tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19063875484695429372023-11-16T06:32:42.340-05:00Thoughts on the God Who Loves UsI have loved you with an everlasting love. Jer 31:3Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1981125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-42801964605345840722018-10-26T07:56:00.004-04:002018-10-26T07:56:34.465-04:00HopeJohn Piper<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Great Missionary Hope</span></h3>
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<em>Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved.”</em> (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D31%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNHGI5qskidr9PWrK07BQ0tLY-9Cmg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=31&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:5</a>)</blockquote>
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The great missionary hope is that when the gospel is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, God himself does what man cannot do — he creates the faith that saves. The call of God does what the call of man can’t. It raises the dead. It creates spiritual life. It is like the call of Jesus to Lazarus in the tomb, “Come forth!” (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D19%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNE8dpN9-r4kZJpb5njsBFgQ5JThtA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=19&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">John 11:43</a>).</div>
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We can waken someone from sleep with our call, but God’s call can summon into being things that are not (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D21%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNFRkz2FB5_NeJqzoa80Jo2FYgHoug" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=21&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 4:17</a>). God’s call is irresistible in the sense that it can overcome all resistance. It is infallibly effective according to God’s purpose — so much so that Paul can say, “Those whom [God] called he also justified” (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D17%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNFvrDwA6S18ci60TXGO8LfypJ4WGQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_3" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 8:30</a>).</div>
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In other words, God’s call is so effectual that it infallibly creates the faith through which a person is justified. <em>All</em> the called are justified. But none is justified without faith (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNGfceDVTle4pU5ATF0vijPIaYT3ew" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_4" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 5:1</a>). So the call of God cannot fail in its intended effect. It irresistibly secures the faith that justifies.</div>
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This is what man cannot do. It is impossible. Only God can take out the heart of stone (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D24%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNF_B0GLbh2MfiIR1ryHv36FRET-bA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=24&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_5" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Ezekiel 36:26</a>). Only God can draw people to the Son (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D25%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNGLYjcfBfEr1nf51FVyIJ9iX-u6xw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=25&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_6" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">John 6:44</a>, <a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D22%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNGdgXSQOOrV_ozs76cZk7W1z3l7PQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_7" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">65</a>). Only God can open the heart so that it gives heed to the gospel (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNElM8meYLjGYLHlZUt0BpW6l8oQPg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_8" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Acts 16:14</a>). Only the Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name.</div>
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He calls them and they follow (<a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226406000&usg=AFQjCNHmgnWlodwGxNg20RpePUiUgMB3gw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_9" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">John 10:3–4</a>, <a class="m_6026443514289904859bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D27%26ms%3DNTc2NDk4NTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1540641226407000&usg=AFQjCNFmtQlPUkUESEPrzz8m9P2Z_9EaXA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=27&ms=NTc2NDk4NTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMzY0NDUzNgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_6026443514289904859_www_biblegateway_com_pass_10" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">14</a>). The sovereign grace of God, doing the humanly impossible, is the great missionary hope.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-90200613515531940362018-10-12T07:23:00.001-04:002018-10-12T07:23:21.347-04:00Truly Life<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excerpt from Desiring God: How to Live a Simple and Wasted Life</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What Thoreau Never Caught</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-live-a-simple-and-wasted-life?utm_campaign=Daily+Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=66595519&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Y2ePcYQOBM-ODsf2w1x5qZ816dwMTzXtPEUdzjFnYWMxiNqNMHptWoTMA--SjzeOKxyh0kXh5yGNA9z1m_lQhCL-UKA&_hsmi=66595519#what-thoreau-never-caught" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; color: white; display: flex; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"></g></g></svg><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This emptiness is shown by what has become of the site of Thoreau’s experiment in pursuing the marrow of life. Walden is almost sacred ground for many, memorialized with granite stones like a grave. A half a million pilgrims <a href="https://www.thoreausociety.org/news-article/walden-pond-visitor-center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">visit the site each year</a>, because they resonate with Thoreau’s God-given sense that life should not be wasted. Though, ironically, the grounds now house a state-of-the-art visitor center and gift shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It isn’t so much in Thoreau’s simplicity that he points to the way that leads to life. It’s in his ending words, his intuitive sense that there must be a better future than this — “a resurrection and immortality.” His intuition was right, even if his religious conclusions were not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="John 11.25" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2011.25" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">John 11:25</a>). Which is why Paul said, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Phil 1.21" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil%201.21" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">Philippians 1:21</a>). And it’s why Paul said that those who put their hope in the Resurrection and the Life “[store] up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Tim 6.19" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Tim%206.19" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">1 Timothy 6:19</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>No one in heaven envies the rich of this world. No one covets the famous. No one praises the powerful. They have discovered what it means to “live deep and suck all the marrow out of life.” They have found that which is truly life: Jesus Christ. [emphasis added]</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-37626246833027525452018-10-11T09:21:00.003-04:002018-10-11T09:21:26.927-04:00The Lord Reigns<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">Psalm 97</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"></span><br />
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1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;<br /> let the distant shores rejoice.<br />2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;<br /> righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.<br />3 Fire goes before him<br /> and consumes his foes on every side.<br />4 His lightning lights up the world;<br /> the earth sees and trembles.<br />5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,<br /> before the Lord of all the earth.<br />6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,<br /> and all peoples see his glory.</div>
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7 All who worship images are put to shame,<br /> those who boast in idols—<br /> worship him, all you gods!</div>
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8 Zion hears and rejoices<br /> and the villages of Judah are glad<br /> because of your judgments, Lord.<br />9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;<br /> you are exalted far above all gods.<br />10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,<br /> for he guards the lives of his faithful ones<br /> and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.<br />11 Light shines on the righteous<br /> and joy on the upright in heart.<br />12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,<br /> and praise his holy name.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-33190579488605078232018-10-07T05:35:00.004-04:002018-10-07T05:35:55.301-04:00You Are My God<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ps 63</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-11099813697267485382018-10-02T06:35:00.000-04:002018-10-02T06:35:29.089-04:00Run to Him<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://emails.desiringgod.org/e2t/c/*W5sxNtS6ptpwfW7_l72M6YGp6G0/*W2-1fl34hhhHQW6F2WRd8lGGzJ0/5/f18dQhb0S65N2RMFdXV11-732_V3VlVkjB443xPg_xW8HCdn11DL8rrW3SVdFS5Fr83KW6HvdjZ5pDCDTW8K9NmM9l7DDgW80QyYx1MbL-CW16g7p84GzZxbVcz5Hw815ZxDW87xSKn5RBd5vW6YQbkb2rsG6lW5Y6_bk3r3v7HW6PLwdX9db7GyW5CZpGR4hd_52N1fplsgHx-gWW8dnYh-6Njgt-W2_gXJm1fdcvTW5qW_KK77rzPdW1HXxmF19PfBrW1zZdKd3Dqg6WMxzNlYV0Nb0W3KRQZz2_6rXHN6NKc8SdLLcWW2lZQ_M4g3NTkW7x9WSB75rPTxN6GtGhgz5X4YV89PJf31WYJRW58nl7C3Lp0mbV7KmnS4YK74WN4WNFV7GqSh5W70-Rty8yJxzRW7DYtm071s69YW1VN8zy8GhMjyW7_B3kC87p9gkW6sVr9B3KN1yyW3BRthy5Vmc_9W3qWCc414wV7sN7_sxjTdywFKW7VBVLr6SlQPKW6l4H5T90D6-rW8387XZ6vVQPHW8BR3Bw156K7MW4kc2Lc3srns3W6PlY_F2RNSzgW7BGxt51SQ4CxW123Sl_4Z1yR3W1nScJc7ZCtyfW6_Sb_w8fTzb0W3c_SDN8XmwS6W8Vfgf99k6r4kW7gVMSt3RjqWQN2XgQtM9M--G111&source=gmail&ust=1538561650084000&usg=AFQjCNE7TBQQ5J7GUlmSyMG8z2XgQzhdbQ" href="https://emails.desiringgod.org/e2t/c/*W5sxNtS6ptpwfW7_l72M6YGp6G0/*W2-1fl34hhhHQW6F2WRd8lGGzJ0/5/f18dQhb0S65N2RMFdXV11-732_V3VlVkjB443xPg_xW8HCdn11DL8rrW3SVdFS5Fr83KW6HvdjZ5pDCDTW8K9NmM9l7DDgW80QyYx1MbL-CW16g7p84GzZxbVcz5Hw815ZxDW87xSKn5RBd5vW6YQbkb2rsG6lW5Y6_bk3r3v7HW6PLwdX9db7GyW5CZpGR4hd_52N1fplsgHx-gWW8dnYh-6Njgt-W2_gXJm1fdcvTW5qW_KK77rzPdW1HXxmF19PfBrW1zZdKd3Dqg6WMxzNlYV0Nb0W3KRQZz2_6rXHN6NKc8SdLLcWW2lZQ_M4g3NTkW7x9WSB75rPTxN6GtGhgz5X4YV89PJf31WYJRW58nl7C3Lp0mbV7KmnS4YK74WN4WNFV7GqSh5W70-Rty8yJxzRW7DYtm071s69YW1VN8zy8GhMjyW7_B3kC87p9gkW6sVr9B3KN1yyW3BRthy5Vmc_9W3qWCc414wV7sN7_sxjTdywFKW7VBVLr6SlQPKW6l4H5T90D6-rW8387XZ6vVQPHW8BR3Bw156K7MW4kc2Lc3srns3W6PlY_F2RNSzgW7BGxt51SQ4CxW123Sl_4Z1yR3W1nScJc7ZCtyfW6_Sb_w8fTzb0W3c_SDN8XmwS6W8Vfgf99k6r4kW7gVMSt3RjqWQN2XgQtM9M--G111" style="background-color: white; color: #bd0004; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>God Isn’t Gloomy</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">By John Piper</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<em>The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.</em> (Psalm 33:10–11)</div>
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“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3). The implication of this text is that God has the right and power to do whatever makes him happy. That is what it means to say that God is sovereign.</div>
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Think about it for a moment: If God is sovereign and can do anything he pleases, then none of his purposes can be frustrated. “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:10–11).</div>
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And if none of his purposes can be frustrated, then he must be the happiest of all beings.</div>
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This infinite, divine happiness is the fountain from which the Christian (Hedonist) drinks and longs to drink more deeply.</div>
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Can you imagine what it would be like if the God who ruled the world were not happy? What if God were given to grumbling and pouting and depression, like some Jack-and-the-beanstalk giant in the sky? What if God were frustrated and despondent and gloomy and dismal and discontented and dejected?</div>
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Could we join David and say, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1)? I don’t think so.</div>
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We would all relate to God like little children who have a frustrated, gloomy, dismal, discontented father. They can’t enjoy him. They can only try not to bother him, or maybe try to work for him to earn some little favor.</div>
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But that is not the way God is. He is never out of sorts with frustration or discouragement. And, as Psalm 147:11 says, he “takes pleasure . . . in those who hope in his steadfast love.” So the aim of the Christian Hedonist is not to avoid this God, not to run from him, or tiptoe through the living room lest his gloominess become anger. No, our aim is to hope in his steadfast love. To run to him. To be happy in God, to delight in God, to cherish and enjoy his fellowship and favor.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-58992433706273220372018-10-01T05:42:00.001-04:002018-10-01T05:42:39.243-04:00Joy in GodJohn Piper<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Most Liberating Discovery</span></h3>
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<em>Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.</em> (<a class="m_-5103721136566488318bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D21%26ms%3DNTc0NjU5NjES1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTUwMDA3NjgzOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1538473079973000&usg=AFQjCNEngedIzWrOSedBDb4A1qpghzLsTw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=21&ms=NTc0NjU5NjES1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTUwMDA3NjgzOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-5103721136566488318_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Philippians 3:1</a>)</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px;">No one had ever taught me that God is glorified by our joy in him. That joy in God is the very thing that makes praise an honor to God, and not hypocrisy.<br />
But Jonathan Edwards said it so clearly and powerfully:<br />
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God glorifies Himself toward the creatures also in two ways: 1. By appearing to . . . their understanding. 2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying, the manifestations which He makes of Himself. . . . God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.<br />
When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. . . . He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [doesn’t] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.</blockquote>
This was a stunning discovery for me. I <em>must</em> pursue joy in God if I am to glorify him as the surpassingly valuable Reality in the universe. Joy is not a mere option alongside worship. It is an essential component of worship.<br />
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We have a name for those who try to praise when they have no pleasure in the object. We call them hypocrites. This fact — that praise means consummate pleasure and that the highest end of man is to drink deeply of this pleasure — was perhaps the most liberating discovery I ever made.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-55308951954539400532018-09-24T06:06:00.001-04:002018-09-24T06:06:13.167-04:00The Grace<span style="color: #77af44; display: inline-block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; padding-top: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;">DON CARSON</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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2 Samuel 20; 2 Corinthians 13; Ezekiel 27; Psalms 75–76 <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55%26id%3D5443dda6b7%26e%3D9b0b499f41&source=gmail&ust=1537869733800000&usg=AFQjCNH9v82E6bICOaBdSVT24pfBZnUzDA" href="https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55&id=5443dda6b7&e=9b0b499f41" style="color: #77af44; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiSNSO_I5nhmDyADcHx7qbP1ADVOaSWUN9rLo6p-JADzCOo9Sbx_J-o-6sx8xq3wSERBE5IS2mXP0rNtTQv20r8PvTsYUAm1CZVl7gjV_r8eibbShFlKsQps27T7ZcBuHj3gA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; outline: none;" title="Biblia" width="65" /></a></div>
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IN MANY CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD, though comparatively less frequently in North America, the minister at the end of the service will quietly utter the two words, “The grace.” Those gathered know that this is a signal for the entire congregation to pray together, reciting the verse from which these two words are drawn: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (<strong>2 Cor. 13:14</strong>).</div>
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The text is short and simple, and we are in danger of flying by without reflecting on it.</div>
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(1) The triune God is the source of these blessings. That in itself is noteworthy: there was no long delay before Christians like Paul saw the implications of who Jesus is, and the implications of the gift of the Spirit, for their understanding of God himself. The entire Godhead is engaged in this vastly generous salvage operation that takes God’s fallen image-bearers and restores them to fellowship with their Maker.</div>
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(2) In the first two parts, the “grace” is undoubtedly the grace that the Lord Jesus Christ gives or provides, and the “love” is the love that God himself pours out. That makes it overwhelmingly likely that the third clause, “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” does not refer to our fellowship with the Spirit, but to the fellowship that the Holy Spirit bestows, enables, or gives. The Holy Spirit is finally the author of Christian fellowship. We enjoy Christian fellowship with one another because of the Spirit’s work in each of us individually and in all of us corporately, turning our hearts and minds from self-focus and sin to adoration of God and a love of holiness and a delight in Jesus and his Gospel and teachings. Without such transformation, our “fellowship,” our partnership in the Gospel, would be impossible.</div>
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(3) Not for a moment should we imagine that grace comes exclusively from Jesus, love exclusively from God the Father, and fellowship exclusively from the Spirit—as if Jesus could not love or generate fellowship, the Father could not display grace, and so forth. There is a sense in which grace, love, and fellowship come from the triune God. Yet one may usefully connect grace with the Lord Jesus, because his sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross was offered up out of sheer grace; we may usefully connect love with God, because the entire plan of redemption springs from the wise and loving heart of God, of whom it is said, “God is love” (see 1 John 4:8 and the October 11 meditation); we may usefully connect fellowship with the Holy Spirit, since his is the work of transformation that unites us together in the partnership of the Gospel.</div>
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-74583248601057621902018-09-09T06:19:00.002-04:002018-09-09T06:19:06.169-04:00Grace<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*VL41Ks5cDvzJVcHKXv2V_kZN0/*W36P0RB4grdJXW3tWkzt5lgw1f0/5/f18dQhb0S2Dj6_HXFkV1vjk_1gdh8_W2nkPB02GyQ6dW1lbKjJ5dv3YTW3jRhT35lKjC1W1Fz3XQ6QBdcGW6MZJp76NX0mbW47S8hf8bdKD0VmSDNx41yB8mW1r0sqn8l61ZkW8NqV8l6Nvt1qW9g8GlZ6y4ns5W3K6QPw8KwshNW6nhqMl8sZ5-VW61j9fH8VXXzCW6j7csV2K2HYxW2ylqFT1QgJdlW2_ZFWx3Pq2hZVDdsbq93rnWYW54HMtx5tZ_R_W5YW59l7hjBc3VK1XXB3X1__8W5JskMY4wb4z1W4mqPQm4cjC2bW4J4c6j7bgB5YVBMxDn1tb0XcW5GbLbT58ZKXgVCcHm354y2dhW4LvFcv98fPvKW31Wcdf15ZF4RW7mM8jv773xhKW4ZxP4w2YKx_QW8RkZ303W5_b1W7tMxBr4GMWGCN87B-F9CzPmHW1QBJdY28XMwFW5Cml5L9flPBdW7CFSgT7717J-VBvgnW98-Hb0W193tzr8tktCVW3nWMVq1qwJ3_W6lSc5C917NHGW4HpGMx4_kBSDW5xGNn890bG94W99ZmpH6D_5_RW2BS0tL3_4vNpW5ZtkC755XryYW6jbf6Z6-jJzMW8GsgJt1sLQV1W2hHSKr5P-vRMW977wBk3D7d6tW556pGs89m9yYW6SdCxL4hyFdQf6pj1B204&source=gmail&ust=1536573994301000&usg=AFQjCNEPxJPnOZuEf2qLgRBQKfFJRWdwMw" href="https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*VL41Ks5cDvzJVcHKXv2V_kZN0/*W36P0RB4grdJXW3tWkzt5lgw1f0/5/f18dQhb0S2Dj6_HXFkV1vjk_1gdh8_W2nkPB02GyQ6dW1lbKjJ5dv3YTW3jRhT35lKjC1W1Fz3XQ6QBdcGW6MZJp76NX0mbW47S8hf8bdKD0VmSDNx41yB8mW1r0sqn8l61ZkW8NqV8l6Nvt1qW9g8GlZ6y4ns5W3K6QPw8KwshNW6nhqMl8sZ5-VW61j9fH8VXXzCW6j7csV2K2HYxW2ylqFT1QgJdlW2_ZFWx3Pq2hZVDdsbq93rnWYW54HMtx5tZ_R_W5YW59l7hjBc3VK1XXB3X1__8W5JskMY4wb4z1W4mqPQm4cjC2bW4J4c6j7bgB5YVBMxDn1tb0XcW5GbLbT58ZKXgVCcHm354y2dhW4LvFcv98fPvKW31Wcdf15ZF4RW7mM8jv773xhKW4ZxP4w2YKx_QW8RkZ303W5_b1W7tMxBr4GMWGCN87B-F9CzPmHW1QBJdY28XMwFW5Cml5L9flPBdW7CFSgT7717J-VBvgnW98-Hb0W193tzr8tktCVW3nWMVq1qwJ3_W6lSc5C917NHGW4HpGMx4_kBSDW5xGNn890bG94W99ZmpH6D_5_RW2BS0tL3_4vNpW5ZtkC755XryYW6jbf6Z6-jJzMW8GsgJt1sLQV1W2hHSKr5P-vRMW977wBk3D7d6tW556pGs89m9yYW6SdCxL4hyFdQf6pj1B204" style="background-color: white; color: #bd0004; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Grace Must Be Free</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">By John Piper</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)</div>
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Picture salvation as a house that you live in.</div>
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It provides you with protection. It is stocked with food and drink that will last forever. It never decays or crumbles. Its windows open onto vistas of all-satisfying glory.</div>
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God built it at great cost to himself and to his Son, and he gave it to you free and clear.</div>
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The “purchase” agreement is called a “new covenant.” The terms read: “This house shall become and remain yours if you will receive it as a gift and take delight in the Father and the Son as they inhabit the house with you. You shall not profane the house of God by sheltering other gods nor turn your heart away after other treasures, but find your contentment in the fellowship of God in this house.”</div>
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Would it not be foolish to say <em>yes</em> to this agreement, and then hire a lawyer to draw up an amortization schedule with monthly payments in the hopes of somehow balancing accounts and paying for the house?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;">
You would be treating the house no longer as a gift, but a purchase. God would no longer be the free benefactor. And you would be enslaved to a new set of demands that he never dreamed of putting on you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;">
If grace is to be free — which is the very meaning of grace — we cannot view it as something to be repaid.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-65021073528851841622018-08-31T08:18:00.001-04:002018-08-31T08:18:09.748-04:00Yes<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
Yes to All God’s Promises and More</h3>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<em>All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.</em> (<a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D27%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNGG8VGXVX8AFEgn43v-4NjHppzfew" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=27&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:20</a>)</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Being “in Christ Jesus” is a stupendous reality. It is breathtaking what it means to be in Christ. United to Christ. Bound to Christ.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus you have been seated in the heavenly places even while he lived on earth. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNHD1yU1GfgjuWYuld08zDN1Njm5zQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:6</a>, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus all the promises of God are Yes for you. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D27%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNGG8VGXVX8AFEgn43v-4NjHppzfew" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=27&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:20</a>, “All the promises of God find their Yes in Christ.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus you are being sanctified and made holy. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D20%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNGmDLtRobx2IU1I4uk5C4mXm1haiQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=20&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:2</a>, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus everything you really needed will be supplied. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNGDU9ILKPT0jbmtHYoQov1hg1E8PA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_3" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Philippians 4:19</a>, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D17%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNHzoOQvPdyG-gwMLbdJE8xKzZN7-Q" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_4" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Philippians 4:7</a>, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In Christ Jesus you have eternal life. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D21%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNEhMySidewTmXC3DK1P9en5iXWCww" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=21&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_5" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 6:23</a>, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">And in Christ Jesus you will be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord. <a class="m_-2381075515050892142bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D22%26ms%3DNTcyODAzOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1535802275394000&usg=AFQjCNEhwJOQ1h4IqjLUilcOvNtmoW-Chg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTcyODAzOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2NDE0ODY2NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-2381075515050892142_www_biblegateway_com_pass_6" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:22</a>, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” All those united to Adam in the first humanity die. All those united to Christ in the new humanity rise to live again!</li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">John Piper Devotional</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-6832080629016663482018-08-15T07:36:00.002-04:002018-08-15T07:36:59.362-04:00Heavens Declare<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">Psalm 19<br />For the director of music. A psalm of David.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"></span><br />
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1 The heavens declare the glory of God;<br /> the skies proclaim the work of his hands.<br />2 Day after day they pour forth speech;<br /> night after night they reveal knowledge.<br />3 They have no speech, they use no words;<br /> no sound is heard from them.<br />4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,<br /> their words to the ends of the world.<br />In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.<br />5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,<br /> like a champion rejoicing to run his course.<br />6 It rises at one end of the heavens<br /> and makes its circuit to the other;<br /> nothing is deprived of its warmth.</div>
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7 The law of the Lord is perfect,<br /> refreshing the soul.<br />The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,<br /> making wise the simple.<br />8 The precepts of the Lord are right,<br /> giving joy to the heart.<br />The commands of the Lord are radiant,<br /> giving light to the eyes.<br />9 The fear of the Lord is pure,<br /> enduring forever.<br />The decrees of the Lord are firm,<br /> and all of them are righteous.</div>
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10 They are more precious than gold,<br /> than much pure gold;<br />they are sweeter than honey,<br /> than honey from the honeycomb.<br />11 By them your servant is warned;<br /> in keeping them there is great reward.<br />12 But who can discern their own errors?<br /> Forgive my hidden faults.<br />13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;<br /> may they not rule over me.<br />Then I will be blameless,<br /> innocent of great transgression.</div>
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14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart<br /> be pleasing in your sight,<br /> Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-2867875283414253082018-08-11T06:21:00.002-04:002018-08-11T06:21:13.292-04:00Mercy<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">John Piper</span><br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Have Mercy on Me, O God</span></h3>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.</em> (<a class="m_7774853890508755643bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTcxNjI0NDAS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1534067426515000&usg=AFQjCNGu0_VAh-AI_nRv6RUE6w5cl86PfQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTcxNjI0NDAS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_7774853890508755643_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 51:1</a>)</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three times: “Have mercy,” “according to your steadfast love,” and “according to your abundant mercy.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what God had promised in <a class="m_7774853890508755643bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTcxNjI0NDAS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1534067426516000&usg=AFQjCNGBFWShuY7zwFwNCKDhzw0oTbx-uw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTcxNjI0NDAS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_7774853890508755643_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Exodus 34:6–7</a>:</span></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David knew that there were guilty who would not be forgiven. And there were guilty who by some mysterious work of redemption would not be counted as guilty, but would be forgiven. <a class="m_7774853890508755643bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTcxNjI0NDAS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1534067426516000&usg=AFQjCNFimF_d91Vs4YZQSD26-8fvFOUoBA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTcxNjI0NDAS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MTQ0MDI2MgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_7774853890508755643_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 51</a> is his way of laying hold on that mystery of mercy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We know more of the mystery of this redemption than David did. We know Christ. But we lay hold of the mercy in the same way he did.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first thing he does is turn helpless to the mercy and love of God. Today that means turning helpless to Christ.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-34553476667197882792018-08-05T06:07:00.002-04:002018-08-05T06:07:54.822-04:00Faithful<br />
<br />
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*W85tW522dbH-RW555xKb2v5yp-0/*W82F8MQ3ycGkqN3Xp06X_KSPC0/5/f18dQhb0S65M2WK2bdW12hmv62swHXSN2vtSX2hZz1fW5Hrsqy31RT-wW80RmWV7QCG8fW4SltZm7tqG6tW3MdkTz8RcZhNN2f24BFdzq2wW7cNyDy174k7cVShDK23RWbzwW5yKLHM8MD2j9W6r3Lh92jwSKhW88qnZR28_LGfW4ky7ps4L_QYbTVM3W42c5_hN53l8Hvll0q-W5sz7Qj1mnxmLN3WbrbR8KSg-W5-wXpm655JlxW5hFw3X1jr9XWW62_RBG75W1XMW25csmx56Hgd5W48DsvF3bqqRTW65yKjR19Q08vW59qdg45ZMvLpV4hf3n7l8pnLW6SNBtd36tlBTMQvFG812mjlW1R_5FN7fmq5QW3g1QG45L-0ywW51n6jC4JRffDW1rhHNG7LF171W8bz0SG8cyX9SW7kFHF_2vX9Z9W85VnZC1WhP28W7n8fxX6Tvtg6W7XVvFg92Cdz3W3HkGQR4tHVGhV7flPJ3rmvlgW7Z8LsF5cZDkxW2Y6qyw9lPrxrW43nTyp6JmCthW6YmHz355fYJLW5-vRlZ8Sf3bNW82GfkJ9b2NbhW1-dfCP1Q6scNW1VqNsj2mb0wBN7W0qB3S05lqW48XNyl6PRgdVW5fV7W847W4HvW7Glcss8_3GbBW3sr3Fy4nGhrcW5HrKf959NM97W7kK8Q85XZyBQ111&source=gmail&ust=1533549511789000&usg=AFQjCNFlR9Hj7_KblSgku2J57PBYcQzCRA" href="https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*W85tW522dbH-RW555xKb2v5yp-0/*W82F8MQ3ycGkqN3Xp06X_KSPC0/5/f18dQhb0S65M2WK2bdW12hmv62swHXSN2vtSX2hZz1fW5Hrsqy31RT-wW80RmWV7QCG8fW4SltZm7tqG6tW3MdkTz8RcZhNN2f24BFdzq2wW7cNyDy174k7cVShDK23RWbzwW5yKLHM8MD2j9W6r3Lh92jwSKhW88qnZR28_LGfW4ky7ps4L_QYbTVM3W42c5_hN53l8Hvll0q-W5sz7Qj1mnxmLN3WbrbR8KSg-W5-wXpm655JlxW5hFw3X1jr9XWW62_RBG75W1XMW25csmx56Hgd5W48DsvF3bqqRTW65yKjR19Q08vW59qdg45ZMvLpV4hf3n7l8pnLW6SNBtd36tlBTMQvFG812mjlW1R_5FN7fmq5QW3g1QG45L-0ywW51n6jC4JRffDW1rhHNG7LF171W8bz0SG8cyX9SW7kFHF_2vX9Z9W85VnZC1WhP28W7n8fxX6Tvtg6W7XVvFg92Cdz3W3HkGQR4tHVGhV7flPJ3rmvlgW7Z8LsF5cZDkxW2Y6qyw9lPrxrW43nTyp6JmCthW6YmHz355fYJLW5-vRlZ8Sf3bNW82GfkJ9b2NbhW1-dfCP1Q6scNW1VqNsj2mb0wBN7W0qB3S05lqW48XNyl6PRgdVW5fV7W847W4HvW7Glcss8_3GbBW3sr3Fy4nGhrcW5HrKf959NM97W7kK8Q85XZyBQ111" style="background-color: white; color: #bd0004; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>As Secure as God Is Faithful</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">By John Piper</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<em>Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.</em> (Romans 8:30)</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Between eternity past in God’s predestination, and eternity future in God’s glorification, none is lost.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;">
No one who is predestined for sonship fails to be called. And no one who is called fails to be justified. And no one who is justified fails to be glorified. This is an unbreakable steel chain of divine covenant faithfulness.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;">
And so Paul says,</div>
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And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)</div>
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[He] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:8–9)</div>
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These are the promises of our God who cannot lie. Those who are born again are as secure as God is faithful.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-53216719119181630612018-08-02T06:26:00.005-04:002018-08-02T06:26:31.466-04:00Sufficient<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">John Piper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Our Weakness Reveals His Worth</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.</em> (<a class="m_-1157685541871459221bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTcxMDc4MjcS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1533291631694000&usg=AFQjCNE_Tq2ZjjbCzL-r0nWKLaj1Rw_ezA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTcxMDc4MjcS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-1157685541871459221_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God’s design for suffering is that it magnifies Christ’s worth and power. This is grace, because the greatest joy of Christians is to see Christ magnified in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Paul was told by the Lord Jesus that his “thorn in the flesh” would not be taken away, he supported Paul’s faith by explaining why. The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (<a class="m_-1157685541871459221bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTcxMDc4MjcS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1533291631694000&usg=AFQjCNE_Tq2ZjjbCzL-r0nWKLaj1Rw_ezA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTcxMDc4MjcS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-1157685541871459221_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>). God ordains that Paul be weak so that Christ might be seen as strong on Paul’s behalf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we feel and look self-sufficient, we will get the glory, not Christ. So Christ chooses the weak things of the world “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (<a class="m_-1157685541871459221bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTcxMDc4MjcS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1533291631695000&usg=AFQjCNFm60_hzUKBkCsjZpD-K1can_DSWA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTcxMDc4MjcS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-1157685541871459221_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:29</a>). And sometimes he makes seemingly strong people weaker, so that the divine power will be the more evident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We know that Paul experienced this as grace because he rejoiced in it: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (<a class="m_-1157685541871459221bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTcxMDc4MjcS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1533291631695000&usg=AFQjCNHqKht_mUkPy-2RafwZyodnkUARfg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTcxMDc4MjcS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ2MDIzNDg5NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-1157685541871459221_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9–10</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Living by faith in God’s grace means being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus. Therefore faith will not shrink back from what reveals and magnifies all that God is for us in Jesus. That is what our own weakness and suffering does.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-23765598326901205732018-07-29T06:19:00.001-04:002018-07-29T06:19:51.357-04:00Things UnseenJohn Piper<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Why We Don’t Lose Heart</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.</em>(<a class="m_549211680431888934bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTcwODIxOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532945221531000&usg=AFQjCNEr1wqJXj3DMbKL0tyP_m8b_IJbpA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTcwODIxOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_549211680431888934_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 4:16</a>)</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul can’t see the way he used to (and there were no glasses). He can’t hear the way he used to (and there were no hearing aids). He doesn’t recover from beatings the way he used to (and there were no antibiotics). His strength, walking from town to town, doesn’t hold up the way it used to. He sees the wrinkles in his face and neck. His memory is not as good. And he admits that this is a threat to his faith and joy and courage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But he doesn’t lose heart. Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He doesn’t lose heart because his inner man is being renewed. How?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The renewing of his heart comes from something very strange: it comes from looking at what he can’t see.</span></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (<a class="m_549211680431888934bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTcwODIxOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532945221531000&usg=AFQjCNFMRRrIRCb9HcSvFhgclZTNuQi1QQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTcwODIxOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_549211680431888934_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 4:18</a>)</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Paul’s way of not losing heart: looking at what you can’t see. What did he see?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few verses later in <a class="m_549211680431888934bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTcwODIxOTYS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532945221531000&usg=AFQjCNHW8MSQIaLUj_jJhsWGu31z_Hi91A" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTcwODIxOTYS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MzU2MTkxMwS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_549211680431888934_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:7</a>, he says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” This doesn’t mean that he leaps into the dark without evidence of what’s there. It means that for now the most precious and important realities in the world are beyond our physical senses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We “look” at these unseen things through the gospel. We strengthen our hearts — we renew our courage — by fixing our gaze on the invisible, objective truth that we see in the testimony of those who saw Christ face to face.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-64881082030760574562018-07-22T06:37:00.001-04:002018-07-22T06:37:02.748-04:00Preaching Truth to Ourselves<br />
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Preach to Yourself</h1>
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<li class="js-ga-authors" data-authors="john-piper" id="authors" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 14px; position: relative; vertical-align: top;">Devotional by <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/authors/john-piper" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">John Piper</a></li>
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<blockquote style="border: 1px solid rgb(198, 0, 14); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 40px; max-width: 700px; padding: 15px 15px 20px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 19.44px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 19.44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.</em>(<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Ps 42.11" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps%2042.11" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">Psalm 42:11</a>)</div>
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We must learn to fight despondency — the downcast spirit. The fight is a fight of faith in future grace. It is fought by preaching truth to ourselves about God and his promised future.</div>
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This is what the psalmist does in Psalm 42. The psalmist preaches to his troubled soul. He scolds himself and argues with himself. And his main argument is future grace: “Hope in God! Trust in what God will be for you in the future. A day of praise is coming. The presence of the Lord will be all the help you need. And he has promised to be with us forever.”</div>
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Martyn Lloyd-Jones believes this issue of preaching truth to ourselves about God’s future grace is all-important in overcoming spiritual depression. In his helpful book, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 19.44px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 19.44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Spiritual Depression</em>, he writes,</div>
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Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. . . . Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says, “Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.” (20–21)</div>
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The battle against despondency is a battle to believe the promises of God. And that belief in God’s future grace comes by hearing the word. And so preaching to ourselves the word of God is at the heart of the battle.</div>
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<footer class="resource__footer resource__footer--solid-joys" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.195px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 40px; max-width: 700px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></footer>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-65909531382425911092018-07-21T06:32:00.004-04:002018-07-21T06:32:56.257-04:00GraceJohn Piper<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Grace for Every Need</span></h3>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant.</em> (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D28%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNEeCP77c4v8xC_d0uR71csiVg2NVw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=28&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 86:16</a>)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Future grace is the constant plea of the praying psalmists. They pray for it again and again to meet every need. They leave every saint a model of daily dependence on future grace for every exigency.</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They cry out for grace when they need help: “Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my helper!” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNHYdDq9-C7yKeY6Qa3vc6DUesuTkw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 30:10</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they are weak: “Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D28%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNEeCP77c4v8xC_d0uR71csiVg2NVw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=28&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 86:16</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they need healing: “Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D20%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNEBMmxUq2SlK6Qr2759bivO29eorg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=20&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 6:2</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they are afflicted by enemies: “Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNF2_wLGwCOHsgpYuQ51uSJ9JVN4pQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_3" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 9:13</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they are lonely: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D17%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNHXvSRG00w2Z53QpbeucZ2qVz7oRw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_4" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 25:16</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they are grieving: “Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D22%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNE3oL9I8n2JFtz5nHABQgk8EIC6zA" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_5" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 31:9</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they have sinned: “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNFLXIbbZUAgrp_8lejMaX4H8K390w" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_6" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 41:4</a>).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they long for God’s name to be exalted among the nations: “God be gracious to us and bless us . . . that your way may be known on earth” (<a class="m_-4486270438606664411bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D21%26ms%3DNTcwMzYwOTgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1532253538101000&usg=AFQjCNH_FU-MfX87uxhPMFBgZt7Xz4GSFw" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=21&ms=NTcwMzYwOTgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MjU1MjQyOAS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-4486270438606664411_www_biblegateway_com_pass_7" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Psalm 67:1–2</a>).</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unmistakably, prayer is the great link of faith between the soul of the saint and the promise of future grace. If ministry was meant by God to be sustained by prayer, then ministry was meant to be sustained by faith in future grace.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-5454861192072754062018-07-09T06:22:00.000-04:002018-07-09T06:22:58.671-04:00Love of God<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y50EDNEJvTA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-41095186161501293482018-07-09T06:19:00.000-04:002018-07-09T06:19:02.063-04:00Battle Against Despondency<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*W5W9r2P1_WJFgN7MFQ01jWkWz0/*W3DcgwX6tp9GLW6JcCvN7m4GSK0/5/f18dQhb0S3j27Bf-yvL_q3mWmL_mW4RJX622311bmW1pPSJ43BbWxZN3h173-xW88xW4xy2y762vWvtW4sBR4V5PcXdxW2X-P0m6WM0fSW7DqrDV85fhWDW67PqCM5Jvz4cW4znPbV8Wpy39W54_P1V4mGnXtVQF1CT1FwtBtW3YWxZ15WQPm6W3XykSY43wlrTW2zjz1g1_tGZJW4CWHjs5jWxggW8w9WZ02dTWRXW2g4zZf30S2YyW5gfyLS4h0g6cW6CtynZ1q4XwqW2MxzPF5j7nKRW3RQFY637_rPQVXYjBX3FpQj0W6h06hD11PRyzW3GQqt25vxzXbW746px85sND5rW4K9PrQ69wslqW93mfgr5SfJXRW1XJ80L7cVlk6W3Jhv7L8NH9ZmW4zbcZH2vQgnLW6Mp_g_1VJ74sW5N2w8r3-D0ShW3CSBhT8Kkd79W3qqrFf1sJSqdN8DNk-BhzwltW2SjV8_1PqP-7W8wfXJb8YW8N5W1NkS9v681wBHW16XVg_69bFLjW1SJf3y4kHZVkW6gc1PK6RW9CgW5-dZgL85NzCmW7wR3Zt6RhbVjW838hmt80YycWW6HrH8T65n6nJW1d4g_V7ZzpsdW8xtHFx3kdYGFW3m0gDY8Jj3h9W88LFhF4Bn62QW4CCnBw66D4r5W4ZYxJC9m4R6sW8tcQZJ1Vsc5dVyFlk_3KPMZT103&source=gmail&ust=1531217183395000&usg=AFQjCNEp0gTWVxMUwMcrN1kFEj3asHFWqg" href="https://emails.desiringgod.org/e1t/c/*W5W9r2P1_WJFgN7MFQ01jWkWz0/*W3DcgwX6tp9GLW6JcCvN7m4GSK0/5/f18dQhb0S3j27Bf-yvL_q3mWmL_mW4RJX622311bmW1pPSJ43BbWxZN3h173-xW88xW4xy2y762vWvtW4sBR4V5PcXdxW2X-P0m6WM0fSW7DqrDV85fhWDW67PqCM5Jvz4cW4znPbV8Wpy39W54_P1V4mGnXtVQF1CT1FwtBtW3YWxZ15WQPm6W3XykSY43wlrTW2zjz1g1_tGZJW4CWHjs5jWxggW8w9WZ02dTWRXW2g4zZf30S2YyW5gfyLS4h0g6cW6CtynZ1q4XwqW2MxzPF5j7nKRW3RQFY637_rPQVXYjBX3FpQj0W6h06hD11PRyzW3GQqt25vxzXbW746px85sND5rW4K9PrQ69wslqW93mfgr5SfJXRW1XJ80L7cVlk6W3Jhv7L8NH9ZmW4zbcZH2vQgnLW6Mp_g_1VJ74sW5N2w8r3-D0ShW3CSBhT8Kkd79W3qqrFf1sJSqdN8DNk-BhzwltW2SjV8_1PqP-7W8wfXJb8YW8N5W1NkS9v681wBHW16XVg_69bFLjW1SJf3y4kHZVkW6gc1PK6RW9CgW5-dZgL85NzCmW7wR3Zt6RhbVjW838hmt80YycWW6HrH8T65n6nJW1d4g_V7ZzpsdW8xtHFx3kdYGFW3m0gDY8Jj3h9W88LFhF4Bn62QW4CCnBw66D4r5W4ZYxJC9m4R6sW8tcQZJ1Vsc5dVyFlk_3KPMZT103" style="background-color: white; color: #bd0004; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Six Ways Jesus Fought Depression</strong></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc;">By John Piper</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #606060;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.</em> (Matthew 26:37)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Bible gives us an amazing glimpse into the soul of Jesus the night before he was crucified. Watch and learn from the way Jesus fought his strategic battle against despondency or depression.</span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #606060;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He chose some close friends to be with him. “Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 26:37).</span></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He opened his soul to them. He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38).</span></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He asked for their intercession and partnership in the battle. “Remain here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).</span></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He poured out his heart to his Father in prayer. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39).</span></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He rested his soul in the sovereign wisdom of God. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).</span></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He fixed his eye on the glorious future grace that awaited him on the other side of the cross. “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future, remember this: The first shock waves of the bomb in your heart, like the ones Jesus felt in Gethsemane, are not sin. The real danger is yielding to them. Giving in. Putting up no spiritual fight. And the root of that sinful surrender is unbelief — a failure to fight for faith in future grace. A failure to cherish all that God promises to be for us in Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #606060; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Gethsemane Jesus shows us another way. Not painless, and not passive. Follow him. Find your trusted spiritual friends. Open your soul to them. Ask them to watch with you and pray. Pour out your soul to the Father. Rest in the sovereign wisdom of God. And fix your eyes on the joy set before you in the precious and magnificent promises of God.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-65030964802962790072018-07-09T06:16:00.001-04:002018-07-09T06:16:13.649-04:00Forgiveness<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">John Piper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Saving Faith Loves Forgiveness</span></h3>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.</em> (<a class="m_-9210730105475468665bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D22%26ms%3DNTY5NTgzNTIS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MDk4NDA0MgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1531215626588000&usg=AFQjCNHlbMIao8LKUhJ0MGfJrgMK-L_NoQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTY5NTgzNTIS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MDk4NDA0MgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-9210730105475468665_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:32</a>)</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saving faith is not merely believing that you are forgiven. Saving faith looks at the horror of sin, and then looks at the holiness of God, and apprehends spiritually that God’s forgiveness is unspeakably glorious.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Faith in God’s forgiveness does not merely mean a persuasion that I am off the hook. It means savoring the truth that a forgiving God is the most precious reality in the universe. Saving faith cherishes being forgiven by God, and from there rises to cherishing the God who forgives — and all that he is for us in Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The great act of forgiveness is past — the cross of Christ. By this backward look, we learn of the grace in which we will ever stand (<a class="m_-9210730105475468665bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTY5NTgzNTIS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQ0MDk4NDA0MgS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1531215626588000&usg=AFQjCNFKZK9Kj9XrLoyJw5Ru-55xSSGRrQ" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTY5NTgzNTIS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQ0MDk4NDA0MgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-9210730105475468665_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 5:2</a>). We learn that we are now, and always will be, loved and accepted. We learn that the living God is a forgiving God.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the great experience of being forgiven is all future. Fellowship with the great God who forgives is all future. Freedom for forgiveness flowing from this all-satisfying fellowship with the forgiving God is all future.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have learned that it is possible to go on holding a grudge if your faith simply means you have looked back to the cross and concluded that you are off the hook. I have been forced to go deeper into what true faith is. It is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus. It looks back not merely to discover that it is off the hook, but to see and savor the kind of God who offers us a future of endless reconciled tomorrows in fellowship with him.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-1536773018124103972018-06-19T06:24:00.001-04:002018-06-19T06:24:42.625-04:00UnbelieversJohn Piper<br />
<br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
How to Plead for Unbelievers</h3>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 10px 20px;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.25;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.</em> (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Rom.10.1" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.10.1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">Romans 10:1</a>)</div>
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Paul prays that God would convert Israel. He prays for her salvation! He does not pray for ineffectual influences, but for effectual influences. And that is how we should pray too.</div>
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We should take the new covenant promises of God and plead with God to bring them to pass in our children and our neighbors and on all the mission fields of the world.</div>
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God, take out of their flesh the heart of stone and give them a new heart of flesh (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Ezek.11.19" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezek.11.19" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">Ezekiel 11:19</a>). Circumcise their heart so that they love you (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Deut.30.6" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.30.6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">Deuteronomy 30:6</a>)! Father, put your Spirit within them and cause them to walk in your statutes (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Ezek.36.27" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezek.36.27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">Ezekiel 36:27</a>). Grant them repentance and a knowledge of the truth that they may escape from the snare of the devil (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="2Tim.2.25-2Tim.2.26" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Tim.2.25-2Tim.2.26" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">2 Timothy 2:25–26</a>). Open their hearts so that they believe the gospel (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Acts.16.14" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.16.14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 16:14</a>)!</div>
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When we believe in the sovereignty of God — in the right and power of God to elect and then bring hardened sinners to faith and salvation — then we will be able to pray with no inconsistency, and with great biblical promises for the conversion of the lost.</div>
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Thus God has pleasure in this kind of praying because it ascribes to him the right and honor to be the free and sovereign God that he is in election and salvation.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-26085966348823114722018-06-17T06:27:00.003-04:002018-06-17T06:27:59.995-04:00Drink to Heart's SatisfactionBible Gateway | John Piper<br />
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Serve God with Your Thirst</h3>
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<em>So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.</em>(<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="2Cor.5.9" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTY4MjQ0NTIS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=3&j=MTQyMjQxNzI0NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #80261d; text-decoration-line: none !important;">2 Corinthians 5:9</a>)</blockquote>
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What if you discovered (like the Pharisees did), that you had devoted your whole life to trying to please God, but all the while had been doing things that in God’s sight were abominations (<a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Luke.16.14-Luke.16.15" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTY4MjQ0NTIS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=3&j=MTQyMjQxNzI0NgS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #80261d; text-decoration-line: none !important;">Luke 16:14–15</a>)?</div>
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Someone may say, “I don’t think that’s possible; God wouldn’t reject a person who has been trying to please him.” But do you see what this questioner has done? He has based his conviction about what would please God on his idea of what God is like. That is precisely why we must begin with the character of God.</div>
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God is a mountain spring, not a watering trough. A mountain spring is self-replenishing. It constantly overflows and supplies others. But a watering trough needs to be filled with a pump or bucket brigade.</div>
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If you want to glorify the worth of a watering trough you work hard to keep it full and useful. But if you want to glorify the worth of a spring you do it by getting down on your hands and knees and drinking to your heart’s satisfaction, until you have the refreshment and strength to go back down in the valley and tell people what you’ve found.</div>
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My hope as a desperate sinner hangs on this biblical truth: that God is the kind of God who will be pleased with the one thing I have to offer — my thirst. That is why the sovereign freedom and self-sufficiency of God are so precious to me: they are the foundation of my hope that God is delighted not by the resourcefulness of bucket brigades, but by the bending down of broken sinners to drink at the fountain of grace.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-8523838482465450532018-06-14T08:10:00.000-04:002018-06-14T08:10:01.306-04:00Idolizing Man<br />
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<strong>Scripture: Isaiah 46.5</strong><br />With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?<br /><br /><strong>Reflection: On Idolizing Man :: Throwback Thursday</strong><br />By Richard Baxter (1615-1691)<br /><br />This iniquity [idolizing man] consists not simply in the heart’s neglect of God, but in the preferring of some competitor, and prevalence of some object which stands up for an opposite interest. So obeying man before God and against him, and valuing the favor and approbation of man before or against the approbation of God, and fearing of man’s censure or displeasure more than God’s, is idolizing Man, or setting him up in the place of God.<br /><br />It turns our chief observance, and care, and labor, and pleasure, and grief into this human, fleshly channel, and makes all that to be but human in our hearts and lives, which should be divine.<br /><br />As all other creatures, so especially man, must be regarded and valued only in a due subordination and subserviency to God. If they be valued otherwise, they are made his enemies, and so are to be hated, and are made the principal engine of the ruin of such as overvalue them.<br /><br />See what the scriptures say of this sin:</div>
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Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. — Jeremiah 17.5</div>
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The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 118.6</div>
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It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. — Psalm 118.8-9</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">Understand well what the nature of this sin consists of, that you may not run into the contrary extreme, but may know which way to bend your opposition—how far we may and must please men, and how far not.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">*Abridged and language updated from Directions against Idolizing Man.</em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><br /></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-65707679750624908782018-06-13T05:40:00.000-04:002018-06-13T05:40:55.189-04:00Thank You for My FaithDesiring God | John Piper<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Help My Unbelief</span></h3>
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<em>For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.</em> (<a class="m_-5646358965631354620bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D23%26ms%3DNTY3OTg1NzgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1528968846266000&usg=AFQjCNHF5ST3yA74IW02KbytaQsqZvgAew" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=NTY3OTg1NzgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-5646358965631354620_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Romans 12:3</a>)</blockquote>
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In the context of this verse, Paul is concerned that people were “thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to think.” His final remedy for this pride is to say that not only are spiritual gifts a work of God's free grace in our lives, but so also is the very faith with which we use those gifts.</div>
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This means that every possible ground of boasting is taken away. How can we boast if even the qualification for receiving gifts is also a gift?</div>
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This truth has a profound impact on how we pray. Jesus gives us the example in <a class="m_-5646358965631354620bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D16%26ms%3DNTY3OTg1NzgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1528968846266000&usg=AFQjCNHUiqaDGRt_Gyd2CCNp2UGwUWgW8A" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=16&ms=NTY3OTg1NzgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-5646358965631354620_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Luke 22:31-32</a>. Before Peter denies him three times Jesus says to him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”</div>
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Jesus prays for Peter's faith to be sustained even through sin, because he knows that God is the one who sustains faith. So we should pray for ourselves and for others this way.</div>
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Thus the man with the epileptic boy cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief” (<a class="m_-5646358965631354620bibleref" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn%3D18%26ms%3DNTY3OTg1NzgS1%26r%3DMTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0%26b%3D0%26j%3DMTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2%26mt%3D1%26rt%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1528968846266000&usg=AFQjCNEqp1RfJbkiFzbUYrVdn2MXyz6Ibg" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=18&ms=NTY3OTg1NzgS1&r=MTA0NTI3Mjg1OTgzS0&b=0&j=MTQyMTg4MjU4MQS2&mt=1&rt=0" name="m_-5646358965631354620_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank">Mark 9:24</a>). This is a good prayer. It acknowledges that without God we cannot believe as we ought to believe.</div>
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Let us pray daily: “O Lord, thank you for my faith. Sustain it. Strengthen it. Deepen it. Don't let it fail. Make it the power of my life, so that in everything I do you get the glory as the great Giver. Amen”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-67284491493835569782018-06-12T06:26:00.000-04:002018-06-12T06:26:34.781-04:00What Sort of King?<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.1;">Deut. 17; Psalm 104; Isaiah 44; Revelation 14</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #77af44; display: inline-block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; padding-top: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;">DON CARSON</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55%26id%3D36758b8d30%26e%3D9b0b499f41&source=gmail&ust=1528884668358000&usg=AFQjCNFwjpcGr6rrhSKv60MtblQRLvHWYg" href="https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55&id=36758b8d30&e=9b0b499f41" style="color: #77af44; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 17</a>; <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55%26id%3D833067a056%26e%3D9b0b499f41&source=gmail&ust=1528884668358000&usg=AFQjCNEpd08wqmzJgQF5C1rk4ouvg27QjQ" href="https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55&id=833067a056&e=9b0b499f41" style="color: #77af44; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Psalm 104</a>; <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55%26id%3D25fe3a9977%26e%3D9b0b499f41&source=gmail&ust=1528884668358000&usg=AFQjCNHFfAW18stFlgMTxByD8SeophZlwA" href="https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55&id=25fe3a9977&e=9b0b499f41" style="color: #77af44; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Isaiah 44</a>; <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55%26id%3D4870490050%26e%3D9b0b499f41&source=gmail&ust=1528884668358000&usg=AFQjCNFgX0tlo4QfBLXGfozJdPqz9VUI7Q" href="https://thegospelcoalition.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8751f3019bd5a6ff5c3a66c55&id=4870490050&e=9b0b499f41" style="color: #77af44; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Revelation 14</a></div>
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MOSES ENVISAGES A TIME when the Israelite nation will choose a king (<strong>Deut. 17:14-20</strong>). He could not know that centuries later, when the Israelites would first ask for a king, they would do so for all the wrong motives — primarily so that they could be like the pagan nations around them. The result was Saul. But that is another story.</div>
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If the people are to have a king, what sort of king should he be? (1) He must be the Lord’s own choice (Deut. 17:15). (2) He must be an Israelite, drawn “from among your own brothers” (Deut. 17:15), not some foreigner. (3) He must not acquire for himself great numbers of horses, i.e., amass great personal wealth and military might, and especially not if it means some sort of alliance with a power such as Egypt (Deut. 17:16). (4) He must not take many wives (Deut. 17:17). The issue was not simply polygamy. In the ancient Near East, the more powerful the king the more wives he had. This prohibition is therefore simultaneously a limit on the king’s power, and a warning that many wives will likely lead his heart astray (Deut. 17:17). This is not because wives are intrinsically evil; rather, a king on the hunt for many wives is likely to marry princesses and nobility from surrounding countries, and they will bring their paganism with them. Within that framework, the king’s heart will be led astray. That is exactly what happened to Solomon. (5) Upon accession to the throne, the first thing the king must do is write out for himself, in Hebrew, a copy of “this law” — whether the book of Deuteronomy or the entire Pentateuch. Then he is to read it every day for the rest of his life (Deut. 17:18-20). The multiple purposes of this task are explicit: that he may revere the Lord his God, carefully follow all his words, and in consequence not consider himself better than his fellow citizens, and not turn aside from the law. The result will be a long-lasting dynasty.</div>
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It is not difficult to imagine how the entire history of Israel would have been radically different if these five criteria had been adopted by each king who came to the throne of David. It would be almost a millennium and a half before there would arise in Israel a king who would be the Lord’s chosen servant, someone “made like his brothers in every way” (Heb. 2:17), a mere craftsman without wealth or power, a man not seduced by beauty or power or paganism (despite the devil’s most virulent assaults), a man steeped in the Scriptures from his youth and who carefully followed all the words of God. How we need that king!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906387548469542937.post-85505275711369391442018-06-10T06:40:00.000-04:002018-06-10T06:40:06.962-04:00Faithful<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0k1WhFtVp0o" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0