Posts Tagged ‘holiness’

1 Dec

The Dalai Lama, the Pope and Teresa of Calcutta Walk into a Consuming Fire

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

It’s not just the Dalai Lama that people think is holy; many people think the Pope is holy or surly Teresa of Calcutta. It’s not just the funny outfits either, if we changed the word from holy to good, there are many who would look around in their society and say that this or that person is ‘good’. Then the Bible comes along and says, “There is none good, no not one” (Romans 3:12). In fact, every religion excluding evangelical Christianity affirms the inherent goodness of man. Why is it so?

Calvin in his institutes gives a hint, he said, “For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself[i]”. He goes on to give this illuminating illustration, “… anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure: just as an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly white[ii]”.

The issue is really what you use to make a comparison. Paul wrote “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

The place to begin to understand humankind, to understand your own heart is not by looking at yourself, or even others, but is to start with the one Who is too pure to behold evil, to begin with the One who will judge every wicked and evil thought, that same One with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. The ‘holiest’ of men on earth would not dare raise their head in the presence of the most Holy God.

So if you would take the advice of the famous philosopher Socrates and, “Know thyself”, you must invariably begin with knowing the God who is; the God who has spoken in these last days through His Son, Jesus Christ, and Who Himself is God.

[i] The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 1, Chapter 1, Paragraph 2.

[ii] ibid

21 Sep

Amat Victoria Curam: A Tool for Fighting Sin

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional. Tagged: , , , , , , .

“Amat Victoria Curam” (Victory loves preparation), a friend reminded me of this saying the other day while we shared a meal at a wedding together. I have heard the saying before but I am really appreciating it at the moment. A few weeks back I was meditating on issues surrounding stress, and how stress can at times be a direct result of sin whilst at other times merely the result of living in a fallen world. One of the ways to minimize stress is to be prepared is not just for avoiding trouble, but also for gaining victory; as the axiom says.

I try to encourage people in my Bible studies as well as in private counsel to strategise in dealing with sin, essentially what I am saying to them is prepare! Get ready, have a plan for when the trials of life are trying to suck you into sin. James gives us a breakdown of sins approach, in his epistle he wrote, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (1:14-15). This should aid us in our daily preparation. We know what to expect! We need to identify when are the times that our lusts most want to drag us away and what it tries to entice us with. Now prepare for that. We need to prepare to short circuit the system before the lust conceives. Scripture helps us with this:

Psalm 119:11 tells us, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” Here we have perhaps the most vital step (after being saved of course) in fighting sin. Prepare by treasuring God’s Word in your heart. Notice though, it doesn’t say ‘have God’s Word in your heart’ but ‘treasure. This word in the Hebrew carries the idea of ‘hiding’ something, or ‘esteeming’ something. God’s Word must be like a treasure that is worth so much you hide it away in the secretness of the heart.

In another instance, Jesus gave two directives to His disciples in dealing with temptation, He said, “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Watch and pray! Watch means to be vigilant, or attentive, you are looking out, you are aware, you are anticipating sins attack, praying is showing the dependence on God for help, since unless He moves to bless our effort, all our preparation is in vain.

My goal here is not to try and write a tome like Owen’s ‘Mortification of Sin’, which is perhaps one of the finest Christian writings outside of Scripture, but to show you that there is much in Scripture that implies preparation.
So Christian, how are you preparing? Are you just waiting for the temptation to strike and you think you will be on your feet in that moment to war? Your heart, the devil and the world are all preparing for that moment of battle, and victory loves preparation. Don’t think you will treat the traffic that frustrates you with godly patience, or the spouse that is unkind to you with blessing in return, or the

Batman knows the value of preparation

lustful image that entices you with godly hatred and violence unless you to have prepared for that moment. What are you doing now? Is your heart in the Word of God daily? Do you have tactics to deal with various common temptations? Are you in prayer often? If not, then can you honestly say you want victory? Then show it?

Even so, in all of these things, and amidst the failure we often face in this body of death, we know we have peace with God through Christ Jesus, and God is able to present us blameless before His thrown with great joy. Take heart Christian soldier, this day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.

7 Jun

A Response to Rising Islam- Pt 2 (Better Titled: What’s Wrong with the Church Today)

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional, Doctrine. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

What is the problem with the church of this generation? I posed this question in my post responding to the rise of Islam. If you read that post, you will notice that Islam does not so much concern me. However, it did raise for me, the question, of the Church? Why are we not having as much of an impact as previous generations? Where are the dvtnSpurgeons, Whitefields, Luthers, Calvins, men like the apostles? Now granted, we are plagued by much heresy today, the emergent church is striking away at an entire generation, those who are a generation above are still bewildered by and getting up from the failure of the seeker-sensitive movement. Arminianism is rife, liberalism is still going. But this is no excuse, when God used men in the past, there were also many heresies and evils about.

For argument sake, let us consider, a doctrinally pure and sound church. Accurate to the letter. Why do they not experience such impact? Why do the preachers, who have all their theology worked out and their Greek Grammar down, not rock the country? Friends, I write this to myself as well. The problem is not theological (while if we let that slide, it will be a problem too, some kind of ‘holiness’ without the ground of good theology would be just as useless), the issue is holiness.

I heard a sermon recently, and these words struck me, it went something like this, “The power of the preaching of a man, will be directly proportional to the holiness of that man.” Think of it friends, Paul wrote to Timothy and said two things he should watch, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). To your teaching (KJV

has it ‘doctrine’) and to yourself. Is it any wonder that the qualifications for pastors in both passages where the qualifications are listed, starts with holiness and its practical manifestation? Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:2 both start off with the qualification ‘above reproach’ or ‘blameless’, not doctrine or theology. Wiersbe explains, “This word literally means “nothing to take hold upon”; that is, there must be nothing in his life that Satan or the unsaved can take hold of to criticize or attack the church. No man living is sinless, but we must strive to be blameless, or “above reproach”[i]”

In both of those passages Paul goes on in the same verse quoted to talk about the external manifestation of holiness. How a man runs his life, and rules his family, and controls himself. I could go on writing for hours, but I feel this is already getting to long. How long do we pray for? Or do we feel it is pointless and we can do without God’s power? How long do we read the Holy Scriptures for? Or are we wise enough and equipped in and of ourselves to deal with all life should throw our way? Do we cut off our hand, and pluck out our eye when they cause us to sin? Or do we whimper in the closet and scratch a bit at our hand, keep our eye lid closed for awhile? If we truly hated sin, we would destroy that means whereby we sin, we would go without, and in want, but by no means make provision for the flesh. How often do our thoughts wonder onto senseless and futile things? As if there were no treasures above, no glories to think in Christ, but ah, we cannot think of these things since we have not been in the Word to find the jewels.

The words also struck me, that you cannot be a clown, and a prophet. Now Spurgeon was a man who had quiet a sense of humour, he was even criticized for making too many jokes, but this is not what I mean. Al Matrin points, that it is the man who always wants to make people laugh, always wants to be a joker, how can someone then take you seriously, when you want to tell them of the fires of hell, and the depravity of their nature, and the glories of the only true God, and the pre-eminence of Christ?

lbrtyI am not here hoping to solve the problem, but merely make it known, if you wish to have an impact for the world around you, then you best not worship the same idols it does. Money, riches, wealth, reputation, class, stuff, security, safety etc. Oh that we would have a tenacious fight for holiness, then we will see the world take notice, then we would ‘…save ourselves and others’

[i]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. 1 Ti 3:1

17 Oct

Meditations on James 1:18

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Although salvation is all God’s work, God  in His wisdom integrated us Christians in the process. The way the gospel is heard is through men and women you you and I. Roman 10:13-15 says, “`Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (NASB). Our responsibility is not to save others; it is to proclaim the gospel and let the Spirit of God do His saving work as He sovereignly chooses.

Ask God daily for opportunities to share the Word of truth with relatives, friends, neighbors, or co- workers, there are so many excellent resources available, WayoftheMaster is one such great resource. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, and follow Paul’s example by doing all you can to lead others to Christ.

Don't sleep, some people are on thin ice!!!

Don

Think about the incredible privilege we have as believers, in being the firstfruits of God’s new creation, and thank God for it. Pray that you might shine in the world as a light of truth and hope. Make sure that others see your attitude of gratefulness to God so that they might desire to have the new life and joy that you have been given. If you have blamed God for your sin, confess that to Him, seeking to live a life of holiness in the power of His Spirit. Meditate on Paul’s words: “Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16, NASB).

23 Jul

What is it to Know God (The Trend of this Knowledge)

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

What do I mean when I say, “The knowledge of God?”, what I mean is not only that we grasp the fact that there is some God, but also understand what relevance it has to us, and what brings Him glory, really what I am saying is, what is relevant to mankind with regards to knowing God. WHATS THE POINT?.

If we have to speak properly we cannot say God is known where there is no religion or holiness. I am not talking about how people who are lost and under God’s curse understand God as a Redeemer in Christ or anything like that, I simply mean, a knowledge of God that humans would have had if Adam did not sin and fall. Of course now, no man in the current ruin and lost state of this human race can see God as their Father, or author of Salvation, until Christ makes peace for them. Still it is one thing to understand God as our Maker, Who supports us by His power and rules us by His providence, leads us with His goodness and gives us all kinds of blessings; and its another thing to embrace the grace of reconciliation offered to us in Christ. A knowledge of God as Creator and then as Redeemer.

Although we cant think of God without giving Him some worship, no one will worship Him and only Him alone, unless they see Him as the fountian of all goodness, as the spring of all joy, hope and meaning. What I mean is, we must be persuaded, not only that He once made the world, and sustains it by His power, governs it by His wisdom, preserves it in His goodness, rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by His protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or genuine truth can be found anywhere that does not flow from Him. By the way must learn to expect all things from Him, and thankfully praise Him for whatever we receive. It is this understanding of God’s perfections that teach us holiness, out of which genuine religion comes.

*By holiness I mean a union (a marriage, a mixing) of the fear and love of God, which is inspired by a knowledge of what He does and Who He is.*

You see, because until people feel that they owe everything to God,  that they are cherished by His parent-like care, and that He is the author of all their blessings, so that they should look nowhere else but to Him,  man will never submit to Him in voluntary obedience; even more so, unless they place their entire happiness in Him, they will never give their whole life to serve Him in truth and sincerity (Where do you place your happiness? What things do you do to make you happy? Eating, movies, porn, relationships, sports? Do you get happiness apart from God in these things, since they are not all bad in and of themselves? Or do you realize that He is the one that gives everything good, and your happiness even in these things is due to Him?)

People who argue about what the essence of God are rambling with silly speculations- it is much more important for us to know what kind of being God is, and what things relate to us in His nature. I mean whats the point of knowing a ‘God’ who doesn’t care about anything but His own ease, and has nothing to do with us? The effect, read carefully, the result of the knowledge of God should be first to teach us reverence and fear; and secondly to cause us to ask for everything good from Him, and when we have received it, to praise Him for it.

How can the idea of God even come into your mind without causing you to think, “Hmmmm? I am His workmanship (He made me), I am bound by every law of nature to submit to His authority” (Ah! the folly of making a God to suit yourself, ‘to me God is…?’). I mean how can you think of God without knowing that you owe Him your life (you did not choose to exist), that whatever you do should have something relating to Him. If you can think of God without that, then sadly your life is corrupted, you are not in obedience to Him, because His will should be the rule of our lives. On the other hand you understanding of Him is not clear if you don’t see Him as the fountain of all goodness.

I think we would have confidence in God and a desire to hold onto Him, if the sinfulness of our mind did not lead us away from this kind of proper thinking.

First of all, the Christian (and holy) mind does not try and make up a God, but looks alone to the one true God, the Christian mind also doesn’t make up characteristics of God, but is happy to accept God in the character that He reveals Himself in.

The person who understand God like this, sees how He governs all things, confides in God as His protector and guardian, and throws himself on God’s faithfulness- understanding that He is good and merciful, he rests on God with sure confidence, and does not doubt that in calamity, a divine remedy will be provided for every time of need- understanding Him as Father and Lord, he considers himself bound to respect His authority in all things

Listen to the words of Calvin, “Such is pure and genuine religion, namely, confidence in God coupled with serious fear- fear, which both includes in it willing reverence, and brings along with it such legitimate  worship as is prescribed by the law. …. only a few truly reverence Him. On all hands there is an abundance of ostentatious ceremonies, but sincerity of heart is rare.”

Dedicated to Book 1 of Calvin’s Institutes

16 Jul

A Challenge to Christians (Part 1)

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

I have been thinking lately about the issue of Christians living not like Christians! You know what I mean, the lady living with her boyfriend who is a youth leader at a local church, or the guy who buys his FHM magazines, but the issue is much bigger then that isn’t it? If we read books like 1 John and James we can clearly see that those people are not genuine Christians, however genuine, authentic Christians get lumped with the professing- Christians right, and thus the name of Christ is reproached by the world. However, I think as a side effect of this, the genuine Christians are being diluted by the world around us a bit, I’m not sure many of us would survive in a Puritan village. Fortunately the puritan villages are not the measure of What God expects of us, and so I would like to challenge you Christians out there, challenge you as Paul would, follow with me over the next few blogs and lets look together at Romans 12:9-21… I dare you to venture with me.

Romans 12:9a “Let love abide without hypocrisy”

After the long theological foundation of Romans 1-11 Paul drops this, so if you think you have your theology right, you may have it right in theory, but is it in practice (notice the therefore in verse 1 of chapter 12, therefore, meaning, as a result of this long theological treatise, offer your body up as a living sacrifice, and then he tells us how)?

Now it goes without saying that we are saved by grace, but our salvation allows us to obey, we are now free to obey God, Eph 2:10 nsays that this is why God made us in Christ Jesus, to do good works.

The one thing we should do is love, ‘agape’ (unconditionally, sacrificially love) one another. Not the “I love so and so in the Lord” kind of love (Translated, “I cant stand them but I put up with them). Its the kind of love that comes from above, its the kind of love that makes you not sound like a banging piece of steal (1 Cor 13). Do you have a lot of Bible knowledge? Can you preach in 20 languages? Have you given up your life to serve God? If you don’t have love you are like a piece of steal banging banging banging banging banging banging banging! Is that annoying yet? It is if you don’t have love (1 Cor 13).

Furthermore we are to love without hypocrisy, that is not just in word, but in deed and truth (1 John), not with false motives, not self see-kingly ( I encourage you to meditate on 1 Cor 13, see how your love matches up).

You know what the greatest thing is, this is so practical…

Who are you to love? Read the story of the ‘Compassionate (thanks Thomas) Samaritan’, in Luke. You are to love the first person in real need that comes across your path. Sacrificially and unconditionally, not based on you time or comfort (I don’t think we should stop and help everyone change a tire, but we can access if a person needs help or if there is already someone helping).

How do you answer the phone to: Your mother, father, wife, boss, brother, sister, friend, sales guy, annoying neigbour? Are you loving in the way you sound, dont go fake the love now, deal with your heart… go re-apply the doctrine of Romans 1-11 to yourself, cause you may not have grasped the point.

You see how applicable this is… How you speak, act and think, towards your family, friend, next circle of influence and enemies.

This article is already to long, Christians lets take up the challenge, mediocrity is not what we have been saved to live in. Dream big, live passionate for God.

1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

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