Love & Lust

The difference between love and lust is the attitude of your heart. If you’re in love, the attitude of your heart is one of selflessness, with the other person as your focus, whereas if you are in lust the attitude of your heart will be one of selfishness, with yourself as the focus. True love is driven by a godly desire to provide for, nurture and care for the other persons needs, whereas lust is driven by an ungodly desire to provide for, nurture and care for our own sinful passions.

Why is lust so hard to fight?

 

The Lure of Lust

• Flattery (Proverbs 5:3-4, 7:21-23)
• Attractive (Proverbs 6:23-28, 7:21)
• Convenience (Proverbs 7:11-14)
• Forbidden (Proverbs 5:3, 7:18-20)

You can see that the reason lust is so hard to fight is that is makes the luster primary.  When we enter into lust we only have to care for ourselves.  In our hearts we elevate ourselves to gods to be worshiped.  But where does this lead?

Where Lust Leads

• Unsatisfied (Proverbs 5:4)
• Wounded (Proverbs 7:22)
• Death (Proverbs 5:5-6, 7:26-27)

Attempting to find our hope, acceptance, comfort, or security in anything other than Jesus will leave us unsatisfied, wounded, and dead (or hopeless).  When we run to lust you are looking to make an person or a situation the vehicle for redemption in your life.  Redemption is only found in Jesus.  Once our identity is firmly rooted in Jesus’ and the gospel, we are then free to love others in a way that isn’t dependent on them providing acceptance, comfort or security for us.  We find liberty.

The Liberty of Love

• Commitment (Proverbs 5:15)
• Blessing (Proverbs 5:18)
• Joy (Proverbs 5:18)
• Satisfaction (Proverbs 5:19)
• Contentment (Proverbs 5:20)

How do we keep from getting trapped?

                  The heart is the key. (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 5:28, Mark 7:21-23, Genesis 39)

Practical Steps to Kill Sin

From Pastor John Piper 

Relief: All true believers have sin remaining in them in this life. Romans 7:23 – “I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.”

Therefore we are commanded to constantly kill this sin (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5).

How is this to be done?

1)      Take heart from the truth that the old sinful you is decisively already dead (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:3; Galatians 5:24). This means three things:

• the mortal blow to our “old man” has been struck;
• he will not succeed in domination now;
• his final obliteration is certain

2) Consciously reckon the old man dead; that is believe the truth of Scripture about the old man’s death, and seek to live in that freedom (Romans 6:11).

3) Cultivate enmity with sin! You don’t kill friends (Romans 8:13). Ponder how it killed your best friend, dishonors your Father, and aims to destroy you forever. 

4) Rebel against sin’s coup. Refuse to be bullied by his deceits and manipulations (Romans 6:12). Fight your sinful impulses with all your might like a boxer fights an opponent and like a marathon runner fights fatigue (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Timothy 4:8).

5) Declare radical allegiance to the other side – God – and consciously put all your mind and heart and body at His disposal for righteousness and purity (Romans 6:13).

6) Don’t make any plans that open the door for sin’s entry (Romans 13:14). Don’t prove your purity in a pornography shop.

7)  Develop mental habits that continually renew the mind in God-centeredness (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:16). Fix attention daily on “the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5), “things that are above” (Colossians 3:2), “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8).

8) Admit failure and confess all known sin every day (1 John 1:9). Ask for forgiveness (Matthew 6:12).

9) Ask for the Spirit’s help and power in all these things (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:17, 22; Ezekiel 36:27; Isaiah 26:12).

10) Bepartofalargerandsmallerfellowshipwhereyouareexhortedoftentobewareofthedeceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).

11) Beware of “works of law”; but let all your warfare be “the work of faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). That is, let your fight against sin spring from your confidence in the superior pleasures of closeness to Christ.

To hear messages on this topic or to download a teaching supplements and daily Bible readings go to “The Walking Dead” series under media at The Church at Martinsburg’s website.

Confronting Anxiety with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Father, forgive me for be anxious about my future and not trusting your goodness. So many times, instead of trusting you plans, I trust only in myself. Father, thank you for loving me as a compassionate daddy. Help me to know that you are working for my good as a good father does for his child. Thank you for adopting me into your family. Because of the cross I know that I am fully accepted by you and free from anxiety.

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Lord forgive me for living for my kingdom instead of your kingdom. I accumulate stuff for security and comfort. Lord, help me to trust that you have given me everything I need to live for your kingdom. Forgive me for using what you have given me for building my kingdom and not investing in the lives of others. Because of the cross I can find my security in comfort in Jesus and am free to be generous with my time and money for you kingdom.

“Give us this day our daily bread”
Jesus forgive me for not looking to you as my supply. Instead I often trust my own resources for my security. Thank you for always taking care of my needs. Help me to trust that you are enough for me. That you are my supply. Because of the cross I can find my rest in you and am free from trying to control my circumstances.

“And forgive us out debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Father forgive my for seeing people and relationships as resources to provide me with security. This leads me to be easily disappointed when others let me down and to use people to meet my needs. I am covetous of what others have and am quick to compare my resources to the resources of others. Help me to view others as you do, not as a means to an end but as sheep in need of a shepherd. Because of the cross I am free from finding my security in people and am able to love others unconditionally.

“and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
Lord, forgive my for thinking that abstaining from anxiety will produce righteousness. This leads me to try to control my circumstances and escape for stressful situations. Instead, help me to love you more than I love my comforts. Give me the grace to find my hope in you rather than in my own power and abilities. It is you, and you alone, who is worthy of my focus and able to set me free from unbiblical ways of thinking. Because of the cross I can stop just trying to out will my sin and can find freedom in Christ.

“For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Lord, all I have is yours. Any resources, any abilities, any influence I have has been given to me for your glory. Forgive me for my lack of trust in your goodness and my desires to use what you have given me to serve myself. Help me to see your power and your goodness as I seek your kingdom today. Because of the cross I can approach with confidence the God who is all powerful and able to meet my every need.
Thank you Jesus.

The Believer’s Position in Christ

• Dead to sin – Romans 6:11
• Spiritually alive – Romans 6:11
• Forgiven – Colossians 2:13
• Declared righteous – 1 Corinthians 1:30
• A child of God – Romans 8:16
• God’s possession – Titus 2:14
• Heir of God – Romans 8:17
• Blessed with all Spiritual blessing – Ephesians 1:3
• Citizen of Heaven – Philippians 3:20
• Set free from power of sin – Colossians 2:11-15
• Free from the Law – Romans 8:2
• Crucified with Christ – Galatians 2:20
• Light in the World – Matthew 5:14
• Victorious over Satan – Luke 10:19
• Cleansed from sin – 1 John 1:7
• Declared blameless – Philippians 2:15
• Set free from the desires of the flesh – Galatians 5:24
• Secure in Christ – 1 Peter 1:3-5
• Granted peace – Romans 5:1
• Loved by God – 1 John 4:10

You already are…so start being.

Imago Dei

Ultimately the imago Dei refers to something a person is rather than something a person has or does. Though it has been argued as to whether the image refers to the functional purpose of man, the relational capacity of man, or the objective of man’s existence, it is best not to correlate it with any one variable, but with all parts of what makes man unique in creation. [1] The image of God has not been completely lost as a result of the fall and therefore is universal to all mankind. [2] The imago Dei was given to man and allows humans to be capable of interacting with one another, of thinking and reflecting, and of acting freely.

What might its implications be for social ministry?

Every individual is to be treated with a level of honor and dignity. ^[3]  Scripture gives no indication, that the image is present in one gender, race, nationality, or social class to a greater degree than in another. The Imago Dei establishes the profound worth of every individual and gives sufficient reason to treat all people properly.^[4] Christians should fight for justice and dignity for all humans.^[5]  We humble ourselves as Jesus humbled himself to enter into a sick and broken culture to bring help to the hurting and hope to the hopeless.

What might its implications be for outreach/evangelism?

All humans possess the potential for fellowship with God. Therefore, Christians should be looking for areas of responsiveness or at least openness in everyone they interact with. What ever was lost, due to our sinful nature, can be redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ.[6] Our desire should be for all people in all places to be fully restored to fellowship with their creator through faith in the work of Jesus Christ, through the proclamation of the Gospel (Romans 10).

What might its implications be for missions (evangelizing other cultures)?

Human spiritual condition cannot be dealt with independently of physical and emotional conditions, and vice versa.^[7]  For the Biblical Christian it is not sufficient to meet physical and emotional needs while ignoring the spiritual needs of a person. However it is also not sufficient to ignore the physical needs while attempting to address the spiritual in any culture. The universality of the imago Dei also means that no culture or race is more worthy of the Gospel than another. The Gospel breaks down cultural boundaries (Eph 2, Col 3).

What might its implications be for your Christian leadership?

The implication for leadership is that all people a to be valued and honored. No one person or group of people should be given preference due to race, gender, social class or even gifts and abilities. I must lead others to take the Gospel to all people, in all places, at all times. I must learn to humble myself as Jesus did to enter into a broken world with the Good news that all men who turn to the perfect image of God, Jesus Christ, can be redeemed.

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[1] James Estep and Jonathan H. Kim, Christian Formation: Integrating Theology & Human Development. (Nashville:B & H Publishing, 2010), 18-19.

[2] Ibid., 27

^[3] Wayne A. Grudem, Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood, Foundations for the family series (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2002), 76.

^[4] Grace Seminary, vol. 4, Grace Theological Journal Volume 4 (Grace Seminary, 1983; 2002), 105.

^[5] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1998), 536.

[6] Estep, 23.

^[7] Erickson, 557.

Is it Christian or is it Cult? What is the difference?

4 terms you should understand

 

1. Sect (or denomination): 

These are groups that hold to correct doctrine in regards to the person and work of Jesus Christ and the way to salvation.  Salvation comes through grace alone from faith alone in Christ alone.  We may disagree on minor methodology or second tier doctrinal issues, such as when a person should be baptized, how end times will look, or how church government is organized.  These differences create distinction but not division within the Body of Christ.  These are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

2. Cult

These are groups that will use the name of Christ but deny core doctrines about the person and work of Jesus Christ and the way to salvation.  This happens in 4 ways:

 

• Add to the Bible – They make additions or doctrinal corrections to the Bible
• Subtract from the person of Christ – They either deny the divinity or the humanity of Christ.
• Multiply the way to salvation – They teach that for a person to truly be saved the MUST do something in addition to faith in Jesus Christ.
• Divide the Body of Christ – They teach that they have the true form of Christianity and all others are false.

 

These groups will present themselves as being no different from Christians and often it will be difficult to see the differences until a person is sucked in.  Often brainwashing techniques are used and total commitment to the group or leader is expected.  The group will demand control over every area of a persons life.

 

Basic traits of the cults that claim the name of Christ:

• Claim a corner on Truth: “We have found the truth no one else has discovered.”
• Oppositional Stance:  “All other Christian groups are wrong but ours”
• Denial of the Trinity: “A three-headed god comes right from ancient paganism.”
• Defective Christology: “Jesus died for our sins, but…”
• Salvation by Works:  “It is one thing to believe, but you’ve got to work at it, too.”
• Persecution Complex: “The world is against us because we have the truth”

 

3. Occult

Occult means “hidden”. It covers practices that are not approved of by God e.g., astrology, casting spells, consulting with spirits, magik, sorcery, witchcraft, and spiritism.

 

4.  Cultic

This is a group that has correct doctrine about the person and work of Christ and the way to salvation, but uses cult like methods.  9 ways a group may be cultic:

1.  They demand separation from anyone who is not a member of the group
2.  They demand explicit control over followers.
3.   They reject any questioning or criticism of the group or leader.
4.  If you are rejected by the group, you lose salvation (they control salvation)
5.   They have explicit control over members finances
6.   The group/church becomes the place to hide from the evil world, who “persecutes” them.
7.   They believe that they are the only “true church”
8.   They have secret meetings at secret times
9.  They teach that their way is the only way (worship, dress, Bible translation, meeting time, etc)

When groups/churches become cultic they can cause long term damage to those who are involved in the group and be hurtful to those outside the group.

 

Obviously there is a fifth category that would be different religions, but the above is to help you to be discerning when it comes to groups or churches that may be using the name of Christ but are not being true to biblical Christianity.

15 Brief principles when in dialogue with a cultist:

1. Foundationally, know your Bible – The more you know about genuine Christianity through the Bible, the easier you will recognize spiritual counterfeits (Heb 4:12).
2. Understand the definition of a cult – A cult is a group that derives from a parent religion but denies one or more of the essential doctrines of that religion.
3. Be aware of the key doctrinal characteristics of cults – These are the traits listed above
4. Be aware of the key sociological characteristics of cults – Authoritarianism, Exclusivism, Isolationism
5. Always prepare for witnessing encounters by prayer – Only God is able to set the cultist free from the power of satan (2 Cor 4:4)
6. Don’t assume every cult member believes the same thing every other member of that cult believes – don’t tell them what they believe ask them if they subscribe to a particular belief.
7. Always define your terms – Cult members typically use Christan words but with a different meaning (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
8. Always look up Bible verses cultist site and read them in context of the whole of scripture – Cultist often quote verses that seem to support their view but are misquoted or taken out of context.
9. Focus the discussion on important matters – Do not get side tracked debating nonessential issues but instead focus on the true identity of Jesus, what Christ accomplished on the cross, and the true gospel that saves.
10. Emphasize the good news of the grace of God – because cults have a works based salvation based on fear and guilt, they desperately need to hear of a salvation and freedom that comes from God’s grace. (Eph 2:8-9)
11. Ask strategic questions – You will not be able to convice a cultist that your opinion is rights, but you may be able to help him discover problems in his theology
12. Be aware that many cultist have been trained to answer your objections – Always bring the discussion back to the Bible and the person and work of Jesus Christ
13. Be ready to answer the cultists’ objections – As you share biblical truths, they will inevidtably raise contradictory points.  Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15)
14. Beware of the cultists’ fear of disfellowship and shunning – they have been taught that questioning the cult or the leader is the same as questioning God.  They will be kicked out of their social circle if they question the leader.  Be ready to connect them into a loving community of grace.
15. Share your testimony – you are probably not a expert on cults or theology, but you are an expert in what Jesus has done in your life.  Share the gospel of grace through your story.

 

Notes taken from lectures and articles written by Ergun Caner, Ed Hinson, and Ron Rhodes.  For more articles on Cults, Religions, and Worldviews see “The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics” by Ed Hinson.

Grace makes no sense

Tonight my 6 year old son had a meltdown.  He wasn’t defiant, although plenty of those have happened in the past.  He was tired and frustrated.  A bad combination for any of us.  Because of his fatigue, he was not handling his emotions very well.  He became frustrated, talked back, was ashamed of his behavior, then became more frustrated which caused him to feel greater shame.

To break this cycle Daddy had to pick him up, sit him in my lap, and let him know that I loved him.  Once I removed my own frustration over the situation it was easy to see that Micah was beating himself up over a past behavior that I had already forgiven him for.  At that moment, when he felt like the “worst kid ever”, Micah needed to hear that even in those moments Daddy loves him and accepts him just as much as when he is being the best kid ever.  He needed to see grace.  I explained how much he has to do to earn my love and how much he could do before I stopped loving him.  The answer to both of these is that he does nothing to earn it and can do nothing to lose it.  That’s grace.

Here is the thing,  grace makes no sense.  You can’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, and no matter what you do, you can’t lose it.  You did nothing to earn God’s love and you can do nothing to lose His love.

Like Micah you may be beating yourself up over some past sin that God forgave at the cross.  In this way our own shame can become our idol.  Stop punishing yourself for a sin that Christ was punished for on the cross. Stop focusing on your shame and focus on the cross.  It was all dealt with on the cross.

If there is known sin in your life…repent, focus on the cross, and move on to what God wants to accomplish in your life.

God doesn’t need to prove his love to you because he already did at … (you guessed it) the cross.

(99.9% of the time Micah is extremely obedient and well behaved)

The Day of the Lord – Calendaring of the Day

            The looming question is whether the day of the Lord is historical or eschatological.  In answering this question it is important to recognize that in the Old Testament prophetic writings, the day of the Lord is not a one event.  Events such as the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. and the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C. are spoken of as happen on the day of the Lord (Lam 2:21 and Isa. 13:19 respectively).

Obadiah combines the near view (with particular reference to Edom, vv 1–14 ) with the far view (involving all the nations, vv 15–21, the restoration of Israel, vv17-21, and the establishment of God’s kingdom, v 21). The near is a preview, taste, and guarantee of what the far will involve in judgment and redemption.^[1] Joel follows a similar pattern, beginning with a very narrow historical locust plague and expands it to include a universal, eschatological application.^[2] Amos and Ezekiel seem to emphasize only the near expectation of day of the Lord.^[3] Isa 13:6, 9 portrays the day in one context as both a near historical and a far eschatological event.^[4]  Zephaniah also includes both the near and far views in one context, skillfully weaving the two strands of prophecy.^[5]  Zechariah’s prophecy deals with the far eschatological expectation of the term because the Assyrian and Babylonian judgments were history at the time of his writing.^[6]  Since there is evidence to support both a near and a far position it is best to see the day of the Lord as both historical and eschatological.  The apparent contradiction in calendaring of the day of the Lord should not be confusing since the line between historical and eschatological fulfillment is often difficult to discern in the prophets.[7]  The fact that God can and has intervened at anytime in history warns that the final day of the Lord could occur at any time.

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Grace Seminary, vol. 6, Grace Theological Journal Volume 6 (Grace Seminary, 1985; 2002), 235.

Ibid.

Ibid, 238.

Ibid, 240.

Ibid, 241.

Ibid, 242.

[7] King, 31.

Day of the Lord – Origin of the Term

The expression “day of the Lord” occurs nineteen times in the Old Testament prophetic literature, most often in the books of Joel and Zephaniah. The Hebrew phrases יום יהוה and יום ליהוה are both translated “day of the Lord”. The expression occurs relatively few books of the Old Testament appearing in only six minor and two major prophets.^[1]  An abbreviated form of the expression, “on that day” occurs 208 times in the Old Testament; half of the occurrences being found in the prophets.[2]  Assuming that the Book of Joel was not written in the ninth century, the earliest Old Testament reference to the day of the Lord is in the book of Amos, dated in the eight century BC.  It does not appear that Amos was the original source of the concept since his messages are corrective in nature in regards to Israel’s misconceptions about the day.^[3]  The day of the Lord dominates the Book of Joel, treating every major event as the day of the Lord,^[4] but a seventh-century date for the book to a late postexilic date is preferred for the writing of Joel, putting Amos chronologically before it.^[5]  Some date Obadiah 15 as an earlier mentioning of the phrase but based on the circumstance of the book of Obadiah a dating between 587 and 500 B.C. is more likely.^[6] It is not know when the term first began to be used, but it was clearly a central theme in the theology of Israel.

There is also no clear source for the origin of the term “Day of the Lord”.  Suggestions have been made that the term comes from creation vocabulary, a theological interpretation of Israel’s history, or cultic rituals dealing with a king’s enthronement. ^[7]  However, given the strong use of battle images, it is likely that the wars of the Lord in Israel’s history serve as the background for the term. The Lord’s jurisdiction and authority are also central to the day of the Lord, giving weight to this view.[8] Dr. Roy Zuck argues that the very concept of the Lord’s “day” derives ultimately from the ancient Near East.  He sites parallels with ancient Near Eastern accounts of the exploits of mighty warrior kings. (1) Conquering kings would sometimes boast that they were able to consummate a campaign in a single day. (2) In ancient Near Eastern texts cosmic disturbances and widespread panic are sometimes associated with the king’s/god’s approach.^[9]  In any case, that Day of the Lord is clearly seen in the prophets as a day when Yahweh will declare war on the sinful, evil deeds of man in order to clearly establish himself as king, worthy of glory.

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Grace, 233.

[2]           Walter A. Elwell and Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker reference library; Logos Library System (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997).

Billy K. Smith and Franklin S. Page, vol. 19B, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 32.

Duane A. Garret, vol. 19A, Hosea, Joel, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 305.

Garret, 294.

Smith, 172.

Elwell.

[8] Smith, 172.

Roy B. Zuck, A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 309-10.

The Day of the Lord – Introduction

There has been a lot of talk about the Day of the Lord lately.  What does the Bible mean when it talks about the Day of the Lord?

The theme is one that that runs throughout the Scriptures.  In the New Testament, the apostle Paul refers to the second coming of Christ as being the day of the Lord.  The modern western church speak of looking forward to this event, but when the Old Testament prophets use this term, it is not a day to look forward to but a day to fear.  Are the prophets referring to the same event the Paul is referring to or is it something different?  Without a clear understanding of the day of the Lord, it is difficult to develop an understanding for God’s plan for the future.^[1] A study in the Old Testament prophets reveals that this day is both a day of calamity and a day of salvation.  The day of the Lord is a time when God will bring glory to himself by demonstrating His justice and His mercy in His creation.

The next few days we will look at what the Bible says about The Day of the Lord

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Richard L Mayhue,^“The Prophet’s Watchword: Day of the Lord” Grace Seminary, vol. 6, Grace Theological Journal Volume 6 (Grace Seminary, 1985; 2002), 231.