Great Leaders?

I've been reading Called To Lead by John MacArthur and I (being the sinner that I am) greatly appreciated this reminder. 

The greatest of all leaders in Scripture were fundamentally flawed.  Abraham gave in to his fears and shamefully lied (Genesis 12:13; 20:2).  Moses freely acknowledged that he was "slow of speech and slow of tongue" (Exodus 4:10).  He also had repeated problems with a fiery temper (Exodus 2:11-12; Numbers 20:11-12).  David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11).  Elijah succumbed to fear and depression (1 Kings 19:3-10).  Isaiah confessed that he had a dirty mouth (Isaiah 6:5).  Jonah tried to flee his prophetic commission because he hated the people to whom God called him to minister (Jonah 4:1-3).  Most of the Twelve whom Christ appointed were crude fishermen.  On the night of Christ's betrayal , they all "forsook Him and fled" (Matthew26:56).  Peter, their leader and spokesman, had repeatedly embarrassed himself by saying and doing impetuous things. Then on that terrible night, he verbally denied Christ with cursing and oaths (Matthew 26:69-74).  Peter himself confessed that he was a sinful man (Luke 5:8).  The apostle John and his brother, James in the spirit of Jonah, wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy people whom Christ had come to save (Luke 9:54-56).  James and John (in blatant display of sinful pride) also conspired with their mother to ask Jesus to grant them thrones in the kingdom on Christ's right and left hands (Matthew 20:20-24).  All of these were fragile, imperfect men of clay.

Idolatry

“An idol is anything apart from God that we depend on to be happy, fulfilled, or secure.  In biblical terms, it is something other than God that we set our heart on (Luke 12:29; 1 Corinthians 10:19), that motivates us (1 Corinthians 4:5), that masters and rules us (Psalm 119:133; Ephesians 5:5), or that we trust, fear, or serve (Isaiah 42:17; Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:4-5).  In short, it is something we love and pursue more than God (see Philippians 3:19)” 

Ken Sande. The Peacemaker, 104

J. C. Ryle on Indwelling Sin

In my reading this morning I came across this great paragraph on sin written by J. C. Ryle, the 19th century English pastor.

...I am convinced that the greatest proof of the extent and power of sin is the pertinacity with which it cleaves to man even after he is converted and has become the subject of the Holy Ghost's operation. To use the language of the Ninth Article, 'this infection of nature doth remain - yea, even in them that are regenerate.' So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, 'washed, sanctified, justified,' and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. Sin, no doubt, in the believer's heart, has no longer dominion. It is checked, controlled, mortified, and crucified by the expulsive power of the new principle of grace. The life of a believer is a life of victory and not of failure. But the very struggles which go on within his bosom, the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily, the watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man, the contest between the flesh and the spirit, the inward 'groanings' which no one knows but he who has experienced them - all, all testify to the same great truth, all show the enormous power and vitality of sin. Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive! Happy is that believer who understands it, and while he rejoices in Christ Jesus has no confidence in the flesh; and while he says, 'Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory,' never forgets to watch and pray lest he fall into temptation!

Ryle, Holiness, pg. 6

Possible Reasons Why God Allows Trials and Suffering

Sunday morning we talked through 11 possible reasons that God would bring suffering and trials into our lives. I wanted to post those 11 reasons here for those who missed Sunday and also for those who weren't able to write faster than I was talking. Use these truths to strengthen your own faith, but also to encourage the faith of others who are going through trials.

1. Unconfessed sins - 1 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Kings 5:15-27

2. To chasten His children - Psalm 119:67; Hebrews 12:5-11

3. God wants to increase our usefulness ("pruning process") - John 15:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-9; 2 Peter 1:5-8

4. To help us realize this isn't heaven and we live in a fallen world - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:22-24

5. To allow us to reap what we sow (a natural consequence to our own choices) - Galatians 6:7-8; Proverbs 5:22

6. To teach us about our own weakness and cause us to depend on God - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; 12:7-10

7. To have us realize that we have placed our hope somewhere else or have spread it out between God and self/circumstances/other people/possessions. Our hope is to be squarely fixed upon God alone and His promises - 1 Peter 1:13; Hebrews 6:19

8. To enlarge our appreciation of His sufficiency - 2 Corinthians 4:7; 12:7-10

9. To test and strengthen our faith - 1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12

10. To develop Christlike character - James 1:2-5; Romans 8:28-29

11. To drive us to God's Word - Psalm 119:67, 71, 75

This information was adapted from adapted from a seminar taught by Pastor Brad Bigney, Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY.

Leviticus and Our Sin (part 2)

Yesterday I briefly wrote on the Seriousness of Sin as observed in the book of Leviticus. Today I want to share with you a second challenge/encouragement.

2. Sin is Costly. Because sin is serious Leviticus also teaches us that it is costly. In other words there is a price to be paid for sin. In Leviticus we find that a persons sin would cost them a beast of the field, a bird of the air, or some grain (in the case of the poor). But beyond the material cost there was the humiliation of a public confession. Not that the sinner would announce to everyone the specifics of his sin (though he probably did to the priest), but just walking that animal to the tabernacle was probably considered a "walk of shame" because everyone knew that you or someone in your house had broken one of God's perfect commandments.

Because we tend to make light of sin we also tend to forget how costly sin is. We often take for granted the sacrifice of Christ, never considering the high price He paid for our salvation. Also, because we tend to make light of sin we often fail to humble ourselves by confessing our sin to God and even more so to others.

Take some time today and consider the cross; consider the high price that Jesus paid for your sin. Take time to humble yourself and confess your sins to God and to others (certainly those you have offended).

Leviticus and Our Sin

For those who are following the Scripture reading plan we are now 8 chapters into the book of Leviticus. In these first eight chapters we read of sin, animal sacrifice, blood, alters, priests, guilt, and much, much more.

As I have been reading there are three truths that have challenged/encouraged me and that I hope might challenge/encourage you as you consider Leviticus.

1. Sin is Serious. In Leviticus God takes the sin of His people very seriously, even the sins that they have committed unknowingly (5:14). In Leviticus we see our Holy God demanding justice for those who would violate His perfect commands. This is important for us to understand, because we live in a culture that treats God's perfect commands and our violation of those perfect commands (sin) as a joke; a punchline on a prime time sitcom. Sin is no joke. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin destroys people, families and churches.

If there is one lesson we must learn from Leviticus it is that sin is serious and we must treat it as such. Where are you prone to make light of sin? What do you find non-offensive (maybe even funny) that God finds offensive? Are you giving more attention to Scripture (where we learn of the perfect commands of our Holy God) or the media (where they treat God's commands as a joke)?

More to come tomorrow....

Leviticus - How Were the Hebrews Distinct?

As we read through Leviticus it is easy to note that there are some strange cultural differences between our world and the world of the ancient Hebrews - ritual purification, animal sacrifice, priestly classes, and temples are for the most part foreign terms and concepts to us. But what seems foreign to us was quite common to the Hebrews and to their world. The Hebrews lived (at this point wandered) in a world filled with various religions - Canaanite religions and there were some similarities regarding things such as ceremonial purification and animal sacrifices. But despite the similarities that might have existed the Hebrew religious system (as described in Leviticus) remained distinct (remember the key word in Leviticus is "Holy") from other ancient Near Eastern religions. Here are a few differences:

-The idea of direct divine revelation and theophany. (the presence of God)
-The concept of strict monotheism. (belief that there is only One True God)
-The understanding of the origin and impact of human sin. (the Genesis account)
-The highly ethical and moral nature of Hebrew religion in contrast to the Canaanite fertility cult.
-The holy and righteous character of Yahweh in contrast to the capricious behavior of the pagan deities.
-The prohibition of human sacrifice.

Hill & Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament, pg. 103