tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27753506282645400052024-03-13T14:51:07.775-04:00Reformed SermonsThese are the sermons that I have preached. And some other things, too.H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.comBlogger2429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-67000353012537231922022-04-22T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-22T03:00:00.198-04:00Email on Evil and Me<div style="text-align: justify;"><i data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This is an email that I sent to my brother who had written about some concerns he had for me. This was originally written in July 2020. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Glenn,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Here’s your question. Am I happy? And you are asking me that because what you sense in me is telling you that I’m not. So, how shall I answer? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I think that it would be helpful for me to explain two essential qualities about me. First, I am someone who is given to deep thinking. This is not just a personality trait but also something that I enjoy doing. So, I work at understanding the roots of ideas (where they come from theologically/philosophically) and the fruits of ideas (how they will affect people, especially those who are unaware of those ideas). Second, I am also someone who is emotionally tuned to the evil around me. By that I mean that I will notice what is wrong before I notice what is right. And while there certainly are some pitfalls to avoid here, being aware of the evil can be a strength. A group needs those who are uplifting and encouraging, people who quickly notice the good. But it also needs those who point out the evil and warn about it. That’s me. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I think that it is because I am pensive and attuned to evil that you picked up on what you did. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Anger: Yes, I can be angry. Being angry at evil because of the terrible suffering it causes is good and right. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Pain: If seeing evil torment people does not result in some pain, then the suffering of others is not really understood. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Sadness: In the beginning God had declared that all that He created was very good. But since then, we have introduced such wickedness. Doesn’t sadness at this make sense? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now, while there are strengths and benefits to others in being pensive and sensitive to evil, there is danger there also. I am quite sure that if Jesus had not rescued me from my sin, I would have fallen into despair many years ago. And to be honest, He is not finished rescuing me. I am sometimes too pensive, too dark. But He’s been working on that. I know that I will experience more progress. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, back to that question: am I happy? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">If, by this, you mean, am I happy in the way that a more light-hearted person would be, then the answer is no. I am not built that way emotionally. Others are, and that’s great. But I do think that I can say that I am happy according to my personality. I can say that because I enjoy a deeply satisfying sense of contentment. I can say, without hesitation, that my life is good. It is really good. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And the reason for this happiness: I know God.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I enjoy a very deep communion with God as my loving Father. Because of that, I trust Him implicitly. He has never failed me. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I am committed to Jesus, and He is committed to me. And He is busy working His plan, a plan to restore the world (including me) to its original pristine state (and better than that), something that I am convinced He will accomplish. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">The Spirit of the living and true God lives within me. That means that I am never alone. There are times when I am confused about what is going on and not at all sure what I am to do. But even then, I know that the Spirit will lead me through all of that and into a place of clarity. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, though I am given to deep thinking and sensitive to evil, I am filled with a very optimistic hope. My God intends awesome things for me in this life as well as the next, and there is no doubt that I will experience them to the full. And for that I am so grateful to Him. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I know that I have gone on for quite a bit, but I wanted to be clear. Thank you for caring enough to reach out to me. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Leon
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<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-48920066999425130682022-04-20T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-20T03:00:00.256-04:00Required Works: The Pursuit of God<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That's the Gospel. However, while doing good works (things we do) provides absolutely nothing when it comes to why God should save us, doing good works (things we do) is absolutely required of us. We will be evaluated by God who will be looking for such things. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">One of the (too often neglected) good works that will be expected of us is the pursuit of God. Knowing God and growing in that knowledge is hard work. That is why so many neglect it. But one reason why such should be worked at is that God will be looking for it on the last day, and He will respond to each of us according to how well we were working at this. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23–24
</span></div></blockquote>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-79246830898461757732022-04-18T05:29:00.001-04:002022-04-18T05:29:00.277-04:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> <i>Easter Day
</i></span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-65631142368053333382022-04-15T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-15T03:00:00.270-04:00Luther on True Faith<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">If you have a true faith that Christ is your Saviour, then at once you have a
gracious God, for faith leads you and opens up God’s heart and will that you
should see pure grace and overflowing love. This it is to behold God in faith
that you should look upon his fatherly friendly heart, in which there is no
anger nor ungraciousness. He who sees God as angry does not see him rightly
but only looks upon a curtain, as if a dark cloud had been drawn across his
face. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><i> Martin Luther
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<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-38250021165751745222022-04-13T05:16:00.002-04:002022-04-13T05:16:00.229-04:00Paul Writing Scripture and Us<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">When Paul wrote his various teachings to the churches - what he wrote about worship or loving one another or marriage or any of the rest - it was not that the Spirit whispered into his ear what he should write. Paul reasoned from what he knew. Paul’s teachings were the results of his own reflections on Old Testament Scripture. The same is true of the other New Testament writers. (The mysterious thing is how the Spirit superintended this whole process so that the teachings that they wrote were also what God wanted written.) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Why is this important to note? It establishes that the difference between the writers of the New Testament, and the rest of us is not a difference of kind but of degree. This is not to say that any of us can now write Scripture like they did. But it is to say that we can also derive truths from the Scriptures to believe and to teach. And that is what the Church has been doing and will continue to do. There is much more in Scripture than what we have discovered. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, just as the Church was able to establish the truths of the deity of Jesus, the Trinity, justification by grace through faith in Christ and lots more, it will continue to establish truths – doctrines – in the centuries (millennia?) to come. And I suppose we just might be doing this in the age to come.
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<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-84424402513350390682022-04-11T03:00:00.000-04:002022-04-11T03:00:00.241-04:00Collect of the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> <i>Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
</i></span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-27095977462747768542022-04-08T03:00:00.000-04:002022-04-08T03:00:00.249-04:00Entrusting Yourself to Jesus<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">There’s something interesting going on in a passage in John’s gospel. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:23–25 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">John writes that ‘many believed in his [Jesus’] name’. Then, he also writes, ‘Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them’. What’s interesting is that the word translated ‘believed’ is the same word that is translated ‘entrust’. The very same word. And that helps us to understand something that is actually very important. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">It is a sad fact that far too many people, Christians and not, think of belief merely as some intellectual act. So, believing in Jesus is a matter of understanding that He is the Savior and asking Him to save you. So, according to this way of thinking, once someone has made that request, that person has believed in Jesus. But that is not at all what ‘believing in Jesus’ is about. To believe in Jesus is to entrust yourself – body and soul, big things and little things, now and forever – to Him. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">What does that mean? It means that, whatever the circumstance, a Christian can - and will! – depend on Jesus to do whatever is necessary so that he will be graciously enabled to handle whatever aspect of life that he meets up with. Believing in Jesus is a 24 hour a day proposition, and it covers all of life. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, there will be an ongoing communion between Jesus and the believer, every day and all the day. This communion will express itself in all sorts of conversations between the believer and Jesus. Some conversations will be about how this Christian is to respond to some situation. Other conversations will be his expressions of gratitude to Jesus for some benefit. Some conversations will be a cry to Jesus for help. Other conversations will be filled with words of love and affection in both directions. Where there is real believing, honest entrusting, there will be communion. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This is what entrusting yourself to – what believing in – Jesus is about. Anything less isn’t real believing. It isn’t real faith. So, it needs to be said that maybe – just maybe - someone who doesn’t pursue the practice of entrusting himself to Jesus – this ongoing communion with Him and what that includes - isn’t actually a Christian. How could he be a Christian if he has not entrusted himself to Jesus? He isn’t believing in Jesus, not really.
</span>
<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-2517422375765201582022-04-06T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-06T03:00:00.220-04:00Into the presence of God<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This is a thought that came to me after I had lunch with a friend. He was comparing two kinds of preachers. He was not critical of the first type. He made quite clear that he appreciates how they deal with important questions and provide good, biblical answers. But the second group draws one into the presence of God. There is a different feeling. There is a sense of God. And this is an aspect that is missing too much these days. A crying need in the church today is a greater sense of God. And that is not code for a greater sense of distance because of His holiness. While there needs to be a fear of God, there also needs to be a growing sense of the grace that He has for all of His children. So, as important as the mind is, as important as it is to fill the understanding, there is also the need to touch the affections.</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-3598683837909109282022-04-04T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-04T03:00:00.230-04:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise;
that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><i> Fifth Sunday in Lent
</i></span>
</div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-65333184454609580842022-04-01T03:00:00.001-04:002022-04-01T03:00:00.227-04:00A Very Human Jesus <div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I'd like to do a little reflecting on the idea that Jesus was (and, incidentally, still is) a man. This is something that we all know. And yet, I have a feeling that there are too many of us who haven't spent much time thinking about it. So, let's spend a little time doing that right now. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Let's start with this. It's my guess that most folk think that Jesus was as wise and good as He was just because He was God. Being the wonderful person that we read about in the Gospels was pretty much guaranteed. He grew up to be that wonderful person just because. But that's not true. Jesus had to choose to become wise and good. He had to make lots of choices to become the wonderful person that He actually did become. And why do I think this is the case? Well, there are these verses. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This one is about His being a kid in His parents’ home. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Please note the important word 'increased'. Jesus didn't start out with all the wisdom that He would need. He didn't start out enjoying to the full His Father's favor. These are things that grew, that increased. And they increased for Him in the same way that they would increase with any of us. Jesus made choices. He took to heart what Proverbs was about, choosing the wise and avoiding the foolish. It was a process. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Here's another verse about Jesus developing as a person. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> I hope that you caught the key word here, 'learned'. There were things that Jesus had to learn. One of them was obedience, a growing sense of obedience. The obedience of a five-year-old boy is so very different from the obedience of a forty-year-old man. And that's because life for a five-year-old boy is so very different from life for a forty-year-old. Obeying the Father in more and more sophisticated ways was not automatic for Jesus. It was something that He learned. Now, some of you might think that there is another word here that qualifies as important: 'suffered'. Yes, Jesus suffered things as He grew up. And it's because of the things He suffered that He was able to learn how to obey in the way that He did. And this was also a process. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And now, consider this verse. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8–9 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Was this a real temptation? Or was Jesus just going through the motions? I'm quite sure that this was a very real temptation. It certainly was for Satan. He really meant what he said to Jesus. He was ready to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, something the Father also promised Him. But as an added bonus - and enticement - there would be no cross. Imagine that. All the world without any cross. Just worship Satan and the world would be His. Was this for real? Absolutely! Just like all the other situations that He faced before this and after it, Jesus had to choose. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, do you see what I mean when I talk about Jesus being truly man? Do you see what I mean when I say that He became the man that He was by His choices? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And I think that is important because this makes Him more - more what? How about it makes Him more human. </span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-71030300722094563732022-03-30T03:00:00.001-04:002022-03-30T03:00:00.238-04:00A Deep Knowledge of God <div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This is a quote that I bumped into written by a fine Christian man who stood for the truth when that needed to happen. And what he was writing about was a truth that needed to be declared to the Church. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">We rise from the Bible — I think we can say it without irreverence — with a knowledge of the character of God. There is a real analogy here to our relation with an earthly friend. How do we come to know one another? Not all at once, but by years of observation of one another’s actions. We have seen a friend in time of danger, and he has been brave; we have gone to him in perplexity, and he has been wise; we have had recourse to him in time of trouble, and he has given us his sympathy. So gradually, with the years, on the basis of many, many such experiences, we have come to love him and revere him. </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So it is, somewhat, with the knowledge of God that we obtain from the Bible. In the Bible we see God in action; we see Him in fiery indignation wiping out the foulness of Sodom; we see Him leading Israel like a flock; we see Him giving His only begotten Son for the sins of the world. And by what we see we learn to know Him. In all His varied dealings with His people He has never failed; so now we know Him and adore Him.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This is really good and was especially needed when he wrote it. But it is not enough. To be sure, knowing what the Bible says about God is indispensable. But our author leaves something out. And I find it interesting that he actually points to this important element. Note his words 'with many, many such experiences'. If someone is going to become a good friend, someone whom you will know well and really trust, as the author describes, you will need to have lots of experiences with him so that you can see his character in action. The same is true if you want to intimately know and unhesitatingly trust God. Bible knowledge is necessary, but it's not enough. There are, sadly, too many people who know the Bible quite well but do not know God, not at all well. In fact, they may not know Him at all. They have not experienced Him. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">What I am saying is simply a reflection of something David wrote. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34.8 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">You can read all about some great dish, but that isn't enough. What you want to do is experience it. You want to taste the food. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Knowing God is about experiencing God and doing that in the day-to-day routine of life. It's expecting Him to act and then watching Him as He does act. It's about communion with Him as the living God. This is what deep knowledge of God is about. Without this all you have is some religious information. </span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-50979230524373872472022-03-28T03:00:00.001-04:002022-03-28T03:00:00.279-04:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Fourth Sunday in Lent
</i></span></div></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-28957348213961678222022-03-25T03:00:00.004-04:002022-03-25T03:00:00.231-04:00 Grace on the Horizon<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">“Only when we turn away from looking at our sin to look at the face of God, to find his pardoning grace, do we begin to repent. Only by seeing that there is grace and forgiveness with him would we ever dare to repent and thus return to the fellowship and presence of the Father. . . . Only when grace appears on the horizon offering forgiveness will the sunshine of the love of God melt our hearts and draw us back to him.”</span></div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><p style="text-align: right;"> Sinclair Ferguson</p></span>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-58474714181178660432022-03-23T03:00:00.002-04:002022-03-23T03:00:00.242-04:00What Does God Want?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">What does God want? I think that that’s a rather important question. He will, after all, hold us accountable for our choices. So, what will He be looking for on that day when He reviews our lives? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">There are many different answers floating around out there. <span><a name='more'></a></span>There are those who think that the most important thing is to have a clear grasp of the truth. God wants us to know, believe and completely embrace right doctrine. And these folk show that that is their priority by how they debate such things with other folk. Or maybe they don’t bother debating. Maybe they just jump to condemning others.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Then, there are those who champion the cause of obedience. The God of the Bible clearly demands that we do whatever it is that He tells us to do. Or so we are told. These folk follow that up with their own brand of condemnation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Of course, there are those who have adopted one or the other of these options and don’t condemn anyone else. No, instead they condemn themselves. They feel so very guilty. And they feel that because, as they see it, they are utter failures when it comes to what God really wants. So, they beat themselves up. And you can see the bruises on their souls. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I suppose there are other options out there and not just grasping truth and being so very obedient. But these other options aren’t all that different in their results. They have their own kinds of condemnation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I hope that you can see that something is wrong here. Let me offer a different opinion for you to consider. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">It seems to me that what God really wants is to be loved. Oh sure, holding to the truth is important. And so is obedience. They both have a place in all of this. But neither of them is an end in themselves. Neither of them is the goal that we should be shooting for. The real goal is simply to love God. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now, am I becoming one of those despised liberals? Am I at the beginning of some great slide into compromise leading to unbelief? Well, I really don’t think so. Actually, if I may be so bold, I think that it’s the exact opposite. You see, there is this place in the Bible where Jesus talks about this. This is where He answers our question, ‘What does God want?’ </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:28–30 </span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">‘Jesus, what’s really important?’ </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">‘Loving God with all you’ve got.’ </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Yeah, I’m not going liberal – whatever that means. I’m actually taking the Bible seriously. Please note here the words ‘most important’. Other bits of the Bible are still important. But this bit is ‘most important’. So, whatever else a Christian is to be working at, the goal of all that work is supposed to be loving God. That is what is ‘most important’. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And just to be clear, the biblical idea of love has affection and devotion at its heart. Affection and devotion. To God. So, yes, there is to be a certain commitment which is to be chosen and then put into action. But mixed in with all of that is to be this feeling, this emotion: affection. Loving God feels a certain way. Without this feeling, this emotion, something is wrong. A key ingredient is missing. More on this some other time. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now, do we do a good job of this loving God with all we’ve got? No, not really. There’s still too much selfishness in all of us. But we don’t have to get all twisted up about that. You see, our God loves us. Yeah, really. Complete with affection and devotion. To us. And that love is ours because of Jesus. So, as long as He lives to intercede for us, God’s love for us is sure. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">So, what do we do with this? Well, I think that the first thing is to consider our lives in terms of this goal, in terms of loving the God who already loves us so. I suspect that there will need to be some changes. Maybe getting to the place of seeing obedience or truth (or some other good thing) as a means to this goal and not as the goal itself. That’s something not to fret over but to ask for. You know, prayer for God’s grace. And then, relax. The Spirit will hear your prayers. He’ll guide you into the change that you desire. Remember, we’re saved (from things like seeing obedience or truth as <i>the </i>goal) by grace not works. Relax and enjoy knowing and loving God.
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<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-35091597300696487332022-03-21T03:00:00.001-04:002022-03-21T03:00:00.237-04:00Weekly Collect<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Third Sunday in Lent
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</div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-21564058796885934962022-03-18T03:00:00.005-04:002022-03-18T03:00:00.237-04:00Public Worship <div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">That the saints love public worship is a constant Puritan theme. Why their delight in it? Because in worship the saints do not merely seek God; they also find him. Worship is not only an expression of gratitude, but also a means of grace, whereby the hungry are fed, so that the empty are sent away rich. For 'there is in worship an approach of God to man.' [Stephen Charnock] 'God's presence in his ordinances' is a reality; God is essentially present in the world, graciously present in his church. 'God delights to approach to men, and converse with them in the worship instituted in the gospel.' [Stephen Charnock] And men honour God most when they come to worship hungry and expectant, conscious of need and looking to God to meet them and supply it. </span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><u>A Quest for Godliness: </u></span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><u>The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life</u> </span></div><div><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">J.I. Packer
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<br /></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-27871233846646166382022-03-16T03:00:00.001-04:002022-03-16T03:00:00.226-04:00Applying the Truth to the Conscience<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">The most characteristic feature in the Puritan ideal of preaching was the great stress laid on the need for searching applications of truth to the hearers’ consciences. One mark of a “spiritual,” “powerful” preacher, in the Puritan estimation, was the closeness and faithfulness of application whereby he would “rip up” men’s consciences and make them face themselves as God saw them. The Puritans knew that sinful men are slow to apply truth to themselves, quick though they may be to see how it bears on others. Hence unapplied general statements of evangelical truth were unlikely to do much good. Therefore (said the Puritans) the preacher must see it as an essential part of his job to work out applications in detail, leading the minds of his hearers step by step down those avenues of practical syllogisms which will bring the Word right home to their hearts, to do its judging, wounding, healing, comforting, and guiding work. “Because of (this) slownesse in men to . . . apply,” declared Ames, “there is a necessity laid on all Ministers, not only to declare God’s will generally, but likewise so farre as they are able, to helpe, and further both publicly, and in private, the application of it.” </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Application is the preacher’s highway from the head to the heart. This applicatory part of preaching, says the Westminster Directory, “albeit it prove a work of great difficulty . . . requiring much prudence, zeal, and meditation, and to the natural and corrupt man will be very unpleasant; yet he (the preacher) is to endeavour to perform it in such a manner, that his auditors may feel the word of God to be quick and powerful, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and that, if any unbeliever or ignorant person be present, he may have the secrets of his heart made manifest, and give glory to God.” The Word must thus cut into the conscience if it is ever to do men good. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">J. I. Packer </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><u>The Puritan Conscience </u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">The Puritan Papers Volume 2
</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-70825274867849586512022-03-14T03:00:00.001-04:002022-03-14T03:00:00.296-04:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Second Sunday in Lent
</i></span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-83921377524712721072022-03-11T03:00:00.001-05:002022-03-11T03:00:00.234-05:00Prayer: Communion with God<div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Who are we? Creatures created for communion with God
The gospel is about the restoration of our true creatureliness. Thus the gospel is about restoring communion with God as his creatures. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">We have also seen that the story of the Gospel is the restoration of true prayer; it is the story of the restoration of real relationship between man and God. Down through the ages God has called out to man, and his last and ultimate word and call to human beings has been in the person of his only Son. Jesus Christ is God's ultimate word to man. So the very essence of real prayer is simply answering God in the call that comes to us in Jesus Christ. Prayer is responding to Jesus. We can pray because God is a speaking God, because we have been <i>created</i> to respond to him, because we have been <i>redeemed</i> that we might again respond to him. </span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><ins data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Why We Pray</ins><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"> by William Philip </span></div></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">In the minds of so many Christians, prayer is simply asking God for things, prefaced by words of praise that we're supposed to utter and also including thanksgiving since that's simply being polite. How wrong! Prayer is intended to be communion with God, our Father</span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">. We pursue a real relationship with Him because we can. It's what the Gospel is about.</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-51627787651370786992022-03-09T03:30:00.001-05:002022-03-09T03:30:00.226-05:00Balance<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I remember having a conversation with another Christian on a particular doctrine of the Bible. I think that it was the doctrine of hell. I had said something about the need to be balanced when thinking and speaking about that doctrine. This person asked what I meant by balanced. He was expecting that I was going to appeal to what felt right to me. To his surprise, I said that we should stress the doctrine to the same degree that the Bible stresses it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I'd like to take that and apply it to another doctrine, the doctrine of sin. <span><a name='more'></a></span>Does the Bible talk about sin? Dumb question. Do we sin? Another dumb question. But how much should we stress the fact that we sin? <i>Not</i> a dumb question! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Paul spends a good bit of time talking about the problem of sin as he lays out the Gospel in his letter to the church in Rome. He explains it and how the Gospel is the answer to the problem of our sin. He also anticipates objections to what he has written. And that gets us to chapter eight. And how does that chapter begin? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1–4 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now, I don't know about you, but I think that that paragraph overflows with all sorts of encouraging thoughts: no condemnation for us, the work of God resulting in our freedom from sin and death, our walking/living according to the Spirit. And it's not as if that were the end of it. The chapter is filled with truths that continually lift my spirits. Here's just one more thought from that chapter that the Spirit has used and continues to use very powerfully in my life. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Try to plumb the depths of the thought that God - the Almighty God who created all of this and keeps it going, the God who doesn't need you - that this God is for you. He's on your side. He's in your corner shouting encouragement to you as you battle against the evils of this world. In fact, He's not just in your corner, He's right there with you in the midst of the fight. Try to imagine that. And even with this, Paul isn't finished. Read the rest of the chapter. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Now, let me take all of this back to where I started. I wonder if there are some of us who are not balanced when it comes to some basics of the Christian life. I wonder if there are some of us who stress and stress our sinfulness so much that it's out of balance. Oh, to be sure, we sin. But it is also true that we are so forgiven that the thought of condemnation doesn't even occur to God. Any such thought is so foreign to Him. As a result, He is so very 'for us', right there with us as we do battle with the forces of evil, encouraging us, strengthening us, cheering us on. What a beautiful picture of what it means to be a Christian! I suspect that some of us would do well to stress this part of the Gospel a bit more (and maybe our sinfulness a bit less?) so that we could be more balanced in - and more encouraged by - what we tell ourselves as we navigate this life. What do you think?
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</div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-32877292939946480962022-03-07T15:25:00.004-05:002022-03-07T15:25:51.597-05:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">First Sunday in Lent
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</div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-40976002481986720902022-03-04T05:00:00.001-05:002022-03-04T05:00:00.235-05:00Mastigos<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">I was recently reading a little in the Greek New Testament - an attempt to try to remember at least a bit about how to do that. I was reading about Jesus and the woman with the flow of blood. I bumped into a Greek word that I didn't expect: 'mastigos' (μάστιγός). This is how the ESV translates it: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:34 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">It's the word translated as 'disease'. But I seemed to remember that 'mastigos' meant something different, so I looked it up.<span><a name='more'></a></span> It's the word for 'whip' or 'lash'. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Here's another place that it shows up, this time in its verb form. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><blockquote data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" style="--darkreader-inline-border-bottom: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-left: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-right: initial; --darkreader-inline-border-top: initial; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. John 19:1 </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Here it's translated 'flogged'. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">This isn't about criticizing the ESV. The Greek word does have some flexibility. The definition in the standard lexicon also includes 'a condition of great distress, torment, suffering'. My point has to do with what the woman had endured for so long. Her disease was not a little thing. It was 'mastigos'. It felt like being whipped. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">There are lots of people for whom their disease - or whatever it is that they are dealing with - is so hard that it feels like being whipped. Quickly mentioning a verse or two along with a 'I'll pray for you', doesn't cut it. They need some compassion. But, of course, that takes time and effort and caring, things which, sadly, seem to be in short supply these days.
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">But such qualities don't have to be in short supply. The key to solving this lack is churches that are alive, churches that are filled with the power of the Spirit, churches that know how to worship because they are filled with people who know God and are working at getting to know Him better. Oh for God to grant the grace needed for many churches to become just like that.</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-73274611661497265922022-03-02T05:00:00.002-05:002022-03-02T05:00:00.220-05:00On Earth as it is in Heaven<div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="var(--darkreader-inline-color)" data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Part of the Lord's Prayer includes 'on earth as it is in heaven'. What is this? <span></span>It defines the first three petitions in terms of desires concerning them. We want God's name hallowed on earth to the same extent that it is in heaven, God's kingdom to be as complete in its reign on earth as it is in heaven, God's will obeyed to the same extent on earth as it already is in heaven. To desire, request and expect anything less is to ignore Jesus' instruction for our prayers.</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-52072833822315975462022-02-28T05:00:00.001-05:002022-02-28T05:00:00.278-05:00Collect for the Week<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: #9ab5ca; color: #79addd; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775350628264540005.post-86033229894639576242022-02-25T05:00:00.001-05:002022-02-25T05:00:00.239-05:00Preaching as Application of the Gospel<div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Preaching is the application of some aspect of the Gospel from a particular text of Scripture to the mind and thereafter to the soul of a Christian. This aspect of the Gospel is to be embraced by faith in Jesus and repentance of sin in the Christians listening to the sermon. The result of this process is the sanctification of those saints.
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Preaching is not primarily an explanation of a text or the communication of information. It is calling the people of God to deeper faith in Jesus so that, by the power of the Spirit, they might grow in their communion with the Father. This will spill over, producing greater devotion in the worship of God, a growing sense of community among the saints and an evangelistic fervor that attracts unbelievers and calls them to bow before the God who created them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">Here are some words that fit with this kind of preaching: exhorting, encouraging, warning, pleading with, charging, imploring, reproving, rebuking, praising</span><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 18.6667px;">, appealing to</span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">, urging. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text--darkreader-inline-color); color: var(--darkreader-inline-color); font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: 14pt;">It seems to me that we are in dire need of more of this kind of preaching.</span></div>H. Leon Ben-Ezrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404089316519127632noreply@blogger.com0