Grace Community Church: Corning, NY

Got Rest?

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 10:27:00 EDT

"...as self-made men with idols that look just like us, we are constantly chasing after mere shadows of goodness, truth, and beauty."

Burk Parsons brilliantly explains the root of our problem in not experiencing true rest in his article featured in the latest issue of Table Talk Magazine. Read it for yourself and rediscover the goodness, truth and beauty of the only One who can truly give us rest.

Copy and paste address in your web browser: www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/encountering-absolute-rest/

Ambition?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:47:00 EDT

What comes to mind when you hear the word "AMBITION"? This may not describe you, but in many Christian circles the word ambition conjures up negative feelings. More often than not, it's used to describe things that we desire but shouldn't be pursuing and is frequently preceded by the word selfish. Granted, James rightly instructs us as to the destructive nature of selfish ambition within the church:

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." James 3:16

BUT LET'S NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER!

Defining all ambition as selfish just because it sometimes (wrongly) functions that way in the life of believers is like declaring all food to be evil (or those who eat it idolaters) because some struggle with gluttony. That's ridiculous! Some are selfish and some are gluttons but that doesn't make ambition or food wrong. Listen to Paul:

"and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel" Romans 15:20a

Ambition and food are both still good-just as God created them; it's the way we use these gifts that determine their usefulness and reveal our motives.

You probably didn't start the day today thinking about ambition, so I'm glad I could be of assistance. I want to highly recommend Dave Harvey's new book to you: RESCUING AMBITION. I'm only half way through but I can already see this is a book that many of us need to read and all will benefit from. Here's an excerpt from the introduction:

"Why read this book? Read it to make connections between what you want and what you do...between your present opportunities and your future hopes...between your life and God's glory. These connections rescue us from fruitlessness, pointlessness, purposelessness, and the haunting gray twilight of wasted time and lost opportunity. They remind us that a big God uses small people to steer the course of history-people like you and me.

To understand ambition, we must understand that each of us lives on a quest for glory. Where we find it determines the success of our quest." Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition

We have a few copies for sale on the book table but you don't have to wait till Sunday. Hop on Amazon.com or the Sovereign Grace Ministries web site and order it sooner.

Let's rescue ambition together.

The Faithfulness of God

Thu, 6 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

This past Sunday we looked at Genesis 12:10-20; the story of Abram and Sarai going down to Egypt. After leaving his home country in faith, believing in the promises of God and the God of the promises, Abram encounters famine and fear. Trials lead to self-reliance which give way to failure as faith turns to faithlessness. But God reveals Himself as faithful, rescuing Abram and Sarai and preserving His promise of blessing for all people. (you can listen to the message by clicking the link on our home page)

Here's an excerpt from chapter ten in A.W. Pink's,The Attributes of God, on the Faithfulness of God:

"God is true. His Word of Promise is sure. In all His relations with His people God is faithful. He may be safely relied upon. No one ever yet really trusted Him in vain. We find this precious truth expressed almost everywhere in the Scriptures, for His people need to know that faithfulness is an essential part of the Divine character. This is the basis of our confidence in Him. But it is one thing to accept the faithfulness of God as a Divine truth, it is quite another to act upon it. God has given us many “exceeding great and precious promises,” but are we really counting on His fulfillment of them? Are we actually expecting Him to do for us all that He has said? Are we resting with implicit assurance on these words, “He is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23)?

There are seasons in the lives of all when it is not easy, no not even for Christians, to believe that God is faithful. Our faith is sorely tried, our eyes bedimmed with tears, and we can no longer trace the outworkings of His love. Our ears are distracted with the noises of the world, harassed by the atheistic whisperings of Satan, and we can no longer hear the sweet accents of His still small voice. Cherished plans have been thwarted, friends on whom we relied have failed us, a professed brother or sister in Christ has betrayed us. We are staggered. We sought to be faithful to God, and now a dark cloud hides Him from us. We find it difficult, yea, impossible, for carnal reason to harmonize His frowning providence with His gracious promises. Ah, faltering soul, severely tried fellow pilgrim, seek grace to heed Isa. 50:10, “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Iet him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.”

Oh to trust Him for all of His promises, through every circumstance and with every inclination of the heart!

Lord, give us the grace and strength in our weakness to endure the trials that are necessary to forge that faith.

A thought on contentment from John Newton

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

As the women begin their book study this week, reading and discussing "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow, I thought it would be profitable for us all to consider the (sometimes hidden) sins of anxiety and discontentment in our own lives. In his book, "Respectable Sins", in his chapter on Anxiety and Frustration, Jerry Bridges quotes John Newton on the subject. Take the time to process and understand this quote...it's well worth it.

“[One of the marks of Christian Maturity which a believer should seek is] an acquiescence in the Lord’s will founded in a persuasion of His wisdom, holiness, sovereignty and goodness.…So far as we can attain this, we are secure from disappointment. Our own limited views, and shortsighted purposes and desires, may be, and will be, often over-ruled; but then our main and leading desire, that the will of the Lord be done, must be accomplished. How highly does it become us, both as creatures and as sinners, to submit to the appointment of our maker! and how necessary is it to our peace! This great attainment is too often unthought of, and over looked; we are prone to fix our attention upon the second causes and immediate instruments of events; forgetting that whatever befalls us is according to his purpose, and therefore must be right and seasonable in itself, and shall in the issue be productive of good. From hence arise impatience, resentment, and secret repinings [i.e., complaining], which are not only sinful but tormenting; whereas, if all things are in his hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered; if every event, great and small, is under the direction of his providence and purpose; and if he has a wise, holy, and gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate and subservient;-then we have nothing to do, but with patience and humility to follow as he leads, and cheerfully to expect a happy issue....How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His hand in every dispensation and believe that He chooses better for them than they possibly could for themselves!”

John Newton, an excert from a letter to a friend

The Struggle for Prayer and the Joy of Victory

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

As Christians, we desire to grow in our relationship and intimacy with God. Most of us know the benefits and joys of prayer, meditation and worship alone in the presence of God. But if we're honest, we also know a certain struggle. It differs from person to person but hinders us none the less. One of the most common responses to this struggle is disappointment, condemnation and hopelessness.

But why? Don't we also know, that as regenerated souls, we have the Spirit of God living in us? And that the Spirit that is in us is at war with our flesh? If we would live our lives with the knowledge of this internal battle and not expect obedience and godliness to come easy and naturally, we would approach most things differently. A man does everything with careful intentionality who is at war. Do you think of yourself as at war?

Walter Chantry has this to say about the struggle for prayer that leads to the joy of victory:

"In the stern reality of the secret place a dagger is placed in our hands. Timid men shrink back from using it. When a man will plunge the knife into self-pleasing, self-confidence and self-interest, and will wrestle alone with God for His glory, the world will see God working openly and granting victory on the field of battle."

As our desire for His glory increases and our glory decreases, our prayers will likewise grow in effectiveness, power and fervency. But that exchange only comes with a fight. So like Paul, Let's fight the good fight that we might see the mighty hand of God move in our generation!

Beauty Will Rise

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

I got Steven Curtis Chapman's new album Beauty Will Rise for Christmas and I have been listening to it a lot since. It is a psalm-like album journaling the pain and faith that the Chapman's have walked through since their adopted daughter Maria was killed in an accident. It is a beautiful and honest album and it has challenged me to the heart in many ways.

If you are looking for an honest look at tragedy seen through the hope we have in Jesus Christ, I strongly recommend this album. I also encourage you read the liner notes, especially on the song SEE. I was in tears as I read it.

I praise the Lord for the open, honest, and Christ-honoring way the Chapman's have walked through this tragic loss. It has been a wonderful witness to the world and a provoking example to all Christians. I have been listening to SCC since 1987 and this album is another testimony that his songs come from a deep, deep Christian faith.

How do you remember...?

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

HOW DO YOU REMEMBER…?

Sunday, Allen told us that just as God remembered Noah (Gen. 8:1) He also remembers us. He remembered us at the cross, He will remember us in the future and God remembers us now. But is this the paradigm in which we view our lives? Do we believe that God has always known us, has always been with us, and has always “remembered” us? And if not, how does that affect the way we think about Gods commitment to us in the future?

Ask yourself this question: “When I look at the story of my life, (past experiences, future plans, successes and failures, blessings and tragedies), who is the main character?” The answer to this question is telling. It’s either God or you; but how can you tell who it really is? Most of us would say God is because we know that’s what the bible says, but is that how we live? One way to find out is to evaluate what has already happened and how we’ve responded to it.

When you look back on your past, what’s your perspective? How do you see God in your past? Were you bullied, teased and rejected by your peers? Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family with divorced or an alcoholic parent(s)? Were you beaten or sexually abused? Maybe you were the bully or the abuser that lived a life of violence? We’ve all experienced grief, pain and loss at different degrees and through very different circumstances but whatever your story is, your history is part of who you are and tends to determine how you look at the future. The question is how do you interpret your past? Are you a part of God's story or is He a part of yours?

In light of our past, we may ask questions like, “Where was God?” or “Why did God let this happen to me?” but we can’t let emotional rationalizations determine our interpretation of our history. Just like in everything else, we must be lead by and believe scripture. And scripture tells us where God was; even before you were, He was on the cross. Let’s believe scripture and let it interpret the past and determine our future. We are a part of God’s story, a blip in history. We revolve around him not the reverse and yet, just like with Noah, God has remembered us; He has acted on our behalf and through His promises, we have hope for the future.

Did Noah Float Over Mount Everest?

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Here is the article i promised on the possible cataclysmic effects of the flood.

www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c001.html

For some odd reason the title is misspelled but the article is, in my opinion, well written and humble in it's tone. Hope you enjoy!

A closing thought: this makes for interesting study but we must remember that there are strong Christians who have divergent views of creation and the flood. We never want to allow these genuine differences to become contentious. So let's strive to hold our opinions humbly!

"A Little Slumber" - Thoughts from Spurgeon on Laziness

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Recently I've been reading from one of my favorite morning devotionals, Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon and the devotional from November 24 was challenging to me and I thought I'd pass it on. It follows up well with Matt's last post too.

The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough idleness. A little folding of the hands to sleep is all they crave, and they have a crowd of reasons to show that this indulgence is a very proper one. Yet by these littles the day ebbs out, and the time for labor is all gone, and the field is grown over with thorns.It is by these little procrastinations that men ruin their souls. They have no intention to delay for years - a few months will bring the more convenient season - tomorrow if you will, they will attend to serious things; but the present hour is so occupied and altogether unsuitable, that they beg to be excused. Like sands from an hour glass, time passes, life is wasted by driblets, and seasons of grace lost by little slumbers...Oh that men were wise be-times, and would seek diligently unto the Lord Jesus, or else the solemn day shall dawn when it will be too late to plough and to sow, too late to repent and believe. In harvest, it is vain to lament that the seed time was neglected. As yet, faith and holy decision are timely. May we obtain them this night.~ Charles Spurgeon

I think we can all relate to some degree to the reassuring delusion that our intention is only to procrastinate for a short time. And because time slips away little by little we feel no alarm - after all, there's always tomorrow! But today is the day. May we grow in Jonathan Edward's determination not to let the "littles" steal away his life: Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

By the grace of God, may we use this day - this moment! - for the glory of God and the service of people!

The Danger of Inactivity

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Inertia is inactivity; the idea that without outside intervention an object will remain motionless or on the same path. The sluggard is a scriptural example of spiritual inertia. Proverbs 21:25 says, "The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor." He desires change but doesn't act. Tomorrow is his Savior but everyday he wakes up to today. Proverbs 26:16 says, "The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly." In the midst of the slow death of inactivity, he's deceived. He rationalizes his inaction in order to maintain his "tomorrow" action plan.

Initiative, on the other hand, is action, often at a cost, motivated by God and for the good of others. The ultimate example of initiative in scripture is God's initiative in our lives; His unsolicited determination to save us by sending His Son to the cross.

The danger of inactivity in our leadership is that we are never neutral in our growth; we're either making progress and growing or we're drifting. Inactivity equals drift. Inactivity equals disobedience. Inactivity equals consequences. And the consequences effect more than just us. Over time, we tempt and provoke our wives to sin (anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness) as they bear the weight of resposibility that they were not designed to carry, not to mention their pleas for help that may fall on deaf ears which only adds to their frustration. Our wives and children are also deprived of the blessings and growth that come from Godly leadership and discipleship in the family. This isn't an option, though we may view it that way. Scripture is clear.

Let's take the bull by the horns and commit to a vigilent attack on our selfishness and love of ease. Let's take action. God requires it of us but He also gives us EVERYTHING we need for life and Godliness. He never requires something of us without supplying the grace. But we have to step out in faith, trusting that He's faithful; that as we take action, His promise to sustain and give us strength in our weakness is true.