Resolutions

Well it's that time of year isn't it.  New Year's resolution time.  While I think it's important that we as God's people are constantly examining our walk, I think it's alright to make a resolution or two this time of year.  The most common kinds of resolutions made are probably health-related ones, coming off the holiday season where many of us ate more than we should, but there are others that folks make.  Being kinder, more prompt, better employees, more up on current events etc.  But I'd challenge us to make resolutions about our walk with the Lord this year.  

Jonathan Edwards made a famous list of resolutions about his walk at the ripe old age of 19.  I don't mean to be on an Edwards kick, but I thought I'd write a couple on the blog to challenge us in our devotion to the Lord.  I love what he wrote before any of his resolutions, "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ's sake."  I love the believers from a few centuries ago, and I often go to them first when seeking to examine my faith.  Today we seem to be so sure of ourselves and our ability to do things but Edwards acknowledged he could do nothing without God's help.  I think we'd be wise to recognize that before we make any resolutions.  "Apart from me you can do nothing," Jesus said, and it's true.  If we are to grow in godliness this coming year, it will be by God's grace that it happens.  We need to major on surrender to the authority of God in our lives and the work of His Spirit by His Word in our heart.  Edwards also acknowledges his own imperfect judgment by saying "So far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ's sake,"  he only wants to do that which is according to God's will for His glory.  I wonder if we're interested in only glorifying God in our lives?

So in his first resolution, at the age of nineteen, he writes "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence.  Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.  Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever."  And secondly he writes, "Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things."

He's essentially saying, no matter how long I live I will seek to do all to the glory of God, and I will seek to love my neighbor as myself.  And I will constantly be seeking new ways to do that and new ways to better do that.  I love his commitment!  

Let me just share some things God has convicted me about in Erik Bird's life.  I can bring glory to God in my full-time job by quietly obeying my boss and working with integrity no matter what the situation and no matter how much a shady shortcut would save time.  I've often wondered if God has continued to leave me in bi-vocational ministry to teach me these things that will make me more of a man of integrity.  He's convicted me that I need to really explore what it means to love my wife as Christ loved the church.  He's convicted me that I really need to prayerfully seek His wisdom to bring my children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  

The Lord has shown me that I can better bring Him glory in 2009 by doing these things and some others that He'll show me. Edwards looked at his resolutions on a regular basis, but I'd bet he'd say he never mastered them.  We are all sinful, and we who are saved are saved only by His grace, but may we seek to honor God better in 2009 for His glory, not ours.

God Bless   

Revival

I've been thinking a bit on revival this evening.  Depending on who you ask, I suppose you could get various definitions for this word.  I'm a Southern Baptist and we schedule revivals (I always thought it was nice of us to let God know when one was coming.)  I've seen some other things called revival on YouTube and other places that include such things as uncontrolled laughter, uncontrolled movement, uncontrolled everything. 

No, I'm not talking about these kinds of revival, I'm talking about revival that brings about lasting change.  I was reading an excerpt of a letter written by Jonathan Edwards about the second Great Awakening that was experienced in our nation in the 18th century.  Edwards wrote, "Ever since the great work of God that was wrought here about nine years ago, there has been a great abiding alteration in this town in many respects.  There has been vastly more religion kept up in the town, among all sorts of persons, in religious exercises and in common conversation than used to be before.  There has remained a more general seriousness and decency in attending the public worship.  There has been a very great alteration among the youth of the town with respect to reveling, frolicking, profane and unclean conversation, and lewd songs.  Instances of fornication have been very rare.  There has also been a great alteration among both old and young with respect to tavern haunting."  This is a tiny portion of the letter which I would highly recommend you check out here.

By the way, times have changed a lot!  When he talks about more seriousness in worship, he's talking about serious worship of God.  He's talking about weeping over sin, wailing over the majesty of God, meetings that last well into the night or the next morning.  That's revival! That's what I desire for myself, my church, this nation.  True revival begins with God's people. It turns them to repentance of sin and a closer walk with Christ, and that spills over into the surrounding community bringing lost sinners to salvation and the community real change.  

I feel like we as Southern Baptists try to work this all backwards.  If we are to see true revival, it would seem to me that we must see serious repentance of sin on our parts, a serious return to the preaching of God's Word which has always been the means God uses to convert the human soul and reprove His children, and a commitment to personal holiness that will truly display the infinite value of Jesus Christ in our lives.  

Until we do that, our revival will have to continue to be a man-made show that will produce no lasting fruit and have no eternal value.

God Bless

The Angels Said

Apologetics is something that's very interesting to me.  I've always been interested in knowing why I believe what I believe and how I can defend it in such a relativistic culture.  We live in a culture that knows the Christmas story, but doesn't believe it.  That presents Christians with an interesting challenge.  As I began preparing this evening for our Christmas Eve service I was drawn to what the angels said to Mary and Joseph prior to the birth of Christ, and what they said to the shepherds that miraculous night.  They were certainly not vague about who was to be born, they were proclaiming the coming of an amazing child.  That's what is so interesting about Christmas; Americans celebrate the birth of Christ, they just don't believe in Him.  I was walking through Wal Mart tonight listening to O holy night, my favorite Christmas song and one that boldly proclaims the coming of the Messiah, but the shoppers were oblivious to it's message. 

What is the message of Christmas?  What do you believe about it?  The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said "You will conceive in your womb, and bear a son."  There was one huge problem with that; Mary was an unmarried virgin.  But the angel assured her of his claim by saying "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."  Mary was to conceive a child in a way that had never happened before and has never happened since, she was to have a child conceived by the Holy Spirit in her womb.  Impossible!  But the angel has the audacity to proclaim "Nothing will be impossible with God."  The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is absolutely essential to the Christian faith, and I'd posit that many who profess Christ don't believe it.  We know the world doesn't believe it and that's understandable as flesh and blood cannot reveal these things to us, only God can, but folks it comes down to our view of Scripture; is it inerrant or is some of it wrong.  I've heard supposed leaders say that the virgin birth isn't an essential doctrine of the Christian faith, but if Jesus wasn't born of a virgin the Bible is wrong!  That would seem to make it pretty essential to me.  

The angel went on to tell Mary and Joseph to name their son Jesus.  "Jehovah saves."  What an appropriate name, and so important that the angel told both Mary and Joseph to name Him Jesus.  The angel told Joseph that Jesus would "Save His people from their sins."  It's critical that we recognize that Jesus came to be a Savior, as was proclaimed to that group of shepherds when the angel said "Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  And notice how sure the proclamation to Joseph is "He will save His people from their sins,"  Jesus did just what He came to do, He saved His people.  I part from the modern church in doctrine on this issue; I believe the Bible clearly teaches that God set aside a people from "Before the foundation of the world" to be redeemed, and that Jesus did the work that facilitated that on the cross at Calvary.  It was there that Jesus cried out "It is finished."  Paid in full!  He saved His people from their sins, though today's church seems to think He only provided an environment where we could possibly be saved.  

And finally, the angel said to Mary "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High."  Jesus is the Son of God!  Not by adoption, but by eternal position.  He is God.  The baby born in the stable and laid in the manger was God of very God.  He was Immanuel.  God with us.  The deity of Christ is where the rubber meets the theological road.  Many will say He was a good man, or a great teacher, or even a prophet, but certainly not God.  This is what the Bible says clearly, and the question posed to you by Christ is "Who do you say I am?"  May we answer along with Peter "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  

If you stand on these truths you will part from the world, and while they'll sing many of the same songs they'll mean them in a very different way.  Can you defend biblical truth to them this Christmas season?  

May God richly bless you this Christmas! 

Give Thanks

I read something interesting today and thought I'd share it with you.  I was reading about a woman named Fanny Crosby; some of you may have heard of her some not.  She wrote thousands of hymns and many that we sing in our church today including "Blessed Assurance," and "Redeemed," and many others.  

What I found interesting about Ms. Crosby is the life that she led.  When she was very young her father died, and at the age of six weeks old she was afflicted with blindness through the carelessness of her doctor.  That would seem to be enough to drive anyone to a life of bitterness.  Today people use these kinds of events to justify horrific sin, but that wasn't the case with Fanny Crosby.  Fanny Crosby said of her doctor, "If I could meet him now, I would say 'Thank you, thank you' over and over again for making me blind."  Add to that a poem she wrote at the ripe old age of eight which said "Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see!  I am resoved that in this world contented I will be.  How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't!  So weep or sigh because I'm blind, I cannot, nor I won't!"

What struck me most about the story is how different it is from the way we think today.  She was happy for the afflictions she faced!  Why?  Because it was through these afflictions that she saw the sovereign hand of God.  She saw that God used all of these things for her good, to draw her to Himself.  I love that!

Now compare that with the prosperity gospel being taught today.  And let me say, the prosperity gospel goes further than just "name it and claim it."  Consider the way we entice people to become believers.  We often do not mention sin and repentance, only the benefits of knowing Jesus.  Now let me say, there are great benefits in knowing Christ, but those benefits come only to those who repent of sin and believe on Him for the salvation of their soul.  And in addition to that Jesus said "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me," and Paul said "Anyone who seeks to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will face persecution."  There is more to the Christian life than "praying the prayer" and getting the get out of hell free card, there is daily denial of self, daily repentance, daily faith in Christ.  

But isn't it a wonderful life!  When one knows the Sovereign of the universe, you can thank Him for the trials you face because He has ordained them.  Now you're talking biblical theology.  The God who ordains the suffering of His people for their purification.  Praise and glory and honor be unto Him and Him alone!  "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field."  Matthew 13:44.  Fanny Crosby got that.  We as modern Christians need desperately to get that and to find our satisfaction and joy in Christ and Christ alone!  We often hear people say God has given me this that and the other, and His blessings are certainly great, but what if your life becomes like Job's and the blessings are all gone?  Will you proclaim with Job "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  It is Christ who is the great blessing and taking pleasure in the same thing that He takes pleasure in, Himself.  Find pleasure in Christ!

Something to consider.  God Bless.

Christian fellowship

One of the great blessings of the Christian life is fellowship with other believers.  The Bible knows nothing of lone-ranger Christianity, it teaches us to be connected to other believers who can spur us on to love and good deeds.  That's why we're not to forsake assembling with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  If you're reading this and you've not connected with an assembly of believers, you must do so immediately.  The time is now and it is critical.  But you must not just join a church, you must forge relationships with believers that will encourage spiritual growth in them and you.  Christian fellowship is more than just eating together, it's following Christ together.  It's speaking of Him together.  It's admonishing one another to forsake sin and walk closer with Him.  It's praying with and for them.  It's a lot of things that don't go on much in the church today.

All of that to say, last night our family got the opportunity to travel to Jackson MO to participate in a Christmas celebration with families who love the Lord.  It was a tremendous blessing and I thought I'd share a bit with you.  When we arrived, we shared a meal together and we had the opportunity to get to know some families we hadn't met and some we didn't know very well.  After dinner we went Christmas caroling to different parts of the community. Though I'm a pastor, it was my first caroling trip and it was a great blessing.  Most of the people received it very well and it was just neat to sing songs about our Lord in the open air! We divided up into two groups and when we were finished we actually caroled at the host family's home!

After caroling we returned to the host home to share skits and songs with one another that focused on the names of Christ as presented in Scripture.  What an edifying thing to see Christian families participating together to proclaim the greatness of their King.  After the skits and singing we talked with one another for a long time.  Here's what I liked the most:  a lot of the families involved are being convicted by God about the same things Julie and I are.

It's not my aim in this post to offend anyone or make anyone defensive about the choices they are making as a family, but what was amazing was to hear a dad talk about how God has convicted him that the size of his family is not his to control.  I heard parents talk about teaching their children about the greatness of our God.  I heard husbands and wives talk about honoring one another better.  I believe God is raising up a generation of young people who will stand steadfast for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.  I've made it clear that I think a vast majority of the professing church is doing children very wrong by making Christianity about entertainment and not about God and His Word.  I love to hear of families worshiping together in church and at home.  I love to hear of families pursuing Christ together and to see how those children are benefiting from that.

May God bless you this Lord's Day as you worship the Great King of Kings!  And remember, there is a great blessing to be had in fellowship with God's people!  

God Bless

The King is coming!

"O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom He loves." Psalm 47:1-4. I was considering all of the hubub that's made for the coming of royalty. I was reading about the itinerary that was planned last spring for the coming of Queen Elizabeth, and it's stunning how formal everything was. But consider what happens when a president or presidential candidate comes to our city. The streets are shut down, the motorcade gets first priority, and everything has to be just so. But what's so striking about it all is that those who have been put in positions of authority have been done so by God, and their power and authority is so limited.

The most powerful king in history may have been King Nebuchadnezzar who ruled Babylon and said in Daniel 4 "Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" He was quite happy with himself and his kingdom wasn't he! But the Bible says "While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you." God had complete authority over this powerful king, and He sent him out to eat with the cows!

The same is true today. The kings of the earth have power and authority, but it is only because it has been given to them by God. Psalm 47 says that we should clap our hands and shout for joy to God, and that we should fear Him because He is the great King over all the earth. I noticed that the King James Version calls Him a "terrible" King, I like that rendering because we use the word great so much. Now the psalmist isn't saying He's terrible like I'm terrible at softball. He's called terrible because of His great authority and power that comes from His sovereignty, and He's called terrible because of the vengeance that He shall take upon His enemies. God is not to be toyed with! He is to honored, worshiped, and submitted to. God is the King over all!

But you know what's amazing? God has chosen to call a people to Himself. A people that will know Him personally. A people that He will call friend. A people that He will adopt as His children. The doctrine of adoption is one that I've never been able to fathom. This King who is great calls me His child. Paul writes in Romans "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." I'm a child of the King because my pardon has been purchased at Calvary by Jesus. I was "Dead in trespasses and sins...but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ." He has chosen my inheritance for me. When the King Jesus Christ returns, I'll know Him! I'll get a personal meeting with Him! I'll never meet Barak Obama (most likely) but one day I'll see Jesus face to face and He'll wipe my tears away, and I'll spend all eternity with my King, the great King! My joy is that people come to realize by God's sovereign grace that though they've sinned against the great King and His wrath is stored up against them, they can escape His wrath and experience His eternal blessing by turning from sin and placing their full faith in Jesus for salvation! It happens every day for people around the world. This King is assembling a people from every "Tribe and tongue and nation," for His kingdom. Heaven will be really cool! To Him be the glory for ever and ever! God bless!

A Gift That Keeps On Giving

Today I preached a topical sermon dealing with biblical womanhood. I've decided to deal with men's and women's roles over the next two weeks with a series title of "A Gift That Keeps On Giving," and I dealt with the women today. Since we're a family-integrated church, we deal a lot with the biblical teaching about families and marriage etc. We live in a culture that presents to women a picture of womanhood that is opposite of the Bible. What saddens me most is that the culture's view has influenced the church more than the church has influenced the culture. It has become controversial in churches today to encourage women to submit to their husbands. It has become controversial to encourage women to be workers in their homes. It has become controversial to encourage women to pursue a gentle and quiet spirit. But that is what God's Word calls women to, and Proverbs 31:10 says "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels." I will never stop encouraging women to pursue this, no matter how unpopular it becomes. You may face questions from the world, but you'll be a great blessing to your husband. May God bless you as you seek to fulfill your purpose! Next week, the men!

The Word Became Flesh

I love Christmas! Isn’t it an awesome time of year? But this year I’m trying to focus more on the theology of Christmas. It’s obviously an unfathomable thing that God became man, but theology is full of unfathomable things that are nevertheless worth meditating upon, and that’s one of them.

I’ve been thinking about how that should affect a person. Whether a person has humbled themselves and called out to God to save them or not, the fact remains that Jesus became man to rescue lost sinners from the just wrath of God. And knowing that, we know that those who don’t come to Jesus for salvation will suffer under God’s just wrath for all eternity, because that’s what we’ve all earned. But the amazing thing about Christmas is recognizing that God’s wrath can be avoided and God’s blessing can be incurred by anyone who will turn from sin and trust in Christ for salvation.

So remember this year that presents are good, and family parties are fun, but we can celebrate most the fact that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. He came to redeem a people. He came to ransom the Church. Are you His?