Tag: Holy Spirit

Turning Home To God

Repentance is one of God’s great kindnesses to His children. It is not meant to crush us, but to restore us. John Owen reminds us that true repentance does not begin with our effort to clean ourselves up, but with God’s gracious work in our hearts. When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we begin to see our sin honestly—not just as mistakes, but as wounds we have brought into our fellowship with a loving Father.

Yet repentance is never separated from hope. We do not turn from sin in order to be accepted by God; we turn because we already are accepted in Christ. The cross assures us that every sin we confess has already been paid for. This frees us to repent without fear, without hiding, and without excuses.

Owen teaches that repentance is not something we outgrow. Even mature believers are called daily to turn again toward God. As we walk with Christ, our hearts become more tender, not harder. We grieve our sin more deeply, not because grace has failed, but because grace has taught us to love holiness and hate what distances us from our Savior.

Repentance, then, is not a doorway we pass through once, but a path we walk every day. It is the Spirit gently leading us back to Christ, again and again, where forgiveness is certain, mercy is abundant, and our joy is restored.

Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 58: How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath produced?

Answer: We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath produced by the application of them unot us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-7; John 16:14-15; John 3:3-8)

Broken and Healed: MT e68

If a cultural or political issue has two opposing sides, the motive to win the argument is the same for both.  The motive is to avoid utter ruin of civilization.

Both sides are convinced if their position lost, it would be the utter ruin of civilization. 

There came a point in my life where I realized that there was one moment in history where civilization was totally ruined.  It died.  It was in the fall of Adam.

The result is struggle between husband and wife.  It was the source of Cain killing able.  Most importantly and most devastating was the fact that man was in full rebellion against God.

This is utter ruin. 

Coming across Isaiah 32 we find a city in a similar situation.  Cities were locations of safety.  These were places of strength.

Not the city in Isaiah 32, it is desolate and forsaken.  The watchtower, the sign of defense, is overtaken with weeds.

The picture here is the utter ruin of humanity. 

Yet in (32:15) we see a complete change.  That which was desolate and abandoned is now fruitful and growing.  Why?  Because the Spirit had been poured from on high.

I say this to those who are in and those who want nothing to do with Christ: the only safety from devastation is God’s Spirit.

I am calling you to that place.  Not because I have mastered life but my life has been mastered. 

The only way life can be restored is life filled with the Spirit of Christ.  Faith comes . . .faith comes by hearing this.  Jesus redeems from utter ruin and saves to the uttermost.

SDG

Forever Covered: MT e47

My father had A LOT of tools.  Most men who have tools have a favorite brand. For hand tools (wrenches and ratchets and the like) my dad’s favorite was craftsman. 

He liked the fact that they were made with quality in America, but important to him was the lifetime guarantee policy.

If the tool broke for any reason you could return it.  You could have the tool for 30 years and if it breaks you simply take the tool to the store and they hand you a replacement.  The tool was forever covered.

Yesterday my sermon focus was on eternal security.  This is the teaching that if one is saved, they will never fully fatally lose that salvation.  Today I wanted to address a thought I have had as I reflected on that teaching.

I was thinking of the people we know who have been associated with the faith in some way.  Maybe they are raised in the faith, maybe they were youth group friends or something similar.  But as time passed they are no longer a part of the faith.

What do we do with that?

I have a child in which this has happened.  Brought to church from infancy, taught Bible songs, attended church camps, was even baptized.  However, a few years after high school was no longer interested in church.

He was not angry or resentful.  He would still reflect fondly on early church memories and friends.  But he was not faithful in anyway, reading or being a part of a faith family.

What do we do with that? I am n the only on. It is a tragic thing isn’t it?  It feels even more tragic because you raised this child.

The Scripture does clearly teach that if you are truly saved, you will not FULLY or FATALY fall.  You may have a season of unfaithfulness.  But like the prodigal son, there will be an awakening and you will return to the open arms of a welcoming Father.  Though this person was straying sinfully, they are still a part of the family.

If one is truly saved, born again, born from above as John 3 teaches, they are given the Spirit.  And this Spirit is the guarantee (as Paul puts it). Lifetime guarantee. The seal of God. Let us continue to pray for those away from the family.

And as it is written in Ephesians 1:5-6 it is all for His glory.

Bad Pie & Proverbs 14: MT episode 32

Around the age of 11 there was a moment when I was looking through our deep freezer.  A frozen pie was found, and I was in the mood for pie.

My mother assured me that I would not like the pie, but I could not imagine any pie that I would not enjoy. A respectful argument ensued and oddly, she said, “Ok, I will make the pie.”

This pie was not microwaveable.  It had to be heated in the oven so in about an hour the pie was ready.

Mom was correct.  This pie was absolutely awful! 

How could something with the word PIE in it taste bad?  It was minced meat pie.  To this day, I still do not know the ingredients for minced meat pie but based upon that experience I don’t really care to know.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.”

This is a strong warning. The writer of Proverbs is making the point that there are times when we may perceive something as right, good, great, fun but in reality, it is not any of those things.

Just like I saw the pie box in the freezer.  It said pie.  I love pie.  I desired something sweet. The picture on the box showed a pie.  It was a circle like a pie.  I desired that pie.

My heart desired the pie but in the end it was horrible.  I had no idea of its ingredients.

In the same way, the world is so appealing.  Just like the picture of the pie on the box was appealing the world appeals to our flesh but in the end, what is delivered is not what we expect. 

My hope today is that any who are younger, please listen to those who are older who may have a helpful word. Any who are struggling with a matter which is at odds with what Scripture teaches, please do not ignore the Spirit’s leading.

Be cautious.  Be aware of the things this fallen flesh desires.  Keep the in mind.  Pray for wisdom and discernment and God will aid and assist you in avoiding disheartening disappointments in your Christian growth.

S.D.G.

Fanning the Flame part 2: MT episode 22

Two weeks ago, we had looked at Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6) I want to share a way in which we can do this and that is to put yourself in a position to be successful. Let me explain it this way.

When I was young man my two friends Chris, Kenny and I came up with an idea to begin camping.  It was not May or August when the urge hit us to set up a tent, but rather February.  We set the date for our first campout on a night when the temperature was to be in the teens. 

We had the site cleared and a fire ring in place with a small collection of “wood” for the fire.  With all the ambition and excitement in the world we took our snacks and sleeping bags and began our first night of roughing it.

A book could be written about the numerous adventures we had that night.  For today, one stands out and it was the fire.

In our inexperience, we had not gathered the proper amount of wood.  We had a nice large stack of what would be defined as twigs.  They produced enough heat to keep us warm, but only for a few minutes at a time. 

By 1030PM our wood supply was gone.  Which prompted a constant search for more wood and in the dark of night.  More twigs for temporary heat. What was needed was something big to supply a lasting fire.

We had to restart and fan the flame of that fire many times.  We were not prepared! 

With that in mind, if you want to grow in this faith, you must be thoughtful and be deliberate and prepared.  Put yourself in a position to succeed.  How is this accomplished?  Humble submission.

Often, we can get started in a daily time with God but then lose focus.  The flame dies out.  Our fire is weak with twigs. In my experience, humbly acknowledging that I need help to be consistent is key.  This comes by just admitting this in prayer.  God will supply.

Growing in your faith can only come by daily feeding.  Fanning this faith into a flame (as our text states) is by God’s Spirit, within us.   Seek help to consistently spend time in prayer and reading.  Otherwise, you will be constantly in search of twigs and reviving a smoldering, smokey faith.

S.D.G.

Eleven Days: MT episode 10

Earlier today I came across a stirring sentence in Dt. 1:2. So that you may be aware of the context, let me explain that this is the beginning of Moses giving the law a second time.  Why is he giving it a second time? 

The Hebrew people had been wandering in the desert for 40 years.  The reason they had been wandering is their lack of faith.  After the Lord had, by His own power, miraculously delivered them from Egypt in a very mighty way, they failed to believe that He could do that again.

So, they wandered in the desert.  They went from here to there and ultimately just went in circles.

So, chapter 1 verse 1 says that they are now about to enter Canaan, then verse two adds this detail, “It is 11 days’ journey from Mt. Horeb to Kadesh-barnea.” 

At first reading this I laughed and then sighed because I saw myself in it.  This was a reality check passage.  They spent 40 years making an 11-day journey. 

I began to think about my own life. 

Seriously, think about this.  In a few moments I will be done speaking and I encourage you to meditate on this question: in your life have there been any 11-day journeys that took or is taking 40 years? 

Now, please understand that I am not talking about a literal 40 years.  In my case it was close to that.  It is not a negative for me to ponder my own faithlessness, but rather a joyful reality that a great burden has been lifted.  There is a realization that I can do ALL things through Christ, who gives me strength.

I encourage you to look at your life.  Consider how God has delivered you. And then ponder in what ways are you being faithless? In what ways is this faithlessness making an 11-day journey much longer?  This will serve as a starting point of prayer that you become less, and Christ becomes more.

SDG