Saturday, September 21, 2013

Ugh – one of those day...by Glenn Hamer

We all have a really bad day once in a while. However, it is our choice how that day affects us. It is our choice on what kind of attitude we will have as we make our way through the really bad day.

There is a neat Scripture that speaks to this...Proverbs 25:28
“ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls” (KJV).

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control” (NKJV).

We can choose to have a good attitude or we can choose to have a bad attitude.

The point is we can choose to have a good attitude regardless of how bad the day may be, because we can rule over our own spirit. Ruling over your own spirit is self-control. A person with self-control has the rule of their own thoughts, their desires, their inclinations, their resentments, and keeps them all in good order. Not an easy thing, but it is possible.

To fail to exercise self-control over our spirit is to liken ourselves to a city unprotected, open to attack, and subject to defeat. What does that mean? It means that they who lack self-control open themselves up to allowing all that is good to go out of them and all that is evil to break in upon them. They lie exposed to all the temptations of Satan and become easy prey to that enemy. They are apt to have more troubles and problems because of that kind of attitude.

So, the next time you have a really bad day remember this verse and determine to rule over your attitude and not expose yourself to more problems. Self-control or self-pity – your choice!

Monday, September 9, 2013

GOD’S WRATH BEING SATISFIED (by Pastor Glenn Hamer)

In 2001 Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote the contemporary hymn, "In Christ Alone".  It was composed in the style of an old Irish folk melody and written to express key elements of the Christian faith and to pass them on to later generations.

"God really is our protector," said Townend.  "Our lives are in His unshakable hands."  I believe that is very Biblical.  Townend went on to say, "Songs remain in the mind in a way sermons do not, so songwriters have an important role and a huge responsibility."

However, a major denomination  has dropped this popular hymn, "In Christ Alone", from their hymnal because the publisher refuses to allow them to change the lyrics.  The original lyrics say, "on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied."  This denomination’s committee wanted to change that phrase to "on that cross, as Jesus died, the love of God was magnified."  Songwriters Stuart Townend and Keith Getty objected to the change, so the committee dropped the song from their hymnal.  I believe this denomination did the right thing in asking before they changed something.  I also believe that the authors of the song did the right thing by not changing the words.

My problem is the reason why this denomination wanted to change the words in the first place.  They said the issue was not the "wrath" of God, as some might think, but rather the word "satisfied," which the committee said did not conform to their theology.  They said the words of the song don't work.  That the lyric comes close to saying that God killed Jesus.  They don’t believe the cross is an instrument of God’s wrath.

I don’t think the song is a small matter.  I don’t think that God’s wrath is a small thing.  I don’t think that God’s satisfaction is a small thing.  If God’s wrath is not the issue, but His satisfaction with how sin was paid for is, then how do you put those two together.  The cross was God’s idea.  Jesus sacrificing Himself for our sins was planned before the creation even happened.  "He [Jesus] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:20 NIV)

If we take away the satisfaction of God’s wrath toward sin, then we have nothing left but a goody, goody kind of god.  We can’t take sin lightly.  God sure doesn’t.  Consider this Scripture; "Since we have now been justified by His [Jesus’] blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!" (Romans 5:9 NIV)  It seems from these words we can surmise that Jesus’ blood satisfied God’s wrath.

The cross of Calvary is as much about our salvation as it is about satisfying God’s wrath toward sin.  At the cross of Calvary, God’s own wrath falls on Himself.  What the cross of Calvary resists and defeats is as much the wrath of God as it is the power of hell.  Amazingly, God disarms Himself at Calvary.  To put it another way: At the cross, God made a way for His mercy and love to triumph over His justice and judgment!  Think about that for a moment.  The old theologians put it this way: We take refuge from God in God.  The only escape from God’s wrath is God’s mercy.

If you are interested; here is what the lyrics say: (I high lighted the offending phrase.)

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Who Are You Going To Be? by Kevin Sluder

I remember as a young teenager saying, “I will never be like my parents!” Then I had kids. Suddenly, my parents became smarter, and their rules and morals began to make sense. Today I find I am a lot like them. It’s funny how that happens.

But what if the parents aren't the best, or even a particularly good, example? More often than not, the child will still grow to become what they saw lived out in the home. Most of us said in our youth, “I will never be like my parents!” Most of us are like them anyway.

Maybe that describes you. Do you find yourself today with a child and you long for them to grow up a better way? There is hope, but it has to begin with you. You have to decide who you are going to be. You have to change direction so your child will learn by example. Saying, I will not be like this person or that person will not make a long term difference. You have to decide who you are going to be.

Does that sound like just another burden? I can see how it might, but ask yourself, if you and your child keep going down the path you’re on now, where will it lead? Isn't the future of your child worth the risk of choosing a better path? Of course! So, how do you choose who you should be? Who should you imitate? I can tell you, as a believer, there is only one answer - Jesus. Follow him.

Jesus lived his earthly life concerned only about doing the will of the one who sent him – his Father. Jesus is the greatest example we have of how to live a life worth imitating. Come to Jesus and let him walk beside you. Draw close to God and he will draw close to you. The closer your walk, the better the example your child will see lived out in the home.

As we saw in Pastor Glenn's post on Manasseh, there are no guarantees. Your child will one day have to decide their own path. But know this, your having a personal relationship with Jesus will greatly improve the likelihood your child will grow to escape the cycle and become an example worthy of following.

Sure there will be moments along the way. One day your teenage son or daughter may even declare, “I will never be like you!” When that happens, with Jesus leading, you will be able to face this day with a little more confidence. You may even find yourself thinking, just wait until you have kids.

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