The Greatest Need in the Church Today

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From an interview with Jerry Bridges:

    There are so many needs in the church today that it is difficult to single out one as the greatest. However, if I had to pick one, I would say the most fundamental need is an ever-growing awareness of the holiness of God. I don’t say this because that is the main emphasis of Ligonier Ministries but because I believe it is true.

    The emphasis of my own ministry has been the believer’s personal pursuit of holiness. But years ago I came to realize the gospel has to be the foundation and motivation for the pursuit of holiness. Believers need the gospel to remind them that our standing with God is not based on our own obedience but on the perfect, imputed righteousness of Christ. Otherwise, the pursuit of holiness can be performance driven: that is, “If I’m good, God will bless me.”

    How, then, can we get Christians to embrace the gospel every day? I believe Isaiah 6:1-8 gives us a paradigm for addressing this need. Isaiah sees God in His holiness, that is, His supreme majesty and infinite moral purity. In the light of God’s holiness, Isaiah is completely undone by an acute awareness of his own sinfulness. This is what we need in our churches today. Because we tend to define sin in terms of the more flagrant sins of society, we don’t see ourselves as practicing sinners.

    It is only after Isaiah has been totally devastated by the realization of his own sinfulness that he is in the right position to hear the gospel proclaimed to him by the seraphim: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (v. 7).

    What happens next? Isaiah hears God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Immediately he responds, “Here am I! Send me” (v. 8). What causes such an immediate and spontaneous response? It is gratitude for the forgiveness of his sins as he hears the gospel from the seraphim. Jesus said, “He who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). It is because the vast majority of Christians do not realize how much they have been forgiven that there is so much lethargy in the church today.

    There is an inevitable sequence in the account of Isaiah’s vision. It is God (in His holiness), guilt, gospel, and gratitude. It is deep, heartfelt gratitude for the work of Christ as proclaimed in the gospel that motivates us to pursue holiness. But it all begins with an ever-increasing realization of the holiness of God. That is why I see it as the greatest need in the church today.

Read the whole interview HERE.

HT: JT

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Fleeing Immorality, Pursuing Purity

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Three very helpful messages from Ryan Fullerton:

Flee Sexual Immorality (Part 1) - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Flee Sexual Immorality (Part 2) - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

The Pursuit of Purity Through Marriage - 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

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The Science of Sunsets

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I used to wonder why sunsets seemed to look so much better in the fall and winter than at other times of year. Now I know why.

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Sovereignty, Responsibility, and Warnings

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From JT:

The shipwreck story of Acts 27 is a fascinating paradigmatic story illustrating the compatibility of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the role of promise and warning to achieve God’s ends.

In a nutshell, here are the three key elements at work in this regard:

The situation on the ship: “All hope of our being saved was at last abandoned” (v. 20).

A word to Paul from the Lord: “There will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship” (v. 22). “God has granted you all those who sail with you” (v. 24). “Not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you” (v. 34).

Paul’s warning to the centurion and the soldiers on the ship: “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved” (v. 31).

Tom Schreiner explains:

The storm struck with such fury that all aboard despaired of living (Acts 27:13-19). Paul, however, received a word from the Lord that every single person on the ship would be saved, i.e., every single person’s life would be preserved (Acts 27:20-26).

The word that all aboard the ship would live was a divine promise, pledging safety for all. Some of us might be inclined to relax and “take it easy” after receiving such a promise. Paul, on the other hand, did not think that such a promise ruled out the need for admonitions and warnings. This is clear as we read on in the narrative. The sailors feigned that they were merely lowering anchors, when actually they intended to lower the lifeboat and escape the ship (Acts 27:29-32). Paul responded by warning the centurion that if the sailors left the ship the lives of those on board would not be preserved.

Why would Paul even bother to admonish the centurion about the scheme of the sailors? After all, he already had received a promise from an angel that everyone on the boat would escape with their lives. Paul did not reason the way many of us do today, “God has promised that the lives of all will be saved, therefore, any warning is superfluous.” No, the urgent warning was the very means by which the promise was secured. The promise did not come to pass apart from the warning but through it.

This same approach should be applied to the promises and threats in the scriptures regarding our salvation. It is by means of taking the warnings seriously that the promise of our salvation is secured.

An accessible elaboration of Schreiner’s perspective on the warning passages of Scripture and the doctrine of perseverance can be found in his book Run to Win the Prize: Perseverance in the New Testament.

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Spiritual Depression - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

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Granted Ministries is currently offering a great deal on a great book: Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. This is a very nice hardcover book, which includes an MP3 audio disc containing the 24 messages upon which the book is based. Just the disc by itself usually costs $37, but for a limited time they are offering the book and disc combo for only $19. Get 'em while they're hot!

More info HERE.

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Delivered By Desire - A Book Recommendation

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Delivered by Desire is a new book by Daryl Wingerd, a pastor at Christ Fellowship of Kansas City.  I've mentioned Daryl before in connection with his excellent article on Romans 7, and I'm delighted to now direct you to his new book.  I actually read Delivered by Desire several months ago prior to publication, and ever since then I've been eagerly awaiting its arrival.  Let me mention just two reasons why I think this is such an important book:

1. The focus of the book is helping Christians to walk victoriously in the area of sexual purity.  Can anyone deny that this is the "battle of the age" for Christians in our day?  How many believers - pastors and missionaries included - have been knocked off-course by the dragon of lust?  There is a definite need for a book like this!
   
2. This book approaches the Christian's battle with sexual purity from the standpoint of a solid understanding of the doctrine of regeneration.  There have been many books written about fighting sin in the Christian life (some about fighting lust in particular), but most of them are unhelpful because they don't proceed on the basis of a good understanding of this vital doctrine.  The key to fighting sin in the Christian life is understanding regeneration, and Daryl does an excellent job of explaining what it means for the believer to be "dead to sin, but alive to God" (Rom. 6:11) as it relates to fighting for sexual purity.  To say it another way, if you read Charles' Justification and Regeneration and wondered what it would look like if someone took the truths regarding regeneration explained in that book, and applied them specifically to battling sin in the Christian life, Daryl's book is the answer!  And like Charles' book, Delivered by Desire is written simply and in a very down-to-earth style with an abundant use of illustrations.  
   

Who should read this book?  In short, ALL Christians should read this book.  Yes, it's primarily geared toward men, but as Jim Elliff mentions in the preface:

Women may wish to read this book also. It will help them understand what their husbands and sons may face. Though writing from the man's perspective, the author is not unaware of how lust can become a woman's problem as well. In fact, believers in general may wish to read Delivered by Desire to discover how to overcome habitual sins. The biblical principles will apply.

I want to echo what Jim says by emphasizing that the biblical principles Daryl explains for fighting lust are the same biblical principles that apply when dealing with ANY sin in the Christian life.  In other words, if you want to know how to fight ANY sin in your life, this book will be a tremendous help to you!  

Delivered by Desire can be purchased directly from Christian Communicator's Worldwide HERE.  To give you a feel for the book, I've reproduced the table of contents below:

Preface

Face Reality

• Chapter 1 - Two Men, a Park Bench, and a Confession
• Chapter 2 - The Significance of Desire
• Chapter 3 - The Anatomy of Desire

Despise Darkness

• Chapter 4 - Irrationality 101
• Chapter 5 - Marriage Poison
• Chapter 6 - Fool's Vomit

Acknowledge Deliverance

• Chapter 7 - New Creation
• Chapter 8 - Obedient from the Heart
• Chapter 9 - Body Language
• Chapter 10 - The High Calling of Being Yourself
• Chapter 11 - It Only Works by Faith

Experience Freedom

• Chapter 12 - The Weapon That Works
• Chapter 13 - Be Ready for Battle
• Chapter 14 - Prepare Your Mind for Action
• Chapter 15 - Kill the Enemy
• Chapter 16 - Follow Your Love Drive
• Chapter 17 - Fight With the Church and For the Church

Appendix A - The Danger of Being Deceived

Appendix B - Is the Regenerate Heart Deceitful and Desperately Sick?

Appendix C - Abusing the Body Language of the New Testament

Appendix D - The Relationship Between Nature and Behavior

Appendix E - Have Christians Laid Aside the Old Self or Not?

Appendix F - Before Telling Your Wife

Appendix G - My Personal Story

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MC Ryan Fullerton?

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Ryan, I had to.  You KNOW I had to!

From Denny Burk:

I cannot say enough about Marcus “Flame” Gray’s new album, “Captured.” Once again, he has put together an album that combines musical and creative excellence with profound theological depth. As far as I’m concerned, Flame is a genius, and this album is a must-buy both for hip-hop fans and for all those others who might need to broaden their horizons. My favorite tracks on here are “Nonsense,” “Alive,” “All I Need,” and “Move.” The cameo by MC Ryan Fullerton is also at the top of my list, so be sure to listen to “Daniel 10.”

MC Ryan Fullerton?  Surely were not talking about THIS guy, are we?  But here's the really funny part.

Flame's new album was reviewed, track by track, over at Manifold Grace Weekly.  Here's what the reviewer had to say about MC Ryan Fullerton's contribution to the album:

“Daniel 10” – Though this powerful sermon excerpt from Flame’s pastor, Ryan Fullerton of Immanuel Baptist Church, is a bit lengthy EVERY second is worth listening to.

A bit lengthy?  Just how long is this sermon excerpt?  Well, according to the Amazon product page, it is exactly three minutes long.  Three minutes!  In other words, MC-RF's (i.e., MC Ryan Fullerton's) preaching is so dull and boring, that even three minutes of it feels like a looooong time!

Seriously though, the sermon excerpt that Flame used is from a message that I mentioned a while back because it is an extremely helpful message on prayer.  If you haven't listened to it yet, do so HERE.  It is a little longer than three minutes, but you can make it!

All together now: MC!  MC!  MC!  MC! . . .

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How the Gospel Can Transform a Marriage

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From Gary and Betsy Ricucci:

• Because of the gospel, Christians have become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, in our marriage, our past does not define us, confine us, or determine our future.

• Because of the gospel, we are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7). Therefore we can live free of all guilt and condemnation for every sin, and we can trust that God, in his mercy, will be gracious to us.

• Because of the gospel, we can forgive, just as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). Nothing done against us compares to our sin against God. Therefore all offenses, hostility, and bitterness between Christians can be completely forgiven and removed.

• Because of the gospel, we are accepted by God (Romans 15:7). Therefore we are not dependent on a spouse for who we are or what we need.

• Because of the gospel, sin’s ruling power over us is broken (Romans 6:6, 14). Therefore we can truly obey all that God calls us to do in our marriage, regardless of any circumstance or situation.

• Because of the gospel, we have access to God through Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). Therefore we can at any time take any need in our marriage to the One who can do all things.

• Because of the gospel, we have hope (Romans 5:1-4). Therefore we can endure any marital difficulty, hardship, or suffering, with the assurance that God is working all to our greatest good (Romans 8:28).

• Because of the gospel, Christ dwells in us by his Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). Therefore we are confident that God is always with us and is always at work in our marriage, even when progress is imperceptible (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

• Because of the gospel, we have power to fight and overcome remaining sin, which continues to dwell and war within us (Romans 7:19-21, 24-25; Galatians 5:16-17). This indwelling enemy represents the essence of what is called the doctrine of sin.

These are just a few of the ways the gospel can transform a marriage. Sometimes it’s not easy to live in the reality of these truths. But it is always possible—and not because of our strength or determination, but because of God’s empowering and enabling grace.

-Gary and Betsy Ricucci, Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace (Crossway, 2006), pp. 22-23

HT: JT

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We Affect the Unseen and the Unseen Affects Us

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Another powerful sermon HERE from Ryan Fullerton, this time on the relationship between prayer and spiritual warfare. Don't miss this one!

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Medicine and the Supernatural Q+A

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You'll be forgiven if you didn't jump up in the air and shout "Glory!" when you read the title of this blog post. On the other hand, you won't be forgiven if you fail to listen to the audio below, which is the recording of a question-and-answer session done by Martyn Lloyd-Jones at a Christian Medical Fellowship Conference in the early '70s.

I LOVE this recording, because it is a sane and balanced look at what are some admittedly thorny issues (e.g., supernatural healing, mental illness, demon possession, etc.). At the same time, it is also a rebuke to those who refuse to take the supernatural into account when dealing with souls in the midst of preaching and counseling situations. In short, it is ML-J at his best. It doesn't matter what capacity you are serving the Lord in - whether you are an elder, deacon, 8-5 clock puncher, or stay-at-home mom - this recording WILL help you! Listen - learn - apply.

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Pursuing Marriage Biblically

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The best sermon I have ever heard on pursuing marriage was given a few years ago by Ryan Fullerton at Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville. It doesn't answer every question a person might have, but it will give a necessary foundation to begin from. If you are single, it is a MUST HEAR sermon.

But, this is not only a message for singles. Every member of the body of Christ needs to have a Biblical understanding of this issue, especially in our day when there is rampant ignorance even among Christians as to how a marriage should be pursued, not to mention the pressures from an ungodly culture to conform to a worldly standard. So even if you are not a single person, this is still a must hear sermon for you as well. Ryan's message can be downloaded from HERE, or listened to below:



On a related note, I would also encourage everyone to listen to Ryan's sermon on modesty, called "Modesty is Freedom," which can be downloaded HERE, or listened to below:



This is an eye-opening message, and a passionate plea for believers to embrace the path of holiness when it comes to our clothing, while at the same time avoiding the legalistic bent that often accompanies a teaching on modesty.

Download, listen, and pass these sermons on to others!

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MUST HEAR - What Is the Glory of God?

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If I asked you to define the glory of God, how would you do it? We are constantly hearing folks talk ABOUT the glory of God, and we're exhorted to do everything FOR the glory of God; but what IS the glory of God? The most helpful definition I've ever heard comes from Ryan Fullerton, who is a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. So set aside ten minutes of your time, and listen to this sermon clip. I promise, this WILL help you!

See, I told you it would help! Now, do yourself a favor. If you live anywhere near Louisville, or ever find yourself near Louisville, stop in at Immanuel. Talk to as many people as you can, and spend as much time with Ryan as you can. This is a special place where God is doing a special work. May He continue to bless the work of His hands!

More of Ryan's messages can be found HERE. The sermon that the above excerpt was taken from is HERE.

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Differences in the Gospel Accounts

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John Piper answers the question, "How does an intellectually struggling Christian deal with the seeming concrete differences between the Synoptic Gospels?"

See the answer HERE.

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Struggling With Evil Thoughts

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One of the most discouraging and heart-wrenching things for a believer to experience is the presence of evil thoughts towards God in his mind. Often demonically-induced, these thoughts can drive a Christian to despair, as he is fooled into believing that the thoughts are originating from himself, and not the enemy.

If you are in the midst of this trial, I want to recommend the following two resources to help you begin to navigate these deep waters. May they help you to fight the battle, as you seek to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), and be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:1-2).


Evil Thoughts - John Newton


Thoughts on Religious Experience (Chapter 11) - Archibald Alexander

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Pictures of Salvation in Isaiah - Charles Leiter

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These two messages (particularly the second) were tremendously helpful to me. Christian, realize the blessings that are yours in Christ!

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An Introduction to Spiritual Gifts - Charles Leiter

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A very helpful message here from Charles, laying a broad foundation for understanding Spiritual gifts. The principles he emphasizes in this sermon are the "big picture" kind of things that can easily get swallowed up in discussions of Spiritual gifts.

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The Relationship of the Resurrection to Our Justification

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A quick perusal of past posts indicates that it's been several months since I've posted anything from John Murray. And as you can tell from the picture above, he is NOT happy about it. So, in order to appease Murray, and ease my conscience at the same time, I want to draw your attention to a section from Murray's commentary on Romans. This is vintage Murray, with profound thoughts expressed with clarity and brevity. If you do not have this commentary yet, you are without excuse!

To give you some context for the portion I am quoting, Murray is commenting on Romans 4:25, and is specifically addressing the question of how the resurrection serves the purpose of justification. He then lists five ways:

(1) We are justified by faith, and this faith must be directed to Jesus (3:22, 26). But only as the living Lord can he be the object of faith.

(2) It is in union with Christ that we are justified (cf. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:21). Only as active through resurrection can any virtue proceed from Christ to us and only with a living Christ can union have efficacy.

(3) The righteousness of Christ by which we are justified (5:17, 18, 19) has its abiding embodiment in Christ; it can never be thought on in abstraction from his as a reservoir of merit stored up. Only as the living one can Christ be the embodiment of righteousness and be made to us righteousness from God (1 Cor. 1:30).

(4) The death and resurrection of Christ are inseparable. Hence even the death or blood of Christ as related to our justification (3:24, 25; 5:9; 8:33, 34) could have no efficacy to that end in isolation from the resurrection.

(5) It is through the mediation of Christ that we come to stand in the grace of justification (5:2). But the mediation of Christ could not be operative if he were still under the power of death.

-John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, 156-7.

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Reading

This is a short, helpful article on how to be a better reader.

How To Read a Book

Messages From Louisville

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I had the pleasure of accompanying Charles and Mona to Louisville this past weekend, where Charles was scheduled to speak three times to the saints of Immanuel Baptist Church. The Lord is doing some wonderful things there, and I would highly encourage anyone who is able to take a trip and spend a few days with these brothers and sisters. There was "great grace" upon our entire visit, and I'm so thankful to have gotten in on these times.

There seemed to be particular help in the times of preaching, so I'm thankful to be able to direct you to the three sermons that Charles shared:

Principles of Growth in the Kingdom (9/25, Evening)

The Devil: Adversary, Slanderer and Lion (9/26, Morning)

Prayer: Perseverance is neccesary, the answer is certain. (9/26, Evening)

These are some wonderfully foundational messages that will help any believer to be more firmly established in the faith.

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Sermon Recommendation

I want to recommend the sermon Garrett preached yesterday on "Conviction or Accusation". The truths he shares are very critical and foundational. I hope no one will miss this!

http://sermon.net/lakeroad