FOUR STAGES OF RELATION TO THE LAW: BEFORE THE LAW, UNDER THE LAW, UNDER GRACE AND AT REST. BY: AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS

Some think that statements like this are an attack on the law.  But they must be read very carefully, so that neither is the law condemned by the apostle nor is free will taken away from man.  Therefore, let us distinguish the following four states of human existence: before the law, under the law, under grace and at rest.  Before the law we follow the lust of the flesh.  Under the law we are dragged along by it.  Under grace we neither follow it nor are dragged along by.  At rest there is no lust of the flesh.

Prior to being addressed by the law, we do not struggle, because not only do we lust and sin, we even approve of sinning.

Under the law we struggle but are defeated.  We admit that what we do is evil and that we do not want to do it, but because there is as yet no grace, we are defeated.  In this state we discover how far down we lie, and when we want to rise up and yet we fall, we are all the more gravely afflicted.  The law is good because it forbids what ought to be forbidden and requires what ought to be required.  But when anyone thinks he can fulfill the law in his own strength and not through the grace of his Deliverer, this presumption does him no good but rather harms him so much that he is seized by an even stronger desire to sin and by his sins ends up as a transgressor.  So when the man who has fallen realizes that he cannot raise himself, let min cry to his Deliverer for help.

Then comes grace, which can pardon previous sins, give aid to the struggling, supplement justice with love and take away fear.  When this takes place, although fleshly desires continue to fight against our spirit in this life and try to lead us into sin, yet our spirit does not give in to these desires because it is rooted in the grace and love of God and ceases to sin.  For we do not sin by having these perverse desires but by giving in to them.

These desires arise from the mortality of the flesh, which we inherit from the first sin of the first man, which is why we are born carnal.  Nor will they cease until, by the resurrection of the body, we shall obtain the transformation which has been promised to us.  Then we shall be in the fourth state, where there is perfect peace.  Perfect peace is the state in which nothing will resist us because we do not resist God.  Free will existed perfectly in the first man, but in us, prior to grace there is no free will which would enable us not to sin but only enough that we do not want to sin.  But grace makes it possible not only for us to want to do what is right but actually to do it not in our own strength but by the help of our Deliverer, who at the resurrection will give us that perfect peace which is the consequence of good will.

A Pilgrim's concerned thoughts of the American Christian Church

I would like to open with a passage taken from the timely work of Dr. David Wells titled “No Place for Truth: Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology?”

"The disappearance of theology from the life of the church and the orchestration of that disappearance by some of its leaders is hard to miss today, but, oddly enough not easy to prove.  It is hard to miss in the evangelical world in the vacuous worship that is so prevalent for example, in the shift from God to the self as the central focus of faith, in the psychologized preaching that follows this shift, in the erosion of its conviction, in its strident pragmatism, in its inability to think incisively about the culture, and in its reveling in the irrational.”

Resolved: If left to itself and in disregard for consistent reform back to, and the constant practice of Scriptural authority and historic Truths and doctrine, the assembly and worship of today will inevitably erode the presumed spiritual condition of its members, leaving them weak and fragile in the hand of an always underestimated enemy who will easily confuse and destroy an over inflated faith built on religion rather than theology.  It will be our pride that assists him.

Church should never be about “having a place where we can feel the warmth of fellowship and the sense of belonging and of reverence”, nor should the atmosphere neglect to teach doctrine with the hope of preserving life or a false congregational harmony.  I want to know my God and I believe it to be the imperative duty that my leaders; all those appointed into higher positions in the church and responsible for all the disciplines that the Word affords, are to communicate clearly, and without shame the whole Word of Truth both doctrinally and systematically.  These, of course, come after the regular scheduled reading of the Word which is to be the primary course for genuine worship.  If there are those who oppose or wish to communicate preference for a more self appeasing service that will draw spectators and that could potentially and arrogantly hinder the moving of the Spirit, gracefully bid them farewell if they refuse to repent and submit to the authority of the Church.  Since Jesus is the Word and the Word became flesh and that flesh had to shed blood unto death to satisfy the demand for atonement and the quenching of the Father's wrath, than we should revere the Word as highly as humanly possible to ensure we aren't presuming upon the Holiness of God.  Christ's death and resurrection purchased eternal life for all who will believe.  Worship is about the decrease of man and the exaltation of God who mercifully saves.  The precious blood that was shed and the life that was given for the Church are far too valuable to attempt to add anything else to the Word.  Today's Church doesn't understand brokeness, or humility, or continual repentance when we assemble under a banner of celebration as if we have entered into rest, free from the sins that so easily beset us.  As long as we are alive we are still sinning so we should always approach with boldness in Christ and humility as men.  Jesus is very much alive in His person and as The Word which gives life to all who will be empowered to hear.  Why would we forsake the Word?  Why would we abandoned the revealed Truth of the Word that our ancient Church fathers have written down in confessions and creeds as if we needed a new wheel?  It will always be the Word that calls us, justifies us, and leads and empowers us through sanctification until the Word is ready to bring us Home.  We are to offer ourselves wholeheartedly to the Word.  The Word is freely given to us yet, at the highest price to the Giver.  We will never understand the full extent of that transaction between God the Father and God the Son but we can pray that our worship is received in honor of such an event in redemptive history.  The Word demands obedience and has sent us the Power to ensure that obedience.  Anything less than total devotion to the Word would cheapen or take advantage of that transaction.  Our duty is to discipline ourselves in the consistent hearing of the Word as we are conformed into the image of our Savior.  The Word feeds our faith as we continue our journey through the land of the enemy and will be our strength as well as our shield as we encounter various test, trials, challenges of life, and attacks, all of which are only against the Word and His sovereign will for our lives, in hope that we will abandon the Truth.  As new creations in Christ Jesus, we are vulnerable and need to feed the appetite for the holy; the Truth, that the Spirit within us requires.  It is the Church that has been authorized to nuture new souls in the Kingdom , and to teach them the doctrines of their faith, the disciplines their faith demands, and the methods of being a disciple, so later on, they too can pass on this wisdom to those they are responsible to.  There is nothing as important in life than this, and this is the essence of taking up your cross and following Him.  It is all for His glory and the fulfillment of His sovereign will. 

Discipleship of Christ requires comittment and proper discipleship is to be taught so the Church continues to grow as we reflect the Gospel through love toward our neighbors.  It is not our job to pour wrath on our neighbors or ignore their hell destined condition.  It is the Church's duty to lead it's members through the and equip it's members to lead their neighbors to the Word.  The assembly is to be for the believer and their disciples (family members) not an amusement park where all are welcome and loved by a one dimensional God who loves all and overlooks their sin.  The Word commands one day out of the week to be set apart from the others for rest in God; a day dedicated to the worship of God, and time to nurture the believer's Spiritual nature.  A day dedicated to separating the believer from the world- because that is the believer's mission field or place of work; field to harvest.  How long do you think one would survive when your output is greater than your intake?  Without sounding legalistic- you would be foolish to think that you can run the race of faith in this world while starving the Spiritual nature.  That just simply wouldn't happen because if you are genuinely saved- God the Holy Spirit would not allow it.  I guess now would be a good time to interject my caution statement:  If you are struggling, or have not changed, or are too fond of the world and are only a "Christian" because you know with your intellect that Jesus died for you but still dabble in the sins of your past- than you are not who you say you are.  The Cross still calls to all- even you, and the message of the Cross will always be "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ fo the forgiveness sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".  The Word wants to be depended upon because it is His Way, His Life, His Truth, His Power and He knows what we need, when we need it, and how much of it we need.  We must reverse what is common in the churches of today, deny the worldly flow, and refuse to get trapped by the desires of our flesh.  Today’s church, by way of negation, is teaching undisciplined worship, both in the individual life of the congregant as well as the local assembly when it 'worships' devoid of the Word.  The danger is that if this is left unchecked, most local assemblies will lead many directly to apostasy; fooling many into thinking that they are assured of the Kingdom while delivering them into the hand of grave disappointed.  As long as people assemble under the banner of self rather than the genuine worship of the one True God in Spirit and Truth, I will take leave of absence from these so called "Christian" gatherings so as to not be “carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own (my) stability” (2Pet3:17b).  Yet will I consistently and confidently pursue God with an ever mindful prayer that I would continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.   We are called to holiness; we are called to be different and our cause to weep should always be for the lost and the possibility of insufficient time for them- not for the Spiritual condition of the Church.  If this is the direction that we, the so called American Christian Church is going, than we have lost our Way and we are in desperate need of reform.

Higher Ground

Higher Ground

            It should never come as a surprise that with greater enthusiasm to the Word comes greater resistance from our faithful tempter.  Take for example the doctrine of election.  It is difficult at times to understand such inspired issues, but the reward of the glimpses given into the mysteries of God, strengthens the bond between Savior and sinner.  The Word reveals some of the attributes of God and the more we know about the Word, the more we know about our LORD since they are one in the same: In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh….  But oh the struggle to remain disciplined! 

 

            For me it will always be a matter of attitude. Our attitude or mood usually derives from our thoughts or experiences and I do not believe it to be any different with Holy matters.  Otherwise, God would not have wasted the breath nor Paul the ink when we read: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~Phil 4:8.  Since sin entered the world through the medium of man and since our depraved hearts are continually wicked, than apart from God, where can any of those things listed be found?  Herein lies the problem with many people’s theological positions that I believe projects them off course for an indefinite amount of time or off the radar all together.  What you know about God and His will can only be found in the Word.  This demands you look at the Word as the Highest Authority and as Holy; inspired text from the One and Only True God.  You will otherwise never come to the position that this world and all that is in it is worthy of nothing good except immediate destruction. It just goes to show you that even after a planetary cleansing with water- sin still remained because Noah and his immediate family were spared.  It had nothing to do with what Noah decided as much as it had everything to do with God executing His predetermined plan or tree of humanity (so and so begat so and so) up to the day Jesus was born.  Man may have only been created, so that Jesus could be born, so that Satan could be destroyed.  One omniscient and omnipotent enough to give and orchestrate life by allowing and causing events, certainly is capable of devising a plan of redemption for exactly who He chooses and at the precise time He determines.   We as sinners are programmed to sin until the software is rewritten on our hearts, and our minds are opened to see God as Holy and our self as wholly, purely, and consumed of wickedness.  God as the Author and Finisher or Founder and Perfecter of our faith must be acknowledged for putting His own Life into these dead bones.  What was once incapable of worthy sacrifice is now capable of trusting obedience since we no longer have anything to sacrifice except ourselves for the glory of God.  Election is the right of the Giver to give to whom He pleases for whatever associated reasons if there are any.  If I have one hundred dollars that I want to give away- maybe because I possess all the money on the planet, or for any other reason, I am entitled to give it to whomever I will: maybe I will sit at a traffic light and wait for the first ten cars that have to stop at the line because of the stop light.  Maybe I will walk into a store and stand at a register and give the next two customers each fifty dollars.  None of this is based on who the individuals are or what the individuals have done but because of the predetermination to give something to someone because of a need that everyone on the roadway or in the store has.  God though, knows all people by name just as an artist knows his works of creation, and by His sovereignty and His grace He promotes or permits an opportunity for another sinner to hear the wonderful news of His Son and instantly gives new Life so that sinner can exercise their new faith to accept the precious righteousness of Christ Jesus.  For how else could someone acquire something of such great value (eternal life) if it isn’t given to them?  The recipients of such love will always be tempted to think of qualifying reasons for their salvation and not another’s.  Hopefully for that individual, God has effectually called them and if so, He will lead them to the Truth, otherwise it takes the glory away from the deserving One and sets oneself on a difficult religeous journey.  Sadly, it is the diluted gospel of today that leaves many wanting of the Truth, disillusioned as to who God is, and in denial about their true spiritual condition.  It is God through His Apostles that writes:

--even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  ~Ephesians 1:4-6.

 

--For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  ~Ephesians 2:10.

    

 --Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.  ~1Corinthians 6:19+20.

              What assurance we have in knowing that God the Father sent Him and calls us, Jesus being our perfect righteousness, and the Spirit depositing it within us.  Nowhere in that equation do I read a part given to sinful man to play.  Our only part or responsibility comes after regeneration and is to allow Christ within us to be seen around us.  We may never know what we are to accomplish specifically in Christ which is why we must remain constant in what God sees as significant~ the little things, like obedience.  In this day and age, it is difficult enough to live out the calling of holiness much less preach the Gospel.  But being ready to give reason for the hope that is within us demands that we continue to seek after a simple yet disciplined Way and cling to the things of higher ground so our hearts and minds and attitudes are always ready to serve.  If you truly appreciate what Jesus has done for you at Calvary, than let your appreciation live through your life; your spiritual worship: the decisions you make, the Way you converse around all who see you, and the manner in which you treat your fellow man.  It is only by consistently living Christ centered, God fearing lives that bring great honor to our Lord- and those who genuinely believe, hate their sin that Jesus had to die for.  This only makes sense because if our focus is on Word opposing (worldly) matters, than we are certainly not who we think we are in Christ, which is why it is easy to excuse our ignorant behavior and resort to our own moral standard, since in our natural estate this is what we have been doing since the fall.  This is why we are exhorted to: put to death therefore what is earthly in you…~ Colossians 3:5.  All believers in Christ will encounter the battle of wills (self vs. God’s) and the spiritual realm (temptation vs. faith) for domination of the fallen condition or the new creation in Christ Jesus.  Let me save you some time- if there is a spark of passion for Christ in you- fan it into flame before you go into the wilderness to be tempted.  Don’t trust anyone to teach you without the Word- you seek after it yourself through literary repetition of the Word.  Our convenience or fast food mentality doesn’t apply to understanding the Gospel which is why I know our greatest obstacles are looking to God to empower us to set aside our pride; our will, and letting go of the things that control us and trusting in the One who can do all things…; shame on me for perverting and manipulating such a precious gift like grace.

            It is great that we desire to contribute to the cause of salvation as we have been commissioned to do, but to insult the power of the Holy Spirit by taking claim to something that existed prior to “in the beginning” is naturally human and divinely despised.  Oh the wickedness that lingers in the hearts of man; continually searching for an iota of credit to be received as one that assisted God with His plan of Salvation.  We as mere humans are a disgrace to God’s Grace, yet with great pity God moved toward those numbered among His elect and with pity, mercifully used His own Son; our Christ, to allow a select few to inherit something so indescribably beautiful and lovely as a renewed and intimate relationship with our God the Creator- despite our due recompense.

 

            As Peter prayed at the beginning of his second epistle, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord… 2Peter1:2, I too ask of my Lord to refresh our hearts with broader understanding so that our lives in Christ would be opened wider to receive a greater portion of His wisdom and understanding.  Our faith in Him should always be hungry and I long to see the day when my faith becomes sight and I have been resurrected above the circumstances that the enemy enjoys weighing me down with.  His word states that if we will seek Him we WILL find Him.  It will only be in our individual quests for more of Him that He will enable us to understand enough to maintain our course in Him.  With broader understanding comes greater appreciation and then the willingness for perfect obedience.          

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith”.
-Romans 1:16+17

The Battle IS the LORD’s

1Samuel 17:47

            Mostly all have heard the tremendous story of how little David with a pocket full of smooth rocks, a sling, and big faith in the LORD was delivered from the attack of wild animals while guarding his sheep and how he slew the Philistine giant Goliath, whom reigned terror on the army of Israel for forty days.  Fear was Goliath’s tactic where faith was David’s weapon.  Let it be known Church that we are at war and nothing has changed about the rules of engagement.  Albeit a war that thrives within the spiritual dimensions, it still remains the only conflict that has impacted every conceived human being and is in a class all its own with the greatest number of casualties that will continue to dominate until death itself falls extinct.  You know of the verse: Ephesians 6:12~ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  But is it reality?  Do we understand or even consider the magnitude of the fight?  Unfortunately not, but that is where wisdom and discernment are essential gifts given from the Father of lights so that even with these spiritually blinded eyes we too might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Fear is still the greatest tactic of the Pilgrim’s enemy and what drives us away from the Lord as we take action under our own power (as if we can somehow preserve our lives) against someone we can’t see.  The Word is our sword, and faith is the ability to wield it effectively.  Since faith equals knowledge, and knowledge equals strength, I believe it to be true to say that if your walk with Christ is a roller coaster ride with slow, steep climbs, and then dramatic drops that plummet you low with seemingly endless twists and turns, than your faith (knowledge of God and what He alone can accomplish in you through Christ) is limited and you are being spiritually bullied by someone who has already been defeated.  I have often thought of our depravity as being locked in a block cell without any way out as if someone built it around you without doors, windows, and with reinforced steel running through the walls.  Jesus calls and we now see we are in need of being saved- that my sin is like each block that surrounds me and is reinforced each day with the evil intent of my heart.  God the Father provided our cell with a Door that sometimes we don’t want to see or agree to use, so trusting in own ability we devise our own blueprint of His Door and begin to replicate it with our own.  Hey stupid Pilgrim!  Let me save you some serious time, walk through His door!  It’s open.  You’ll continue to lay block but you will never again be deceived to becoming a prisoner of sin if you keep your eyes fixed on Christ Jesus and exercise your faith in Him.  You can’t be deceived if you know the Truth.  This Pilgrim knows the Truth and I have been set free!  My faith declares: greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.   

Stand Strong, Hold Fast, Live Right; all for the glory of God our Savior! 

Untitled Masterpiece

“Tis not that I did choose Thee,

For Lord, that could not be;

This heart would still refuse Thee,

Hadst Thou not chosen me…

My heart owns none before Thee,

For Thy rich grace I thirst;

This knowing, if I love Thee,

Thou must have loved me first.”

                             Josiah Conder, 1836

A Pilgrim's Concern for Today's Worship

Jeremiah Burroughs: Gospel Worship

“The reason why we worship God in a slight way is because we do not see God in His glory.”

“I will be sanctified”, that is,“I will have My name appear to be holy.  I will make known unto My people, and to all the world, that I am a holy God.”  That’s the meaning of “I will be sanctified.”  I will be known to all the world as a holy God.   

“…yet it is fitting for you to submit to God.  It is fitting that God should be glorified, whatever becomes of you.  You are dear to God, but God’s name is dearer to Him than you are.”

“So God is sanctified in two ways.  One is by the holiness of His people and their conduct towards Him, holding forth the glory of God’s holiness.  So you have in 1 Peter 3:15: “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.”  The saints sanctify God in their hearts when they fear God as a holy God, and reverence Him and love Him as a holy God.  They sanctify Him in their lives when their lives hold forth the glory of God’s holiness. Then God is sanctified.  But then, if we do not do so, God sanctifies Himself in ways of judgment upon those who do not sanctify His name in ways of holiness.”  …”In the way of the execution of judgment, thus I will sanctify Myself, so I will be sanctified in those that draw nigh unto Me.”

Which Criminal are you?

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  ~Luke23:39-43

            Have you ever stopped to think: what punishment do I really deserve because of my sin; my rebellion?  Do you understand that if it wasn’t for the abundant love, and mercy, and grace of God, we would already be dead.  Capital punishment was the penalty for the first sin, and let’s just say for the sake of bad interpretation that we didn’t inherit sin from Adam; that God hypothetically allowed us all to be born perfect until we committed our first sin.  How many under the rule “thou shalt surely die,” would be here right now if God withheld His grace?  Does your heart and life right now express the gratitude He deserves for His love and mercy and grace for you?  If not- according to our hypothesis you should be smitten where you sit, because that is sin.  Let’s imagine for a moment the last hours of one of the criminals and all the techniques and practices involved with crucifixion.  It was under the power of the victim the cross was to be carried, after of course, the flogging.  Sometime during that excruciating torment, the victim was stripped; continually humiliated; spat upon and taunted; defenseless throughout the entire ordeal.  The flesh is torn and burns as sweat, and the alcohol that is offered the victim, finds its ways into open wounds.  The wine offered is to dope the victim, probably to prolong the process so as to feed the mob of their own lusts for more violence.  When the victim finally arrives at the site where immanent death awaits, their charges are written down and posted above the head for all to read while the flesh is penetrated with nails that widen in diameter so that the palms and ankles are firmly fastened to the wood beam.  Apparently when all who witnessed ran out of spit, stones and vulgar insults; having their fill of the spectacle, the soldier’s day wasn’t complete until they broke the legs of the criminals, where finally the victim was left alone to die in peace.

            So what does this have to do with the two criminals- you ask?  Well each of them suffered the kind of death they deserved.  Not because of what they did, but because of who we all are.  We are sinners.  Imagine yourself as the victim described, what sins are written on the wooden board above your head?  Genuine repentance never willingly returns to the sin.  So which sins do you still give into?  Dear God I pray you help us understand this so we can be free to be free.  It took perfection to take my place; your place, it was infallible righteousness that broke the penalty of capital punishment and hell.  When, or if we die- Maranatha, we have nothing to fear at the moment our legs get broken.  We have the eternal hope with the perfect lamb when our hearts and lives repeat the words of the wise criminal: “I do fear the Lord; it should have been me on that cross, I am the one who sinned, but you are the One who died.  I accept your willing and perfect sacrifice that has reversed the curse of death by your resurrection.  My life is no longer my own, but Yours to do with it as You will- work in me and use me for your glory and remember me when I come into your kingdom”.     

            Our country is testing the patience of God.  We are testing the patience of God, yet we remain in a season of harvest that will wake one up or cause another heart to grow harder; to fall farther away.  Praying in the name of Jesus Christ without persecution is a thing of the past- ask our military chaplains; Pastors being classified as lobbyists reuniting church and state and Christianity being controlled are things to come.  History certainly repeats itself, so what side are you on, do you know and love your Savior; your Heavenly Father enough to stand up and pray in the name of Jesus boldly?  Again I ask- which criminal are you?    

A PILGRIM'S CALL TO BACKSEAT RIDERS

             ATTENTION: BACKSEAT RIDERS,

The operator of this vehicle is without a doubt a genuine CHRISTIAN!  And why does this concern you- YOU ASK?  Well, as a "new creation” in Jesus Christ, the possibility of the driver DISAPPEARING due to the Rapture (rap-ture  \’rap-cher\ verb [Biblical Event] the moment when Jesus Christ calls on His church or believers to meet Him in the air to be ushered into eternity with Him) which is a provable certainty (1Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.) and could happen today while you are in the vehicle!  IF YOU, understand the Gospel message and live each day demonstrating your FAITH, HOPE and LOVE for Jesus Christ, than FEAR NOT for you are in good company.  IF- on the other hand there is DOUBT, (doubt  \’dowt\ verb [Not good] an uncertainty that if left unchecked could cost you paradise and lead you to hell) than do not hesitate to INTERRUPT the silence or discussion already in progress to find out how you too can be guaranteed a place in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN by giving your HEART and LIFE to Jesus Christ today.  God LOVES YOU, and that is why Jesus died FOR YOU on the CROSS so you are either SAVED or …

                                                          LOST;

But, if you die without trusting in Christ Jesus for SALVATION, YOU will have to face the wrath of a Holy God on your OWN.





A Pilgrim’s Prayer

H

oly Father,                                      

I know that within me lies a natural disposition to sin, inherited from Adam; that I lie because I am a liar.  I know as regenerate, your calling me was for my transformation to reflect the beauty of Christ Jesus for your glory.  I am part of your plan, my life is your labor, yet what I am will attempt to hinder your progress; overwhelm my soul so that my flesh yields to your holiness.  I am nothing yet everything through your Son and in your hands.  So work in my life your power that brought forth my Lord from His tomb and invest in me the attributes of those forever honored in your Word.  Grant this Pilgrim…

The sacrificial love of Christ, the steadfast faith of father Abraham,

Wisdom beyond Solomon’s, a heart like David’s,

Strength- that of the mighty Samson, the incomprehensible patience of Job,

A discipline exemplified by Daniel, discerning eyes to see like Elisha,

The veracity of Paul, a willingness to be used like Isaiah,

Brokenness like Jeremiah over my sin and for your people, the persistence of Moses,

A lively hope that Peter defended to death, a boldness to confront as Elijah,

An attitude to encourage like Barnabas, the motivation to work like James,

The undying courage of Stephen, to epitomize John in my love for the brethren,

A forgiving heart like Joseph, and an unconditional commitment to you like Hosea.

I ask these things of a great and generous Father who delights in blessing his children in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus~ Your Son.

Amen.

The Valley of Vision: The Deeps

LORD JESUS,

Give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach; Help me chastely to flee it, and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being.
Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.
Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virture apart from thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly Husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until thou alone art seen in me, thy beauty golden like summer harvest, thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no Master but thee, no law but thy will, no delight but thyself, no wealth but that thou givest, no good but that thou blessest, no peace but that thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that thou makest me, I have nothing but that I receive from thee, I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.
Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

From The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

The Valley of Vision: The Cry of a Convicted Sinner

THOU RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY SOVEREIGN,


In whose hand is my life and whose are all my ways, keep me from fluttering about religion; fix me firm in it, for I am irresolute; my decisions are smoke and vapour, and I do not glorify thee, or behave according to thy will; Cut me not off before my thoughts grow to responses, and the budding of my soul into full flower, for thou art forbearing and good, patient and kind.
Save me from myself, from the artifices and deceits of sin, from the treachery of my perverse nature,
from denying thy charge against my offenses, from a life of continual rebellion against thee,
from wrong principles, views, and ends; for I know that all my thoughts, affections, desires and
pursuits are alienated from thee.
I have acted as if I hated thee, although thou art love itself; have contrived to tempt thee to the uttermost, to wear out they patience; have lived evilly in word and action.
Had I been a prince I would long ago have crushed such a rebel; Had I been a father I would long since have rejected my child.
O, thou Father of my spirit, thou King of my life, cast me not into destruction, drive me not from thy presence, but wound my heart that it may be healed; break it that thine own hand may make it whole.


Prayer from The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

What is a Pilgrim?

A Pilgrim, in the manner that I will always refer to it, is one who has been called from death into the magnificent light of Jesus the Messiah. A true Pilgrim believes that God as our Maker and Sovereign would be just in His Holiness to smite us where we stand and destroy our souls because of sin.  A true Pilgrim does not confuse our Creator’s will in choosing whom to save, providing them a way for salvation, and ensuring those elected come to see Jesus as the Christ with their own ability to search, choose, and navigate their own way to the kingdom of heaven.  A true Pilgrim’s faith rests on the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.  Everything that a Pilgrim does is to be about the Father’s work because we know that the Word of God is the only Way, Truth, and Life for those whom God will call into His fold.  A true Pilgrim is one who believes that what God said is true and lives by it.      

Relay for (Eternal) Life

Relay for (Eternal) Life

I

dentify in your mind the worst physical affliction and I will tell you another far worse.  Did you think of a disease or plague or cancer?  Maybe the disease in mind is pandemic in its reach; both directly and indirectly influences its subjects.  Maybe its genetic, maybe it’s something that has yet to be identified but has or will take the greatest number of lives.  Whatever it is, I say it is still not the worst affliction known to mankind.

There is no greater affliction than sin.  In fact- just to be clear, all physical conditions take on a life of their own within a life, until it completely consumes that life and both the life and the condition die.  Sin has overcome us all and we are in fact already hopelessly dead as it pertains to our spiritual condition (Eph2:12).  Every other physical malady known to man is only the by-products of sin.  What was once unblemished; made in the image and likeness of God, now profanes the original created order and the Hand of our Creator.  So what are we as Pilgrims (Ref: "What is A Pilgrim") to do with such physical challenges that test the greatest medical minds and science? 

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1Peter4:19

A Pilgrim should use their "cancer" as a podium to proclaim God as Just and Merciful.  A Pilgrim should understand that although the road ahead may be wearisome and difficult for all who sojourn with you, God will not forget you and will always be there even when you haven’t the strength to call on Him.  A Pilgrim should also trust that it is not what you are dealing with or who you were that defines you, for every true Pilgrim acknowledges Jesus as the One who heals our greatest affliction.  As a new creation in Christ Jesus you are free to use the affliction instead of the affliction using you which ultimately directs the glory given and received to the One who rightfully deserves it (Rev4:11).  We all are summoned to die once (Heb9:27) and Death will do his duty in calling upon all who are guilty of offending a Holy God.  For some, Death will collect payment into eternity.

It is never easy to watch someone die for any reason, especially if it is a loved one.  It would be safe to say that most of us, if not all would rather die quickly and without suffering.  With that said, as a Pilgrim, it is (or shouldn’t be) never pleasing for man to look at God’s justice in His dealings with mankind, but more importantly with His own Son.  But rest assured Pilgrim, it pleases the LORD to look upon His Son and pardon you, and allow you such an amazing platform to extend eternal life to all whose death sentence is sealed by sin.  Whether you are the suffering Pilgrim or the Pilgrim watching a beloved suffer, relay for what matters most- eternal life.  Are you a gatherer or a scatterer (Matt12:30)?

A Pilgrim's Thought

Simplify, simplify, simplify!  Oh how preoccupied, impatient, and self serving we are in this culture.  Eliminate those things that are useless in spiritual maturation, zero in on the things that really matter, and forget what others around you think when they scrutinize your lack of knowledge on what is currently "in".  Let them see a separation from worldliness- let them see a joyful dependence on someOne greater; something eternally important other than the new hit series, the weekend, the next best thing, what the gang is doing Friday night; the exhausting search for the relationship that really can not be found outside Christ.  We are a people of little faith- but you don't have to be.     

A Pilgrim's Thought

A Pilgrim's Essentials~  The Word: that gives Life and Prayer: which empowers the Life.

A Pilgrim's Thought

"Saving faith is not believing in God but believing that what God says is true." R.C. Sproul

A Pilgrim's Thought

Holiness and sin cannot coexist.

A Pilgrim's Thought

Though the road called sanctification defies simple, it is the only way to Glory. 

So what should authentic Christianity look like today?

1--Authentic Christianity trusts the whole Word of God to be inspired; that man was the instrument as the Spirit of God promulgated special revelation.  As God Himself is the Author, so is He authorized to sanction, pardon, and enforce (James4:12a) all that is contained in Holy writ- as He pleases.  We believe that God’s Word is His oath, and He cannot lie (Heb 6:13-20)  The Word must be the plumb line; standard of truth and right-choiceness that every Christian cherishes, is bound to, feeds on, and trusts throughout their pilgrimage- come what may.  The Word is what shapes authentic faith and must be regarded as all sufficient for collective, genuine worship and individual progressive sanctification.  (2Tim 3:16/Heb 4:12-13)

2--Authentic Christianity recognizes that because of Jesus the Christ, we now are alive (Eph 2:5) and represent (2Cor 5:20) the Kingdom of Heaven; that Jesus is very much alive (Matt 28, Mark16, Luke24, John20) and is waiting for the decree from the Father (Matt24:36) to return for those loyal through faith to the Crown of Christ.  Rejoice Pilgrims- look around you; the return of the true King is very soon (Matt24:3-14, 29-31)!

3--Authentic Christianity appreciates the cost of the ransom (Matt20:25-28, 1Pet1:17-21) that paid for the purchase of our freedom from sin, the justifiable wrath deserving of our sin, and residency into the Kingdom of God.  Our liberty was the result of the horrendous transaction in exchange of Jesus' righteousness for our sin that demands bloodshed; life (1Pet1:19).  We simply trust in Jesus as the Messiah and obey His commands out of authentic gratitude for what God alone has done.  Once we are in Christ Jesus, our works of morality and kindness are thereby recognized by God as proper, or holy, when we exercise our free will in association to our new nature.  (Read Paul’s epistle to the Romans)

4--Authentic Christianity values the ideology that there is only one way to live out our faith.  Genuine Christianity is not selective when it comes to the Word or the likes and dislikes of sinful man.  What one denomination embraces, another despises- neither of which operating within full potential because of the division (1Cor1:10).  Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1Cor2:5); founded on the Son of God who leads us back into a relationship with the Father due to His merit, His worthiness, His power, His authority, His resurrection, and His covenant- anything else is not faith at all.  Our faith is to be cultivated and nurtured and always defended, for we are called to avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge”, for by professing it some have swerved from the faith (1Tim6:21).

5--Authentic Christianity realizes that we are on a countdown to the end of our lives (James4:13-17), the next perfect storm, the next catastrophe, the next loss of a loved one, the next abortion, the next heinous crime, the next terrorist attack, the next physical malady, the next knock at the door that confirms a mysterious feeling; anything else that can be contrived by the wicked heart of man (Gen6:5-8, Jer17:9), or the influence of a greater evil, or as consequential to the sin that we all reside in.  BUT, these things should not discourage the heart of an Authentic Christian because of the Living Hope (1Pet 1:3) we have in Jesus our God and Savior, and because of the truth of His promises that lead our faith- until this Pilgrim’s faith becomes sight (1Pet510).  Each new day is a gift and is potentially the day for salvation for someone; someone that may truly hear the Gospel for the first time.

6--Authentic Christianity understands the importance of consistent communion within their Kingdom minded family (Heb 10:25).  Our collective worship is to be in Spirit and truth that cannot be confined to a specific location (John4:23).  Authentic worship does require the Word to be the focus and the people to be attentive and responsive (Heb12:28, Psalm29:2).  Another reason for fellowship within the body of believers is the search for greater understanding of the Common Thread that brought us and keeps us in the fold. The quest for truth, strength, and assurance is as essential as our being continually reminded that we too are yet sinners that were once in the hands of an angry God, but now are indeed saved by grace (Eph 2:8).  

7--Authentic Christianity understands that the remainder of the world’s population has yet to be dealt with; that some are numbered among the elect (Gal1:4) and will be violently moved to saving faith in Jesus the Son of God, while the rest are destined to face God's wrath (Rom1:18) and eternal judgment (Heb4:13).  It is not up to us who we should or should not share the good news with, a compassionate act of service to, sacrifice money, talent, or time for; but that we have a duty to do all in the Name of Jesus for the sake and glory of His Kingdom that will reign forever (Col3:17).  It is all the work of the LORD.

8--Authentic Christianity recognizes that although we as people are distinctly different from one another, in Christ Jesus we are to be one; united in our effort in communicating Truth, extending love, sacrificial service, diligently working, joyful living, sound doctrine in teaching, and generously sharing- all as one unit, hence the call from God to die to self (Eph 4:17-5:1) and for each Christian to take up His cross and follow Him (Matt10:38).  This identifies Jesus as the source of all Life, love, wisdom, peace with the Father, and Truth.  He must increase while we must decrease (John3:30).

9--Authentic Christianity understands that we are not perfect- but forgiven; that forgiveness (Rom6:1-4) is no excuse to live like we did in the days prior to Jesus raising us up from spiritual death or to treat any other human being disrespectfully (Matt7:12).  We understand that God provides the peace that we are to extend to our closest friend as well as our enemies as peacemakers (Matt5:9, 43-48) for we are relational creatures; designed to give and to receive the many meanings of love.  Authentic Christianity sees the sinfulness first within one self and understands the nature in which we are dealing with and allows the Spirit to lead in those situations where the flesh demands to dominate.  We also understand that in all things honesty (James5:12) is the only mode of operation. 

10-Authentic Christianity recognizes the constant struggle within and the necessity to feed the Spirit to ensure the hope in making right choices and standing victorious over sin (Rom6:14). Although impossible, it is in total, consistent, uninterrupted dependence on God that the Authentic Christian lives in the greatest joy of the Lord.  Unfortunately, for the Authentic Christian, this joy is interrupted and suppressed by the sorrow of sin.  In this failure lies the Pilgrim’s reminder that we are not Home yet, that there is still hard labor ahead, and even though our flesh craves autonomy- in our minds and deep in our hearts, we know we will always need the one true God who will give us the strength to make it through another weary day.  This is how we glorify God.