The Truth about Sovereign Grace

People cheapen grace or put it out of reach. The truth about sovereign grace is that it is undeservedly given, unilaterally free, and universally just. Those who say 'it's not fair' that some aren't saved don't know God's grace.

Some E-Hudy Exhortation

Men, you are called to lead. Your leadership is not just called for, it is expected. If you do not lead people go hungry. Children are not fed. How are you to lead? Humbly, boldly and as a servant. What are you to do? Deliver the Word. Let it do it's work. God can use you. You are to lead. By delivering God's Word. To whoever you are called to lead. So that they get God message. So that they would be changed. So that God is glorified. But you may say 'none of my friends, acquaintances, peers do that.' Are you a leader or a follower? Be a leader. Take a risk. Courageously act. Follow through. Have you noticed how our competitive nature is appealed to so often. Like Be the first to like this. Be the first of your friends to like this. Be the trailblazer, be the first of your friends to take God seriously, do what He says, don't just succomb to peer pressure, be a leader. The Word of God, applied by the Spirit of God, works in the people of God for His glory and their good.

E-Who? The Obvious Observations

What obvious observations can be seen in Judges 3:12-30? 1. God will do anything He wants with anyone He chooses. If He can use a donkey to speak to a man, make an axehead float 2. God promises and provides deliverance for His people. The pattern in Judges is clear to see: over and over the people rebel, God sends oppressors, the people devote themselves to God anew, God sends a deliverer. 3. God's Word is living and life-changing. It carries a strong message. Piercing, pointed, powerful. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 4. God expects and enables humble-bold leadership. Christian men, sit up and take notice. You are called to lead, to initiate. your God-given calling is to shepherd your family in the ways of the Lord. We must take Ehud-like action - calculated, courageous and designed to benefit the community of faith.

More Ehud

The Obvious, The Not-So-Obvious, & The Totally Hidden & Obscure (like those little peanut butter cups in Moose Tracks ice cream) What observations can we make about what this story teach? 1. God does whatever He wants with anyone He chooses. Expect God to bring about the unexpected. God did this. And it is marvelous in our sight. 2. God promises and provides deliverance. Rejoice in God providing rescue. 3. God's Word is living and life-changing. It is essential and powerful. Useful and needed. Crave the life-altering Word. 4. God expects and enables humble-bold servant leadership. Lead by following the Master. Ehud took a risk. Calculated...thought it through, planned it out, if you can dream it you can try it. Courageous...he took action, put himself on the line. Community... It benefitted the people he was called to lead. God provided a deliverer. That deliverer creatively and courageously carried out a plan to deliver God's Word. God's pointed message of judgment on Eglon and Moabites; and redemption for Ehud and Israelites. God wants to use you to deliver His Word to whomever you lead (a church, a family, a company, a group of five year olds) so that they get His message. He will do the work of changing hearts.

E-Who? What we learn from Ehud

Ehud shows up, alongside Eglon, in Judges 3. It's a wild tale of a judge killing a evil king, resulting in eighty years of peace for Israel. The details are brief and to the point. Eglon got the sharp end of the two-edged sword Ehud had hidden, first under his robe, then Eglon's belly. What can we learn from this? That's a good question! One I am considering this week. I'll start with the obvious, move to the not-so-obvious, then the totally obscure and hidden. See you tomorrow.

The Promised Rewards of Discipleship

"The Promised Rewards of Discipleship" Read Matthew 19:27-30. In context of humble childlike faith in Christ vs. The error of self-righteous self-sufficiency... We see... Peter realizing they have done what Jesus asked - what the Rich Young Ruler was unwilling to do - and needing assurance of the benefits of following Christ. We see... 1. Jesus, our Glorious Lord (19:28) on His throne 2. Jesus promises to grant glorious privileges to His apostles (19:28 twelve thrones) 3. Jesus promises gracious gifts to all disciples (19:29 who for His sake left much, will receive much much more) -We have family of God relationships in the Church -We have eternal possessions in heaven Etc Contrasts God's grace for childlike trusters vs God's judgment on the self-Righteous. Jesus assures His disciples of their present and future rewards so that they would guard against self-righteous deception and engage in fruitful service. Here are some applications for "living now in light of present and future rewards": (how to guard against self-righteous deception) 1. Maintain a humble heart through confession and repentance. (what RYR didn't have but true Ds do) 2. Be gentle with all (note Jesus' gentle answers to RYR and Peter). 3. Count and communicate the cost and benefits of following for Christ's sake. 19:16-26; 28-29. 4. Realize everything will one day get its true price tag. (idea: People over inflate themselves and discount true disciples but God's Eternal Valuation will stand). 19:30. Jesus loves you!

No Provisions for the Journey

A 22-year-old deaf man from Indianapolis took an 11 mile trail down from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon midmorning one day this summer. He took no food or water. His idstrught family was enlisting the aid of any hikers going into the Canyon. A group of bikers passed him and he refused to take the water they offered him. I am not sure what became of him. I am hoping he made his way back up safely. Jesus sent out His disciples and told them not to overpack or trust in their own resources. He would provide for their needs. They needed to trust Him. He is the one who brought water from a rock and sent ravens to feed prophets. Don't wander. Don't drift. Jesus says "trust Me". A bold proclamation for prepared living and realistic hope. "We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it." (Heb. 2:1)

What Marriage Pictures

Marriage imperfectly points to something perfect. Ephesians 5:22-33 is life altering stuff. Marriage is a picture of something bigger: Christ and the Church.  Jesus is known as the Bridegroom and the Church the Bride of Christ.  For a marriage to work and please God  the husband must be like Christ and the wife must be like the church.  Different roles under God. What did Christ do? What did the Church do? The husband must lovingly initiate sacrifice and the wife must humbly receive as then enter in to a life of mutual submission to Christ. The relationship is permanent. The bond is not to be broken. It is like Christ and the Church. This is why there is no marriage in heaven. Earthly marriage will one day give way to what it pointed to all along. Jesus loves you and have Himself for you.