección?
La verdad de la resurrección se convirtió en la confesión más importante de la iglesia primativa. En el evangelío de Juan la fe consiste, principalmente, en la creencia en la resurrección (John 20:25-29). La carta de Pablo a los Romanos lo dice claramente: “que si confiesas con tu boca a Jesús por Señor, y crees en tu corazón que Dios Lo resucitó de entre los muertos, serás salvo.” (Rom 10:9 NBH) Pablo sabía esta verdad por si mismo por la razon que el cristo resucitado se le apareció por el camino a Damasco—una historia registra tres veces en el libro de Hechos [2]. En un momento dado, el cristo resucitado aparecio a más que quinientos testigos en sólo ajuste (1 Cor 15:6).
El resurrección acontecimiento cambia las vidas de los Apóstoles por siempre. Diez de los once Apóstoles fieles murieron una muerte de mártir [3]. El hecho que estaban dispuestos a morir por su creencia es evidencia fuerte y historico para la verdad de la resurreccion.
El sermón de Pedro en Pentecostés en Jerusalén habla tanto de la profecía de la resurrection y cuentas de testigos oculares. Pedro cita esta profecía: “Porque Tú no abandonarás mi alma en el Seol, Ni permitirás que Tu Santo sufra corrupción.” (Psa 16:10 NBH) El contento original del Salmo punta al Rey David [4], pero Pedro, como un apostol, interpreta corectamente “el Santo” como referencia tambien de Jesus (Acts 2:27-31). El proxima comentario del Pedro estaba important: “A este Jesús resucitó Dios, de lo cual todos nosotros somos testigos.” (Acts 2:32 NBH) El argumento de Pedro era ambos verdad y convincente por que se habia convencido más que tres mil personas a ser bautizados por ese dia (Acts 2:41).
Por lo menos tres razones motivan nos a creer en la resurrección. La razón primera fue dado de Pablo: “y si Cristo no ha resucitado, la fe de ustedes es falsa y todavía están en sus pecados.” (1 Cor 15:17 NBH) Obtenemos perdón de Dios sólo por razon del sacrificio perfecto de Cristo como el Cordero de Dios. La razón segunda sigue de la primera. La resurrección de Jesús hace que nuestro resurrección y la vida eternal es posible. La razón tercera es que en la resurreccion Dios ha dado pruebas a todos que Jesús es el Cristo (Acts 17:31). El camino de Jesús en la vida, la muerte, y resurrección entonces se convierte en un modelo por nuestro fe y la única fuente de nuestra salvación (Phil 3:10-11).
Notas
[1] Iglesia Presbiteriana (E.U.A.) 2009. El Libro de Adoración. Preparado por la Oficina de Teología y Adoración. Louisville, KY: Geneva Press. Pagina 35.
[2] La conversión de Pablo era tan poderoso que él dejó ser a perseguidor principal de la iglesia y se convirtió a uno de los evangelistas más fuerte de la iglesia primativa (Acts 8:3). También vea Acts 8:3–5, 22:6–8, y 26:13–15.
[3] El Apostol Juan era lo único de los onze discipulos fieles que no murieron en un martír (Fox and Chadwick 2001, 10).
[4] Este verso es un doblete Hebreo. Las dos partes repita el pensamiento mismo. Por este razon, el santo refiere a mi alma.
Referencias
Fox, John and Harold J. Chadwick. 2001. The New Foxes’ Book of Martyrs (Orig Pub 1563). Gainsville, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
Iglesia Presbiteriana (E.U.A.) 2009. El Libro de Adoración. Preparado por la Oficina de Teología y Adoración. Louisville, KY: Geneva Press.
Resurrección
Ver también:
Prefacio de La Guía Cristiana a la Espiritualidad
Otras formas de participar en línea:
Sitio del autor: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Comprar Libro: http://www.T2Pneuma.com
Boletín informativo: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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Auferstehung
Von Stephen W. Hiemstra
“Am dritten Tage auferstanden von den Toten.” Ω
Warum sollten wir auf der Auferstehung glauben?
Die Wahrheit der Auferstehung wurde zum wichtigsten Bekenntnis der frühen Kirche. Im Johannesevangelium besteht der Glaube in erster Linie darin, an die Auferstehung zu glauben (John 20:2-29). In Paulus Brief an die Römer heißt es deutlich: “Denn wenn du mit deinem Munde bekennst, dass Jesus der Herr ist, und glaubst in deinem Herzen, dass ihn Gott von den Toten auferweckt hat, so wirst du gerettet.” (Rom 10:9) Paulus kannte diese Wahrheit aus erster Hand, weil ihm der auferstandene Christus auf dem Weg nach Damaskus erschien—eine Geschichte, die dreimal in der Apostelgeschichte aufgezeichnet wurde (Acts 8:3-5; 22:6-8; 26:13-15). Pauls Bekehrung war so mächtig, da𝛽 er aufhörte, einer der Hauptverfolger der Kirche zu sein, und er wurde einer der stärksten Evangelisten der frühen Kirche (Acts 8:3). An einem Punkt erscheint der auferstandene Christus mehr als fünfhundert Zeugen in nur einer Umgebung (1 Cor 15:6).
Das Auferstehungsereignis hat das Leben des Apostels für immer verändert. Zehn der elf treuen Apostel starben als Märtyrer. Der Apostel Johannes war der einzige der elf treuen Jünger, der nicht als Märtyrer starb (Fox and Chadwick 2001,10). Die Tatsache, da𝛽 sie bereit waren, für ihren Glauben zu sterben, ist ein starker historischer Beweis für die Wahrheit der Auferstehung.
Die Predigt von Petrus zu Pfingsten in Jerusalem spricht sowohl von der Prophezeiung der Auferstehung als auch von den Augenzeugenberichten. Petrus zitiert diese Prophezeiung: “Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht dem Tode lassen und nicht zugeben, dass dein Heiliger die Grube sehe” (Ps. 16:10), die ein hebräisches Dublett ist. Der ursprüngliche Kontext des Psalms weist auf König David hin, aber Petrus interpretiert als Apostel den “Heiligen“ so, da𝛽 er sich auch auf Jesus bezieht (Acts 2:27–31). Peters nächste Aussage ist am aussagekräftigsten:“Diesen Jesus hat Gott auferweckt; des sind wir alle Zeugen.” (Acts 2:32) Peters Argument war sowohl wahr als auch überzeugend, weil es mehr als dreitausend Menschen davon überzeugte, an diesem Tag getauft zu werden (Acts 2:41).
Mindestens drei Gründe motivieren uns, an die Auferstehung zu glauben. Der erste Grund wurde von Paulus angegeben: “Ist Christus aber nicht auferstanden, so ist euer Glaube nichtig, so seid ihr noch in euren Sünden” (1 Cor 15:17) Wir erhalten Vergebung von Gott nur aufgrund des vollkommenen Opfers Christi als Lamm Gottes. Der zweiter Grund folgt aus dem ersten. Die Auferstehung Jesu ermöglicht unsere Auferstehung und unser ewiges Leben. Der dritte Grund ist, da𝛽 Gott in der Auferstehung Jesus als den Christus bezeugte (Acts 17:31). Der Weg Jesu in Leben, Tod und Auferstehung wird dann zur Vorlage für unseren Glauben und zur einzigen Quelle unserer Erlösung (Phil 3:10-11).
Verweise
Fox, John and Harold J. Chadwick. 2001. The New Foxes’ Book of Martyrs (Orig Pub 1563). Gainsville, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
Auferstehung
Siehe auch:
Einleitung auf Ein Christlicher Leitfaden zur Spiritualität
Andere Möglichkeiten, sich online zu engagieren:
Autoren Seite: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Herausgeber Seite: http://www.T2Pneuma.com
Mitteilungsblatt: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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February 2, 2021
Blackaby: Spring is Around the Corner
Richard Blackaby. 2012. The Seasons of God: How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveal His Purposes for You. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books.
Review by Stephen W. Hiemstra
“You have to know when to cut bait and when to go fishing.”
Whoever said it first was certainly a fishing expert. A good friend of mine, who is an obsessive fisherman that actually put himself through school working in fisheries, advised: the time to fish is at twilight—morning and evening. I never caught a fish with an artificial lure until the day I followed his advice. Timing is everything if you want to catch fish.
Richard Blackaby’s book, The Seasons of God, builds on the basic premise of King Solomon (7): For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV). Blackaby (3) writes:
This book explores something that involves getting your timing right for all you do and where you do it. It’s about being free to really enjoy what you’re doing and where you’re doing—and to make the most of the experience.
Blackaby (13) reminds us also of the Apostle Paul’s observation that: at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6 ESV).
Blackaby (24-41) summarzes his observations about timing in a chapter entitled: Ten Laws of the Seasons of Life. These laws are:
Each of us experiences repeated cycles in life that are profoundly mirrored in the seasons we see in nature.
These seasons are more than simply a metaphor for aging.
Each season is unique and adds important dimensions to life.
Our seasons follow a set order.
Our seasons vary in length and intensity—and in what they require from us.
The way we handle one season profoundly impacts how we experience the seasons that follow.
We can—and often do—fail to recognize and understand our particular season.
Understanding our seasons of life requires a vital, open, trusting relationship with God.
We experience different seasons in different aspects of our lives.
We are meant to thrive in every season.
This last point is terribly important—thriving is God’s will for our lives and his guidance is the key to making the most of each season (40).
The four seasons of life are taken from nature. Blackaby (25-26) describes them as follows:
Spring is about potential, promise, and possibilities.
Summer is a time of growth and maturation.
Autumn is the season of harvest.
Winter is a season of winding down—withdrawal, retreat, and closure.
Problems (47) arise when we are impatient for the next season (season rushers) or refuse to give up the previous season (season graspers). I am more prone to impatience—friends used to say that I was born 16 years old—but we all know someone who reports their age on their birthday as 29—again. Getting stuck in a particularly happy season or particularly sad season seems to be a pattern repeated in many unhappy lives.
Blackaby’s book is written in 3 parts: Embracing the Pattern, Embracing each Season, and Thriving in All Our Seasons. These parts are composed of 29 chapters. Chapters 6 through 25 are found in part 2 where Blackaby introduces a classification system: 4 seasons described in 4 areas of life. The seasons are listed above; the 4 areas of life affected by the seasons are: your identity, your relationships, your roles, and your faith (58-60). The first and third parts of the book introduce the subject, summarize the lessons learned, and suggest what to do with it.
Many people will want to skip straight to chapter 28: With Joy Comes Laughter. Here Blackaby talks about how to have fun. How do you become a joy-producing person? (238) Blackaby suggests house decorations (240), a chocolate fountain (241), a costume closet (241), holiday themes (242), and homemade movies (242). Richard: please invite me to your home sometime!
Blackaby’s writing has been influential in my walk with the Lord. Although I was exposed to Experiencing God in my church, I actually spent more time with Hearing God’s Voice. It was about a year later that I began to sense a call into pastoral ministry. Blackaby’s The Seasons of God is a good holiday read and a thoughtful book anytime. It may change your life.
Footnotes
Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King. 1990. Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Nashville: Lifeway Press.
Henry and Richard Blackaby. 2002. Hearing God’s Voice. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.
Blackaby: Spring is Around the Corner
Also see:
Monday Monologue On March 26, 2018
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net,
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Dec_2020
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February 1, 2021
Hell: Monday Monologues (podcast) February 1, 2021
Stephen W. Hiemstra 2020 (Ken Burtram Photography)By Stephen W. Hiemstra
This morning I will share a prayer and reflect on hell. After listening, please click here to take a brief listener survey (10 questions).
To listen, click on this link.
Hear the words; Walk the steps; Experience the joy!
Hell: Monday Monologues (podcast) February 1, 2021
Also see:
Monday Monologue On March 26, 2018
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net,
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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January 31, 2021
Prayer Day 11
Stephen W. HiemstraSovereign Lord. God of the living and the dead.
Thank you for caring enough for us that you sent Jesus to hell and back for our benefit.
Keep our hearts and minds safe from a fascination with evil.
Set our minds on heaven so that our hearts may rest with you, now and always.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Prayer Day 11
Also see:
Believer’s Prayer
Other ways to engage online:
Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Purchase Book: http://www.T2Pneuma.com
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Begone_2021
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