Thursday, July 31, 2008

An Apology

There has been a signifiant decrease in my blogging these past two weeks due to my trip to Seattle and other issues demanding my time. I apologize that the past two sermon reviews have not been posted yet. They will be posted by the end of this week or the next, no guarantee! I will try to write an update on my Seattle trip as well. Please be patient until then! Stay strong and God bless!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

I Just Want a Hummer

Recently, I heard a story about a tutor who asked his student what his aspiration was. The student replied, "I just want a hummer." The tutor was shocked to hear that the boy's ambition in life was simply to have a hummer - a mere object. The shock came because the teacher thought of the hummer as unworthy of the boy's aspirations. The tutor then tried to asked again, "Is that it? Don't you want to get married, serve the poor, make money, do something with your life?" To this, the boy simply replied, "No, I just want a hummer." To this, the tutor replies, "This kid does not know how to dream."

The story is sad indeed, but it is not as sad as the countless number of Christians who are just like this young boy - whose hummer is a good job or a trophy wife or easy living or retirement in Flordia. They are chasing after their dreams which they think are high and mighty and righteous and glorious, but in the end, their dreams are nothing more than a glorified hummer. I would not be surprised if the Father is looking down upon us dreaming our dreams and with a sigh saying, "They do not know how to dream."

If we want to dream a truly worthy dream, we must look to Scripture. It is when our dreams align with the complete, glorious plan of God in redemptive history from start to finish that we are truly dreaming a worthy dream. This is not just a dream though; it is reality. It will happen whether we dreamof it or not. I pray we'll learn how to dream dreams of the completion of the great commission, the kingdom to come, and the glorious return of Jesus, Lord of Lords. We ought to elevate our thoughts to heaven and learn how to make the "dreams" of Scripture our one holy ambition. Any other dream will find us no better than the student who dreams of nothing more than a hummer.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

07-13-08 Sermon Review

Are You Born Again?
John 3:1-15

The passage we have before us today is Jesus' first weighty discourse in the Gospel of John, and the teaching that is found here in this discourse is both terrifying and liberating. The teaching is on a topic that is not addressed as much in "Popular Christianity." The topic is regeneration. It is a kind of teaching that elevates God while abasing man. It is a kind of teaching that teaches grace and kills legalism. Let us take a look at what Jesus has to say in these verses.

Before we get into the actual teaching, it is important to note to whom the teaching was originally addressed: Nicodemus. He was a man that could be described as a man who had everything. He was a Pharisee, the most respected religious group in during Jesus' days. He was part of the Sanhedrin, a powerful ruling body that had authority over all Judea. He was also intelligent; he was called "the teacher of Israel" - surely a title that comes with much respect and recognition of one's abilities. It is still interesting that the atuhor of this Gospel introduces him as a man. We are reminded that no matter how great a person can be, he is still a man. It is to this man that Jesus offers his teachings.

The Absolute Necessity of the New Birth - The first point that Jesus relays to Nicodemus is that regeneration, or the new birth, is absolutely required in order to see the kingdom. Seeing the kingdom was the greatest desire for the religious Jews, equivalent to being a true Israelite. By saying this, Jesus was literally saying that there exists no believer, no Christian, no disciple, no child of God, that is not regenerated or born again. The question that we need to ask ourselves therefore, is this: "Am I born again?" If we can not answer this question with the affirmative, there is no way we can call ourselves true Christians. No matter how much money I give to the poor, no matter how ardently I fight sin, no matter how many prayers I've prayed, if I am not born again, it is useless. Jesus makes that very clear.

The Absolute Inability for the New Birth - The teaching gets even more terrifying. Not only is this new birth absolutely necessary, this new birth is absolutely impossible to attain by human merit or achievement. Nicodemus replies to Jesus' teaching with an obvious question and statement: "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Nicodemus was thinking in purely physical terms. But Jesus makes it one step harder by stating it must be a spiritual rebirth. That takes it to another realm of impossibility. Jesus makes it clear that no one knows or can cause this kind of rebirth; all we can do is see the evidence of it. Mankind has a total inability for the new birth. What an impossible demand! This blew Nicodemus' mind! He responds rather obviously by asking, "How can this be?" Indeed, how can this be? How can we attain heaven if we can not do anything for it ourselves?

The Absolute Price for the New Birth - If Jesus' teaching ended there, we would all indeed be in a bleak situation, but praise be to God that we are not left there. Praise be to God that where we are unable, God is able. Jesus does not explain the intricacies of faith and regeneration, but simply states that it is possible due to God's intervention. We are left not to attempt things on our own, but simply to put faith in the God who intervenes. Without the gracious intervention of God, none of us would see the kingdom, none of us would be born again. How did God intervene? He sent Jesus Christ. It is God who is Savior; it is God who justifies. It is God who works salvation in all who believe apart from the works of man. He intervenes by punishing Jesus in our place. He intervenes by taking on the whole work of salvation from start to finish. This intervention meant exalting Jesus Christ on a wooden cross, not to be glorified, but to be executed. This is the cost that was required for our rebirth; this is how God intervenes.

What a terrifying teaching that teaches us our total inability for spiritual things, and at the same time, what a liberating teaching that teaches us that our salvation, our new birth rests solely on the faithful Christ and the God who is able. Let us rejoice in our inability for the new birth and celebrate the work that Christ has done to purchase our regeneration.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Praise Songs for 07-13-08

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Blessed Be Your Name
Jesus, Lord of Heaven
Lamb of God







Wednesday, July 9, 2008

07-06-08 Sermon Review

He Knows You; Yet, He Still Loves You
John 2:23-25

We come today on a topic that is called the "most despised; yet the most distinctively Christian doctrine," and that is the doctrine of human depravity. It is not a pleasant topic to discuss; actually, some Evangelical Christians consider this doctrine as repulsive. I have met quite a few persons who are so appalled at the teaching's view of the human soul. Many have put humanity on the pedestal of moral virtue or even themselves. They consider the human to be morally good. If that is the position you hold today, I pray that I may destroy this pedestal with biblical truth and erect another for the glory of God who alone is worthy to be called morally good.

The story that we see in the passage today is quite straightforward. Jesus received a wide following with the signs that he was performing. Yet, He did not entrust Himself to them. The reason Apostle John gives is staggering. He did not because He knew all men. Jesus' deity comes into play as the verses state that He knew what was in all men. Now the question then becomes: What did Jesus see so clearly (He did not need any testimony concerning man) that He purposely did not entrust Himself to them? That is the question that I want to answer today.

Only God Can See the Heart - First, we need to recognize that only God can see the heart of man. The rest of us are blinded to what's actually in the heart, and unlike Jesus, we do need a testimony concerning man. We do not know instinctively and truly what is in man. But God can see the heart, and God does not have a vision problem.

Only God Can Judge the Heart - Not only is God the sole being in the existence to see and understand the nature of our hearts, He is also the only one who can judge it with righteousness. His assessment of our hearts is the only valid and true one. Jeremiah says "But, O LORD, of hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the feelings and the heart, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause" (Jeremiah 11:20).

Now, the Bible does not only teach these two truths - that God can see the heart and judge the heart; it teaches that He actually has seen the heart and has judged the heart. And here is the verdict: our heart is corrupt. Jeremiah goes even as far as to say that the heart is beyond cure (Jeremiah 17:9). This assessment is not only for the murderers, the adulterers, the hypocrites: those who have consummated their evil desires into physical action. This assessment is for all of us. "As it is written, 'There is no one righteous, not even one'" (Romans 3:10).

Only God Can Save the Heart - If we ended the sermon there, there is not much hope for us. We are judged as wicked people with sinful hearts who are being prepared for the God who will tread the winepress of His fuirous wrath. But it is this same God who saw our hearts and judged our hearts, who can save our hearts and has saved our hearts by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. What a love! James Montgomery Boice writes of this kind of love: "It's not hard to love somebody who is lovely. We all do that. It is often possible to love someone who is unlovely. Some do that occasionally. But to love someone who is rebellious, proud, arrogant, corrupt, ruthlessly independent, and who will crucify the very one who most loves him - that is real love! Of that sort of love only God is capable."

Jesus Christ knows you. There is no need to try and fake being someone you are not. And the amazing thing is this: the holy One, Jesus Christ, though He knew full well the evil and sin in your hearts, did not choose to neglect you, though He would have been perfectly just to do so. In your complete helplessness, Christ saved you, Christ showed His love to you, Christ shed His blood for you. What a love indeed, a divine love. Yes, He knows you; yet, He still loves you. There are not many who can know you so well, and love you so much. For us to understand such a great love, we need to come to grips about our own sinfulness. I pray that the sermon has helped to show you how wicked and sinful you are and that it has led you to a place where all you can say is, "Lord save me." I pray such truth of your own sinfulness will liberate you into the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Crazy Love - Francis Chan

Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" is a very welcome book where lukewarm Christianity is the norm and radical love for Jesus Christ is the exception. Chan gently, lovingly, and yet bluntly addresses the lack of passionate love for Jesus in our churches. I found his book to be exceptionally helpful and insightful, particularly his chapter which gives a profile of the lukewarm. In it, he makes a very bold remark, "I believe a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there’s no such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are ‘lukewarm’ are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven." Now that's a radical statement most people aren't used to; it's also my favorite in the book. After this, he gives a list of his observations on lukewarm Christians. The list is quite a challenging read, as you'll find yourself amidst the profile of the lukewarm in some degree or another. It is definitely a worthwhile spiritual exercise to read through it once in awhile.
The least compelling chapter is the one that lists the "radical" Christians. I agree with Tim Challies' thoughts on this one. It didn't feel as powerful as I expected it to be, and there are far greater examples of radical love for Jesus than what I found in Chan's writings. The book felt a bit too informal in its writing style, and I would have preferred a more formal approach. But I guess this is why "Crazy Love" will appeal to many, a book with a simple reading style that is both challenging and gracious. I for one, enjoyed it and gained much insight from it. I would recommend this book gladly.

Pages - 186
Reading Difficulty - Simple
Rating - 4/5
Buy or Borrow - Borrow

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Praise Songs for 07-06-08

Sorry, but the only clip I could found on Youtube of Jesus, I My Cross have Taken, a new song we'll be singing this week, was a mediocre quality video that was taken at the recent Resolved conference. You are still able to make out the melody and lyrics. Be blessed!

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
There Is Higher Throne
Son of God
Power of the Cross








06-29-08 Sermon Review

Zeal for His House
John 2:17

Being zealous, being passionate for Christ is not popular, not in the world and not even in the "Church." Actually, those in the Christian circles are most often the primary critiques of passionate followers of Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle states that "Many would be ashamed to be thought zealous Christians. Many are ready to say of zealous people what Festus said of Paul: 'You are our of rou mind, Paul!' he shouted, 'your great learning is driving you insane' (Acts 26:24)." But this should not deter us from obeying the biblical call to be zealous for Christ's name.

There is a great problem within the Church that has been there since the first century. This problem is Lukewarmness. Now why would Lukewarmness matter at all in Christianity? What's the big deal about being lukewarm in the faith? These are the questions I would like to address today by looking into the Word and seeing what it has to say about "passion."

Passion is expected by Jesus Christ - The rebuke Christ gives to the Church of Laodicea should startle all of us. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelations 3:15-16). Frances Chan, a pastor and well-known speaker at the Passion Conference, makes this startling conclusion from the verse just mentioned: "As I see it, a lukewarm Christin is an oxymoron; there's not such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are 'lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven." How can Christ expect such passion from His followers? There is such expectation because all of His followers are expected to love Him. Love in turn translates into passion.

Passion is directed towards Jesus Christ - I have a friend that my other buddies and I like to call Mr. Passion. When we would call him this, he would reply, "Passion without direction is pointless." There are many "passionate" people in our churches, but they are not the kind of passionate people Christ is looking for. The object of one's passion must be Jesus Christ. In our passage, it says, "Zeal for Your house has consumed me" (John 2:17). There was a specific object of Christ's passion, God's House. If someone were to assess our lives, what would they fill in for God's house? Maybe "Zeal for education has consumed me"; or "Zeal for money has consumed me"; or "Zeal for sex basketball has consumed me." How would others evauluate your life, what does your life say what the object of your passion is? We need to live lives that are so obviously passionate for Jesus that onlookers could only say, "Zeal for Jesus Christ has consumed him."

Passion is rewarded - We are not passionate for the sake of being passionate. The object of our passion is Jesus Christ, and therefore, when we are passionate, we obtain that which is the object of our passion. Christ freely gives the joy of knowing Him to thsoe who passionately seek Him. Those who are passionate zealously seek Jesus, not for money, riches, fame, but simply to hear, "Well-done My good and faithful servant."

As we look at this zealous man, Jesus Christ, let us remind ourselves that He was the perfect man, and we ought to emulate His zeal for the glory of God. We might be afraid of what the world might think us as we stir up our passion for Jesus Christ. The words of J.C. Ryle once again is comfort to us: "Don't let it bother you if you are sometimes called bigot, a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy person, and a fool. There is nothing disgraceful in these titles. They have often been given to the best and wisest of men." Of these is Jesus. He was called a blasphemer, a trouble to society. He was scorned and hated. He was in the end crucifed on a cross. This is where our passion will take us, to the cross of Jesus. But let us remember, we are in very good company. Stay strong and God bless!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Grace, Not Resolve

Fighting sin, that is what we'll be doing until the day Christ comes. The Bible sounds the call to passionately fight sin reminding us that no one will see the Lord without sanctification (Hebrews 12:14). But how are we to fight sin? We understand from the Bible that we have a responsibility not to sin. Yet, it is equally taught from Scripture that repentance from sin is a gift from God and therefore, man can not start his fight against sin apart from the grace of God. It is crucial that we understand these two points clearly, or we'll resort to unbiblical methods in our fight against sin and heap upon ourselves many griefs and troubles.

Recently in my fight against sin, I had resolved not to sin by setting standards for myself. For example, I told myself that if I sin a particular sin, I will incur upon myself a certain punishment and in the extreme case, tell myself that I am not a Christian. It was motivated by stories of passionate Christians who resolved to fight against sin with all their strength. I thought it was only right to have such high standards. I'm not saying this is completely wrong, but this method does steer towards legalism. The biggest problem in this method is that we often neglect the grace we need in fighting sin. This elevates our will above the grace of God. At the worst, it is a prideful rebellion.

What then, are we not to do anything? Of course not! This truth should liberate us from the tyranny of legalism, and free us into the magnificent wonder of God's grace. Yes, we are responsible, but apart from God's grace working in our lives, we will not win a single victory over sin. Therefore in our battle against sin, we need to remind ourselves that the battle is already won on the cross through the provision of God's grace! We are no longer enslaved to sin. We need to remind ourselves that salvation from start to finish is God's work, not ours. This is why God will receive all the glory for our salvation, all the credit. We do this instinctively do we not? When we see someone come to Christ, we thank God, not the man. When we overcome a sin in our lives, we thank God, not ourselves. Starting by reminding ourselves these powerful truths is the first step in effectively fighting sin in our lives.

Our primary weapon against fighting sin is the grace that flows from God's throne. The author of Hebrews tell us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Let me repeat: God's grace is our primary weapon, not our resolve. It would do well for us to keep this in mind daily as we fight against sin. This does not mean that our resolve is worth nothing. God does want us to be resolved, be passionate in our fight against sin. But the kind of resolve, the kind of passion that God will not bless is that kind of resolve and passion that neglects His grace. Rather, God pities such resolve. He is like a man entering a battle by himself without realizing that the rest of the army is still at camp. God tells such a man, "come buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isaiah 55:1). Let us make sure that we look to God's grace as our primary weapon against sin.

Let me close with the words of Jude's benediction which captures this thought so well: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-26).

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

What's Wrong with Prostitution?

Today, I watched an episode of COPS, something I haven't done in awhile. In the episode that I watched, the officer was arresting a women who was charged with "manifestation of prostitution." He apoke to the viewers matter-of-factly that prostitution was wrong. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not condoning prostitution, not at all. But it made me wonder: How do people without a bilical world-view say that prostitution is wrong? The answer is: they can't. Nothing tells us whether prostituion is wrong or right, in a naturalistic world-view anyway. I have spoken with quite a few people concerning this issue and the answer I have heard the most is that society determines for their time what is right and wrong. This answer does not suffice for a number of reasons, and I will try to post why it is not in the near future Lord-willing.

Thinking about how prostitution is deemed immoral in our society revealed to me some sad hypocrisy in our media and culture. When they tout tolerance and are fighting for homosexual rights, they pronounce judgment on the prostitute and scorn the polygamist. How do they draw these lines of right and wrong? If they are truly as tolerant as they claim and look upon the log in their own eye before blaming the Evangelical community for bigotry, they will see that they fail miserably in keeping with their own world-view. They should be fighting for prostitution rights alongside their pro-choice and homosexual rights campaigns. This is a reasonable conclusion to a naturalistic world-view.

Those of us with biblical world-view must continue to remind ourselves that right and wrong comes from the infallible God. He is the final authority. We must be carefuly that we do not fall into our own hypocrisy: knowing the truth while not living it. As we see the sad state of our culture, let us go to the Lord of compassion and ask Him to send workers into the harvest. Let us pray, "Your Kingdom come!"