tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61284339710517317392024-03-05T16:00:53.385-05:00Professor Eric's Pen and ScrollPROFESSOR ERIC'S PEN AND SCROLL
The personal blog of Eric J. Bargerhuff, follower of Christ.Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-17289469029199184402013-07-30T21:58:00.000-04:002013-07-30T21:58:16.060-04:00What Does it Mean to Glorify God?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-GXinjjVOuqMAgygmDZq4IULfjTSlcdaFq4Sx14cUpTSUMKMjmi7pJYMA2GAPqZBdN2OPecBlBeR6loxWongifh-j9cb4Vpis_0EcDaxG6LK3RcrCwiRAfQSnsUOy44PtqcHxWgV0C-N/s1600/En-Gedi-Nahal-David-waterfall,-tb010812273-bibleplaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-GXinjjVOuqMAgygmDZq4IULfjTSlcdaFq4Sx14cUpTSUMKMjmi7pJYMA2GAPqZBdN2OPecBlBeR6loxWongifh-j9cb4Vpis_0EcDaxG6LK3RcrCwiRAfQSnsUOy44PtqcHxWgV0C-N/s320/En-Gedi-Nahal-David-waterfall,-tb010812273-bibleplaces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Good question. It is a phrase that is tossed around like popcorn in
Christian circles. “It is our goal to glorify God in everything we do.” That
phrase seems a little elusive until one understands what it really means.
Initially, it leads us to ask the questions: why does God need to be glorified?
Is He arrogant? Is He prideful? Is He missing something that He needs to get
from us so that He feels better about Himself?<br />
<br />
All of these questions are based on a false premise. They stem primarily
from human experience, and in asking them this way we are projecting back on
God things that we know are true from human life in a sinful world. The reality
is, God is completely perfect and sufficient and is not in need of anything
outside of himself. This is not true for us, for we are wholly dependent on
outside sources for our very survival. We are dependent on food and water and
air to breathe. God has no need for any of those things. He is perfect and
deserving of all worship and praise since he is the source of all things (Col.
1:15-23).<br />
<br />
So then, to say that we need to glorify God, we are not saying that we need
to add something to God that is lacking in His who He is, as if He is empty and
needy and is in dire need for others to revere Him so that He can become more
complete. Nor is it to say that God has any sinful pride that needs fed. He is
holy.<br />
<br />
Ok then, what are we saying? What does it mean to glorify God? Simply put, <strong>to
glorify God is to praise and worship Him for who He is and to enhance is His reputation
above anything else in the universe.</strong> Thus, the Westminster Confession
(a reformed statement of faith adopted by the Church of England in 1646) states
clearly that the “chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
This says something about <strong>God</strong> and it says something about <strong>us</strong>.<br />
<br />
What it says about God is that He alone is the One who is worthy of worship,
adoration, and praise. He is the <strong>center</strong> of the universe and
the purpose of all life. But it also says something about us and that is this:
we are by nature designed and created for God’s glory, and so all that we do
and say ought to be done towards that purpose. We live not for ourselves, but
for Him. <br />
<br />
Consider these two Scriptures:<br />
<br />
<em>“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth --
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed
and made."</em><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Isaiah
43:6-7, NIV<br />
<br />
<em>“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”</em><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Matthew 5:16, NIV (some versions
translate it as, “<strong>glorify</strong> your Father who is in heaven.”,
which is more accurate according to the Greek. Sometimes the NIV lightens
things a bit).<br />
<br />
So you and I exist for the select purpose of glorifying God, to enhance His
reputation. We were made to worship Him, to revere Him, to find our primary
sense of fulfillment and purpose in nothing else than in Him alone. That’s why
we were made. Simple. In a crude illustration, if we want someone’s reputation
be known or enhanced we talk that person up. We tell others about that person.
We might make signs and billboards and do things that will get others to notice
the person whose reputation we want to accentuate. (Dare I say, it’s like
putting a sign in your yard to promote a candidate for office.) This leads me
to my second point.<br />
<br />
According to Jesus in Matthew 5, every good deed we perform ought to be
designed towards enhancing the reputation of God. Every action, no matter how
small. In fact Paul went much further. Not only our good deeds ought to do
this, but practically everything should be for this purpose. Paul said in 1
Corinthians 10:31, <em>“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it
all for the glory of God.”</em> That’s pretty comprehensive.<br />
<br />
John Piper calls glorifying God a “joyful duty.” Well said. This is not a
command made to make us miserable, but in actuality, we are never more
satisfied and fulfilled than when we are bent towards glorifying God. Like John
the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less.” More of Jesus,
less of me. And when that starts to happen, then I will find the real me, the
“me” God created me to be.<br />
<br />
So how does this affect my everyday life? How does the command to glorify
God impact my attitudes, actions, conversations, dreams, goals, and
relationships? <br />
<br />
I am reminded of the old hymn that we used to sing (and still do), which
says “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the
things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
If a person is striving to glorify God in everything they do, and wants to
commit themselves to that end, then as they rely upon the Holy Spirit to help
them change, there will be noticeable attitudes and actions that will begin to
emerge. The things of this world will hold less appeal in comparison to “seeing
and savoring” God.<br />
<br />
Our goal is to develop an all-consuming “God-centeredness” to our lives. It
is a focus that will gradually lead us towards a mindset that seeks to abandon
the focus on the <em>self </em>(self-centeredness, selfishness, and
self-sufficiency). In some older theological writings, this is the idea of
“self mortification,” or just plain “mortification.” It is dying to one’s self
by putting to death the misdeeds of the body (Rom. 8:13), something we can only
do with the help and in the power of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
So point one is this: <em>in order to glorify God in my life I must be
committed to doing away with or putting aside the things in my life that put
the focus on or feed the desires of the sinful self.</em> Those things are
nothing but roadblocks that prevent others from seeing Christ in me. And how
could God’s fame and reputation be enhanced by my life if I am involved in
things that prevent others from seeing Christ in me?<br />
<br />
So first practical application – commit myself to forsaking any known sin.
Examine my heart. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal it to me. Confess. Admit.
Forsake. Stay away. Maybe even have someone else ask me and hold me accountable
to it (a rather mature thing to do). This is essentially, repentance, which in
itself glorifies God by putting the spotlight on the cross, where Jesus paid
for sin. It is strange to think this, but yes indeed, a place where God was
glorified was on the cross. Such a wrathful event also glorified God at the same
time. And since Christ paid for my sin, then I in response should be willing to
forsake it (see Romans 6).<br />
<br />
Point two is this: <em>in order to glorify God in my life, I must discover
what God’s will for my life is and pursue it.</em> This obviously includes
point one above, but more than that, it is a commitment to understanding the
positive character shaping power of the Holy Spirit as well as to commit myself
to certain actions/activities that are designed by nature to exalt and glorify
God. <br />
<br />
For example:<br />
<br />
<em>“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”</em>I Thessalonians 5:16-18<br />
<br />
I was in campus ministry for many years, and whenever a college student came
up to me and told me they were struggling to know God’s will for their life
this is where I would point them. For how could one be in a position to know
the unknown and future will of God (regarding specifics) for their life when
they have not first committed themselves to living the <em>already revealed</em>
will of God for their lives? Wisdom comes from discernment, and discernment
comes from being spiritually disciplined in what God has already said is
clearly His will for your life.<br />
<br />
So living and pursuing God’s will for one’s life is a means of glorifying
God. Study and memorize Scripture, pray heartfelt prayers often, fellowship
with other believers, serve others, be joyful and thankful, use your giftedness
to encourage and build up the church. Live sacrificial lives, giving
generously. As you do these things, you will find that the Holy Spirit will
empower you for them and in the process will develop your character to become
more like Jesus, which is the end goal of the Christian life – Christlikeness.
And Christlikeness in a person’s life is glorifying to God.<br />
<br />
This all may seem simple. Well, guess what? It is. It’s supposed to be. The
Christian life is <em>simplicity </em>– simple satisfaction in Christ and less
attachment to the world. Fixing minds on things above and not on earthly
things. Dying to self and living for God, commiting oneself to obedience,
walking in faith, trusting in God for all things. Living a life of love.
Serving. If a person tries to make the Christian life more complicated than
that, then stay away from that person – they may have an unhealthy interest in
man-made rules and traditions that make one look more spiritual than they
really are. You just stick to the basics, and let God get the credit for
everything.<br />
<br />
But still, isn’t there more application than this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen, if you are walking with the Lord and
are testing everything, forsaking known sin, reading the Word and letting it
shape you, praying regularly, serving others out of love and joy, then guess
who it is who is shaping the desires of your heart? God is. And God’s will for
your life is being realized naturally. Simple? Yes, simple. <br />
<br />
Note the Scripture below:<br />
<br />
<em>“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is
God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 2:12b-13<br />
<br />
If you are working “out” your salvation as described above, then you need to
understand that God is working at the same time, and he is the One who is (dare
I say, “causing”) you to have certain desires and to perform certain actions
that are in keeping with His will and that in the end will bring glory to God.<br />
<br />
Ask yourself the following in the following areas:<br />
<br />
1) <em>Attitudes </em>– does my attitude about something reflect God’s
priorities in life or my sinful ones? Is my attitude shaped more by
circumstances or by the internal relationship and trust that I have placed in
Christ who reigns over me? Is my attitude similar to the selfless attitude that
Christ had (see Philippians 2)?<br />
<br />
2) <em>Actions</em> – is what I’m doing more inclined to enhance my
reputation or God’s? This kind of gets to motives, which will always reveal
itself eventually in actions. Are my actions then in keeping with the behavior
and good works that exalt the name of Christ – because really, He has prepared
some things for me to do that are specifically designed for that purpose (Eph
2:10).<br />
<br />
3) <em>Conversations</em> – does this conversation build up others? Will it
help someone else be inspired towards pursuing the things of God? Now wait
here, aren’t some conversation neutral? Like isn’t it great that the Cubs are
in first place? Well, yes, we can talk about that – and that conversation may
not inspire someone to pursue the things of God, but indirectly it is building
commonality, friendship, enjoyment of life, communication, and all those things
are good – gifts of God I say. <br />
<br />
Perhaps more specifically here we can just watch to make sure that no<br />
<br />
<em>“…unwholesome talk comes out of our mouths but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Ephesians 4:29<br />
<br />
That seems to be a good rule of thumb for knowing if I am glorifying God in
this area of my life.<br />
<br />
4) <em>Dreams and goals</em> – pursuing what you know God has designed you
and gifted you to do is a major aspect of glorifying God. For example, I know a
person whose gift is singing, and the more she pursues and uses it the more her
gift gives testimony to God’s glory since He is the one who gave her the gift
in the first place. So in doing what we are good at and doing it in such a way
that it has a positive impact on others is all a way to glorify God with your
life. Just remember, when we use our gifts we are <em>“faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms” </em>(1 Peter 4:10).<br />
<br />
5) <em>Relationships</em> – committing yourself to purity, considering
others as better than yourself, serving someone else with a sacrificial love
that seeks to cause them to grow (Ephesians 5:25ff). All this is glorifying to
God. Taking an interest in the spiritual growth of others is a priority that is
often missed among many Christians today. But it is one of the main reasons why
we exist – especially as a church.<br />
<br />
All this is what it means to glorify God – to point everything to Christ and
to encourage others in such a way that they do the same. Even being good
stewards of creation is a way to glorify God because we are valuing what God
has made, which places value on God himself as its author. <br />
<br />
If you take the advice of John the Baptist, “He [that being Christ]must
increase, and I must decrease,” then you are on the right path to what it means
to glorify God. It is the greatest life in the world. Fulfilling, and
ultimately rewarding – if not in this life, then surely the life to come.<br />
<br />
<br />
*This post is a revision of a two part previous post from 2008 but in the fuller form.Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-85742293891749759802013-07-29T17:11:00.001-04:002013-07-29T17:11:42.243-04:00A Quick Biblical Theology of Angels<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A Brief Look at <span style="color: purple;">Angels</span> in the Bible – an Overview Summary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Definition:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Angels are created, spiritual beings with moral judgement
and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.</span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Wayne Grudem)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">They are created
beings – </span><span style="color: blue;">Read Colossians 1:16, Nehemiah 9:6</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They exercise moral judgement – some sinned and fell from their
positions </span><span style="color: blue;">(2 Pet. 2:4)</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">They have high
intelligence – they are able to speak to people and sing praise to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">Angels are spirits and
do not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ordinarily</i> have physical bodies
</span><span style="color: blue;">– (Hebrews <st1:time hour="13" minute="14" w:st="on">1:14</st1:time>, Luke 24:39)</span><span style="color: black;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their ordinary activities of protecting
and ministering and worshiping God they are invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">However</span></i><span style="color: black;">,
from time to time angels took on bodily form to appear to various people in
Scripture, </span><span style="color: blue;">(Matthew 28:2-5; Hebrews 13:2), </span><span style="color: black;">this should be regarded as exceptions.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Other names for angels</u>: holy ones, heavenly host,
watchers, sons of God, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>How many?</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are innumerable, myriads of myriads, thousands upon thousands.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Do they have names?</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Apparently
so, but there are only two angels named in Scripture.<br />
<br />
Gabriel
– spoke to Daniel, and Mary; Michael – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Daniel 10:12-14</span></b><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> Jude 9, Rev. 12:7-8</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Do they have ranks?</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Apparently,
Michael is called an archangel, and chief prince.</div>
<br />
The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: olive;">archangel</span></b> will sound the trumpet
at the Parousia, and fights the Dragon and his angels in Revelation. (See also
Colossians 1:16)<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Are there different kinds of Angels?</u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Three
other types mentioned:</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A) </span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cherubim</b> -- guard the entrance to
Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24);<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cherubim
figures were on top of the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:22).</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seraphim</b> – angels that continually
worship God (Isa. 6:2-7)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Living Creatures</b> – Heavenly beings
around God’s throne (Ezek. 1:5-14; Revelation (4:8) Their appearance is said to
be like a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Do we have Guardian Angels?</u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
There is
an idea of general protection (Psalm 91:11-12) and ministering to all God’s
people (Hebrews <st1:time hour="13" minute="14" w:st="on">1:14</st1:time>).
There is no overwhelming support for the idea of individual guardian angels.
Any assertions about that are extra-biblical speculation.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Angels Do Not Marry</u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jesus
taught that in heaven, we will be like the angels in heaven, who “neither marry
nor are given in marriage.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matt.
22:30; Luke 20:34-36)</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u>Angel Power</u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Called
mighty ones, who have greater might and power than rebellious human beings (2
Peter 2:11), we are temporarily made lower than the heavenly beings (Heb 2:7),
the angels do battle against Satan and his demons in Revelation, but when we
receive our glorified bodies we will be in a position higher than the angels,
for we will judge them (1 Cor. 6:3)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
THE ANGEL OF THE
LORD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In the OT, there is someone who is at times called “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> angel of the LORD,” not “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">an</i> angel of the LORD.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several passages suggest that this angel is
God himself taking on temporary form to appear briefly to human beings.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The LORD
appears to Hagar (Genesis <st1:time hour="16" minute="10" w:st="on">16:10</st1:time>-13)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The LORD
appears to Jacob in a dream (Gen. 31:11-13)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The LORD
appears to Moses in the burning bush as the angel. (Ex. 3:2,6)</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“These
are instances of the angel of the LORD or the angel of God appearing as God
himself, perhaps more specifically as God the Son taking on a human body for a
short time in order to appear to human beings.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Grudem, 401) </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
At other
times the angel of the Lord seems to be distinguished from God (2 Sam. 24:16;
Psalm 34:7; Zech. <st1:time hour="13" minute="11" w:st="on">1:11</st1:time>-13)
and passages that mention “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">an</i> angel
from God” usually indicate an angel sent by God. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Context</i> is the key to interpretation. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Conclusion:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Angels
are heavenly beings created by God to help fulfill his purposes in redemption,
they are ministering spirits sent to help us in all our ways, they are powerful
warriors against evil, they worship and glorify forever their Creator in
holiness. They are glorious in appearance when allowed by God to be seen.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are
commanded not to worship them (Colossians <st1:time hour="14" minute="18" w:st="on">2:18</st1:time>; Revelation <st1:time hour="19" minute="10" w:st="on">19:10</st1:time>),
we should not pray to them (1 Tim. 2:5 – only one mediator), the Bible does not
command us to seek after them, but rather we should “seek the Lord.” They are
more active than we realize, they live forever, and apparently have a unique
interest in the salvation plan of God for humankind (1 Peter <st1:time hour="13" minute="12" w:st="on">1:12</st1:time>).</div>
Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-54392104416769912352013-05-10T16:52:00.004-04:002013-05-10T17:10:10.266-04:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAesoml51hBAHBiWtxYP15VuM5povMoGqHfb-iVyEPps7S98lwQcbIqSXyGR55dFqMK66PABwriTx2mlHhoXzHBbUrpvj-WNlhewGvBm8xyHA4yfFeBNoEiqFIPBh2A8sN9swPfR2cLLX/s1600/monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAesoml51hBAHBiWtxYP15VuM5povMoGqHfb-iVyEPps7S98lwQcbIqSXyGR55dFqMK66PABwriTx2mlHhoXzHBbUrpvj-WNlhewGvBm8xyHA4yfFeBNoEiqFIPBh2A8sN9swPfR2cLLX/s1600/monkey.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Reasons to Fear Monkeys</span></u></strong></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">by <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D. &
Scott Swain, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
following list comes after much reflection and despair over the nature of those
things we call monkeys. As children growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, we had
many reasons to fear these beasts. And even today, as this list will show,
there is still warrant for such fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TOP TEN and then some</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Wizard of Oz</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – those flying monkeys that make weird sounds and carry you off to
nether land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Viet Cong Guerilla Warfare</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – What a frightening phrase. We heard this on the
news when we were little, and for all we knew they did nothing but kill us in
the middle of the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">King Kong</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – he grabs people and can even climb tall buildings to get you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Planet of the Apes </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">– here is the ultimate fear! They are monkeys that
ride horses, can talk in English, rule the world, and hunt down and shoot human
beings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Donkey Kong</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – even in our video games as kids we were afraid of the monkeys who
sought to destroy a poor innocent Italian guy named Mario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Abominable Snowman</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – no one knows what this thing is, but surely he has to be a monkey.
Like that guy on the Rudolph the Rednose reindeer claymation show; We don’t
care if he had a tooth problem that the dentist fixed, or that he was able to
put a star on the top of the tree. He’s terrifying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Grape Ape</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – a large bass-voice animal with swinging arms. A cartoon from the
early 80’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Monkey see, Monkey do”</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – many of us were reminded as kids that this is how
our sin nature works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Monkeys at Zoos</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – they are hyper, they scream loud at you, and if you get too close
they bite (and throw poo at you).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Monkeying Around” </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">– again, a phrase that our parents used to describe
our sin nature. Similar to #8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Monkey Pox</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – the disease speaks for itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><u>The Only Positive
Monkey on Record<o:p></o:p></u></span></h1>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Curious
George<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He is our hope that the
whole mess of them are not spawns of the devil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This list comes a result of
much late night reflection among friends while doing a doctoral degree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-23514065317571257642012-11-08T17:18:00.000-05:002012-11-08T17:18:01.218-05:00Praying According to God's Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJMMq392a01A8aFZzUuxB-HCxFmasEyQIgFwtcIx4EAGBPlEgHX4ZKqBfc0mTc1VZvEjHdL_YxKkBmnuPuuQ1qgX3b8pl_VTLKlLHgtzB5YHTwm6vO1ATjZIQt3Bx5WKMazktGuY-ll7T/s1600/PB080014a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJMMq392a01A8aFZzUuxB-HCxFmasEyQIgFwtcIx4EAGBPlEgHX4ZKqBfc0mTc1VZvEjHdL_YxKkBmnuPuuQ1qgX3b8pl_VTLKlLHgtzB5YHTwm6vO1ATjZIQt3Bx5WKMazktGuY-ll7T/s320/PB080014a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an
acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in
your saving faithfulness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 69:13,
ESV</span></em></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have recently been struck by the way in which King David
describes the nature of his relationship with his God, which of course is the
One true God of the Universe. It is not a relationship that is experienced at a
distance, or a relationship that is shallow, or even a relationship whereby God
is unknowable. It is a very personal, intimate, unique fellowship between
Creator and created one, between Heavenly Father and child of God, between the
Redeemer and the redeemed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">David speaks of the nature of this relationship throughout
the Psalms, and the reader is drawn into it as he/she oversees the soul cries
of this great King who knew God in more than an intellectual sense but also in
an experiential sense. He speaks in the above verse about the steadfast love (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed</i>) of God and the saving
faithfulness of God who has proven himself in the past, and this is the basis
of his confidence that God will hear and act on his prayer in the present. But
yet he also knows that God’s timing is perfect, and so he concedes that there
is a future “acceptable time” in which God will answer according to his
sovereign timing and purposes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is what it means to pray in faith. It means to pray
according to God’s will and timing, to pray in the context of an active
relationship with the Lord, and to pray according to the very nature of God
himself who has proven himself loving and faithful in the deliverance of his
people. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don’t think there is anything wrong in asking God to
answer our prayers. David did. And based on the kind of God David described, he
knew full well that God would be faithful in doing so.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-63721052227005301442012-05-15T17:57:00.000-04:002012-05-15T17:57:27.697-04:00The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God's Word is Misunderstood<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mJnLg1rEoJ51IEyjH4lzYbVaYJFs5qQ56AH-k6dl6VLsf4_NhY0tEwALs8VyDevmSweB0kO3jxVvgqdsZCxrBb-k0_xIHU5LcGfWFtc1DwOdvEufuu8M6gpinf4iZLgNyofF1RpIlGnp/s1600/The%2520Most%2520Misused%2520Verses%2520in%2520the%2520Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mJnLg1rEoJ51IEyjH4lzYbVaYJFs5qQ56AH-k6dl6VLsf4_NhY0tEwALs8VyDevmSweB0kO3jxVvgqdsZCxrBb-k0_xIHU5LcGfWFtc1DwOdvEufuu8M6gpinf4iZLgNyofF1RpIlGnp/s320/The%2520Most%2520Misused%2520Verses%2520in%2520the%2520Bible.jpg" width="320" /></a>So excited to be able to announce my latest publication, <em>The Most Misused Verses in the Bible</em> that was published May 1 through Bethany House Publishers (a division of Baker Books). The book covers some of the most popularly misused verses that are taken out of context and frequently misunderstood and misapplied. At present I have been doing some radio interviews on the national syndicate (i.e. Moody radio) discussing the book and today appeared on Chris Fabry Live! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.moodyradio.org/chrisfabrylive.aspx">http://www.moodyradio.org/chrisfabrylive.aspx</a></div>
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<br /></div>
Verses like "where two or three are gathered" (Matthew 18:20), "judge not lest you be judged" (Matthew 7:1), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13) are but a few of the verses that are covered in the book. I think we can all admit that there have been times when we unknowingly took a verse out of context and used it because it seemed to "fit" a particular situation. But this book at aims at enlightening our minds about our favorite verses while also teaching us interpretive principles that are necessary in order to understand God's Word properly. I hope you will pick up a copy, available on most major bookstore chain websites.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764209361?ie=UTF8&ref=aw_bottom_links&force-full-site=1">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764209361?ie=UTF8&ref=aw_bottom_links&force-full-site=1</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/misused-verses-bible-surprising-word-misunderstood/eric-bargerhuff/9780764209369/pd/209369?item_code=WW&netp_id=935405&event=ESRCN&view=details">http://www.christianbook.com/misused-verses-bible-surprising-word-misunderstood/eric-bargerhuff/9780764209369/pd/209369?item_code=WW&netp_id=935405&event=ESRCN&view=details</a><br />
<br />Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-56815427756962633532010-12-21T16:52:00.005-05:002010-12-21T17:01:24.742-05:00How Do You Know that the Bible is True?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sSNeCsxmFR7Fuc4ob18N5QcmEoVCOEBnJrOZLK5b5WOvDIlMHK1tW7zHGjzFhR7_YSx75JAZE1-3v1Ld3iiy87YKt107TRTUQVwJdbojCCzpgSuviq49Is3WpD6O-NzwJwizjpBAwE_i/s1600/BibleGlasses.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553258032126895922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sSNeCsxmFR7Fuc4ob18N5QcmEoVCOEBnJrOZLK5b5WOvDIlMHK1tW7zHGjzFhR7_YSx75JAZE1-3v1Ld3iiy87YKt107TRTUQVwJdbojCCzpgSuviq49Is3WpD6O-NzwJwizjpBAwE_i/s320/BibleGlasses.png" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Have you ever had anyone ask you: how do you know that the Bible is true? I mean what makes this book so special – what makes it stand out from all the rest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In an age where there are all of these competing religions that claim to have their own versions of what they call the scriptures, what makes the Christian Bible so different?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What sets it apart?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well if you’ve ever been asked that question I can’t help but wonder if you’ve ever gotten that sinking feeling in your stomach – maybe your face has turned a little red, because you’re not quite sure how to answer that one – but you feel like you should be able to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">After all, The Apostle Peter told the church that every Christian must be prepared to give a reason for the hope they have within them, right? So we must always be prepared to explain and defend why we believe what we believe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And in a society today that increasingly believes that “all roads and all religions” lead to the same God, it seems <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">even more important</i></b> for us to be equipped and ready to explain why we believe that Christianity is the only religion of truth – why Christ alone is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">the </b>way, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">the</b> truth, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">the </b>life – and why the Bible is the only inspired Scripture on the face of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here we have a Bible that claims to be the Word of God – divine revelation – a book inspired by the Holy Spirit of God who used over 30 human authors over a period of 1,500 years, containing well over 30,000 verses. And there are many different reasons why we can trust and believe that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">this</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">this</b> book <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">alone</i></b> is the only one that is fully true in everything it affirms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So without going into a big dissertation, let me give you just a few quick reasons to consider.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">1)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow">This Bible has proven itself to be a life changing book in the lives of millions of people who have believed its message throughout the centuries</span>. One sure sign of being authenticate is its ability to transform lives – to change minds, to change hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">People have been converted, hearts have been convicted and changed, people have experienced healing, hate has turned to love, and so this book has power. And for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">believers</i></b>, the Holy Spirit has a way of affirming this in the very depths of their hearts and its power is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">revealed </i></b>by our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">2)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow">Secondly, there is an amazing sense of unity to this book</span>. Like I said, there are over 30 different authors who have written over a period of 1500 years, and not a once is there a contradiction. Its message in each book is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">consistent</b> and is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">uniquely tied together</b> – that man is a sinner and that God alone has the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Several languages</b> are used and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">hundreds of topics</b> are discussed, and yet there is this amazing unity to it all – and from Genesis to Revelation the idea that man needs a Savior runs through all its pages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">3)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow">Thirdly, the Bible has had an amazing track record of proving that it’s historically true</span>, and much of this has been affirmed in significant ways through modern archaeology. It has proved itself to be factually accurate, in both the Old and the New Testaments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The ancient city of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jericho</st1:place></st1:city> has been dug up in recent times, and the Bible story claimed that the walls fell in and the city was burned by Joshua and the Israelites when they took over the land. And sure enough, archaeologists have dug down and discovered collapsed walls and a 3-foot thick layer of ash at the site of this ancient city.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And ironically, there is no other ancient account of this happening <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">other</i> than what is found in the Bible, and so the Bible proves itself to be historically true over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">4)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow">Fourth, the Bible is truly unique from all other books in that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">it alone</b> thoroughly contains a rather long list of predicted prophecies that have been literally fulfilled</span>. The prophets predicted the existence of certain kings, kingdoms, famines, and wars, all of which have been verified to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow">* Yet having said all of this, in the end, it is God alone who ultimately convinces us of the truth of God’s Word as the Holy Spirit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">convicts</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">confirms</b> the inspired nature of Scripture in our hearts as we read it</span>. In order for this to happen, one must be spiritually reborn by the Holy Spirit who illuminates the Word and leads and guides us into truth. God’s power inherently reveals <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">itself</i> as you thumb through this book, and many of us know exactly what that means as we’ve seen this book change <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">our lives</i> over time. </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!</span></span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-53824475650366946532010-10-26T16:15:00.004-04:002010-10-26T16:20:33.433-04:00Powerful, Expectant Prayer - A Lost Art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8X2kfIGRq3e8QBsPUXCPVMVZUr5aLb7U6APQIB0Egr8VP9hgbgzqWq5qSCxqMa0m9DsQTioHlNewtBclPqNN4-4KCUhh5K4MPJIfqUH6kKK94vWvsLvMDlyZkrpd8H7R2UVYjN3XQEsS/s1600/Fall+Wisconsin.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532451381582310370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8X2kfIGRq3e8QBsPUXCPVMVZUr5aLb7U6APQIB0Egr8VP9hgbgzqWq5qSCxqMa0m9DsQTioHlNewtBclPqNN4-4KCUhh5K4MPJIfqUH6kKK94vWvsLvMDlyZkrpd8H7R2UVYjN3XQEsS/s400/Fall+Wisconsin.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is also listening to God. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is often the most neglected of privileges that a Christian has in his or her arsenal. But, when used properly, it is a mighty weapon. The God who listens is a God that can move mountains, a God who can change hearts, a God that can rearrange circumstances and overthrow tremendous obstacles. He is the God of the impossible, and many times our vision of who God is and what He can do is often way too small, and this is reflected in the amount of time we may spend in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is true that God is sometimes less concerned with changing our circumstances and is more concerned with changing the heart and mind and perspective of the person praying. As someone has said, “Prayer doesn’t change God, prayer changes me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And if that is true then it is also true that the person who is most resistant to change and is satisfied in being self-sufficient and self made is probably a person who isn’t praying at all. When we become content with who we are, then prayer will seem irrelevant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So when we bow our heads to pray then, we acknowledge several things. First we acknowledge our willingness to change. We also acknowledge a proper assessment of ourselves and our need for God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But perhaps more importantly, when we bow to pray we acknowledge the Supremacy and Sovereignty of the Almighty God who grants us every breath and who holds our life utterly and completely in the palm of His hands. Prayer is a statement that says that God’s glory and His plans are far more important and necessary to know that anything else. And prayer is often the way we come to know those things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When you pray, be bold. Be specific. Don’t be afraid or intimidated by silence, and let the Holy Spirit bring to mind the things that need to be lifted up. Pray according to the truths that are revealed in Scripture. Pray with your heart and with your mind. Be willing to put your opinions before God so that He might change them or perhaps refine them. Pray with expectancy and pray with faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you pray this way, then it is more likely that you will learn to pray more in keeping with God’s will. As someone has said, no one out on a boat in the water throws a rope onto a dock and expects the dock to be pulled out to him. Instead, the goal is to pull the boat to the dock. And in the same way, when we pray to God, we shouldn’t expect that God would be pulled more towards our will, but rather that our will is pulled over toward God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So pray with joy, knowing that God is good, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-84295321081144960402010-06-30T16:01:00.005-04:002010-06-30T16:07:01.415-04:00The Need for Wise Counsel from Godly People<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1HnAtLsQ_uG_TOla62vxrr_sKO6leM6pEzrPbdIweP9VlX1jGVhvc2rVUvvKnMt9PzHl_V6zgj5mQl-RNnGQPy0lgQYzA3d_T-d_2rqxY9t2Z6Pq4DOZNMI9q6WcHZtx7cG93yMoAcWb/s1600/follow+me.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 108px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488659769590665346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1HnAtLsQ_uG_TOla62vxrr_sKO6leM6pEzrPbdIweP9VlX1jGVhvc2rVUvvKnMt9PzHl_V6zgj5mQl-RNnGQPy0lgQYzA3d_T-d_2rqxY9t2Z6Pq4DOZNMI9q6WcHZtx7cG93yMoAcWb/s400/follow+me.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I am always intrigued by new discoveries that are made as I read through everyday narratives of Scripture in my times alone with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This morning I was reading through some of the Chronicles of the Old Testament Kings and was struck by the faithfulness of an obscure priest that hardly anyone today would recognize or remember. <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">His name was Jehoiada. Now there are a couple of men by this name in the Old Testament, but this man was a high priest in the kingdom of Judah – a godly man who was faithful to God in the midst of a dark time.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Some background:</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The Nation of Israel had been divided into two – the Northern Kingdom known as Israel was being led by the ungodly King Ahab, and the Southern Kingdom known as Judah was being ruled by King Ahaziah (whose corrupt mother named Athaliah was as much an influence as the King himself). King Ahaziah of Judah assumed his reign as King when he was 22 years old and it lasted only one year. He made the mistake of listening to the counsel of his wicked mother along with a select number of ungodly men, and as the ESV so aptly points out, this was “to his undoing.” (2 Chron. 22:4).</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Not but a short time after ascending to the throne, King Ahaziah suffered a downfall that was “ordained by God,” (22:7) and it ended up that he was murdered by a group of thugs that God had raised up to execute judgment on Israel. Following his death, the King’s mother Athaliah decided to murder some of the remaining descendants of the godly line of David in what surely was a Satanically-inspired attempt to destroy the line of blood that was prophesied to one day produce a Messiah. But miraculously, Athaliah’s stepdaughter hid away one of the remaining heirs to the throne in order to prevent Athaliah from wiping out the entire royal bloodline. (Isn’t it interesting to see how God has a way of making sure his promises will come true as he preserved the line of David?)</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Time passes, and Athtaliah, who was the mother of the dead King, has made herself Queen of Judah (the only female queen to occupy the throne of Judah). But six years later, in steps the godly priest known as Jehoiada, and he knows about the one remaining son (named Joash) who has been hidden for six years. He courageously rallies some of the faithful, believing commanders in Judah’s army and they go around and collect a group of Levite priests spread throughout the Kingdom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>They find Joash (now 7 years old) and take him to the temple in Jerusalem and anoint him as King. It is a big deal with lots of noise, and when the wicked Queen Athaliah hears the noise, she comes running to see what all the hubbub is about.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When she entered the temple, she finds the people rejoicing and blowing trumpets as they celebrate the newly anointed King, and she is furious as you can imagine. She tears her clothes (a sign of angst) and shouts “Treason! Treason!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just then Jehoiada the faithful priest orders that the Queen be removed from the house of God and put to death, and the wicked Queen meets her demise in public. Literally, the wickedness is removed from the kingdom of Judah.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">And then we read this:</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#cc0000;">“And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the LORD's people. “</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(2 Chronicles 23:16)</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">They subsequently removed all the sinful idols from the land, tore down the altars to Baal, and began worshipping the LORD again. The young King Joash grew, and Jehoiada the high priest became his advisor. And during this time, there was abundant favor and blessing that came upon the King and the land, as the Kingdom of Judah began to worship the One True God once again. Even the house of God was repaired and restored. For it had fallen in disrepair due to years of neglect. And text tells us that,</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#cc0000;">…they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.</span> (2 Chronicles 24:14)</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">What a powerful story which gives us a brief glimpse at a godly man. This high priest, Jehoiada, was bold and courageous. He was willing to take a stand against evil and he successfully lead God’s people into a season of repentance from sin while calling them to an obedient life that honored and worshipped God. He lived a rich and long life, dying at the age of 130. And in honor of his life, the people of Judah buried him in Jerusalem alongside previous kings (an almost unheard of privilege since only Kings were allowed to be buried there.)</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Oh how encouraged I was to see what a godly “pastor” Jehoiada was to the people of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had no fear, and he believed that God’s favor was uniquely linked to obedience to God’s Word – both for the King and for all of God’s people. He further poured himself into those who were leaders, and God brought about reformation and revival as they worshipped God together.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For pastors who wish to see God’s blessing on their congregations, they would do well to follow in the footsteps of godly shepherds like Jehoiada. Point people to Christ, give them the Word of God and godly counsel, and pour yourself into fellow leaders who along with you will help shepherd God’s flock under your care. And your life will be honored by both God and man.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Yet, in a frightening twist to our story, as soon as Jehoiada died, some of the ungodly princes of Judah who had not repented and turned back to God resurfaced again, and they came and flattered the king by paying homage to him. The young King Joash listened to their advice, and fell away from God. Yes, it seems that when one listens to bad counsel, it is only a matter of time before corruption sets in. Whether it was the wicked Athaliah’s counsel to her son the King before his untimely death, or Joash the new boy King who was ambushed with bad advice after the death of the Jehoiada, the godly high priest. Who one listens to is important.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Who do you listen to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where do you seek counsel? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Where do you turn for advice? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Are they godly people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are their views shaped by biblical convictions? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Do their lives model faithfulness to God and His ways?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These are all things that we have to question as we choose who we befriend and seek counsel from. For as Paul warned, “bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor. 15:33). </p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">I have been fortunate to have had several different “Jehoiada’s” in my life, men who are full of the Spirit who have given me wise counsel. And by God’s grace, I hope to become one myself.</p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"></span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-44096549189823614412010-05-19T09:08:00.003-04:002010-05-20T08:09:47.844-04:00Meeting a True Shepherd<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNw0hX5YbVC6L3Xa8L8OQnf5EsZKsnzAhQCjWDhljJ8BBa1zLfQy73a7Ydo_RMWv2gpt1JYtRI55tLfD7dP3mVQ5wpBPcVnpiA6fELZamTPYkQRqSOxNxdjkJImJP_feSW3ndt49nKz9J/s1600/MB_PastorsConference2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472967850359273538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNw0hX5YbVC6L3Xa8L8OQnf5EsZKsnzAhQCjWDhljJ8BBa1zLfQy73a7Ydo_RMWv2gpt1JYtRI55tLfD7dP3mVQ5wpBPcVnpiA6fELZamTPYkQRqSOxNxdjkJImJP_feSW3ndt49nKz9J/s400/MB_PastorsConference2010.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I am up north this week enjoying Pastors Conference at Moody Bible Institute. I love Moody’s conference because they do such a good job of ministering to the pastor’s soul, whereas many other conferences I’ve been to in recent years have been all about ideological battles that have been seeking to engage the mind. To be fair, those issues are critical and important but sometimes you just need to take a break from that and let your soul just sing and soak in God’s presence. That’s how I feel at Moody.</span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I met a man yesterday who was sitting alone in the chapel at Moody in between sessions who was in his mid-60’s and has been a pastor for some 39 years. He was now close to retirement. He was a delightful, winsome man with a genuine spirit that you knew had been seasoned and prayed up for quite some time. His pleasant tone was surely that of a shepherd. And I thought to myself…this is what I want to look like in 25 years. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">He had stories to tell of God’s goodness and grace, as well as human struggles that are naturally a part of serving in ministry. He’d seen God move in his life and ministry in so many ways. He’d seen bouts of great victory and depths of deep sin in the church over his some 40 years of ministry. No doubt his heart was a little tired but was once again getting renewed. His elders had given him a sabbatical to enjoy some peace and rest, and Moody conference was a part of that gift.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I found myself in deep admiration of this man, and before our hour long conversation ended, I told him that guys like him were heroes to 40 year old pastors like me. To see his perseverance in ministry and his heart for the church was inspiring at so many levels. And though I did not really know him I thanked him. I thanked him for running the race with faithfulness to the Gospel and to the Lord’s people. And as I thanked him, I saw tears well up in his eyes. His soft heart was wide open before me, and it was a beautiful sight. A true shepherd. A real soldier. A faithful minister. A humble man. A man of greatness, courage, and strength. I am glad I met him. I hope someday to be just like him.</span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-25069334220362811912010-03-31T14:09:00.015-04:002010-04-01T13:57:22.490-04:00Baptism in the New Testament<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy2CyakawDkD1Mi12twhcD99fCZzpHxkkZwb7yGJBKMqT7Yj_jy-4DMoqS9eGZC9yNuQu5ZcgYgGOafEr-iDvWqDBuJlo3wyCyYgdtMcR_8iVOcbN3t-fG59b2yL0LaTaoFBAGredkSBj/s1600/Beach+Baptism+Sept.+2008+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454865718459023938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy2CyakawDkD1Mi12twhcD99fCZzpHxkkZwb7yGJBKMqT7Yj_jy-4DMoqS9eGZC9yNuQu5ZcgYgGOafEr-iDvWqDBuJlo3wyCyYgdtMcR_8iVOcbN3t-fG59b2yL0LaTaoFBAGredkSBj/s400/Beach+Baptism+Sept.+2008+007.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Bible mentions the word <strong>baptism</strong> numerous times in the New Testament, and depending upon context, it can have a variety of meanings. Therefore, it is important for the believer to understand what we mean by the term baptism. Usually, when we speak of baptism today in the church, we refer mainly to “water baptism” that takes place after someone has made a profession of faith in Christ (see picture at right). However, it is important to note that in other places in Scripture there may be something else being referred to other than what we normally understand. Let’s start this blog series by looking at three understandings of baptism that we don’t normally think of.</span><br /><div><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>1) John’s Baptism [John the Baptist]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>–<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Matthew 3:1-11; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18; John 1:19-28.</strong></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">John’s ministry was primarily two-fold. First, his role in redemption history is that of a messenger, where he prophetically announced to all <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> the arrival of their long awaited Messiah (see especially, John 1:31). Second, John’s ministry also included what was known as a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk. 1:4). This baptism was provided so that <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> might prepare themselves spiritually for the new work of God that was to be seen in the ministry of Jesus. The baptism was performed after repentance and confession, and the baptism served as a symbolic proclamation of spiritual cleansing and setting oneself apart (consecration) for God. (cf. Ex. 19:10-11) It was a call to holiness, righteousness, and repentance, whereby many responded. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>Further, the baptism that John performed was a one-time event in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s history in preparation for the Messiah.</em> However, the message and principle of repentance is still an essential element of saving faith and should be an ongoing expression of the Christian life where one seeks to set oneself apart from sin. For even today as Christians, though we are forgiven and are ongoing recipients of God’s grace, we still struggle with the flesh, and God’s call for us to embrace holiness ought to be a daily pursuit. Dr. Wayne Grudem helps us understand the nature of repentance in his helpful definition: <em>“Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), p. 713.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>2) The Baptism of Jesus – The announcement from both heaven and earth of the Messianic mission and an example for us to follow. – Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34.</strong></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Jesus’ baptism was <em>not</em> a baptism of repentance but was rather to be seen as an official announcement or affirmation of several things. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">For example, Jesus’ baptism served as…</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">A) an affirmation of the ministry of John the Baptist, his message of repentance, and the standard of righteousness he was calling <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> to embrace.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">B) an opportunity for Jesus to express his commitment to live a life of perfect obedience to the will of God and to the godly standard of righteousness that John was calling other people to.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">C) a way to express his willingness to identify with sinners and to submit to things that were meant for sinners only. Ultimately this would foreshadow and find its greatest expression in Jesus’ death on the cross, where a sinless man willingly took on the just punishment for human sin.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">D) an example for us, as we likewise express our desire before the entire believing community to be set apart for God and follow his will.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">E) the divine announcement of Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy as the Messiah (see Isaiah 42:1-4; Psalm 2:7) and coronation of the King of Kings for His anointed and powerful ministry on the earth. [Note: Jesus was filled with the Spirit before this moment, and so the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon Jesus served as an expression of God’s special anointing].</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Jesus’ baptism also gives us some practical things to consider. First, it communicates the importance of making a commitment to obey God and to seek and live out His will for our lives. Second, it calls us to recognize Jesus for who He really is (the King, our Savior, and Lord) and to give him the rightful reign in our hearts as we share in the blessings of His kingdom. And then finally, the text communicates the value of affirmation (in this text – Jesus’ affirmation of John the Baptist and God the Father’s affirmation of the Incarnated Son of God) and provides us with an example of how we ought to proactively affirm the ones we love, especially as we see them following the will of God.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>3) The Baptism With/In the Holy Spirit – The mark of the beginning of the Christian life. – Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John: 1:33; 1 Cor. 12:12-13.</strong></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In the Gospels we learn that Jesus would be the one who would perform what is known as a baptism in/with the Holy Spirit on all those who are true believers and who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. This baptism is not a literal water baptism, but is an unseen "spiritual baptism" given at the beginning of the Christian life at our conversion whereby we are spiritually washed, spiritually made alive or born again with the Spirit (Titus 3:5), adopted into the family of God, justified, and incorporated into the body of Christ (“the Church,” 1 Cor. 12:13). One example of the power of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is found in our ability to make a break with the sinful life that we were once enslaved to, thanks to the indwelling Holy Spirit that is now at work within us. Indeed, the Holy Spirit was active at times in the Old Testament, even empowering, enabling, and filling a select few leaders in Israelite history. However, we do not see Him baptizing and indwelling all who believe like we see in the New Testament, and so we are a blessed people to be living by faith in this age.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Though we see the baptism with the Holy Spirit happening at Pentecost where 120 believers were speaking in foreign tongues, we understand this to be a transitional time in biblical history where the Spirit of God was first poured out in fullness at the dawning of the New Covenant or Church age (Acts 1:5). The purpose of speaking in tongues was that it was to be a sign for non-believing Jews (cf. 1 Cor. 14:22) that the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> was breaking into the world in great power and that Jesus was indeed their promised Messiah. Since this was a one-time transitional event in biblical history, we should not expect this to be the pattern for us today. In addition, Paul argues that we experience our baptism in the Holy Spirit at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13). </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">However, there does seem to be times today when the Holy Spirit will cause a Christian to go through a big moment or time of spiritual growth, where someone may experience a powerful movement of God in their hearts and go through a fresh time of renewal, cleansing, and empowerment for ministry. Yet this should not be understood as an additional baptism in the Holy Spirit since this would contradict Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor. 12:13, where all of us receive the baptism at conversion and are incorporated into the body of Christ. Hypothetically speaking, if some would receive an additional baptism with the Holy Spirit later in their Christian life, then this could set up the potential to have two different classes or categories of Christians -- those that have this additional baptism and those that don’t, and this could lead to a divided church, the very point Paul was arguing against in 1 Cor. 12.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Paul did say to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18, but this is simply a command to give the Holy Spirit (whom we have received in fullness at our conversion) more and more control of our lives, daily surrendering to His influence as He causes us to grow and helps us become more like Christ. In other words, to be filled with the Spirit is to increasingly surrender our lives to God’s control. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">What a blessing it is to know that we receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit (a gift given to us by Jesus himself) at our moment of conversion, and that we are brought into the kingdom of God, incorporated into the body of Christ, indwelt by the Spirit, justified, cleansed, made spiritually alive (reborn), and begin the process of sanctification (a term used to describe spiritual growth as we become more like Christ in our knowledge, character and lifestyle). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">NEXT: We will look at the New Testament teaching on believer's baptism by immersion.</span></p></div></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-65711185690248973952010-02-15T15:55:00.007-05:002010-02-15T17:02:33.327-05:00New Book Reaches Publication<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIbh06G5k8ztvMA7Zp2jzS1DJClFi8qSmEZAL9e0WXbQvMi1ezE1-wWV9hyphenhyphenNhbM45Bo8NXRsAS-kz7rENXhjfVpOzkoL9XwvRdfM9ACDymoh2gW41pMEtmigPSkIU_OYZET8swEAM0gst/s1600-h/Large_9781606085615.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438579999235799778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIbh06G5k8ztvMA7Zp2jzS1DJClFi8qSmEZAL9e0WXbQvMi1ezE1-wWV9hyphenhyphenNhbM45Bo8NXRsAS-kz7rENXhjfVpOzkoL9XwvRdfM9ACDymoh2gW41pMEtmigPSkIU_OYZET8swEAM0gst/s400/Large_9781606085615.jpg" /></a> I am thankful for a long project that has come to completion with the publication of <em>Love That Rescues: God's Fatherly Love in the Practice of Church Discipline</em>. This work is now available online via Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as the publisher's website, <a href="http://www.wipfandstock.com/">http://www.wipfandstock.com/</a>. You will find it under the tab "new books" and can click on the book to take you to its main page. Below you will find a description of the book as provided by the back cover and some endorsements. It is humbling to see God at work in this, and it is for His glory that this book was written. May it be an aid to the church, and specifically to professors, seminarians, pastors, teachers, and lay leaders who desire to be faithful in presenting the Gospel and living out its implications for all of life.<br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Book Description:</strong></div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#660000;">In an age where "church discipline" has fallen out of favor in the context of many churches, Eric Bargerhuff calls the church to a deeper understanding of its nature and purpose as an expression of God's "fatherly love" towards his people. As a biblically mandated activity instituted by Christ himself in Matthew 18, church discipline is an essential practice of any faithful church that is committed to sharing the Gospel and making disciples. <br _extended="true"><br _extended="true">Tackling some of the false notions and assumptions surrounding church discipline, Bargerhuff sets forth a historical, biblical, theological, and practical position that centers its identity and purpose on a proper understanding of the cross of Christ. Since the punitive wrath of God was poured out for sin on the cross of Jesus Christ (a penal substitutionary atonement), it is therefore necessary to reject the notion that church discipline is "punishment," but rather it should be seen as God's hand of forgiveness and grace extended for the purpose of restoring, reconciling, and rescuing one of his own, a "sheep that has gone astray." It is to be regarded as God's love in the actions of a forgiven and forgiving community.</span></div><br /><div><strong>Endorsements:</strong></div><div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">"Here is a biblically rooted, theologically formed, and long overdue case for conceiving church discipline as a loving practice of the church. Bargerhuff flies against the prevailing cultural winds that lead most of us, when we hear mention of 'discipline,' to complete the phrase with the other part of Foucault's title: '. . . and punish.' The evangelical church—and not only the evangelical!—desperately needs to recover this neglected church practice as an important means of edification, if not of grace itself."<br _extended="true"></div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">—Kevin J. Vanhoozer<br _extended="true">Blanchard Professor of Theology<br _extended="true">Wheaton College Graduate School<br _extended="true"><br _extended="true"></div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">"This is a wise, insightful, practical, and theologically rich study of the teaching of the entire Bible about God's loving discipline of his children. It will challenge every church to exercise discipline according to Scripture, lest the church itself fall under God's discipline through unfaithfulness."<br _extended="true"></div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">—Wayne Grudem<br _extended="true">Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies <br _extended="true">Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, Arizona<br _extended="true"><br _extended="true"></div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">"Viewing [church discipline] as an incarnate expression of God's fatherly discipline, Bargerhuff helps us understand church discipline as a necessary part of being a forgiven and forgiving community. I recommend this book very highly to all who long to see the church flesh out God's dual commitment to ethical and doctrinal purity and to his forgiving, restoring, rescuing love."<br _extended="true"></div><br /><div class="section_body" _extended="true" _overflow="null">—Steven C. Roy<br _extended="true">Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology<br _extended="true">Trinity Evangelical Divinity School</div></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-42205798474282083062010-01-28T16:14:00.011-05:002010-02-15T16:57:15.449-05:00Why Did Jesus Weep?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh87Lv_4T5AwVCrwRNeyxRL3JAD9OXYVuG0HwAOru72EzCEaj_6nEM9L3kbgGOE99fnEmGflpSEq3iIZgwGlteYUjsSwxKPl7PEk3l2HaV246hiwb3lBFfkct74yYcvk5HCQRT7VHN579L/s1600-h/Empty+Tomb.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 334px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903163916912850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh87Lv_4T5AwVCrwRNeyxRL3JAD9OXYVuG0HwAOru72EzCEaj_6nEM9L3kbgGOE99fnEmGflpSEq3iIZgwGlteYUjsSwxKPl7PEk3l2HaV246hiwb3lBFfkct74yYcvk5HCQRT7VHN579L/s400/Empty+Tomb.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">So the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35. We memorized this little bit of trivia when we were kids for all the Bible games and such that we played in "church circles." It reads "Jesus wept," and when you are thinking of the perfect Son of God crying, it surely catches your attention.</span> </span><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So what is this all about?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong></strong><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Story of Lazarus<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;">Jesus performed a lot of miracles during his ministry. Healed the sick, walked on water, turned water into wine; calmed the storm. But a few of the more dramatic miracles he performed was when he raised people from the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">One of those he raised was actually a friend of Jesus, named Lazarus. You see, word had come to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, and would soon die. But instead of running to his bedside quickly to prevent his death, Jesus waited for several more days. Nobody understood why, but Jesus knew.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:georgia, serif;" class="Apple-style-span" >He wanted to show them the extent of His power. <span class="GramE">His power over death.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">So when he finally did leave to go to Lazarus’ house, Lazarus had already died and was buried. And His sisters were devastated. And this is where the story picks up in the Gospel of John.</span></div><div><sup><p><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">17</span></em><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;"> On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. <sup>18</sup> Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, <sup>19</sup> and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. <sup>20</sup> When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>21</sup> "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. <sup>22</sup> But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>23</sup> Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>24</sup> Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>25</sup> Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; <sup>26</sup> and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>27</sup> "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."</span></span></em></p><sup><p><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">32</span></em><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;"> When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>33</sup> When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. <sup>34</sup> "Where have you laid him?" he asked.</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">"Come and see, Lord," they replied.</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><sup>35</sup> Jesus wept.</span></span></em></p></sup></sup></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;">That last verse is what puzzles me the most. Jesus wept. Now think about this for a minute. Jesus knew good and well that he was about ready to perform a miracle; that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead in front of the eyes of everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">In fact, that’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">why</span></b> he waited – because he knew Lazarus would die and then he would come later and display his power by raising Him from the dead. So… why is he crying?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why is Jesus crying when in a matter of moments the situation would be different, and everybody would be rejoicing? Why does He weep?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">You see I believe that Jesus understands the pain and grief that comes with the loss of someone you love, and He was identifying with that pain. He knows what it’s like. He knows the fear. <span class="GramE">The sting.</span> <span class="GramE">The empty feeling.</span> <span class="GramE">The shock.</span> <span class="GramE">The grief.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">So He’s a God we can take comfort in. He’s a God who can relate to us. But more than that, He’s a God who holds power over death. This is the great hope we have as Christians – that </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Jesus was willing to identity with us. And the most profound way He did this while on earth was to take our place by being crucified on the cross for our sins, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">only to once again</span></b> display power over death by being raised from the dead as well.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” And these are the truths that Scripture teaches us. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. If you think about it then, this guy had to die twice! Not cool. But Lazarus was not afraid to die -- for he knew who had the power over death. And so do we -- those who believe.</span></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-79415922113434489012009-12-17T16:58:00.005-05:002010-02-15T16:57:37.219-05:00The Joy of True Friendships<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBzR6-hitgUGtMV3K1PvSBqKbzFZduis2gmOsJ5k8CHniFh9tocAAOA8_wUJzhzkRDvV7ZWpU1wrVdPzi-RAkhRzRB8asdHNpVmo2Qdzn8Fb7DRpKj6L5KZ7dY-qHFK4iMv5AkafQYZ3y/s1600-h/6532_1179331597094_1042266178_554494_5831365_n.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 293px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416328753892560546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBzR6-hitgUGtMV3K1PvSBqKbzFZduis2gmOsJ5k8CHniFh9tocAAOA8_wUJzhzkRDvV7ZWpU1wrVdPzi-RAkhRzRB8asdHNpVmo2Qdzn8Fb7DRpKj6L5KZ7dY-qHFK4iMv5AkafQYZ3y/s400/6532_1179331597094_1042266178_554494_5831365_n.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Over the last two blogs, we have highlighted some of the difficult things that can happen in life concerning friendships. First, it is a reality of life that some friends will walk away from their professed faith for a number of reasons. Secondly, we touched on the fact that Satan seeks to attack and separate true friends, and that we should be overly sensitive to the impact sin can have and protective of our friendships in the body of Christ.</span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But rather than running the risk of sounding too negative, we will end this three part series on a much more positive note – the value of godly friendship.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">There are very few things in life that are more valuable than true godly friendship. The Ancient Proverbs says that “a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is true that the most meaningful friends are the ones that last through the hardships and triumphs of life, friendships that are based on mutual respect, forgiveness, companionship, trust, and love. A friend is one who can see you for who you really are, ugly warts, sin, and all – and still love you and stick with you no matter what.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">These are rare jewels. Rare finds. But the truest friendships are nothing short of miraculous blessings from God. They are relationships that span distances and time. For example, I have some friends in far away places that I haven’t seen in years, but in picking up the phone, we can have a profoundly direct and weighty conversation and can achieve a level of depth almost instantly whereby there is immediate connection, empathy, and mutual understanding. You can be yourself and share your true feelings without being judged or misunderstood. And the encouragement, affirmation, accountability, and affection shared has a way of nourishing the soul instantly. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Your true friends are the ones that are quick to forgive and are not simply in the relationship for what they can get out of it. They aren’t simply sponges, but are those who are committed to giving generously with the primary motive of love. In this way, it is definitely true that the richest and purest friendships on earth are those that are shared between Christians. For the foundation of such friendships is the love of God, the One who has truly defined love for us.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">There is an openness and honesty within a great friendship. I recently had a friend tell me that when he talks to me he doesn’t feel like he has to be “on his game” but can actually let his guard down and just be himself, relaxed and transparent. That was such a compliment to me. And the feeling is mutual. I can laugh and make mistakes in front of this friend and he will love me just the same – a true brother. I praise God for him.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">It is true that each one of us will at some point be required to give an account of himself to God (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rom.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 14:12). And one of the ways that God prepares us for that is by giving us friends here and now to which we can give an account. Like iron sharpening iron, an accountability partner or friend is a must for anyone who wants to live a godly life that pleases God. In this way, the wisdom of Ecclesiastes is put into practice. For Solomon wrote,</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><sup><span style="color:black;">ECC 4:10</span></sup><span style="color:black;"> If one falls down,</span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">his friend can help him up.</span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But pity the man who falls </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">and has no one to help him up! </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><sup>11</sup> Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But how can one keep warm alone? </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><sup>12</sup> Though one may be overpowered, </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">two can defend themselves. </span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Indeed, Christians <strong>must </strong>have accountability relationships and friendships. But in order to have such a friend, you must first begin by having a willingness to be such a friend. You have to be willing to open your life and heart to someone else. You must learn the value of and practice unconditional love, selfless giving, and humility yourself. If you do this, you will find that you will acquire a great many friends, ones that will last a lifetime. And you will be best prepared to be the kind of friend that people want.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Speaking metaphorically, Aristotle said that a friend is like “a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” I like that picture, for it shows how yoked together two friends really are. “Soul mates” as we would say. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Commit yourself to being the kind of friend that somebody would want to have. Loyal, true, open, honest, with a true servant's heart -- full of love. As you walk with the Spirit, you will overflow with God’s love and this will enrich your relationships. In fact, you will see the quality of your friendships increase, and the numbers thereof as well. Therefore, the depth of your relationship with God will directly impact the quality of the friendship that someone may find in you.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">God truly blesses Christian friendships. May you find this to be true in your life as you walk with the Lord this Christmas season. Hold on to your friends. Love them unconditionally, and in doing so you, yourself will be blessed.</span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-64021745826022581982009-12-16T17:15:00.004-05:002009-12-17T09:20:37.916-05:00When Satan Attacks Friendships - Friends that Fall Away from Each Other<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvIilOQY165pUJDp6CWegbeTtV0JZGFD_UJNxgGdvMKg3jqiWA3kgQMvWsfGLHtcSSR1TdWB24koC8IyefZRDrpnJtQkWqrloFIXq2dOrqYGi7jIFVHiVB9ABw4iqBHt_EsqnLiVaLdmW/s1600-h/Lightning_thumb.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 225px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415962268256255234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvIilOQY165pUJDp6CWegbeTtV0JZGFD_UJNxgGdvMKg3jqiWA3kgQMvWsfGLHtcSSR1TdWB24koC8IyefZRDrpnJtQkWqrloFIXq2dOrqYGi7jIFVHiVB9ABw4iqBHt_EsqnLiVaLdmW/s400/Lightning_thumb.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In keeping with the similar theme of my last blog, it is another human reality (and a tragic one at that) to have friendships that become strained and even come to an end during the course of one's life. Even good Christian friendships slip in this regard, such that all Christians should be on their guard against it. I recently heard a sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Dr. James MacDonald, and in his message he said he has been absolutely stunned by how even Christians “burn bridges” with one another. (See his message series entitled “Balcony People Build Bridges” available on his podcast).</span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In true Christian circles, the theme should be “once a friend, always a friend.” But personal agendas, fear, pride, critical spirits, inappropriate judging, jealousy, selfishness, hypocrisy, misunderstandings, poor communication, control battles, private sins, and unmet expectations are often the majority of reasons for much of the relationship tensions, withdrawals, and severances that happen today among Christian friends. (I'm sure there are other things that I didn't mention that could be added.)</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Now I never thought I would borrow the overused song lyric from the 80’s coined by Michael W. Smith, but it is true that friends should be friends forever “if the Lord’s the Lord of them.” Instead of “bridge burners,” Christians should be filled with such grace that they should be continual “bridge builders.” MacDonald talked about the fact that many times he’s had friends who have distanced themselves and broken off the friendship even though he never did, stating “there’s some people that I wish would be friends with me but they won’t anymore, though I’m still willing.”</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Now people change. Let’s be real here. And when that happens, relationships are bound to change. No one is saying that the level of reciprocating affection in a relationship will always remain constant or increasing. I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation. People move away. Interests change. Shared experiences don’t always happen every day. Differences in opinion and preferences occur. But at the baseline level, there should always be an ongoing cordiality, spiritual and relational connection, and a genuine friendly interest in someone else’s life within the circle of all Christians. If we are truly committed to forgiveness like we say we are, then friendships should always stay in tact to some degree. We are family -- brothers and sisters for eternity, equally saved by grace.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">It is when “roots of bitterness” take hold, based on any number of reasons, that relationships can crash like the stock market. The writer of Hebrews said, <span style="color:black;">“see to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15) Any of the sins I mentioned above in paragraph two could lead to bitterness that causes relational trouble and defilement. But it’s interesting to note that the Scriptures here give indication that relationships that fail not only affect the immediate parties, but they can affect the whole community of faith. One friendship that tanks can bring many others down with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Therefore we must be overly protective and supportive of each other and careful with our friendships in the body of Christ, lest we give the devil a foothold. These are people with whom we will spend eternity, and so we better seek to maintain them here on earth. Thus the emphasis on reconciliation among believers by Jesus (Matt. 5:23-24; Matt. 18:15-17) and even among the Apostles (e.g. Eph. 4:25-32; <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Col.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 3:12-14; 1 Pet. 4:8-9) was meant to preserve what God has chosen to build, namely, his church. Surely there are people in the church that we will like more and relate better to than others – BUT we must be on guard against “cliques,” preferential prejudices, judgmental sarcasm, and stereotyping within the body of Christ. God has meant for all of us to embrace each other as brothers and sisters, being patient and forgiving and friendly to one another. At the heart of such success in relationships is the virtue of humility, the kind of humility modeled by Jesus who stooped down as a servant to wash the feet of his disciples. In fact, I would argue that humility as at the root of thriving relationships among Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Perhaps this is why Jesus is now willing to call each of us his friends (John 15:14-15), because he was willing to abandon status and privilege and embrace a humble life, and in doing so made many eternal “friendships” that are based on the principles of reconciliation and forgiveness, a reconciliation and forgiveness that he himself provided for in his death on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So guard your friendships. They are precious. Be a person of grace. Seek forgiveness and reconciliation if needed. Protect the reputation and unity of the body of Christ. Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought. Embrace an attitude of humility. Seek mutual understanding. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Be the mature one who is never willing to withdraw unless it is clear you have to for biblical reasons (1 Cor. 5:11). And above all, put on love, which always binds believers together for all eternity. These friendships we have in Christian circles have been forged by God, and what God has joined together, let no one or no thing separate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-25441227980123712922009-12-07T17:22:00.004-05:002009-12-08T09:08:15.221-05:00When Friends Fall Away or Walk Away From the Faith<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB49_xIMCcoDsJ5PmLl9ehVKQpSPQf0dv8AXEyZKJiFwZx8C-AwrdwM_-9at1OahMJ7xCIeZe-VSScVB7BZhAH51vpuaUXhTJkFdmaNob948EuZS2UQS5VX-Msel6OFySzcJkKtN1nzM5/s1600-h/Red%2520Question%2520Cropped.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412625445196644530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB49_xIMCcoDsJ5PmLl9ehVKQpSPQf0dv8AXEyZKJiFwZx8C-AwrdwM_-9at1OahMJ7xCIeZe-VSScVB7BZhAH51vpuaUXhTJkFdmaNob948EuZS2UQS5VX-Msel6OFySzcJkKtN1nzM5/s400/Red%2520Question%2520Cropped.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Many seasoned Christians will tell you that if you live long enough, you are bound to have friends that fall away from the faith. Friends who, for no apparent reason, walk away from what they have professed to believe for years, or who fall into a certain line of teaching that is clearly unbiblical. Others fall prey to temptation and shipwreck their faith and witness. It is a sad sight to see, a grievous reality, but not uncommon.</span> <div><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">What are we to make of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How are we to respond?</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">First, we would do well to be reminded that this is not something new. The Apostle Paul often mourned the loss of friends and partners in ministry, as there were some who embraced false teaching, some who fell prey to the love of money, some who simply were caught up in worldliness, the list could go on. Among them are names like Demas (2 Tim. 4:9) and Phygelus and Hermogenes (2 Tim. 1:15). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Especially painful for Paul was the desertion of many who were unwilling to support him when times got tough. Yet even then Paul was willing to forgive – his love for them held fast saying, “may it not be held against them.” (2 Tim. 4:16)</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Apostle John, one of the inner three disciples of Christ who perhaps lived the longest and saw the longest portion of the church’s early history, reported that some people who refused to remain in the faith actually proved that they had never truly been converted and incorporated into the church. He wrote:</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>~1 John 2:19</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Others who have not been trained, lack discernment gifts, or grounding in sound theology can also be easily swayed by experiences or cultural trends that they are unable to sort out through a biblical lens or put in proper perspective. When this happens the impact of such dramatic experiences may cause them to question their underlying assumptions of what they’ve traditionally been taught or it may cause them to find a way to reinterpret the Scriptures to support their experience. In either case they may leave the church.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Surely everything that we’ve taught should be tested – but if it’s truth it should pass the test. The true danger lies in having “an experience” with God and rather than using the Word of God as a filter to interpret it, the person finds a way to discover a proof text and twist the Scripture out of its proper context in order to legitimize what they “already believe and are convinced of.”</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">It has been my experience that cultural, societal, and political trends have had a huge impact on the church’s reading of Scripture and the implementation of church practice. Surely this is true of every age to some degree, but I think it has been much worse on the evangelical church in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> today. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But to our main point, this is why some friends have wandered off into bad teaching or poor church practice or have left the church altogether due to experiences that they have been ill-equipped to handle, sort out, or interpret. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Further, though the church should always be prayerfully seeking reform, it is true that there are some discontented Christians who are so fed up with the church for one reason or another that their cynical spirits and bitter attitudes have driven them into areas of belief and church practice that are clearly out of bounds in a biblical sense. Unfortunately, they may lack the grace and maturity to patiently reason with one another, and as a result they would rather distance themselves and go their own way. A sad but common reality, and relationships can be severed.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">And then finally, some have not rejected the faith so much as they have rejected the church because of a horrible experience or a lack of grace that they may have encountered from immature believers who did not know how to handle someone else’s sin, failures, or differences in perspective. Some of these people take years to recover from something like this – and it is not always their fault. But it still results in a rejection of the “community of faith.”</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So the three reasons we’ve covered are this (and they are not meant to be exhaustive): Some fall away relationships or the church because they never really believed in the first place. Some fall away because they are ill prepared or equipped to handle winds of bad teaching or experiences that they do not know how to interpret biblically. And then finally, some have walked away simply because they’re angry and impatient or have legitimately been hurt. They don’t have the energy to persevere or desire to forgive.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So what is our response?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Love. Sympathy. Grace. Humility. Patience. While at the same time, we should be committed to prayer for them, always willing to engage and embrace, and prepared to defend the faith. Perhaps in some cases we should even be apologetic if the friend was genuinely hurt for unjustifiable reasons. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Live long enough, and this will undoubtedly happen to you. But we must remember, that the kind of Christ-like love we are called to is the kind of radical love that imitates our Savior, the One who loved us even while we were yet sinners (<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rom.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 5:8). If our loving God was willing to leave the comforts and privileges of heaven to come here and sacrificially give his life towards those who were hostile to him, how much more should we seek to love those who have turned, walked away from, or rejected us, the church, or the faith for one reason or another?</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Don’t give up on them. No matter what. Keep preaching, speaking, and living the Gospel. Pray, and love unconditionally. Be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have, and season everything with grace. You may “win your brother or sister over.”</span></p></div></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-75673301038194232962009-11-25T16:07:00.005-05:002009-11-25T16:41:52.787-05:00"The Already Not Yet" Aspect of the Christian Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD_0nk4jf54EpMetq0OpFC_sEIBGMrxOSnNWUQpyI8A3QaJ9Zq1ygpDd8xMGdA6Zsvc4MhpndQ20UhnOtQcAa-YtdSqVXPHP6eDlri32D6UtrjqhWDuqM5CnYbH2TDHoEXst3zqHD3Y8S/s1600/6532_1179331637095_1042266178_554495_6754565_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 265px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408151979439333810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD_0nk4jf54EpMetq0OpFC_sEIBGMrxOSnNWUQpyI8A3QaJ9Zq1ygpDd8xMGdA6Zsvc4MhpndQ20UhnOtQcAa-YtdSqVXPHP6eDlri32D6UtrjqhWDuqM5CnYbH2TDHoEXst3zqHD3Y8S/s400/6532_1179331637095_1042266178_554495_6754565_n.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Christian’s dilemma could be best characterized by the “already not yet” reality of the Christian life. As those who have trusted in Christ for our salvation, we stand before God in a <em>positional </em>state of “grace” (Romans 5:1-2). What this means is that we are no longer condemned, exonerated from wrath, covered by the blood of Jesus, promised an inheritance, and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s the “already” aspect of being saved. <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">But then there is the “not yet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here in this life, we still struggle with the flesh, a battle with sin that reminds us that we are not yet perfect, nor ever will be in this life. We must rely on God’s ongoing forgiveness and grace and the empowerment of the Spirit to have any measure of victory over our sin. So as Paul said, we “press on,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>we labor and strive to be holy and set apart for God. In Philippians 2, Paul says we should “continue to work out” our salvation. Not <em>work for</em>, but <em>work out</em>. We don’t earn our salvation, rather we are to demonstrate that we’ve received it by faith and that this Spirit-led faith compels us to change and grow spiritually. In other words, we seek to become like Jesus in character and conduct, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, seek to win souls and conform our lives to God’s will. </p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">In sum, we are saved by grace, we stand in grace, and we grow spiritually by God’s grace which we need everyday in our lives. In one sense we are perfect in our standing before God, but still in the practical sense, not yet freed from our ongoing battle with sin. This is why we still need “daily grace” to forgive and cover our sin. Thanks be to God who gives us that abundantly.</span></p></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-34897632955007018762009-11-14T19:59:00.004-05:002009-11-14T21:12:01.540-05:00Heart and Hands - What I Want to Copy and Paste from Jesus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WLnKxwim-tBqj-dZ5SufdlD6K2-EV9ulaSZDrkmUHnbTtgwVL3aN_vzC_oaUee0S36QDBJjH4CZ89R9MhFVtpRwA9PsspEemsS8Q-EY9pOudmpohscOyVIUGz9mcu9k1AdPt0zZ9VZMk/s1600-h/436.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WLnKxwim-tBqj-dZ5SufdlD6K2-EV9ulaSZDrkmUHnbTtgwVL3aN_vzC_oaUee0S36QDBJjH4CZ89R9MhFVtpRwA9PsspEemsS8Q-EY9pOudmpohscOyVIUGz9mcu9k1AdPt0zZ9VZMk/s400/436.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404147375646001234" /></a><br />I have found that after several years of ministry that there is no replacing personal time with God and a personal touch with people. As for the former, there is much to discover within the recesses of God's heart that cannot be discovered by mere experience but only in private consultation. I see his character within the pages of His revelation, but until I have stopped to ponder it over and again in my mind, I no nothing of it in any real tangible sense. It's just knowledge until it sinks deeper into my soul and takes root and shows itself in my consciousness, motives, and intentional activities. Perhaps this is what is meant by "participating in the divine nature" (2 Pet. 1:4). Not merely an awareness of God but a partnership and fellowship within the secret activities of the heart. Perhaps I am never more like God than when I am simply with him, enjoying the sweetness of joy that comes from a conversation that saturates the dry parts of my soul. This is where he reveals to me his heart in such a way that it changes mine. Truly this is what Brother Lawrence meant when he wrote "Practicing the Presence of God." I've noticed that even the Savior himself went up to the mountainside to pray. There's nothing like recharging with the Father. I want to know his heart.<div><br /></div><div>As for the latter, God has been reminding me of what really matters in ministry. Nothing replaces quality time, purposeful interest, active listening, genuine encouragement, and timely follow-up. These are the things that touch the hearts of people. It expresses care and love, and it cannot be substituted in any way. It is the heart of a shepherd that people crave. For whether we pastors know it or not, we represent in some mysterious way the Chief Shepherd in a surrogate sense. We are "under shepherds," entrusted with the flock of God to whom we will give an account. And people can see right through us. They can sniff out a fake. But for the one who is the real deal, they will be quick to entrust their lives to you because they know you care. </div><div><br /></div><div>How have I represented him? Have I shown others his heart? Do I reflect His compassion and come alongside others with an empathy and sympathy that would communicate His presence? These are the questions I must ponder. They are gripping. And I'm afraid that there are times when I fall way short of His holy calling. Paul said, "who is equal to such a task?" I know what he meant. And I know what Jesus meant when he said, "apart from me you can do nothing." </div><div><br /></div><div>The temptation to do ministry "in the flesh" is there daily. Pride is a constant battle as I'm sure it is for most people. One must intentionally humble oneself to be used rightly. It's not that one should just pray for humility, but rather one must knowingly seek to place oneself in a humble state, looking for a way to lower oneself. God intentionally came to earth not as a man but as a baby. It was a purposeful choice. He pondered his path and took the low road. That's what we all must do. That, in some slight way, may be what Paul meant when he said that Jesus "emptied himself" (Phil. 2) -- he did not consider his equality with God something to use to his advantage, but became like one of us (except for sin). He went into the trenches with people, touched the untouchable, consoled the unconsolable, listened to those overlooked, gave grace and attention to those who called out for help, and did it all with dirty feet and unwashed hair. He also gave his life away... </div><div><br /></div><div>That's what a shepherd does, and that's how he should minister to his flock. Lord make me like that. Make me like you in prayer, and make me like you with people.</div><div><br /></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-45232855759331359152009-11-04T11:26:00.003-05:002009-11-04T11:30:26.811-05:00A Powerful Definition of Christian Counseling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJFo4YjdXWfOCtmo5vjkIAeSSginHolQlM6I9vJYw_OjQhF2XBfKXXzLlOOtqgDOhI7XQhRCLwlm8R5QShiVF7gKLSNyB7pSllnutGxjpJtaYHU9GAyFdyYzGrd8LclIsJyBEH9Z49urC/s1600-h/001_Desktop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400286668345771074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJFo4YjdXWfOCtmo5vjkIAeSSginHolQlM6I9vJYw_OjQhF2XBfKXXzLlOOtqgDOhI7XQhRCLwlm8R5QShiVF7gKLSNyB7pSllnutGxjpJtaYHU9GAyFdyYzGrd8LclIsJyBEH9Z49urC/s400/001_Desktop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I ran across this definition of what it means to receive counseling in the church by John Piper, and I felt it was instructive, insightful, and encouraging to share with you. May you be the "church in action" today on this weekday -- encouraging each other daily as the Day approaches.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"What is counseling? The God-centered, Bible-saturated, emotionally in-touch use of language to help people become God-besotted, Christ-exalting, joyfully self-forgetting lovers of people. Biblical counsel does not direct people to esteem themselves – it directs them to esteem God, and doing this means waging war. A Sunday sermon isn’t enough; neither is a weekly small group. To persevere in this fight, we are to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Hebrews teaches us that perseverance is essential in salvation, and that it is a community project. Satisfy your soul in the ultimate Treasure so you move away from comfort and toward need; fight for the salvation of your brothers and sisters in Christ; hold fast to the faith; encourage one another." ~ John Piper</div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-11061514282461425112009-11-03T11:38:00.005-05:002009-11-04T10:01:34.516-05:00Speaking with Passion on What's Most Important<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ucFHN1jvEQm-60E-pEIS-7b10kkc-1reEiD8uO_xuXJ0giiKr3SzaJW9U4oGpoMZA_kO_IlVl3X1V8mtKaH0m1UMMYvZg9czarsOunUd-QGPGS9okLjVMjrher8HiBHcFrcD1E8jpO-S/s1600-h/machaerus_ruins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399918390068769458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ucFHN1jvEQm-60E-pEIS-7b10kkc-1reEiD8uO_xuXJ0giiKr3SzaJW9U4oGpoMZA_kO_IlVl3X1V8mtKaH0m1UMMYvZg9czarsOunUd-QGPGS9okLjVMjrher8HiBHcFrcD1E8jpO-S/s400/machaerus_ruins.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Recently I preached a series of messages on the Christian’s relationship to the governing authorities. It is not a subject that I am deeply endeared to but felt compelled to preach on as a result of encountering Jesus’ statement, “render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar” in Mark 12. In this statement Jesus legitimized human government, and in Romans 13 Paul expanded on it to teach us that government is something that God has sovereignly established on earth for the purpose of governing society, rewarding the good and punishing the bad, while providing a sense of restraint to evil and order to a sinful world.<br /><br />His was not a statement of endorsement of all that an earthly government does, but merely an affirmation that God is the One who has established it for his sovereign purposes. Surely though, government exists for our good in the general sense even when it is not operated by godly people or is advocating biblical perspectives and policies.<br /><br />It seems that on every street corner in this country the subject of politics, postmodern cultural warfare, economic and foreign policy, and health care are on the lips and minds of all who are alive and breathing. Opinions are as varied and strong as ever. The past two elections have seen more participation than in much of recent American history, and the intensity of the conversations and emotional weight that is thrown into them seems to be at all time high. I am a bit jealous of the intensity, to be honest, wishing that all Christians were mimicking it in our righteous living and in our conversations to all about how the cross saves believing sinners.<br /><br />In a time like this, I believe that Christians have reached some fertile soil for sharing their faith. The firm foundation of absolute truth is a needed ointment to the disease of cultural relativism. People are longing for something stable, something true, something to believe in that is a much needed fix to the brokenness they are experiencing in the world, and they are fast coming to the conclusion that no political entity or process is going to be their salvation any time soon, no matter who is in charge.<br /><br />We know the real truth however, that there is no salvation to be found in any earthly institution or authority, but rather true salvation is found only in the name of Jesus Christ. We don't need political salvation, but spiritual salvation. And this is where the blindness of Satan has captured many. For they think that if the economy is right, war is eradicated, and their political preferences all line up and are in place, that their lives are going to be profoundly fulfilled. They forget that spiritual matters are more important than anything else. And they don’t see that the personal sin issue is the biggest one of all.<br /><br />All of what we see in the world comes right back to this. The spiritual nature of these earthly battles cannot be overlooked. There is a spiritual war going on here. The economic, cultural, social, and literal wars we are going through are merely symptoms of that greater spiritual warfare that hovers over them all. And without the right spiritual resolution, these things will only get worse. It could very well be that the common grace that God has used to restrain sin is being lifted a bit so that our world system is all the more in line with that which is described to come at the end.<br /><br />I am no predictive prophet, but the feeling I have is that the time is short. The ground is fertile, and Christians need to be speaking God’s truth with a little more courage, purposefulness, and intensity than before. Come on Christian! Stand up. Proclaim the truth – speak the Gospel daily. Talk about the cross. Talk about forgiveness. Show unbridled love, a contagious joy, and an excitement about Christ.<br /><br />Don’t despair. Don’t lose hope, and don’t place that hope in earthly temporal processes and institutions. Should we be voting and talking to our leaders about matters of right and wrong? Absolutely. We should do this as God has given us the miraculous freedom to do so. We should use the resources given to us to speak about matters of truth in areas such as abortion, medical ethics, marriage, and so on. Since these effect areas where we live, we must be engaged. Not consumed, but engaged. God’s truth is timeless and eternal, and is the standard by which all will be judged. So we better be speaking it with regard to all the practical areas of life. And to do this effectively we must also know our Bibles and know what God’s truth is (a plug for more biblical study).<br /><br />There are some who spend all their days on the computer forwarding emails about political issues that bash this or that leader while their Bible sits on a shelf and their neighbors suffer in silence because no one is relationally loving and reaching out to them. My brethren, these things should not be. Merely making the world moral through political policies is not our ultimate goal – saving souls who are hell-bound without the Gospel of God’s grace is. This does not dismiss us or silence us from engaging on moral issues, it just rearranges our priorities so that the spiritual comes first in our minds before the earthly and temporal. And don't you think it might be important that before we speak one word about political issues in the coffee shop or the workplace, we must have already spoken ten words about Christ to our family members – our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandchildren, and anyone else in our close quarters.<br /><br />Remember this, God is in control of history. And He may be setting this world system up for His return. He is not responsible for evil, man is – but God orchestrates everything for His ordained ends. And He has commanded us to “hold on loosely” to this world and to go preach the Word! Go Christian – get up, get out there, and live and love radically for Christ. Fear not! The Lord is with you. He is mighty to save! (Zeph. 3:17)</div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-45357185251823418672009-09-29T16:08:00.005-04:002009-09-29T16:14:06.234-04:00An Often Overlooked but Critical Moment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW8YUb4QBoqb5ZZJBQ7kyylBDkmHFQEHgXVnS79ReC1t1spG4rKqxHGXPwK7XEyBBn0gK3lM7sac8rbEH6rdq2-Lom5a02ndFduxa1vzp25rJNC9RVstUDLjpKwYXMyWAxfM4Q-EMoVZ_/s1600-h/Empty+Tomb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386984196535592994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW8YUb4QBoqb5ZZJBQ7kyylBDkmHFQEHgXVnS79ReC1t1spG4rKqxHGXPwK7XEyBBn0gK3lM7sac8rbEH6rdq2-Lom5a02ndFduxa1vzp25rJNC9RVstUDLjpKwYXMyWAxfM4Q-EMoVZ_/s400/Empty+Tomb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">The Reality of the Resurrection</span><br />It’s Meaning for the True Believer</span><br /><br />1. It means that God is <strong>not dead</strong>, or that He’s some <strong>impersonal force</strong>, or simply an idol or inanimate object that I bow to.<br /><br />Instead, the Christian God is alive, personal, real, knowable, and we are able to relate to Him through repentance and faith.<br /><br />2. It means that God is true to His <strong>promises</strong>.<br /><br /><em>The Bottom Line: I can trust God.</em><br /><br />3. It reminds me that I should <strong>never fear death</strong>.<br /><br /><em>Someday in the future, I will rise from the dead.<br /></em><br />4. God’s power that He used to raise Jesus from the dead is the same power that He is using to <strong>change me</strong>, giving me new spiritual life in through faith in Him.<br /><br />5. Since God accepted Christ’s perfect life and perfect sacrifice and put His stamp of approval on it by raising Him from the dead, so I can trust that God has made me <strong>acceptable</strong> in His sight through faith in Him.<br /><br />6. The reality of Easter Sunday means my life should be filled with <strong>joy,</strong> with <strong>thanksgiving</strong>, with worship and praise. It means that I can live <strong>victoriously even now over sin.<br /><br /></strong>7. It means that God’s plan of <strong>redemption</strong> for this world is being brought to intended Goal, and for those who believe this will become a reality that they too will participate in.</div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-50116905000021559172009-08-10T15:58:00.011-04:002009-08-11T13:39:16.589-04:00Evangelical Christianity, Premarital Sex, and Early Marriage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCbx87eWS_4t3WAXUhw3rbJ8ZoAIFd2TLhOgGHmGweZvmJLqb9gxgZCfONI-rmJnU3IzwYFGk-af1OJI80Dx9iiEJmyv68aIIySmPgVkNQ4yKkWyQsN8vXR0b_-hECr73zMr0AvUaUSz2/s1600-h/006_JosephandHannah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427141018335090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCbx87eWS_4t3WAXUhw3rbJ8ZoAIFd2TLhOgGHmGweZvmJLqb9gxgZCfONI-rmJnU3IzwYFGk-af1OJI80Dx9iiEJmyv68aIIySmPgVkNQ4yKkWyQsN8vXR0b_-hECr73zMr0AvUaUSz2/s400/006_JosephandHannah.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Through my experiences as a pastor, I have become increasingly concerned about the situation our younger generation of Christians are facing when it comes to marriage, premarital sex, schooling, careers, etc. They are growing up in a culture where the struggle of relationships, and specifically premarital sex is itself a daily battle. But first, let’s get a few operating assumptions and facts out of the way.<br /><br />1) The Bible says that any sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage is not honoring to God – ok, let’s call it what it is – its sin. Why? Because that part of life was meant to find expression in a lifelong commitment to a spouse. It is a natural and healthy part of a growing, monogamous, marriage relationship. Sex is not evil, it is God-ordained and healthy, but like a fire in the fireplace it must be kept in its context or else it can be destructive. Thus we believe in abstinence before marriage.</div><div><br />2) Secondly, we live in a way too sexually explicit culture. Need I say more? It is a battle every day for young people. From every angle, they are pressured and taught lies about sex, and the casual nature of it that is portrayed in the media outlets of television, movies, and the internet has led many down the wrong path. It is sooo tough for so many young people today.</div><div><br />3) Third, couples are waiting much longer to get married than ever before. A recent survey said that the average median age for first marriages in the United States is now age 26 for women and age 28 for men.<br /><br />Now having said all this – I have a few thoughts to consider. Doesn’t all of the above facts make for the “perfect storm” when it comes to the battle that our younger generation of Christians go through when it comes to sexual temptation and premarital sex?<br /><br />The pressures are so intense. The hormones are so intense. The battle with what one can do and what one can’t do in a dating relationship and be “technically” honoring to God is so intense. But to be honest, I think there is a greater issue at stake here in all of this. And I think it has to do with our views on marriage in general -- and this is the main intent of this blog.<br /><br />So the question for consideration is this. Why is it that we insist that they need to be “done with school, financially secure, and on a career path” before they consider the idea of marriage? Can that be defended biblically?<br /><br /><em>Side note -- this is not to say that people who are in their late 20’s or early 30’s who are single are in any way wrong for being in that spot – it may not be God’s will for them to marry just yet, or at all. But they will be the first to tell you that it’s not easy and that they need God’s grace every day to be patient and focused on God.<br /><br /></em>In the Bible young people were married much earlier than they are now. The “Virgin Mary” was most likely in her early to mid teens when betrothed to Joseph. (It had much to do with the Jewish view of procreation, blessing, and the ability to have children). I’m not suggesting that this should be the Christian norm today, for certainly we live in a different culture and different time. We don’t need to arrange marriages at age 14. But is there some merit to avoiding all the battles we sometimes face by getting married a little earlier than we currently do?<br /><br />I think so. I was 25 and my wife was 19 when we got married. My parents were 21 and 19. Now someone may say – “19?!!! Wow, that’s a little young – don’t you think they should grow up a little more and finish school first?”<br /><br />My answer is this – not necesarily. I think it's possible that we've simply put a strong <em>cultural prerequisite</em> on them. It is true that in some cases it may be wise to wait, but we cannot make that a blanket expectation that is true for every young couple who thinks that God is leading them to marriage. Long engagements are hard, for it is natural for couples to come together <strong>emotionally, spiritually, socially, and physically</strong> all at the same time. And when we tell them that they have to wait on this one part while the wedding is two or three years away – boy that’s tough!<br /><br />Though there are challenges and some cons to the argument for early marriage, I believe that there are some definite pros that we are overlooking.<br /><br />1) Sometimes being dirt poor is a good thing. And young couples who get married early are not usually rolling in the dough. They are forced to make sacrifices. They are forced to cling tight to one another, make important decisions together, battle their tendencies to be materialistic, etc. And all of that is a good thing. You may have to live off of borrowed furniture for a while, eat off paper plates, drive an old Honda. This just might be the situation God wants for them in order to develop in that young couple a deeper conviction about God, money, and trusting in Him for what they need rather than what they want all the time?</div><div><br />2) I think when we get older we get more stuck in our ways, and perhaps even more selfish. Getting married early can help with that problem, for it forces us to grow up together. We learn to compromise, making sacrifices for each other. There is no doubt that maturing socially, spiritually, and relationally together brings a bond to the relationship that sets it up for surviving the long haul. Many older couples who married early can attest to this benefit. Growing together spiritually at an early age has tremendous benefits. Biblical convictions can be cultivated together and most young students in their early 20's can catch on fire for God as they are in the midst of considering their life calling.<br /><br />There is something to be said about a young couple getting married in school, working and paying for their education, growing together, being dirt poor for the first couple years, growing together, learning to live within their means, growing together…oh, did I mention growing together? Yes, that's what they do.<br /><br />Don’t misinterpret this. <strong>No one should rush into marriage</strong>. Some who do, regret it later. One must be fully convinced of discerning God’s will before doing so. And like I said before, those who are single in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s can surely be blessed by God. <strong>Not all need to or should marry.</strong> Each one must consider their own giftedness and unique calling or place in life. And <strong>Paul did in fact commend singleness</strong>, saying that it can be a gift. So I’m not saying the early marriage or marriage in general is the ideal for everybody.</div><div><br />But what I am saying is that we should be very careful about the cultural prerequisites that we put on young Christian couples when a relationship gets serious and seems to be heading towards marriage, being especially mindful of the sexual temptation our young people face today. Sometimes early marriage is a better option, even if it means life is tough for a while. They may not be as tempted and they may grow up faster because of it.<br /><br />No, we should not get married just so we can have sex. That’s crazy. But when we get married much later in life, get ready for an emotional and physical battle until that day comes. To be sure, with God’s grace it can be done, but perhaps much of the struggle can be left behind if we are willing to consider the alternative and leave our biases behind.<br /><br /><em>Another topic for consideration -- Where are the men? We have lots of godly young women who are looking for godly young men? But where are they? I think in some sense the church has utterly failed in this. To be sure, men themselves have failed in this. I have intense compassion for the women in our church who are bright, spiritually strong, single, who wish to get married but who look around and find nothing. But that’s another topic for another blog.<br /></em><br />If one some point you think differently than I do on these things, then please see Philippians 3:15b. I’m not being contentious, but I see the battle every day in the lives of our younger Christians. Let’s pray for them, shall we?<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------<br /><br />While writing this blog, I discovered a recent article about this, and it argues my point much more thoroughly and better than I do. Might I encourage you to read Mark Regnerus’ recent article in Christianity Today magazine (August 2009) entitled, “The Case for Young Marriage.” It, in my opinion, is a powerful read. You can read the article here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/august/16.22.html">http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/august/16.22.html</a><br /><br />In reading it, I feel affirmed in what I was thinking. And for further critique and comment on Regnerus’ article and early marriage, see also Al Mohler’s commentary at…<br /><br /><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=4161">http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=4161</a> </div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-62237858291846989362009-07-30T16:56:00.003-04:002009-07-30T17:05:05.849-04:00What Faith IS and What it is NOT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlDwOunklh6pSVUIaLMBp1VfaFb-qSRj5PCMjtb5Cj907p7sAsTh446DvlH6vD8JfXUJeH5IhWIuUqWN5m3i5TmfNtjwDpSxdADCTJW1OvmwglXn9v6XDrsS7DIGVWKJwyYbV9QXrmldV/s1600-h/DSC_5760.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364361928665734114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlDwOunklh6pSVUIaLMBp1VfaFb-qSRj5PCMjtb5Cj907p7sAsTh446DvlH6vD8JfXUJeH5IhWIuUqWN5m3i5TmfNtjwDpSxdADCTJW1OvmwglXn9v6XDrsS7DIGVWKJwyYbV9QXrmldV/s400/DSC_5760.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>How much do we really live by faith? Do we live the kinds of lives that really require us to exercise a certain amount of faith or do we base our goals and lifestyles on goals that are very achievable on the human level, within our own power? And further, can faith be merely equivocated with risk taking?<br /><br />The most important aspect of faith is its object. If <strong>God </strong>is the object of faith, then it is faith. Why? Because God is fact. God is certain. God is absolute. If an educated guess or risky living is the definition of living by faith, then we are operating under an unbiblical definition, because the Bible says,<br /><br /><em>HEB 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.</em><br /><br />So under that definition, ideas like "confidence, assurance, and certainty" are necessary components to faith. This is only possible if God is the sole object. So that is why we can “live by faith” and not by sight, because we know that God is the author of life, the sustainer of life, is sovereign over all of life, and is the goal of life. So in the end, to live by faith is to trust God with all of life.<br /><br />Therefore, “taking chances,” “risky investments,” and "counting the odds" are not what it means to take “a leap of faith.” Because in those things, there is no assurance and certainty of anything. Maybe it will work and maybe it won’t. But that’s not faith. Faith involves certainty. We would be much better to call those things “educated guesses.” Nothing wrong with educated guesses – just don’t call it faith.<br /><br />So practically speaking, to live by faith then is to be certain that God will provide everything I need that He has promised. Not everything I want, but everything I need. We can be certain of that.<br /><br /><em>MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?<br /><br />28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, <strong>will he not much more clothe you</strong>, <strong>O you of little faith</strong>?</em></div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-4840598184755738032009-07-27T16:52:00.010-04:002009-07-27T17:19:18.009-04:00Living Theologically in the Church<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqfEdaZZUd3QQ3yCOjq_K_BTzPZPODS2ifV28CniZXea57slFkMom10RrvV3ukLYLzlqbqUZfOZQXhvMXxIDrw_YnP_aqFAyXVQgEqCcjzwrBBRQ8F25GKFScAZPJzjmTAkQheAjcwAVy/s1600-h/eclipse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363247006440970834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqfEdaZZUd3QQ3yCOjq_K_BTzPZPODS2ifV28CniZXea57slFkMom10RrvV3ukLYLzlqbqUZfOZQXhvMXxIDrw_YnP_aqFAyXVQgEqCcjzwrBBRQ8F25GKFScAZPJzjmTAkQheAjcwAVy/s400/eclipse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>One of the primary criticisms that is directed toward the arena of academia is that it often produces material that converses with the theological elite while leaving behind the common layperson who seeks to understand and encounter God throughout their daily lives, and weekly in a place of worship. An unhealthy division of the Christian faith is seemingly promoted between theory and practice. On the flip side, the evangelical Church of today is often guilty of perpetuating this gap when it focuses primarily on attainting an “experience” with God, devoid of any profound theological reflection, dialogue, or foundation<br /><br />Reflection upon the doctrine of God, his attributes, names, and nature, as well as the ways in which we acquire that knowledge, may be studied in seminaries and Bible colleges, but at times is often thought to be irrelevant by the Christian on the street. However, on the other hand, John Armstrong asserts that the church for too long has been preoccupied <em>“with everything from revivalism to church growth”</em> and <em>“has almost sterilized our schools and churches to serious doctrinal reflection, especially in written form.”</em><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a><br /><br />Today, however, there seems to be a desire from both the academy and the church to come together, to increase dialogue, and to share the glorious reality of connecting the mind, the heart, and the daily walk in a more holistic approach to life and theology within the community of faith.<br /><br /><em>As Paul wrote to Timothy, God has given divine revelation for many purposes, including ones that necessitate doing theology, but the ultimate reason for giving divine revelation and for theologians doing theology is that the people of God may be fitted for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)</em><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a><br /><br />Recent theological discussion has taken special notice of how theology, and the doctrine of God in particular, should be understood as more than a mere assent to cognitive truth claims. At its heart, the truth about God must be seen in the lives of each individual Christian and the practical, corporate life of the Church, especially in its worship and concrete, biblical practices.<br /><br />This is one of the primary arguments and basic assumptions that serve as the foundation for a recent series of essays edited by James J. Buckley and David S. Yeago, found in <em>Knowing the Triune God: The Work of the Spirit in the Practices of the Church.</em> In these essays the authors aim to bring theology and practice together, arguing that biblically speaking there is no such thing as head knowledge of the truth that is divorced from the <em>“faith, worship, and godly life of all who are incorporated into Christ as members of His body</em>.”<a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a><br /><br />Therefore one of the primary goals of theology should not only be to help build and articulate a deeper understanding of the doctrine of God, but to help incorporate such an understanding and its relevance into the life and ministry of the church. In this way, our theology, daily walk, and church life should inform, interact, and shape one another.<a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a><br /><br />Bernard Ramm has pointed out the significance of theology for the Christian life when he writes,<br /><br /><em>. . .to the evangelical, theology is a matter of life and death, vindication or judgment, to be in the love of God or under the wrath of God. Theology must then be built on the most absolute foundation possible–the revelation of God in Scripture. And that revelation can only be known by the evangelical's becoming an expert in the exegesis of Scripture and a master of its contents.</em><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5"><em>[</em>5]</a><br /><br />So the Biblical text and the theology it conveys serve as the absolute foundation and cornerstone of the Christian life and the practices of the church. As Ramm has stated, it's a matter of "life and death." Similarly, Millard Erickson, in speaking of the critical nature of one's theology, emphatically states that <em>"our theological beliefs affect the nature of our relationship with the Lord,”</em> and so theological reflection cannot be separated from encountering or experiencing God and his purposes for us in our daily lives.<a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6">[6]</a><br /><br />Indeed, we are to think biblically and theologically so that we, by God’s grace, may live faithfully and obediently as the children of God in a foreign world. You can’t have one without the other. Why would anyone want to? If you refuse to believe or reflect on the fact that God is sovereign then you will always question whether he has the power to have control over anything that happens in your life. If you think that Scripture may contain historical or scientific errors in it than this may inevitably cause you to question the trustworthiness of God himself, who was said to inspire every word of it. (2 Tim. 3:16) Do you see how important this is? But as we gain knowledge, the knowledge that changes us, let us also live it out with simplicity and fidelity, so that head and heart can go hand in hand. Let us master the basics and dive deeply into the waters of the Word all at the same time as the Spirit will guide us in both. Then we will be living out a healthy spiritual life.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a>John H. Armstrong, “The Trinity: What and Why?” Reformation and Revival Journal 10, no. 3 (2001): 9.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a>John S. Feinberg, <em>No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God</em> (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001), xxiii.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a>Thomas F. Torrance, <em>The Trinitarian Faith: The Evangelical Theology of the Ancient Catholic Church</em> (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1988), 33; quoted in James J. Buckley and David S. Yeago, eds., <em>Knowing the Triune God: The Work of the Spirit in the Practices of the Church</em> (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001), 9.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a>Our standard for practice should proceed from a biblical theology, derived from a sound literal, grammatical, historical exegesis of the text.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5">[5]</a>Bernard Ramm, <em>The Evangelical Heritage: A Study in Historical Theology </em>(Waco, Tex.: Word, 1973; reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), 154, emphasis mine.</div><br /><div><br /><a title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6128433971051731739#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6">[6]</a>Millard J. Erickson, <em>Where Is Theology Going?</em> (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), 12, emphasis mine.</div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-24405021518627216322009-07-02T15:10:00.003-04:002009-07-02T15:19:17.171-04:00A Memorial Tribute to a Dear Brother -- Dave Hahn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Mrtt8XkzuL7k1dDupWk2LoKNwS524KZKgURG3LTn_tNneSCKUEv8F__dRHcGv-texV7t1V5bt1Poc9HGAqYBKAbRwn_YS7VjqOj8kxjNGT90WwE6HhAXucZcCv4XBWNRCmW7XrFUcbdx/s1600-h/CROSS_BLACK_AND_WHITE.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353943793942312514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Mrtt8XkzuL7k1dDupWk2LoKNwS524KZKgURG3LTn_tNneSCKUEv8F__dRHcGv-texV7t1V5bt1Poc9HGAqYBKAbRwn_YS7VjqOj8kxjNGT90WwE6HhAXucZcCv4XBWNRCmW7XrFUcbdx/s400/CROSS_BLACK_AND_WHITE.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>At approximately 7:45 AM this morning, our dear friend and brother Dave Hahn stepped into what I like to call, “phase 2 of eternal life.” Our heavenly glory - that future glory that awaits all believers who have trusted in Christ alone for their salvation. It is as real a place as anything ever known – a place where we are more alive than we are today – spiritually alive, spiritually complete, morally perfect and fully aware of being in the Lord’s presence. For Paul said that to be “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”<br /><br />Dave had an extensive battle with cancer, much more extensive than we would have liked. The way he died has had an effect on all of us, in more ways than one. First, no one would ever pick to have something that is slow and drawn out. But even though Dave passed this way, it truly gave him a platform to speak to so many people about the love of God in Christ. There is a mountain of people who came across this man who are now changed for life because of his love and testimony. We have no idea how many people have been touched for eternity simply by seeing this man stare at the face of death with confidence and assurance of his eternal destiny because of his Christian faith.<br /><br />Perhaps one of the most healthy and most powerful expressions of faith amidst the dying process came when Dave spoke in our church several months ago, sitting comfortably in a lounge chair on the stage, telling us what it was like to “get one’s house in order” while trusting in God who heals or carries us to heaven, whichever it may be. Dave’s counsel, advice, experience, and blunt honesty had a huge impact on so many. He talked of things that we don’t normally speak of, things that are often “uncomfortable” for us. He said what we all thought and wondered about, and when the time was done, he played his favorite song over the loudspeakers and sat there with his hands in the air in a spirit of worship. There was not a dry eye in the house.<br /><br />Truth be known – Dave was a fighter. He was a self-avowed “analytical warrior” when it came to the medical side of his cancer fight. Just the other day, in some of final moments of lucid conversation, he told me that the dying process has been fascinating for him – calling it “Dave Hahn’s Great Scientific Experiment.” He had a real sense of humor and was refreshingly transparent. He always wanted to remain conscious for as long as he could so that he could track what was happening to his body. It wasn’t until the very last weeks that he finally agreed to some pain medication.<br /><br />Always the picture of health, Dave enjoyed the study of nutrition. This is why his passing is so puzzling for us – Dave wasn’t careless with his health. He wasn’t overweight. He didn’t smoke. He exercised and took care of his body. And yet cancer invaded him anyway. Humanly speaking, we have many questions with little answers. But cancer is no respecter of persons. Our response is to put our trust in God, who numbers our days and holds our lives in His sovereign hands. We consider it a blessing from God that He gave us 49 years with Dave Hahn.<br /><br />Dave’s life and death has brought us together. It has put things in perspective. We have seen a church family come together to rally around a family in need. We have been drawn into prayer as God’s people. We have seen many use their spiritual gifts to minister to his family. The love that has been expressed in so many ways is a true reflection of Christ’s love spilling out of this wonderful church. What do people do without a church family? I have no idea. This is what it’s all about. God has raised up many who have stepped forward to care for Dave. His small group, his many friends and family, you name it. Oh, how we’ve loved one another.<br /><br />On Tuesday Dave and I talked about what the final moments would be like. We speculated on the fact that perhaps there will be angels that may come to usher him to glory. What would he see? How would he feel? All these were things we pondered, considering all the Scripture says and more. A glorious thought – seeing the face of Jesus. Joining the “great cloud of witnesses,” to the place where “the souls of righteous men have been made perfect” (Heb. 12:23). It’s a heavenly Jerusalem. It’s not our final place. For there will be a day when the Lord returns to earth with his angels and those like Dave who have gone before us, and there will be a resurrection body granted to Dave that will be immortal. And then glorification will be complete in the fullest sense.<br /><br />Oh Lord, haste the day! It won’t be long beloved. Mind you, there are “birth pangs” to this world right now, and soon our Lord will come.<br /><br />I will miss Dave. We all will. It is still for us to care for his beautiful wife and daughter, a privilege we will take seriously, I know. Faith allows us to grieve, but we do not grieve like those who have no hope. Jesus rose from the dead, victorious over death. Therefore, it is a sad day and a day of victory all wrapped into one. Finally, one more story.<br /><br />The story is told of a young man by the name of William Dyke, who at the age of 10 went blind. Yet even though he was blind, William went on to be a very intelligent, witty, and handsome man. He attended graduate school in England, and he met the daughter of an English Admiral, and he fell in love.<br /><br />The two were engaged. He had never seen his future wife’s face, but he loved her very much. Right before they were to be married, a new treatment was developed that could possibly reverse William’s blindness.<br /><br />In a rather unusual request, William decided that he did not want the gauze from the treatment removed from his eyes until the wedding ceremony was in full swing. If the treatment worked, the first thing he wanted to see was his new bride’s face.<br /><br />As the bride came down the aisle, William’s father began to unwind the gauze from his head and eyes – still not knowing whether the operation was a success. When the last piece of gauze was removed from his eyes, William blinked several times and then looked into the face of his new bride for the first time.<br /><br />And his first words were, “You are more beautiful than I ever imagined.”</div><div><br />I can imagine that this is what Dave felt the very moment he stepped into his heavenly dwelling and <strong>saw the face of his Savior for the very first time</strong>. And I can hear him humming his favorite song, “some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away. To a home on God’s celestial shore…I’ll fly away.” </div><br /><div>Dave, yes indeed, that “glad morning” was <strong>this very morning</strong>. We’ll see you soon brother. We love you.<br /><br />PS 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD,<br />this is what I seek:<br />that I may dwell in the house of the LORD<br />all the days of my life,<br />to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD<br />and to seek him in his temple.</div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128433971051731739.post-32125427227581270782009-05-14T10:17:00.002-04:002009-05-14T10:22:02.101-04:00The Need for Daily Spiritual Sensitivity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKfgYxNtL5S_AnHBUvYeKcdlFjhCKhcttYrT27ea8wt8canWU7YshRCkBg6aHd9T3H1qOIMnspPyk1lStHyr7UIC03aws_ChbN-eCMZ2tZsrylV6sLlDcmA-VP7uqZrPK7LhXxgBInjgQ/s1600-h/006_Retreat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335684728946287378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKfgYxNtL5S_AnHBUvYeKcdlFjhCKhcttYrT27ea8wt8canWU7YshRCkBg6aHd9T3H1qOIMnspPyk1lStHyr7UIC03aws_ChbN-eCMZ2tZsrylV6sLlDcmA-VP7uqZrPK7LhXxgBInjgQ/s400/006_Retreat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Looking back on your life, where have you seen the Holy Spirit at work? Whether it’s over the years or even in the last few months, where have you seen God at work in an obvious way? Can you easily identify God’s hand? In Ephesians 1, Paul prayed this for the church:<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">“18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19a)</span><br /><br />Paul wanted the church to see life through a fresh set of eyes. He wanted them to experience an enlightened heart, to see and experience spiritual realities in a way that changed their whole perspective on life and life’s situations. I have found it a little a little easier to look back in 20/20 hindsight and trace God’s finger or hand on my life from past experiences. But it is quite another thing to cultivate the kind of spiritual sensitivity that is able to trace his guiding hand on a daily moment by moment basis.<br /><br />When you step foot in a foreign country, you might be stepping foot in a place that is rather unfamiliar to you. The sites will look different, the people will look different. The language will sound different. You have stepped into a new world. You will notice things you’ve never seen before. You will have a heightened sense of awareness. Things will stand out to you. You are much more sensitive to your surroundings.<br /><br />In the same way, there is also a heightened sense of spiritual awareness and sensitivity that God wants to cultivate in you, even now right where you are. You would do well to ask yourself, where do I see God at work here? Where is there a need that I can help meet? Where is there a situation that is calling me to address it through prayer? Where is the Holy Spirit at work and how and how can I join in on that work so that God might use me as well? What is God doing in my heart and how is he speaking into my life through all of this?<br /><br />Try not to let unconfessed sin cloud your spiritual vision. Let us be mindful of the potential for spiritual laziness that may make us blind to what’s happening. Let us be careful not to be so focused on our own daily agenda that we miss out on what God wants to show us or do with us. Pray for God to wake you up with a new set of glasses on. May you have eyes to see, because God has much to show you, and He wants to cultivate that kind of sensitivity in you every single day of your life.<br /><br />Pastor Eric </div>Eric J. Bargerhuff, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13815784170246712296noreply@blogger.com0