Mankind's modus operundi (however you spell it) is one of illusions of grandeur. The supposed options, the unceasing talk of free will and rebellion against even the inner compass forsakes a most basic and fundamental truth: everything has boundaries.
Everything has its limits, perimeters, and parameters. Indeed, the best of mankind and his achievements are found within, not without limits, which makes sense if you think about it. Mankind can't go outside the lines, no matter how much he tries. Time is time, the physical is just that, etc etc etc. This whole longing- this obsession, if you will- points to something interesting though. The only true singularity outside the bounds is God.
Man attempting to fulfill the lack of God attempts to be what he cannot even hope to become.
Truth is, if man were to realize and hold to what limits exist, accepting God, he is then most capable of achieving that which is beyond him, not by abandoning constraint, but by rightly applying it.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
OS2 Light in the darkness
The glory of the Lord, the beauty of our God manifest before his bride and through his bride. And yet, what result is there in beholding such a truth? What force is there in the glory of the Lord being shown to His people?
It is perfect brilliant light shining upon those who are in darkness. It is one thing to know of God, it is quite another to know Him. To know Him is to be broken before him. It is to lose the horrid preoccupation with self and be overwhelmed with the glorious truth found in Christ alone.
In the darkness the only thing one may know, even imperfectly, is oneself. Oftentimes we are hindered from knowing Christ in that we desire and focus on ourselves entirely too much. Friends, realize that you need Him then go to Him. I have not repented enough; you look too much to yourself. “I am not good enough,” you say, still looking to yourself. I am too wicked, friends, look elsewhere. Look to the beauty of the Calvary.
Have you looked to the lamb of Calvary, the sacrifice for your iniquities? Have you seen his bruised and bloodied countenance? Have you heard the resounding hammer blows of those cruel, blessed nails? Have you been washed by the red rivers of Calvary? Have you seen the king of glory bearing the weight of sin upon his pierced ankles, rent with the piercing of our sins, of our hatred? As he pushes up for a breath have you heard the cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”? Have you stood in awe at the glory of God revealed on Calvary, friend?
As Isaiah beheld the Lord, high and lifted up, so we too must come to that place… we must be undone at the foot of the cross. We must realize that we are but men of unclean lips, amongst a people of unclean lips. We are undone before the manifest glory of our crucified King, raised again from the tomb on the third day. We have taken it as a light thing to meet with God. We must be touched with the coal, with the fire of God.
It is perfect brilliant light shining upon those who are in darkness. It is one thing to know of God, it is quite another to know Him. To know Him is to be broken before him. It is to lose the horrid preoccupation with self and be overwhelmed with the glorious truth found in Christ alone.
In the darkness the only thing one may know, even imperfectly, is oneself. Oftentimes we are hindered from knowing Christ in that we desire and focus on ourselves entirely too much. Friends, realize that you need Him then go to Him. I have not repented enough; you look too much to yourself. “I am not good enough,” you say, still looking to yourself. I am too wicked, friends, look elsewhere. Look to the beauty of the Calvary.
Have you looked to the lamb of Calvary, the sacrifice for your iniquities? Have you seen his bruised and bloodied countenance? Have you heard the resounding hammer blows of those cruel, blessed nails? Have you been washed by the red rivers of Calvary? Have you seen the king of glory bearing the weight of sin upon his pierced ankles, rent with the piercing of our sins, of our hatred? As he pushes up for a breath have you heard the cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”? Have you stood in awe at the glory of God revealed on Calvary, friend?
As Isaiah beheld the Lord, high and lifted up, so we too must come to that place… we must be undone at the foot of the cross. We must realize that we are but men of unclean lips, amongst a people of unclean lips. We are undone before the manifest glory of our crucified King, raised again from the tomb on the third day. We have taken it as a light thing to meet with God. We must be touched with the coal, with the fire of God.
OS (old sermons) 1- In and Among
So I've been reading through some old sermons I used to preach, back when I was a youth pastor. Some are disappointing to see a lack of certain emphasis, others are more palatable. No matter, I trust that they might be of some use, perhaps.
In and Among
The kingdom of God is within you and among you. Do you realize the implications of that? People see the church (as we call it) all the time, and yet, they never realize what walks in their midst. You, my friend, are the vessel of the Holy Spirit. God Himself, assuming you’ve been saved, dwells in you.
Do you love Him? Do you truly love God? If so, then there is a natural response to love. When you have a crush or something of that sort, you want to know all about him or her. How much more so with God? Love, in the truest sense, demands intimacy, it desires to know more fully and to be known.
A guy or a girl can only be so close, but the Holy Spirit, He is infinitely close. Do you realize the God that you serve? Have you beheld Him as simply marvelous? Have you been overwhelmed at the sheer goodness, at the benevolent love, at the abounding mercies of God? There is more friends, there is more.
You see, He’s within you though He’s also among you. We too often walk in very slight degrees of God’s love and graces, not knowing what was afforded to us on Calvary at that horrific, cruel, and beautiful display of God’s love on the cross. Friends, He is within and that which is within must inevitably come out. It is the glorious truth of the Church. We are knit together by something more than just flesh and blood, more than just personality and common good behavior; we’re knit together in love, by the Spirit’s influences upon our souls.
What a glorious existence to be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it is the nature of Christians to be so. Christ Himself beckoned us to such in bidding us to come and drink that rivers of living water would pour out of our bellies. Living water, it is a strange concept, is it not? But He speaks of the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is transforming the whole of that which you are.
We therefore must, my friends, follow Christ outside the city. As the Holy Spirit led Jesus at His baptism into the wilderness, so we too are led away, we are led away from the camp to that hill called Golgotha, the hill of the skull, that is, Calvary. But beware, my friends, as Jesus Himself warned, take note of Lot’s wife. You are called from this self-life, this life concerned only with yourself and your concerned to a life enamored and overwhelmed with God. In this, you must not look back to the previous life. Don’t gaze back but set your eyes on the goal, that is Jesus and run this race with endurance. The world behind has nothing but deadly pleasures with empty promises. Don’t turn back looking to what once was, but move forward, unto Christ.
In and Among
The kingdom of God is within you and among you. Do you realize the implications of that? People see the church (as we call it) all the time, and yet, they never realize what walks in their midst. You, my friend, are the vessel of the Holy Spirit. God Himself, assuming you’ve been saved, dwells in you.
Do you love Him? Do you truly love God? If so, then there is a natural response to love. When you have a crush or something of that sort, you want to know all about him or her. How much more so with God? Love, in the truest sense, demands intimacy, it desires to know more fully and to be known.
A guy or a girl can only be so close, but the Holy Spirit, He is infinitely close. Do you realize the God that you serve? Have you beheld Him as simply marvelous? Have you been overwhelmed at the sheer goodness, at the benevolent love, at the abounding mercies of God? There is more friends, there is more.
You see, He’s within you though He’s also among you. We too often walk in very slight degrees of God’s love and graces, not knowing what was afforded to us on Calvary at that horrific, cruel, and beautiful display of God’s love on the cross. Friends, He is within and that which is within must inevitably come out. It is the glorious truth of the Church. We are knit together by something more than just flesh and blood, more than just personality and common good behavior; we’re knit together in love, by the Spirit’s influences upon our souls.
What a glorious existence to be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it is the nature of Christians to be so. Christ Himself beckoned us to such in bidding us to come and drink that rivers of living water would pour out of our bellies. Living water, it is a strange concept, is it not? But He speaks of the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is transforming the whole of that which you are.
We therefore must, my friends, follow Christ outside the city. As the Holy Spirit led Jesus at His baptism into the wilderness, so we too are led away, we are led away from the camp to that hill called Golgotha, the hill of the skull, that is, Calvary. But beware, my friends, as Jesus Himself warned, take note of Lot’s wife. You are called from this self-life, this life concerned only with yourself and your concerned to a life enamored and overwhelmed with God. In this, you must not look back to the previous life. Don’t gaze back but set your eyes on the goal, that is Jesus and run this race with endurance. The world behind has nothing but deadly pleasures with empty promises. Don’t turn back looking to what once was, but move forward, unto Christ.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Two mights
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll have two mites to contribute by the time it’s all said and done.
I’m not the smartest or best by any stretch of the imagination. Truth be told, I’ve had some serious ego issues that have been dealt with over the past few years. I guess it’s a good thing, but I have to tell you, through the process it sure doesn’t feel that way. I remember being thoroughly convinced of my moral and intellectual superiority then going on to question why people thought I was arrogant before they met me. It’s a sad state of affairs, but amazingly, God dealt with me even through all that hubris.
So here I am, this kind of Brazilian, kind of American guy that has been blessed in more ways than he can count, much less deserve. I was describing it recently and called it ridiculous sovereign grace. I don’t mean to undermine or try to be innovative for the sake of being innovative, but to call it just sovereign overlooks a great deal. It overlooks the sizeable obstacles of my ignorance that had to be overcome. Not to mention a stubborn streak that rivals the most resolute of mules. Most of all, though, this grace allows and allowed God’s glory to be displayed beyond my wildest imagination. I mean, really, what do I know.
I don’t know much, but I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. Do your best with the time you have, trust and love the Lord, be thankful for all the big and little things, and everything tends to work out. It just might.
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