How great is our God part 3

PARENTAL ADVISORY: Parents may wish to preview this part due to mature content(description of how a child is conceived).
Scroll down for parts 1 and 2.

How great is our God part 2

Here is part 2. Stand in awe of our God.
For part 1 scroll down.

How great is our God part 1

Please take the time to watch all of this. You will be blessed.
I will add part 2 tomorrow.
OR
You can go to www.youtube.com to watch all 5 parts.

James MacDonald - How Do I Please God?

Only in Christ is God pleased with us.

Phil Ryken - How Can Jesus Be Both Man And God?

We needed a Savior who had been made of flesh and blood...

Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be the Glory (Session 5)

Sola Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be the Glory
Ephesians 3:20-21
God alone is great and alone receive the glory and praise.

Doxa = glory
A doxology is a statement that attributes glory to God (Rom. 11, Phil 4:20, 1 Tim. 1:17).
It is not only admitting the glory of God, but desiring that God receive glory.
What triggers this praise? God's unlimited power.
Power
Now to Him who is able.
He has the power. Unlimited power.
Use your imagination. Ask your mind to think. It will not be able to ask God to do more than He is able to.
However, our focus on the power of God should reach beyond what He can do for us, to what He can do in us.
It is when we reach the end of "me" and my power, that He can work His power in us.
These are the resources needed for ministry that we are unable to provide. We need the Lord to intervene.
We should lean on God for His limitless power. A God of unlimited power deserves unlimited glory!

The Hebrew word for "glory" denotes, gravity, weight, reputation, importance, and fame.
The Greek word "doxa" is to be understood as something that is shining or brightly seen.
We cannot make God bigger than He already is. We are to be as a telescope, which is used to allow us to see distant stars and planets as they truly are.
We are to help others see God as He truly is. We want others to be drawn into His greatness by our desriptions of God.
We, as redeemed people are reminders to one another of God's glory. For the ultimate end of salvation is the glory of God.

The Church
In the church, the theatre for that expression, the greatness of God is to be exhibited like no other entity on earth. The glory is displayed throughout all generations. The church is able and exists to do this as a result of knowing Jesus. What we do in our corporate church gathereings each week is a small picture of what it will be like to give glory to and praise to God forevermore!
Amen! So be it! May it be forever!
May the glory spread.
When we ask God for something we should ask, "is it for His glory or for ours?"
The glory of God is the antidote for selfishness and pride.
How would our lives be different if we lived for the glory of God? (1 Cor. 10:31)
There is nothing that can't be done for the glory of God. How? By being drawn into love for Jesus.
The great composer, J.S. Bach had carved into his church organ. S.D.G - Sola Deo Gloria.
He signed every composition with those letters.
Is it carved on our hearts?
Let it be written over all that we do, say, every activity of our lives.
He alone is worthy.

Solus Christus - Christ Alone (Session 4)

Solus Christus - Christ Alone
Matthew 16:13-17
Salvation is not based on the sacraments of the church, but through Christ Jesus.

Jesus has become a celebrity in our culture. But there is much confusion surrounding His true identity.
In Jesus day He was very popular as well. The gospels speak of crowds that surrounded Him (Matt. 14:34, 15;10, 29:15)
People wanted to be around Jesus. In the midst of all the popularity He asks 2 questions:
1) Who do people say that I am? (v.13)
2) Who do you say that I am? (v.15)
Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist, maybe Elijah (as Malachi has spoken of) or Jeremiah (which Jewish tradition espoused), perhaps one of the prophets (like others before Him who had proclaimed the truth of God). But none of these would do justice to who Jesus truly was and is.
In our own time things are not that different. Many see Jesus as a mystical teacher, a wise sage, perhaps a revolutionary figure. The Jesus Seminar people want to strip Jesus of any miracles. Some view Jesus as a prosperity genie, awaiting to grant our wishes. Many conclude that Jesus is a helpful life coach merely "helping you to become a better you."

The authors of the book "Putting Jesus in His Place" say that we have turned Jesus question "Who do people say that I am?" into "Who do you want me to be?"!
Jesus was a great man. He was a great teacher. But these characterizations of Jesus simply fall short of accurately telling who He truly was.
Jesus presses His disciples to give an answer to His question!

You are the Christ
Peter exclaims, "You are the Christ!" the Messiah. The anointed by God. The promised Messiah of Israel. You are the One that God has promised.
Peter is saying You are not the forerunner to the Messiah. You are the One they pointed to.

The Son of the Living God
Peter speaks about the deity of Jesus. Jesus was uniquely the the Son of God - like no one before or since. God confirmed this at Jesus' baptism. Jesus did not deny Peter's confession. The Son of the One true God. The living God.
Acts 4:12 tells us the the importance of the Son (No other name under heaven by which we must be saved..
1 Timothy 2:5 states that there is One God and One Mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.
They saw Jesus as fully human and fully divine.
Sadly, any certainty about who Jesus is, is equated with arrogance in some circles of the church today.
Peter was not ambiguous in his confession.
He was not vague.
Men like Clark Pinnock have concluded that the Bible does not teach that one must confess Christ to be saved, all one must do is be sincere.
Shouldn't we need more than sincerity to be saved?! Yes. We must understand Jesus as the Bible reveals Him.
Pollster George Barna says that 35% of evangelicals conclude that God will save all regardless whether they have trusted in Christ.

The identity of Jesus is foundational in our view of the identity of Jesus Christ. We can speak with certainty. We need not apologize.
In v.17 Jesus says that this knowledge didn't come from a human source, but from God. From the Father. God, Himself, opened the eyes of the apostles and enabled their hearts to see Jesus for who He truly was (1 Cor. 2:14 - the man without the Spirit).

We don't need a strange mystical expereince to say that we know Jesus. False views of Jesus will always leave one lacking. However, Jesus is sufficient.
Peter was blessed because he brought his life into alignment with the truth of who Jesus was. We would be wise to do likewise.
Knowing Jesus is enough. This is what life is about.

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone (Session 3)

Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Ephesians 2:1-10

In the Sound of Music there is a song that says, “Nothing comes from nothing…I must have done something good.”
We, as humans, think that we must have done something to contribute to any good that comes our way.
Others have wrongly said, “God will not deny His grace to those who do what they can.”
But the reformers believed that there is nothing that we can really contribute to our salvation because we are dead in sin. Blind. Helpless. Enslaved.

God raises the spiritually dead to life in Christ. (v.4)
God is acting. God is doing something. God is rich in mercy. God is acting in His power to save those who are spiritually dead. Dead people do nothing. We cannot self resurrect.
Rom. While we were helpless.
It is God who is active in saving us and giving us spiritual.
What motivates God to do this? His love and mercy.
Mercy is about demonstrating God’s kindness in Christ.
God raises the dead to life because of our union with Christ.
He raises us to life because of the union that we have with Jesus.
Made alive (v.5)
Raised to life (v.6)
Seated us in the heavenly realms (v.6)…with Christ.
In a representative sense.
Adam represents us in our fall. Jesus in our being raised to new life.
God’s aim in doing this is found in v.7.
So that in the ages to come He might show the incomparable riches of His grace
God is placing His church on display for all of the ages to come.
Our lives are living displays of the grace of God.

Salvation is about sinners saved by grace being displayed for all to see.
Jesus Christ should be made much of in our world because of what He has rescued us from. We often do not appreciate the good news until we hear the bad news…we were spiritually dead in our sins.

God rescues dead sinners making them alive with Christ.
v.8 – on the basis of His grace and not our works. It is not mixed with the best that we can do. Grace plus nothing else. God is not obligated to show grace to anyone. If there is something in me that would cause me to merit God’s love then it would not be grace.

God gives me not only what I don’t deserve, but sets His favor towards me.
“It is the gift of God – not by works.”
The apostle Paul came to realize that what he thought were religious assets, were in fact liabilities when it came to his salvation. He had no ground for boasting. He concluded that if he were to boast it would be in Jesus Christ alone.

Grace is accessed by faith.
v.10 – This grace brings about works in our lives. We are God’s workmanship. This is the work of God created in Christ Jesus.
Good works are not the cause of salvation, they are the fruit of salvation.
Grace in the beginning, Grace in the middle, Grace in the end. It is all of grace.
The difference between Christianity and the major religions of the world is grace.
His grace can save you. Your works will not because you are dead in sin.
In the gospel, we are worse off than we think in the sight of God and much more loved than we realize.

Wonder – Have we lost our amazement for what God has done? What it means to be rescued by the grace of God?

Humility – My salvation is not because of me. He has not been stingy. We must live with a sense of humility.

Gratitude – Are you thankful that you are saved? Do we understand what God has done for us in Christ? Romans 1. The people that have turned away from God are deemed to be unthankful.

Sola Fide - Faith Alone (Session 2)

(Again, theses are rough and unedited. I will clean up later. Thanks.)

Sola Fide –
James 2:14-26
A person is set right with God through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Faith in Jesus + Nothing = Salvation
Justification is by faith.
The reformers said that faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone.
True saving faith always produces good works in those who are justified.

This is not an issue that is far removed from our times.
There seems to be a disconnect between what people say they believe and how they live their lives.
Were Paul and James at odds? No.
Paul was dealing with people who thought that they could earn the favor of God by their works.
James was dealing with people who claimed to have faith, but had no works to demonstrate that their faith was genuine.
James asks if that faith can save such a person?
James is not disputing if faith can save, he is asking if that kind of faith can save him.
Where is the evidence? Actions demonstrate the legitimacy of one’s faith.
v.19 – Even the demons believe in God. The devil knows more theology than any of us, but he still remains an enemy of God.
Has the truth of who Jesus is taken hold of your life?
The profession of our faith is dead (useless), unless it is accompanied by action (concern and care for others (v.15-17).

What does James mean by justification? That our acts justify the reality of our faith.
Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, was considered righteous because of what he did.
Has the concept of Sola Fide been lost in our churches today? How many empty professions are there with a kind of faith that doesn’t demonstrate any evidence that they are saved.

True, saving faith, brings about change in a persons life. It makes an impact.
Rahab, the prostitute, was considered righteous.
Saving faith is a living faith. Dead faith, without deeds, without action, does not save, it condemns.
Seminary students who were on their way to give a message about the Good Samaritan were too busy to stop and help an actor who had groaned and fell to the ground.

Faith alone is what makes us right with God.

Looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane.
Appears that they are a Christian, but lives in no appreciable different way.

At work? In my marriage, in my home with family, is the faith I have in Christ, does it penetrate my life in such a way that it shows up in the day to day?

Sola Scriptura - God's Word Alone (Session 1)

(Okay, here is a very rough, unedited version. I will try to clean this up at a later time. Enjoy.)
Sola Scriptura -
Scripture is the fuel that God uses for spiritual change in our lives. Without it there is no spiritual change.

Nehemiah 8:1-12
The people has returned to Judah after a long captivity.
Nehemiah was involves in a little Reformation of his own. This event was fueling the fire of spiritual change.
Cultivating a desire for the word of God.

1) They craved the Word of God.
The congregation said to the preacher – “bring us the word of God”. There was a desire on the peoples part to be fed from the Word of God.
Psalm 119:103, 131, 148, 1 Peter 2:2
There was a craving and desire in their hearts to feast on the word.
2 Timothy 4:13
“Pastor bring us the Word!”
Is there a longing in our heart for the word of God.

2) They consumed the Word of God with a responsive heart.
There was a translation given to the people. They had to have others explain what it meant to them. They wanted to understand so that it might penetrate there live. If it is going to change anyone, it must be explained and understood. The church needs the systematic study and preaching of the word of God.
v. 3 – they were attentive. (Early morning until midday.) All the people were attentive. What does this say about their hearts? They wanted to hear.
v. 5 – they had a reverence for the Word.
When you read Scripture you are reading God’s Words to you.
v. 6 – the people answered, “Amen!” We agree. They raised their hands in reception. – they bowed low and they worshipped in awe and reverence. They were engaged in the message.
The pastor and the people should have a passion for God’s word.
It makes a huge difference how we approach our time with God. If our hearts are ready to hear and receive what God has for us. We should be active and not passive.

3) They experienced and practiced the Word of God with joy.
v. 9 – They were cut to the heart and shed tears as they were affected by the Scriptures.
They celebrated what God had shown them. They understood what God was showing them and they were joyful. They understood the Bible and they began to practice it.

The next day they came back for more. (v. 13).
They learned what God wanted them to do and they began to do it in obedience.
They rejoiced in their obedience as they celebrated the Feast of Booths (Festival of Tabernacles).

My level of doing is never quite up to my level of knowing. We are to be doers of the Word, not just hearers only as James tells us.

The level of willingness to obey the Word of God shows our commitment.
Practicing
King Josiah began a repair project on the temple. A copy is discovered and read. Josiah tears his robe, heart broken, he then brought reform and change to the people.
2 Kings 23:25 – There was not a king like him. His change was fueled by the word of God.

The more the Bible penetrates our hearts, the more we will change for God’s glory.
When fuel is taken away there is no fire.

The bible was the fuel for change in the lives of the reformers.
Luther’s conscience was held captive to the Word of God.
His bottom line was the bible, not the pope, not tradition. When it came to matters of faith and practice he would stand on the bible. The reformation came about from men and women whose lives were soaked in the word of God.

What is our bottom line? What is it that is shaping our lives?
If we cannot defend it from Scripture, then it cannot be defended.
Let the word permeate your life so that we always look at life through the lens of Scripture. May we always be asking,"What does God say?"

Reformation Conference Blogging

I will be blogging each of Kelly Randolph's messages to this site each night (see blog entry: A Conference That Magnifies Christ) for those of you who will not be able to make this year's conference.

Please pray for God to use Kelly to change His church for His unchanging glory.

For a bio of Kelly click here.

To read Kelly's blog click here.

Don't Waste Your Pulpit

Amen.
Father,
Please help me to not waste Your pulpit.
Forgive me for the times that I have.
May I live off of Your word moment by moment, day by day.
Amen.

A Conference that Magnifies Christ

Change is a popular topic in today's culture. It seems as if the technological advances that we are seeing in our world today are increasing at an exponential rate. But change is not limited to technology. One of the presidential candidate's slogans states that they will bring change that we can believe in. But change is not limited to the sphere of politics either. Perhaps no change is greater than the change brought by God into the human heart when one turns from their sins and trusts in the powerful work of Jesus on the cross to bring salvation, hope, peace, joy, and love to their lives. This change brought by grace is truly amazing.

This weekend (October 10-12) my church will be hosting a conference about change titled "Reformation".
Here is the note that I have shared with my church family about their involvement in Reformation. If you have a free weekend and are near the church in good old Scranton, KS, I would encourage you to come to at least one of the five sessions. Click here for more information.

Five phrases emerged from the Protestant Reformation in 1517 and summarized the basic beliefs of those who would change their lives and leave their mark on history by parting with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. These five statements spoke of the essential beliefs of the Reformers, pillars that they believed to be fundamental to those who would live and worship Jesus Christ.
Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura) - The Bible stands alone in that it is the instrument of God by which He reveals Himself for salvation through faith in Christ.
Faith Alone (Sola Fide) – Justification, being declared righteous by God, is received by faith only. There is no righteousness that can justify sinners other than the righteousness of Christ alone.
Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) – Salvation comes by God’s grace only, not by something that sinners earn. Salvation is an unearned gift from God.
Christ Alone (Solus Christus) – Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and salvation is found in no other.
Glory to God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria) – all glory is to be given to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through Him. People should not praise one another for their good works, but rather praise and give glory to God who is the author and perfecter of people’s faith in Christ and their good works.

This Fall, I have asked my dear friend, Dr. Kelly Randolph, to come and share with us how these biblical principles can be used of God to change and reform us, even now in the 21st century. Kelly is an excellent communicator of God’s unchanging truth. You will be blessed by his faithful teaching of Scripture.
I realize that our lives are increasingly busy, and so let me say up front that for you to put yourself in a position to be reformed by God, you may have to do some changing before the conference even begins. Some of you may need to change a priority, change a schedule, and even change an attitude about this conference. But whatever it is that you need to do to be able to benefit from our time as a church family together, I humbly ask you to “make that change”.

Jesus demands change for those who would follow after Him as Lord and Savior.
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3
David prayed for a renewed spirit.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." – Psalm 51:10
Paul encouraged the early Christian church with the hope of renewal.
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” – Colossians 3:9 –10

It is true that God loves you as you are, but equally true is that He is not content to leave you unchanged by His love…and aren’t you glad!
My prayer is that God would change us, to change His church, for His unchanging glory.
For He Alone is Worthy,
Don

I hope you can make it! I'll save you a seat.