Reference Menu (July 19th, 2012)

State Of Sexual Union

This article from Boundless speaks about the theology of sex, body and chastity. I do wish the editor would provide more Biblical reference to back up their reasoning, but I do think they make a point on describing the meaning of our bodies, sex and chastity.

A couple may have all the Bibles in the world — and Christian dating books on proper boundaries — stacked up between them, but if their vision of chastity is as shallow as “don’t have sex before marriage because the Bible says so” and “you might get STDs,” they will probably find a way to knock those books down.

Attack on Pastor’s Home In Nigeria Kill 50

Pray for Nigeria

Erasing Hell

Francis Chan is a very passionate and humble in speaking about Hell. Additionally, we have to remember that our thoughts are not God’s thought. If we try to play the role of God by saying, “This is not what I would do”, then we are trying to put God’s thought in subject to our thought, and downgrading the Almighty One to our level of thoughts.

But Scripture clearly says:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:9 ESV)

Reference Menu (July 19th, 2012)

State Of Sexual Union

This article from Boundless speaks about the theology of sex, body and chastity. I do wish the editor would provide more Biblical reference to back up their reasoning, but I do think they make a point on describing the meaning of our bodies, sex and chastity.

A couple may have all the Bibles in the world — and Christian dating books on proper boundaries — stacked up between them, but if their vision of chastity is as shallow as “don’t have sex before marriage because the Bible says so” and “you might get STDs,” they will probably find a way to knock those books down.

Attack on Pastor’s Home In Nigeria Kill 50

Pray for Nigeria

Erasing Hell

Francis Chan is a very passionate and humble in speaking about Hell. Additionally, we have to remember that our thoughts are not God’s thought. If we try to play the role of God by saying, “This is not what I would do”, then we are trying to put God’s thought in subject to our thought, and downgrading the Almighty One to our level of thoughts.

But Scripture clearly says:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:9 ESV)

Prayer

Prayer is the necessity for the Christian life. Prayer is also the one of the most misunderstood concepts in the world. Christians or religious people  will most likely have prayed to a higher being(s) before. Non-believers know and might have practiced prayer before. And a lot of people might know and have prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Note: This is generic, and there is no stats to back up my statements.

When asking what prayer is, the usual responses I get are these:

– Talking to God (due some circumstances)

– Asking Him for needs and wants

Indeed, God does want us to ask Him. In the Bible, there are many passages that speak about that.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you……” (Matthew 7:7-11 ESV)

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

“…and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1 John 3:22 ESV)

There are numerous passages in the Old Testament especially in Psalms.

However, when reading those passages in the Bible, it sounds like prayer is all about asking God for stuff. It is definitely true that we are to ask God and present our requests before God. When you read James 4, these people fight and quarrel because they don’t have the stuff they want. They don’t have the stuff they want because they never asked for them. That’s true. But when you read a little further down, you see that God doesn’t always answer prayers. God doesn’t always give you what you want. Not only that, God doesn’t always listen or be attentive to people’s prayers. Here are some reasons:

James 1:5-8 says that if we doubt when we ask God for wisdom, then we’re not going to receive anything.

James 4, what we just read, says that if we have a wrong motive for asking God, then we’re not going to get anything.

1 Peter 3:7 says that if a husband does not respect/honor his wife in an understanding way, then his prayer will be hindered.

Isaiah 58 says if that if we don’t care for the poor even though we fast and pray, then he’s not going to listen.

Isaiah 1:12-17 says that God doesn’t even want to hear our prayers because our hands are full of blood and fail to seek justice for the fatherless and the widow.

Amos 5:21-24 says that God doesn’t even want to receive our worship.

Prayer is not always about asking God for stuff, but it is about having a conversation and developing your relationship with Him. In 1 John 5:15, knowing that God hears in whatever we ask is already enough. It doesn’t mean God will answer our prayer immediately even though it according to His will, but that we have faith according to James. In 2 Chronicles, when God was speaking to Solomon in his dream, he said that the Israelite ought to humble ourselves, pray, seek, and turn from their wicked ways, and God will heal their land. I think we need to humble ourselves before the Almighty God.

Listen, my girlfriend said it right, God is not a genie. God is God. You are talking to a  Holy, Majestic, Almighty, All-Powerful, and All-Knowing God. When you come before Him in prayer, you better, I warn you, you better have a heart of reverence. His thought is HIGHER than our thoughts. We can never pull God’s legs. God delights in those who humbles themselves, and He will exalt them. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James and 1 Peter)

Not only that, prayer does not end simply with “In Jesus name”. There’s no such formula in prayer. Prayer/Worship is a lifestyle. Whether you sit, walk, eat, drink. Prayer is constant and continuous because it about having a relationship with the Father.

Here are some important considerations in Effective Prayer (given by Wayne Grudem in his book called “Systematic Theology”)

1. Praying According to God’s will
2. Praying With Faith
3. Obedience
4. Confession of Sins
5. Forgiving Others
6. Humility
7. Continuing in Prayer Over Time
8. Praying Earnestly
9. Waiting on the Lord
10. Praying in Private
11. Praying With Others
12. Fasting
13. What About Unanswered Prayer?

The Confession

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
(Proverbs 1:20-22 ESV)

Oh my soul longs to breathe in the Holy Ghost daily and fully submit to His divine power. My soul gushes out in words that are burdensome and inexpressible.

My longing for satisfaction has been yielding toward worldliness that provides a counterfeit for pleasure and satisfaction. This life on earth is temporary, so seize the moment and experience the abundance of life, which speaks Half-Truth. How foolish it is to simply to gain the riches of this world.

I am hungry and thirsty for You. You’re everything that I need.

 

The Confession

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
(Proverbs 1:20-22 ESV)

Oh my soul longs to breathe in the Holy Ghost daily and fully submit to His divine power. My soul gushes out in words that are burdensome and inexpressible.

My longing for satisfaction has been yielding toward worldliness that provides a counterfeit for pleasure and satisfaction. This life on earth is temporary, so seize the moment and experience the abundance of life, which speaks Half-Truth. How foolish it is to simply to gain the riches of this world.

I am hungry and thirsty for You. You’re everything that I need.

 

Reference Menu (July 5th, 2012)

4 Reasons Men Like Porn

This article speaks from a Biblical Counsel point of view on why men can easily be pulled into pornography and actually like them. This may be helpful for you.

1.) Porn is easy, but relationships are hard.

2.) Porn is comfortable, but life is stressful.

3.) Porn is exciting, but life is boring.

4.) Porn makes men feel powerful, but real life makes them feel powerless.

RC Sproul interviews DA Carson on Biblical Exegesis

Listening to interview, spoken from scholars, is helpful for me and refreshes my thinking and reading of the Bible in context. Encourage you to spend some time listening.

Sproul: What is a brief definition of Exegesis?

Carson: All that exegesis is…is reading the text and finding out what’s there.

 

5 Questions To Ask Of A Book

Speaking from a Christian perspective and to my Christian audience out there, we are all book readers. Whenever we read Christian books, it is very important to discern and ask ourselves some questions. Tim Challies offers 5 Questions, in his way of reading Christian books, we could ask ourselves.

1.) Does It Draw Its Truth From Scripture?

2.) Is It Faithful To The Bible?

3.) Does It Have A Gospel Focus?

4.) Does It Lead To Other Sound Teaching?

5.) Is It Well-Written?

Reference Menu (July 5th, 2012)

4 Reasons Men Like Porn

This article speaks from a Biblical Counsel point of view on why men can easily be pulled into pornography and actually like them. This may be helpful for you.

1.) Porn is easy, but relationships are hard.

2.) Porn is comfortable, but life is stressful.

3.) Porn is exciting, but life is boring.

4.) Porn makes men feel powerful, but real life makes them feel powerless.

RC Sproul interviews DA Carson on Biblical Exegesis

Listening to interview, spoken from scholars, is helpful for me and refreshes my thinking and reading of the Bible in context. Encourage you to spend some time listening.

Sproul: What is a brief definition of Exegesis?

Carson: All that exegesis is…is reading the text and finding out what’s there.

 

5 Questions To Ask Of A Book

Speaking from a Christian perspective and to my Christian audience out there, we are all book readers. Whenever we read Christian books, it is very important to discern and ask ourselves some questions. Tim Challies offers 5 Questions, in his way of reading Christian books, we could ask ourselves.

1.) Does It Draw Its Truth From Scripture?

2.) Is It Faithful To The Bible?

3.) Does It Have A Gospel Focus?

4.) Does It Lead To Other Sound Teaching?

5.) Is It Well-Written?