Monday, March 21, 2011
OK, now that I’ve got that out
of my system, I’m not talking about basketball but loving God and Christian
living. Specifically, the purpose of
this blog is the Bible’s call to thinking
Biblically, or the goal of helping us have a “Christian mind.” A Christian mind is not about being religious
or going to church services. It’s all
about having God’s mind (“let this mind
be in you that was in Christ Jesus”), and to think God’s thoughts about
things. In the final analysis the
important thing is always “What does God
think or say? What is the will of God in
this situation or concerning this matter?”
This is what should shape our thinking, our world view, our attitudes
and our decisions.
We are called to “walk in the
Spirit” and the enabler has to do with our minds, keeping our heads in the
game. (Rom.8:6-8) “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But
letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to
God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the
control of their sinful nature can never please God.” Similarly, the dynamic process of Christian
growth and maturity involves what the Bible describes as “putting off the old man” (the life of sin) and “putting on the new man” (new life in
Christ). There is a tiny verse inserted
right in the middle that tells us how this takes place and what the outcome is
to be. It says, “And be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” (Eph.4:23) The
Amplified version puts it this way, “And
be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and
spiritual attitude].” It’s not about
getting degrees or mere intellectualism, it’s about using the means God
has given us to know Him, love Him, and serve Him and people. Thinking Biblically is one of those
means. To love God “with all...your mind.”
This facet is profoundly
important in the last days. In
(1Pet.4:7-11) the Apostle Peter tells us that we are living a very dramatic
moment in history when he announces, “The
end of all things is at hand.” The
Message paraphrase puts it this way, “everything
in the world is about to be wrapped up.”
While we don’t know the exact time, and God’s measurement of time is
different than ours, but he tells us that we are living in the terminal generation. That fact and knowledge does not lead to
sensationalism or disengaged living. No,
the Bible’s teaching on eschatology
(last things/end times) leads to a mentally, emotionally, relationally, and
spiritually well-grounded life. Bible
prophecy doesn’t lead to fanciful speculation but to being fully-engaged and
embracing our calling in Christ and His church.
This includes the practice of prayer, the priority of love, the exercise
of hospitality, and using the gifts we have for the glory of God and the
building up of the church. Peter says this is how to invest our lives and live
well in the last days. He gives us a
last days plan! Years ago, I preached a
series of four sermons from this text called, “Triumphant Living in the Terminal Generation.”
It’s significant that the
starting point for triumphant living is in our MINDS. “But
the end of all things is at hand; therefore
be sober and watch unto prayer.” He’s talking about the necessity of keeping
our heads in the game! Listen to
different translations of this verse: “therefore
be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” (ESV);
“therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (NIV);
“therefore be earnest, thoughtful men of prayer” (LB); “be of sound judgment
and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (NASU); “keep sound minded and
self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.” (AMP) To
love God and be disciplined and effective in our prayers starts in our
minds! It’s the same as the last days
exhortation that Paul gave to Timothy (2Tim.4:5) “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of
an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
We’re called, especially in the leadership arena, to KEEP OUR HEADS,
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS LOSING THEIRS!
The Pastor and author, John
Piper, has just published a book called, “Think”
- the Life of the Mind and the Love of God.
He clarifies his aim by saying, “This
book is a plea to embrace serious thinking as a means of loving God and
people. It is a plea to reject
either-or-thinking when it comes to head and heart, thinking and feeling,
reason and faith, theology and doxology, mental labor and the ministry of love. It is a plea to see thinking as a necessary,
God-ordained means of knowing God.
Thinking is one of the important ways that we put the fuel of knowledge
on the fires of worship and service to the world.” The purpose is as simple as it is profound:
the more we see of his surpassing greatness and knowledge and wisdom and power
and justice and wrath and mercy and patience and goodness and grace and love,
the more we will treasure him. Biblical
thinking is a God-given means to that end.
Let me give you the recommendations of other respected men of God that
confirms the importance of this spiritual discipline:
-“This book promises to shepherd a
generation about the Christian commitment of the life of the mind”
J.P. Moreland
-“John Piper offers much wise
advice on the importance of Christian thinking as a way of loving God with our
minds and as part of delighting in God above all things.”
George Marsden
-“Do you ever wish you could
feel more deeply about things you know are true? Has it been a while since you were
moved to tears at the thought of Christ’s death for your sins? It’s not mysterious: those who feel deeply about
the Gospel are those who think deeply about the Gospel......If you want to feel
profoundly, think carefully.”
C.J. Mahaney
-“An essential dimension of
Christian discipleship is the life of the mind, and this may well be the most neglected
Christian responsibility of our times God has made us intelligible creatures,
and he has given us the stewardship of intellectual faculties that should drive
us to think in ways that bring him greatest glory.”
R. Albert Mohler Jr.
-“Thinking—the alert,
meticulous, probing, logical, critical use of the mind— will be a highway
either to godliness or to its opposite, depending on how it is done.”
J.I. Packer
-“Those who are skittish when
it comes to rigorous study, deep thinking, and theological precision have wanted
us to believe that our problem is the mind, when in fact it’s the flesh. The problem isn’t knowledge, it’s pride.”
Sam Storms
-“Some Christians don’t think
nearly enough; others are prone to think in the wrong way. I warmly commend John Piper’s appeal to all
believers to be diligent in engaging our minds and to do so with ‘God-honoring humility
and Christ-loving passion.”
Vaughan Roberts
As we reset the blog’s purpose
remember the statement: “Sow a though,
reap an action. So an action, reap a
habit. Sow a habit, reap a
lifestyle. Sow a lifestyle, reap a
destiny. Sow a destiny, reap an
eternity.” It all begins with you
and I keeping our heads in the game!
That’s my posture moving forward.
To quote one of the ancient church fathers, Augustine, “I count myself one of the number of those
who write as they learn and learn as they write.” Join me in this al-important endeavor.
OK, you guessed it. I grew up during the 60's. How do you know? The song, man...the Beatles singing, “You say you want a revolution, Well, you
know...We all want to change the world.”
The downside of making references to old songs in your sermons is that
they tend to stick in your mind (is there anyone that can pray for me and cast
it out?!).
Case in point: the nations in
turmoil. Jesus points to this when He
said, “and upon earth distress of nations with perplexity.”
(Lk.21:25) It started in January with Tunisia and the toppling of that
authoritative regime. Then most notably in February in Egypt, where Hosni
Mubarak who had been an autocratic leader for more than three decades was
forced to step down. The fact that it
happened is not really surprising, but the speed in which it happened is
stunning. Right now those same shock
waves are being felt in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and other
places. Much of this is being encouraged
and fueled by Iran that seeks the overthrow of the secular or moderate Arab leaders
in the region. It is a very volatile
international crisis, perhaps the most volatile since 9/11 and no one know
where it is headed or the final outcome.
As Christians, we’re called to look at and view the news of world events
through “spiritual eyes,” and not just the quick, sound bite presentation that
the mainstream media puts out today. The
threat of a radical Islamic takeover in these countries is a very real
possibility, and one that should be of great concern to all of us since it
would have global implications. One of
the best and most informative articles that I read in this regard is “Seeking
Democracy, Heading for Caliphate” by Shira Sorko-Ram from www.maozisrael.org. They also have this ten minute video entitled “Is
Egypt The Next Iran” that brilliantly puts things in precise
perspective in our confused world.
The events that transpired in
Egypt have been dubbed “The Egyptian
Revolution.” In America, since the
American Revolution is so much a part of who we are as a people, we often have
an unreasoning love affair with the word democracy. All we have to do is hear the word democracy,
and whatever is going on is good.
Democracy does not exist in a vacuum; there must be real spiritual
foundations on which it rests. You are
naive to think that you can force feed that to a nation or situation where it
isn’t part of their history or culture.
The truth is that no one knows the final or full outcome of these
events: whether it will be a true and productive revolution that brings
stability, prosperity and the hopes of a better future, or it ends up being a
“revolt” that is hijacked by other forces leading to a worse outcome. This is why we need to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” as well as events happening in
many of her neighbors in the Middle East.
The word “revolution” is what captured my thinking in all of this, and
specifically the spiritual
possibilities for change that are now present (how long that window
will be there, no one knows). Years ago
I remember hearing a man preach who said something that’s never left me. He said, “All
truth is parallel” or, events taking place in the natural realm have their
spiritual parallel or possibility.
That’s why I was taken with the whole truth and possibility of “Spiritual Revolution” that would move
America and the nations of the world!
The reality is, that possibility resides in the DNA of the church and
followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:6b)
declared, “these that have turned the world upside down have come here
also.” I believe it was the Berkley
translation that said “these world
revolutionaries have come here.” It
points to the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring true transformation,
and to topple from our lives the things that have oppressed and held us in
bondage. Hallelujah, there is another
Lord, Jesus Christ! The Beatles can sing but, we’re not just
saying we want to change the world,...we are working to try to redeem, restore
and renew the world through our labors, our prayers, our investments, and our
availability to God’s purposes.
In Egypt, what we witnessed was
the convergence of 3 factors that
together made up the “perfect storm” of revolution! Think about these, and specifically, how they
can be harnessed to see the advancing of the kingdom of God today!
1. The large population of young people. In the Arab world today, there are over 100
million
people between the ages of 15-29.
2. Widespread poverty and unemployment that
results in a lack of opportunity and breeds a
spirit of discontentment. The status quo is no longer acceptable.
3. The availability of social media that enabled communication, connection and
coordination.
There were other factors, of
course, but these three were very instrumental in the affairs of that
nation. Do you know what I am seeing in
all this? I see the same possibilities
for the church and for us to labor together to make a difference. We have a lot of young people in our
churches, and if they will be moved by God and not simply accept and live for
the status quo, they can be real difference-makers. If we will work and have as our primary goal
to always communicate the Good News of Jesus, to stay connected to each other,
and to coordinate our efforts, I believe that God can help us to see a new wave
of revival in our generation. Here’s the
promise I am holding to and praying, “And
it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My
Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young
men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants
and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Acts 2:17,
18)
Yours for revival today!
P.S. The full sermon, “You Say
You Want A Revolution” can be accessed at our website www.thedoorcfc.com. Also, much thanks to Greg Mitchell for some
of the background material of that message.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
Popular Posts
-
We’re off and running into a new year, 2011! It has been my practice now for many years to preach to our congregation a New Year’s “th... -
In many places of the British Commonwealth, today is a holiday, Boxing Day , the day after Christmas, December 26 th . It was for years w... -
My practice of preaching a “theme” for the new year, and of late, incorporating this into our Conference theme, was never intended to be... -
As we reach the end of another year, 2011, I am reminded of one of the great secrets of life: to live life with as few regrets as possi... -
A good fisherman always “sets the hook” before trying to reel in the fish. Hopefully, now that I’ve got your attention, let me go back... -
One of the most famous speeches in recent times was delivered by President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, prior to the demolishi... -
Recently, President Obama’s “evolution” on his views on marriage came to an end in both an historic and tragic milestone: the first time ... -
*The headlines on the Drudge Report on the day after “Black Friday” tells it all. This was the list of articles relating to the activit... -
The event caught my attention on a number of different levels. It was billed as a “Reason Rally,” and it was held in Washington D.C... -
The early church gives us a great model to pursue and to pray for. I am reminded of the episode in Acts 4, where the apostles had been t...