do you Rely on what HE did or on what YOU do?

“Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives. . . . In their day-to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification. . . . Few know enough to start each day with a thoroughgoing stand upon Luther’s platform: you are accepted, looking outward in faith and claiming the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for acceptance, relaxing in that quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude.

In order for a pure and lasting work of spiritual renewal to take place within the church, multitudes within it must be led to build their lives on this foundation.  This means that they must be conducted into the light of a full conscious awareness of God’s holiness, the depth of their sin and the sufficiency of the atoning work of Christ for their acceptance with God, not just at the outset of their Christian lives but in every succeeding day.”

Richard F. Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life (Downers Grove, 1979), pages 101-102, italics his.

Piper’s Prayer Pattern (IOUS)

Sometimes prayer is hard work.  If you’re a follower of Jesus, you probably know that at some level … but most people want more.  Sometimes we can get stuck in a rut.  That’s when tactics like I.O.U.S come into play.  Though this formula isn’t “magic,” it can be a helpful way to re-energize your prayer life.

IOUS (From John Piper)

I—(Incline!) The first thing my soul needs is an inclination toward God and his Word. Without that, nothing else will happen of any value in my life. I must want to know God and read his Word and draw near to him. Where does that “want to” come from? It comes from God.

Psalm 119:36 “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!” Very simply we ask God to take our hearts, which are more inclined to breakfast and the newspaper, and change that inclination. We are asking that God create desires that are not there.

O—(Open!) Next I need to have the eyes of my heart opened so that when my inclination leads me to the Word, I see what is really there, and not just my own ideas. Who opens the eyes of the heart?   God does.

Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

U—(Unite!) Then I am concerned that my heart is badly fragmented. Parts of it are inclined, and parts of it are not. Parts see wonder, and parts say, “That’s not so wonderful.” What I long for is a united heart where all the parts say a joyful Yes! to what God reveals in his Word. Where does that wholeness and unity come from? It comes from God.

Psalm 86:11 “Unite my heart to fear your name.” Don’t stumble over the word fear when you thought we were seeking joy. The fear of the Lord is a joyful experience when you renounce all sin. A thunderstorm can be a trembling joy when you know you can’t be destroyed by lightning. “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to . . . the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name” (Neh. 1:11). “His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD” (Isa. 11:3). Therefore pray that God would unite your heart to joyfully fear the Lord.

S—(Satisfy!) What I really want from all this engagement with the Word of God and the work of his Spirit in answer to my prayers is for my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world. Where does that satisfaction come from? It comes from God.

Psalm 90:14 “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

Make War

This should light a fire in our souls …

Attractional vs Attrition

Recently I was writing an email about a ministry we are thinking about launching.  My point was that the ministry should begin with growth groups instead of a big “attractional” event.  That word, attractional, isn’t in my spell check.  It defines and event that is more of a show, like a Sunday Service or a concert, where many people show up to be engaged a few.

Auto-Spell check kicked in and changed Attractional to Attrition.  I thought that was prophetic.

Attrition is:

• a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength
• a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment
• a gradual reduction in work force without firing of personnel, as when workers resign or retire and are not replaced.
• the act of rubbing against something; friction.

What happens in most churches is that we throw big events and wait for people to show up.  When that doesn’t happen, we begin to polish our practices, trying to become more attractive and, hence, to attract more people.  That can work … but often it leads to burn-out, fatigue, loss of mission and attrition.

Instead we need also to work from the ground up.  Not forcing momentum, but building momentum.  That happens by working with a few, seeing lives changed, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus.  This can be called “incarnational” or “missional” practice.

The good news is that we don’t have to choose.  Jesus and the early church did both.  They embodied the mission (incarnational ministry) and they had patterns of large group celebration of our Lord (attractional).

At CGS, we do attraction really well.

My hope is that we can work more on the incarnational aspect of Christ’s mission.  When we do that, we’ll become more attractive, work against attrition, and hear our Father’s words “Well Done!”

Even If He Doesn’t ….

Matt Chandler is a godly young pastor in Texas who is walking through a battle with brain cancer.  As a husband and father, I cannot imagine the sense of shock and loss his family is dealing with.  Through this trail, Matt’s faith is an encouragement.  I love how he holds onto God’s power to heal with one hand, and God’s sovereignty with the other.  (Technically, he’s probably holding onto God’s sovereignty with both hands, and His ability to heal is just a minor part of that world-shaping/soul-saving sovereignty!)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Paul (Philippians 1:21)

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-18)

Rick Warren: Its “Inhabitation” not Imitation

In a recent post, Rick Warren wrote:

The Bible says the key to spiritual growth is, “Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 GWT) You can’t be like Christ on your own power. It’s simply not possible. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. So, spiritual growth isn’t imitation; it’s inhabitation!

There’s a part for people to do and there’s a part that only God can do.

You see both sides of spiritual growth in Philippians 2:12-13: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” (NIV)  … while we’re “working out” our spiritual growth, God is working in us.

I’ve noticed that many pastors only want to talk about one side or the other. Some want to talk about the human part of spiritual growth — what their congregations must do to grow. Others focus on the spiritual part and emphasize God’s part in the process. The Bible emphasizes both – and so we need to teach both to help our congregations grow toward greater maturity in Christ.

How would your congregation be transformed if each of your members understood that ‘Christ is living in you, working in you even as you work out your salvation?’

Read the whole thing here.

Are You Growing?

On of my “virtual mentors” (aka – a guy that’s never met me or heard of me … but I learn a ton from) is Scotty Smith.  He’s a pastor just outside of Nashville with a passion for Jesus, worship and God’s people.  He’s also really good at tweeting though provoking quotes and questions.

Recently, he went through a series of tweets highlighting signs that you are growing in grace.  Someone pulled them together into one place, so I figured I’d share them with you. Enjoy!

A sign you’re growing in grace. The more you learn about Jesus & the gospel the more you realize how little YOU know…

A sign you’re growing in grace. You realize that Presbtyerian and Reformed types are .07% of the entire Body of Christ…

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you’re “finally” Reformed, you don’t confuse knowledge with spirituality…[ouch]

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you USED to be a Charismatic, you don’t atrophy into dead or dry orthodoxy…

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you USED to be a Dispensationalist, you’re not cynical about those who still are…[ouch]

A sign you’re growing in grace. The gospel still astonishes & humbles you. It’s not just cliche or the name of your tribe…

A sign you’re growing in grace. You don’t use your car horn to curse bad drivers, but appropriately caution & warn them…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You get sucker-punched by condemnation for sin less often, but convicted much more…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. Your spouse and children are the first to notice the signs…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You recognize the subtle ways you’re living justification by sanctification…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You no longer simply assume if you can pay for something you really can afford it…

A sign you’re growing in grace is not texting or reading emails on your pda while driving, with or without kids…

A sign you’re growing in grace is a commitment to pray for people you’d really rather gossip about…

A sign you’re growing in grace is still being gracious to telemarketers when they call your protected phone number…

A sign you’re growing in grace is when you use less labels to dismiss people or marginalize their comments…

A sign you’re growing in grace is a commitment to give your spouse focused, unrushed attention at the END of the day…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You quote Jesus more than you quote Tim Keller…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You talk about your justification 10 times more than your victimization…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You throw less pity-parties, because you go to Jesus quicker than to self-contempt…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. Your repentances come quicker with less pouting, excuses and vain promises..

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You catch people “doing it right” in a 3 to 1 ratio to “doing it wrong”…

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You’ve actually read Nahum and Obadiah…

Following Jesus to earn your righteousness = an impossibility. Claiming Jesus’ righteousness w/out following him = a myth…

X3PURE 4 LENT

Another RCA pastor, Leighton Seys, has a good idea for the next 40 days (aka Lent).  Why not take this season and purge your mind from impurity, especially as it relates to sexuality and pornography.

Leighton writes:

Well Lent is here and I have begun today the 30 on-line program X3Pure – it is designed to help people with any number of sexual addictions.

I was pleasantly surprised at how the program was set up.  I had anticipated 30 long videos to watch.  But, as it turns out it will be 15 videos and 15 days of workbook activities.  Additionally the videos will be 10-15 minutes.  So, there is plenty of ability to fit it in everyday and stick with it.

From the introductory lesson there was one thought that stood out.  The idea that:  an addiction or idol in ones life exists when it is ones source of unconditional love rather than family, friends, community or God.

Now while they were talking specifically about sexual addictions and behaviors, I’m intrigued by the idea that rejection, disappointment, or any pain from others is too great to bear and thus leads one to find a reliable source of unconditional love.  It seems so simple, and yet, it so eloquently sums up the reality that I have witnessed throughout my life.

No wonder true comfort can only be found, when we find the love of God in Christ Jesus.

(Taken from the Herald Blog)

What happens inside of you when you are asked to wait?

Tonight we kick off our two-day “Prayer Summit” at CGS.  As we grow in our boldness in prayer, we always have to face the difficult question of waiting.  God always answers prayer … but sometimes he answers with a Yes, sometimes with a No, and sometimes by telling us to wait.

Paul Tripp, at Desiring God’s Blog, wrote a helpful article on the spiritual muscle development that happens in time of waiting.

I love this word picture.  I’ve just re-started a workout program, so I know first hand what if feels like when an unused (or ill-used) muscle gets proper exercise.  As I write this my left thigh has a constant, but not unpleasant, ache that lets me know that this morning’s squats didn’t go to waste.  Next time I hit that muscle group, I hope to find it stronger, more stable and better able to carry me.

Our hearts are not dissimilar.  Tripp writes…

Waiting for the Lord isn’t about God forgetting you, forsaking you, or being unfaithful to his promises. It’s actually God giving you time to consider his glory and to grow stronger in faith. Remember, waiting isn’t just about what you are hoping for at the end of the wait, but also about what you will become as you wait.

Waiting always presents me with a spiritual choice-point. Will I allow myself to question God’s goodness and progressively grow weaker in faith, or will I embrace the opportunity of faith that God is giving me and build my spiritual muscles? (see Psalm 27:4)

He then looks at bad habits of unbelief that we fall into during times of waiting:

• Giving way to doubt. When you are called to wait, you are being called to do something that wasn’t part of your plan and is therefore something that you struggle to see as good. Because you are naturally convinced that what you want is right and good, it doesn’t seem loving that you are being asked to wait. …It is tempting, in the frustration of waiting, to actually begin to believe that you are smarter than God.
• Giving way to anger. There will be times when it simply doesn’t seem right that you have to wait for something that seems so obviously good to you. It will feel that you are being wronged, and when it does, it seems right to be angry. …[Remember] your anger is actually anger with the One who is in control of those people and those circumstances. You are actually giving way to thinking that you have been wronged by God.
• Giving way to discouragement. This is where I begin to let my heart run away with the “If only_____,” the “What if_____,” and the “What will happen if_____.” I begin to give my mind to thinking about what will happen if my request isn’t answered soon, or what in the world will happen if it’s not answered at all. This kind of meditation makes me feel that my life is out of control. And I am able to think my life is out of control because I have forgotten God’s wise and gracious contol over very part of my existence. Rather than my heart being filled with joy, my heart gets flooded with worry and dread. Free mental time is spent considering my dark future, with all the resulting discouragement that will always follow.
• Giving way to envy. When I am waiting, it’s very tempting to look over the fence and wish for the life of someone who doesn’t appear to have been called to wait. …You can’t give way to envy without questioning God’s wisdom and his love. Here is the logic: if God really loves you as much as he loves that other guy, you would have what the other guy has. Envy is about feeling forgotten and forsaken, coupled with a craving to have what your neighbor enjoys.
• Giving way to inactivity. The result of giving way to all of these things is inactivity. If God isn’t as good and wise as I once thought he was, if he withholds good things from his children, and if he plays favorites, then why would I continue to pursue him? Maybe all those habits of faith aren’t helping me after all; maybe I’ve been kidding myself.

What is the equipment in God’s gym of faith? Here are the things that he has designed for you to build the muscles of your heart and strengthen your resolve: the regular study of his Word; consistent godly fellowship; looking for God’s glory in creation every day; putting yourself under excellent preaching and teaching of Scripture; investing your quiet mental time in meditating on the goodness of God (e.g., as you are going off to sleep); reading excellent Christian books; and spending ample time in prayer. All of these things will result in spiritual strength and vitality.

Is God asking you to wait? So, what is happening to your muscles?

On Flabby Hearts & Love Handles

The following is from Scotty Smith, a pastor in Nashville, TN and a worshiper of Jesus.  His twitter posts are always a challenge to my soul, and his blogging style is unique – he always blogs as a prayer.  Enjoy:

It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.  Hebrews 13:9 NIV

While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Tim 4:8 ESV

 

Dear Father, the health clubs and fitness centers are packed with post-holiday traffic. Yesterday I had to wait twenty minutes before I could even get onto my favorite elliptical machine. Once again, scores of us seem ready to leave the sugar/butter/carbohydrate binge of the past six weeks for the purge of exercise and sweat. This is a good thing, for stewardship of our physical hearts and bodies does have value, and it does bring you glory.

Yet I’ve never been more aware that spiritual formation based on the “binge and purge” cycle simply doesn’t work. Our spiritual hearts needs to be strengthened by the grace of the gospel daily, and all year long. We cannot afford periods of “cruise control,” when we leave the banquet of your love for a buffet of comfort foods, fast foods and junk foods. Just like the physical heart you’ve given us, our spiritual heart muscle will atrophy if we don’t take care of it.

So I thank you for the “means of grace”—the good gifts you’ve freely given us to help us grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus. Thank you for the Bible—your written Word, through which you reveal yourself and feed us with the riches of the gospel. Thank you for prayer, meditation and corporate worship, by which you meet and fellowship with us. Thank you for the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, these tangible expressions of your covenant love and grace.

Father, you won’t love us more or less, based on our use of these good gifts. But we certainly demonstrate and deeper our love for you as we do so.  By the convicting work of your Holy Spirit, let us far be more concerned about flabby graceless-hearts than bigger love handles and “muffin tops.” Because you love us, don’t let us get used to being spiritually lazy. May we come to the point where we’d sooner avoid oxygen and water, than the means of grace. Certainly, gospel-sanity is to be preferred over personal vanity, all the time. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ loving name.

Follow Scotty Smith on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/ScottyWardSmith