A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- Proverbs 12:16
When I read this, my first thought was ‘this doesn’t apply to me’. I don’t get angry very easily and if I do, I try not to let anyone know. But then I realized, this could very easily be me. I have to take steps to make sure this isn’t me. So whether you don’t have this problem, or you are taking steps to make sure this isn’t you, this verse is applicable for everyone.
One shouldn’t ‘go off’ when angry. Some like to boast and act like it is a cool or admirable (maybe tough) thing to do and say “Don’t make me angry, or you’ll be sorry”. But the Bible says fools make their anger known. They speak their mind or act out not knowing the whole truth. Some people just plain overreact (I fall into this category at times). Often times there is underlying sins beneath anger, such as pride. The last part of the verse says “but a prudent man covereth shame.” A prudent man won’t make a spectacle of himself and lose his testimony. A prudent man is careful with what he says and does. I’m sure you can think of someone who overreacts or gets angry easily. Do you think a lot of this person? Is this person helpful in your daily Christian walk?
Now let’s switch roles. Do people think a lot of you? Are you known for being a person who loves God? Or when people think of you is their first thought something else….maybe something not so good. Are you helpful to other Christian’s daily walk? Or do you hurt them. Maybe you’re just neutral. Neutrality is just as bad. That means with everything God has given you you’re not doing anything with it. Sure no one wants to be a foolish man, but each person must takes steps daily (whether correcting mistakes or preventing) to keep from making their anger ‘presently known.’
We all want to be the prudent man. But this means guarding ourselves and making sure we don’t lose the testimony we have. So what testimony do you have? Are you prudent? Or are you a fool? Which one am I?
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
- I Cor. 12.12
We’re told many times throughout the New Testament, especialy in Paul’s epistles, that we as believers are the body of Christ. An entire chapter of I Corinthians is devoted to this subject. There are many great songs that talk about the body of Christ but one of my favorites asks these questions:
“Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?”
Casting Crowns, Casting Crowns – “If We are the Body”
Today in my Contemporary Theological Issues class we had a point in our notes that asked “Is the local church regarded as the body of Christ?” – not just in statement of faith but in its practice. This was in regard to knowing whether or not something was truly “after Christ” (seeking Christ as the ultimate goal). This got me thinking. Does the body of Christ as we know it today demonstrate or manifest the characteristics of a living organism?
Paul treats the matter of the body of Christ very literally and specifically. The repeated use of this parallel in the Word of God shows me that looking at this a little deeper than we normally think about it is fine. We are more than ready to call our churches “the body of Christ” but what does that really require to be a reality? What does it mean to be “alive”?
To be defined as a living thing there are usually about seven characteristics that have to be manifested they are:
- Are composed of cells.
- Require energy
- Reproduce
- Display Heredity
- Respond to Stimuli
- Evolve and Adapt
- Maintain Homeostasis
So the question would be; is our church alive? In case you think a church can be alive and just stay that way and never have anything happen look at the charge Jesus Christ brings to the church at Sardis in Revelation 3:1, “thou livest and art dead!”So this is a very serious matter.
I’d like to look at each of these characteristics one by one, just for a quick series for the next few posts. So keep coming back as we look to see if the church is really alive.
“If we fail to train, disciple, and empower the Algerian church today, I believe it will be one of the biggest mistakes in the history of missions to the Muslim world.”
- Pastor Jacob Yousef
A quote from a pastor involved in Muslim evangelism. This is a quote from this article. Many of you know the Lord is leading me to work in Muslim missions, particularly in North Africa. Please be in prayer for this need of evangelism, training, discipleship, and empowering of Algerian believers.
This week we started finals at College. The choir had a trip to West Virginia yesterday and since it takes up a considerable portion of the student body, finals were postponed that day. Those of us who were left had a college wide “soul winning” effort for the promotional Sunday coming up. We were teamed up and sent out to different regions around the church with tracts and we went door to door inviting people to Temple. I went with one of my good friends, Adam T. Dunn, and while we were out we started talking about evangelism and church-planting.
As we braved the cold shuffling from door to door in Avery Woods we talked about what we, if given the chance, would write a tract about. I shared with him that I’d like to write one geared towards those without any “Christian” context, those with atheist/agnostic backgrounds. How would I do this? I cant think of any better place to look than the Bible, and we find exactly that situation in Acts 17 where Paul is preaching in Athens.
The Athenians Paul is preaching to here have no context to understand who Christ is, if Paul were to start preaching as he normally does in the synangogues referencing the Old Testament prophecies. The entire purpose of evangelism is summed up in Paul’s opening comments to the Athenians; the declaration of the “unknown God”. But where does Paul begin?
Right at Creation and God’s authority.
God that made the world and all things therein,
v. 24 – He is Lord, and therefore Master and the authority over all. He’s not capable of being encapsulated.
seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (v.24)
From here I’ll outline, through the passage, how Paul shows God to the Athenian agnostics:
- v.25 – God is distinct from every other God. He doesnt need anything from us. He is the giver of all life. And therefore the Author and Owner of all.
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
- v. 26 We’re all equal. We’re all equally in subjection to His sovereignty.
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
- v. 27 – God has made and “appointed us” to “seek the Lord.” We’re all in some way “feeling after” God.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
- v. 28 We’re dependent on Him.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
- v. 29. – He’s personal and He’s relative to us. Yet He’s entirely distinct. He cannot be compared to anything physical because He is so far superior.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
- V. 30 – This is where the transition from God’s superiority and man’s inferiority can have an application and solution for us. God commands repentance and has prepared a means. That’s where Paul is leading; to the a place of realization where the Athenian audience can recognize God, themselves, and their need and act.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
- v. 31 Here Paul reports the means by which men can be saved. This is where the Athenians and most listeners will turn away. It is where the reality of the Gospel lies.
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
So how is any of this profitable to someone who has already accepted Christ as hope for their salvation?
First of all Christians should always rejoice to be learning or revisiting great truths about their God. Beyond that, after having personally grasped these truths about God we can share them, in the way that God intended, with those who do not know Him. One of the greatest questions I think I was asked in regard to the ministry is; “How can you introduce Jesus to other people if you dont know really Him?”. So from this we can glean so much about God and how He wants to be shared with the world. So I’ll ask you the question as it was asked me: “How can you introduce Jesus if you don’t really know Him”?
“When at first we taste the Gospel, we indeed see God’s smiling countenance turned towards us, but at a distance: the more the knowledge of true religion grows in us, by coming as it were nearer, we behold God’s favour more clearly and more familiarly.”
- John Calvin,
“I must deliberately give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.”
- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
- Psalm 149.3-4
About a year ago I was in a church in Georgia and a man brought in a new game system that had just come out called Dance Praise. It was Christianities spin on Dance Dance Revolution. While I cant say I totally endorse that (or most things Christians decide to put a “Christian” spin on) it got me thinking. Again and again throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, we see commands and exhortations to dance in praise of the Lord. Normally I make light of this, even this past week in Texas it came up, and I joked. But should I?
For whatever reason, we are adverse to this idea of dancing as a means of praising the Lord despite the Biblical mandate and precedent to do it. We cite historical reasons or cultural exception to excuse us from the command given by God. Our personal distaste for this practice, or the use of drums or other instruments commanded in the Bible, should be blasted aside with the reality that is a command of God and the truth that no matter how “uncouth” we feel it is, Jehovah God has promised to take pleasure in it and beautify it.
To disobey this is a rebellion of pride. Its to say;
- We know better than God
- That God is incapable of using us
- We don’t trust God to do what He promised
- We are better than God’s instructions
Think of all that is lost when we disregard this beautiful promise of God! He has promised that despite our frailty, despite our lowly gifts and talents to God, despite everything thats wrong with us, YHWH – who cannot lie – stakes on Himself that “He”, God infinite superior, all powerful, “will” -definitely, absolutely, without fail, – “beautify” – perfect, make attractive, – “the meek” -Those who have submitted themselves in humility to God’s power, “with salvation” – by His work, by His power. That is what is at stake when we decide that we will exclude some practices.
Let me first clarify a few things.
- 1, I dont think dancing in praise to God, should be done in large groups or as a spectacle in corporate worship.
- 2, I think you can DEFINITELY dance in a non-sexual way and I think thats what this means. You’re not dancing to “get your groove on” you’re moving your body in an effort to praise the Lord.
- 3. I think this should be done with the utmost prudence and discretion. This isnt playing around, this is worshiping God in every way He says and we can.
- 4, Perhaps most important this isnt about other people. Thats why I said this isnt really for corporate worship. You can be dancing for the wrong reason just as much as a musician or soloist is getting into it for his own pleasure or to get attention. But always keep in the fore-front of your mind: this is for God.
Maybe this is still too weird for you. You may say that is a cultural command and therefore we can disregard it. But if we take that stance do we ignore the principle?
Charles Spurgeon in his “Treasury of David” comments in Psalm 150, where dancing in praise to God is again mentioned, that this practice is about involving the entire body in praise to the Lord. So if we disregard the practice, do we disregard the principle? Do we incorporate the use of our entire body in dedicatory exaltation of God? Maybe not by dancing, but what about by dedicating what we do with our bodies to God’s work? We may take an apparent humble position and say “What I do, or what I offer could never be good enough for God.” but that is ignoring God’s power and ability to work in and through anybody -no matter how feeble their efforts are. This in turn denies God of an opportunity to glorify Himself. Is this what I want? Are we willing to surrender all, even our personal preferences, to God in order that He might receive all the glory?
Hey, today I’m heading back to school from a three day release for the Thanksgiving holiday. Ashley and I had the chance to get away with my family in Burleson (Ft. Worth area) of Texas. We headed out early Wednesday morning with Zach Gillit , my brother in law’s little brother, and got into Burleson around 10 that night. My sister, Tori, is expecting her first child, lives in Texas where her husband, Tyler, is a youth pastor. My parents were there for the holiday and the child who is due to get here anytime now.
Thursday was great eating terrific non-college food and spending time with family. Yesterday we did a little Black Friday shopping and picked up a few Christmas gifts. This morning we’ll be heading back to Tennessee for our last two weeks of school and a week of interims.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and remembered to thank God for all the blessings He gives!
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
- Psalm 146.1-2
Saturday night iI was driving down I-75 to pick up dinner for Ashley and I. I had the radio cranked up to a song I love; “Glory to God Forever” (watch here or listen here) by Fee. As I listened and sang along, I began to think about the subject of singing praise.
Throughout the entire Bible the subject of praise is constantly found. Its a huge subject, but I’d really just like to briefly think about the subject of singing praise. Probably most prominent place about praise is the book of Psalms (shocker). Constantly in the psalms we see exhortation for us to praise Jehovah. We see David giving testimony to his attitude of constant praise. The verse I attached to this post is just one of hundreds where David is saying “While I have any being” while there is any fiber of life in me “I will sing praises unto my God.“. This was David’s heart.
So why isnt it mine?
As the song on the radio changed, I thought how I confine my “praise” and time to sing songs and hymns to God to right before the message in church. I’ve isolated my time of praising God to a quarter an hour per service. Praise is supposed to be individual and corporate, but for the most part I only take part in the corporate aspect. Praise is also something I’m supposed to be constantly doing.
So what are some things I can do to make my praise constant?
- Listening to music that praises God helps a lot. Its a rare thing for me to be in my car without any music on. It’s almost always something I can sing along with and praise God by singing.
- Paul exhorts us in Ephesians five to be “making melody in our hearts to the Lord”. Just as I am to be audibly singing praise to the Most High I should be singing in my heart praises to God. It doesn’t matter if I’m a good singer, especially if its in my heart where only God and I can hear.
- Singing praise is just the natural outflow of my perspective on God. When I’m are looking at the Lord and considering His majesty and goodness, I cant help but praise Him. So a lack of my praising God points to a lack of a vision of God. So meditating on God and His works is the place to start when it comes to praising Jehovah properly.
The bottom line is this; God is worthy of our praise. We see again and again in Revelation the lyrics to the songs we’ll be singing at the end of time is “Worthy” for the simple reason that He is. That’s the real reason praise is so important. We praise God because He deserves to be praised. So when I don’t praise God, I’m really guilty of denying God Almighty the praise He deserves. So Lord help me, to praise you like I should.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
-Psalm 143.1-2
Many times I get in my mind that my prayer life depends on my spiritual walk or my actions. While these do play a part, thats not the big picture. I am nothing. My best is as filthy rags. How selfish and proud to think that God answers my prayers based on me. It is God’s faithfulness! God answers my prayers because He is God, and He is faithful. God answers my prayers because of HIS righteousness.
God’s ways and thoughts are so much higher than anything I could even imagine. So next time I pray, I need to thank God for His faithfulness and righteousness.
