Chosen for Prayer

The above title is a section heading in Mlton Vencents book the ''Gospel Primer''. It is becoming more and more obvious to me that God is trying (and succeeding) to speak into my life the importance of prayer. I have been surrounded by information about this topic by the books I am reading, church messages, and the blog world. It is awesome to watch God work. A bit frightening too, I had better start to pay better attention! I want to share this section with you.


Chosen for prayer


When God chose me for Christ before the foundation of the world, He did not choose me to be merely ''holy and blameless''; He chose me also to be ''before Him in love.'' To be sure I am always in Gods presence on earth, and in heaven I will be in His presence more fully then ever. But it could also be said that in this life I am especially ''before Him in love'' when I come ''before Him'' in prayer and worship.
Therefore, I can infer that prayer is not simply something I am allowed to do as a Christian; prayer is actually one of the great purposes for which God chose to save me. Christ Himself confirms this fact when he makes the following statement to His disciples, ''I chose you...that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.'' As a chosen one of God, I was saved to pray; and whenever I come into Gods presence to behold Him, I am arriving at the pinnacle of Gods saving purposes for me.
God is radically committed to my life of prayer. He shed the blood of His Son so that I might be cleansed and rendered fit to stand before Him in love. He also permitted the brutal rending so His Son so that I might now have a way into the Holy Place through the torn flesh of Jesus. ''Draw near'' He says in Hebrews 4; ''Draw near'' He says in Hebrews 10; ''pray without ceasing'' He urges elsewhere. How can I not feel the infinite sincerity of these invitations especially when considering the painful lengths that God endured so that I might enter His presence in prayer?
Indeed, the gospel itself serves as the sweetest of invitations to pray; and preaching it to myself each day nurtures within me a mighty impulse to come ''before [God] in love'' and do the praying that I was elected to do.

Blessings.

He started it (take two)

I am a graduate of the Word Of Life Bible Institute (BI). Most folks who read this blog are probably aware of this. In order to complete the training at the BI I worked at Camp of the Woods, a Christian Camp in Speculator NY, with their Teen Program. Part of that ministry was memorizing Phillipians 1 and 2. I was much better at memorizing then and (to God be the glory) a little better at understanding now! I just came across a couple of verses from Phillipians 1 that I would like to share with you, verses 3-6 follow.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The end or this section of scripture says ''he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion''. He began the good work in me and He will complete it! All God, no me. He started it, He called me, He chose me. He will complete it. This is not to say that I do not have some responsibility for the decisions that I make here on earth as a Christian. My point is that I am totally deprived, unable to seek God without his calling and that I am eternally secure (perseverance of the saints) God started it he will complete it.

The Gospel

I have been chewing on Milton Vincents ''Gospel Primer'' again. It is so refreshing to rest in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. I have been encouraged by this book to spend time in the book of Romans, particularly chapters 5-8. This morning I was in chapter 6. This is so beautiful! Romans 6:5-11 follows:

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Amen and amen. I hope this blesses you the way it did me this morning!
I couldn't help but add this bit from Revelation 21 too. Enjoy!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Blessings

Get Your Own Dirt

I once heard a story about a scientist talking with God about how he could create life in a test tube with nothing but dirt. God simply said to the scientist, ''Get your own dirt''. I was reminded of this story today when I read and article titled, ''Scientists May Have Discovered How Life Began.''

I don't know about you, but I take great comfort in knowing that life was created by the Word of God as the Gospel of John states in the opening verses. It is also soothing to read the account of creation as recorded in Genesis. I take great comfort knowing that we have a sovereign God. We have no need to worry a rogue asteroid, global warming or a nuclear war destroying this small insignificant planet called earth. We are so blessed to have the very word of God at our fingertips, so blessed to have the Spirit of God to help us understand the words contained in those holy scriptures! Truth. God spoke all things into existence. That same God continues to hold it all things together!

To Christians this should all be very basic (and important) truth. To the world though it is but folly. Without the gift of salvation and in turn the Holy Spirit they have no prayer of understanding these truths!

I sometimes find it very tempting to scoff at the foolishness of man and science that does not recognize God because scripture is so clear about creation. This is not at all the proper response! If it were not for Gods grace in my life I would be in those very same shoes! I should be on my knees praising the Creator for his calling and praying for that same mercy to be granted to those scientists who are making these bold statements that are so contrary to truth. Absolute truth can only be found in the Word of God. Let us rest there.

Born Twice

I was watching a program yesterday called ''House''. For those of you who don't know, it's a TV medical drama. This particular program was about a pregnant woman whose baby was literally killing her. The climax of the show was when House (the Dr.) did removed baby from mother, fixed the problem and then replaced baby. At the close of the program the woman asks Dr. House if her baby was going to be OK. House exclaims something like, ''Of course your baby will be fine, its the first baby in history to be born twice!''.

This brought my mind straight to Jesus in John 3 where he is talking with Nicodemus. Jesus says, ''Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We must also be born twice. Our second birth is not at the hands of a fictional character named Dr. House but in the hands of our eternal creator and sovereign, God Almighty who chose us before the foundations of the world (Eph 1:4)!!! We know that same God will hold onto us and work in our lives for our good until we are perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4)! That same God is in heaven even now preparing rooms for those whom He has called (John 14:2).

I love how the Holy Spirit can use silly things like TV programs to remind us of the truths that are held in the Holy Scriptures!!

Country Music Theology

I would like to share with you some theology. I have two very different examples from two very different music genres. The first is taken from arguably the most popular country singer on the planet, Kenny Chesney. The song is called ''Everyone Wants to go to Heaven''. Here are the lyrics.

Preacher told me last Sunday mornin’
Son, you better start livin’ right
You need to quit the women and whiskey
And carrying on all night
Don’t you wanna hear him call your name
When you’re standin’ at the pearly gates
I told the preacher, “Yes I do”
But I hope they don’t call today
I ain’t ready

Everybody wants to go to heaven
Have a mansion high above the clouds
Everybody want to go to heaven
But nobody want to go now

Said preacher maybe you didn’t see me
Throw an extra twenty in the plate
There’s one for everything I did last night
And one to get me through today
Here’s a ten to help you remember
Next time you got the good Lord’s ear
Say I’m comin’ but there ain’t no hurry
I’m havin’ fun down here
Don’t you know that


Everybody wants to go to heaven
Get their wings and fly around
Everybody want to go to heaven
But nobody want to go now

Someday I want to see those streets of gold in my halo
But I wouldn’t mind waiting at least a hundred years or so

Everybody wanna go to heaven
It beats the other place there ain’t no doubt
Everybody wanna go to heaven
But nobody wanna go now

Everybody wanna go to heaven
Hallelujah, let me hear you shout
Everybody wanna go to heaven
But nobody wanna go now

I think I speak for the crowd

I know that this song was never written with theology in mind. It was written to be a fun song with a catchy toon. Still, to me at least, it is thought provoking. There is a lot of ''folk theology'' here with the angels wings and halos and what not. No doubt this is what most of the unsaved folks listening to this song think of heaven. The tragedy here is that there are many ''Christians'' with this same ''theology''! I am sure too that there are many church goers today that love this song and sing it at the top of their lungs with ice cold beer in hand while toasting there fellow drunkards at the local watering hole. ''I wanna to to heaven cause its better then that other place!'' One thing I can say for sure though is that this song may speak for the crowd but it does not speak for me!

Let me share another song with you that has theology a little different then the above! This is a rap or hiphop song written by Shai Linne. The theology here very scriptural and systematic. The lyrics here are beautiful and wonderful and full of truth. What a difference!

My Portion
written by shai linne
Verse 1
It makes sense that I should write this song
It’s been a while now since you turned the light switch on
And so powerfully opened up my eyes to see
Reality, now I’m free (check it out)
Reminisce on my Christ-less days
Evidence- my life and ways
It was like I was forever bent
I lived a life of decadence
Then you sovereignly intervened and I’ve been on your team ever since
I was saved and am being saved- present tense
And will be saved from the deadly pestilence
Your holiness got me worshipping You with reverence
You’re infinite and transcendent- yet with friends
Your love letter, the Old and New Testaments
Also the Christian’s best defense-It speaks of Christ, who was heaven sent
Forgive us for ever being negligent or hesitant to represent His excellence
The world chases after the cars with better tints
Your people long after Your glory- a better glimpse
The Author of my faith, praise Your marvelous grace
The type I can call and embrace when I fall on my face
So I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can laugh all they want, Lord, I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but You
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever

Verse 2
The penalty for my sin deflected- so glad I’ve been elected
I spread my hands out to my Savior as I genuflected
And then reflected on Christ, the globe spinner
(You) turned this out-of-control sinner into a soul winner
I can’t take credit for it- You’re too holy
I didn’t choose you, Lord, you chose me
The actual situation is ever since my youth
My natural inclination was to resist your truth
I was dead you said “Live!”
Now you’re teaching me to love you for who You are and not just what You give
It’s so divine- to maintain through the pain
It blows my mind how You came the way You came
Not a conquering hero, but a Suffering Servant
Lord, You died for a zero who doesn’t deserve it
You take shady dudes who hate the truth- Give them faith in You
Make them new creations too- All praises due
So praise Him- don’t hesitate from the right to left
Just thank Him and meditate on His life and death
Resurrected and exalted- forever so high
And why He chose me I might never know why
But I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can mock all they want Lord I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there.

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but you
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever

Bridge:
You could give me the Lex, the coupe, the Beamer, the Benz
The sex, the loot, the Cream or the ends
But next to the truth of Jesus, friends
it’s worth nothing (repeat)

Verse 3
And Lord, don’t let me get caught up in my own tapes
I saw what happened when Noah got drunk off His own grapes
So many ways to stumble- many boastful and loud
The Lord gives grace to the humble and opposes the proud
The Holy Spirit’s a great deposit; my life- He stabilized it
Today the object is to stay in the prayer closet
And when I come out, may they know that the Master lives in me
Through passion for ministry and loving sacrificially
No matter what, Lord, wean me off of the world
Can’t believe I found the costliest pearl (it's crazy)
For the glory of your name I’ve been made your own
By your grace justified through faith alone
That’s why I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can laugh all they want Lord- I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but You
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever.

I love these lyrics. This is theology (very good theology) put to hiphop music. I used to hate the stuff now I use it often to fill mind with truth. You can read more Shai Linne lyrics at http://www.lyricaltheology.blogspot.com/ .

Kenny may sing that he wants to go to heaven just not now, I however sing as Shai sings, Whom have I in heaven but YOU (my King and my God, my Redeemer and Lord)!

What are you filling your mind with?

Packers Punches

I would say that the one book that made me rethink what it means to be a Christian is Johny Mac's ''The Gospel According Jesus''. A friend of mine gave me this book and we spent quite a bit of time talking about the different Gospel truths contained in it. Some of these truths were refreshing and others were downright uncomfortable. All were necessary. This same friend just gave me a copy of Packers ''Knowing God''. It is becoming apparent that the same can be said about this book. I have read and reread the first chapter in the last couple of days and it has proven to be both convicting and convincing. Why is it that we study theology? Why is it that we want to know the Word of God?

Packer says:
What is my ultimate aim and object in occupying my mind with these things? What do I intend to do with my knowledge about God, once I have it? For the fact we have to face is this: If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited. The very greatness of the subject matter will intoxicate us, and we shall come to think of ourselves as a cut above Christians because of our interest in it and grasp of it; and we shall look down on those whose theological ideas seem to us crude and inadequate and dismiss them as very poor specimens.

I know that I can sometimes find myself falling into this. Packer goes on to say:

To be preoccupied with getting theological knowledge as an end in itself, to approach Bible study with no higher a motive then a desire to know all the answers, is the direct route to a state of a self-satisfied self deception. We need to guard our hearts against such attitude, and pray to be kept from it.

This resonates very true for me! Very convicting. This is something that I struggle with frequently. This is something I pray about for deliverance. I don't want to know Gods word to puff me up. I want to know Gods word to know God. Packer continues:

Our aim in studying the Godhead must be to know God himself better. Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God's attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are. As he is the subject of our study, and our helper in it, so he must himself be the end of it. We must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. It was for this purpose that revelation was given, and it is to this use we must put it.

God is so good. Father help me to study your word with the right motives. Help me to know you better for the sake of knowing you.