There Is A Seeking After God

Like alot of things in life and theology, there are two sides and a balance that must be found.

Many in the more, what I call "ultra-reformed" camp, the group that believe in a certain 'reformational worship' and a life lived in accordance with many of the reformed confessions [of which primarily there is no issue in doing] that must be adhered to in order to be truly 'theologically sound'. They are they guys who say, "no we should not interpret providence", "you are not 'reformed enough'' [perhaps because you allow continuationists as church members]. These are the men who refute, indirectly, that there is a seeking after God.

Let me explain. Suppose you and I were to go away for awhile. Perhaps find some isolated, quiet and secluded place and just spend some time there. Get out of the hussle and bussle of western consumerism and simply get amongst the wild things. And during that time we devote ourselves to much prayer. Deep intercessory and supplication. Much meditating on the word of God and much meditating on the God of the word. Taking time to draw closer to God in order for Him to draw closer to us. Would this we be making the most of all the available means of grace? Would we be blessed for our little endeavour to get closer to God? Yes, I believe so. Provided the motives were correct. That it was truly based on wanting to know God more intimately. And you can know God more and more intimately by doing such things as spending time alone, in isolation and seclusion.

But that scares, you "ultra-reformed" folk doesn't it? That is just a tad to "charismatic" for you. You would put forth that one must use the means by which God has ordained for spiritual growth; the Church. Now do not get me wrong here. I have a high view of the Church, higher than you might think. But what I will not do is adhere to the 'reformational worship' roadblocks that are placed here on this very issue. The Church is a means by which God prunes, grooms and cleanses the believer. This is done primarily via the clear, authoritative and expository preaching of the Word of God by a man called to be that. Firstly, by an internal call placed on his heart by Yahweh and then by an external 'confirmation' by his eldership. With or without the seminarian pedigree.

There is a seeking after God.

I am getting to the point in my walk, where before I continue on to learn the various theological doctrines [of which I have much to learn] that I just want to know Him more. I want to be more conformed to Jesus' image and character. I want to be wise, loving and discerning.

I want to boast that I "understand and know Him" (Jer. 9:23) Not that I understand and know about Him. And that my dear friend comes from seeking Him. And you know what? That does not necessarily come from reading His word. [Now that may just get me into trouble, but that is a true conviction] We can draw closer to God by prayer, suffering, fellowship, persecution and sharing our faith.

My desire for theological head knowledge is to be crucified daily. It is to be replaced with, you guessed it; A seeking after God.

Persecution? Bring It On

That may sound crazy. And you know what? It probably is.

I am certain that a way in which God will cleanse and sanctify His bride is by bringing persecution upon it. Think of it for a moment. Right now you have millions of people who live in comfy countries like America, England and Australia. By comfy I mean these nations have little to no persecution. Sure, you may get left out, overlooked and shunned for your profession of faith but that is nothing compared to being killed or jailed for being a follower of Jesus Christ!

But what would happen if that comfortable existence just happened to be turned upside down? If your mid week Bible Study was no longer a place of lukewarm fellowship? But rather the very meaning of being a Christian brought with it certain death or imprisonment. Don't for one moment think that this kind of turn around cannot take place in a single day.

Millions each Sunday venture to churches and safely participate in worship to the LORD or an idol, depending if their faith is in God or a god. And let me tell you that I am in agreement with what one prominent preacher says. That "Sunday morning is by far the biggest hour of idolatry in the entire world. Because people are not worshipping the God of the Bible but rather a god of their own imagination. And if the God of the Bible was taught many would stand up and say "I could not worship a God like that, my God's not like that!"

I am convinced that persecution would be good for this nation. What you would have then is all these people who like to talk alot about Jesus, who run around going to fancy named conferences that are nothing but spiritual fireworks [ a loud bang then it's gone] each week and read books written by heretics [yet they don't even have the ability to discern that fact] would stop dead in their tracks and dare not utter His name again!

Why? Because they are nothing more than a phony. Along for the ride. Duped into believing a lie by some 'pastor' who cares more about money than he does people's soul. Humanistic and selfish. They will not stand because deep down they don't really care about the Lord Jesus, they love themselves and are a slave to selfishness. They really are the hypocrite. And God hates hypocrisy.

An added bonus is that Christianity would be free from the church-growth guru, the rank liberal and the inter-faith advocate. The money hungry, power hungrier and lover of self 'pastor' of our day would denounce his faith because he has none!

Not my will but Your will be done LORD.

Steven J. Lawson recently preached this great sermon, "The Coming Final Persecution"

Obsession - Radical Islam's War Against The West

Be sure to check out this film.

It was the winner of Best Feature Film at the Liberty Film Festival.

You can watch the film for free here.

[warning: graphic content]

"I believe this is the most important movie of our lifetime, I was born in 1964, I can't tell you of a movie that I think is more important."
Glenn Beck, CNN Headline News

For Whom Did Christ Die?

The doctrine that Christ died for all men leads to many absurd consequences, such as: That Christ shed His blood for many in vain, since all are not saved; that He laid down His life in absolute uncertainty whether any of the human race would be eventually saved; that He shed His blood for millions who, at the very moment of His death, were consigned to the pit of everlasting destruction; that He died for those for whom He does not intercede; that He died for those to whom He never sent the means of salvation, yea, to some of whom He even forbade His gospel to be preached (Matt. 10:5; Rom. 10:14); and that God acts unjustly in inflicting everlasting punishment upon men for those very transgressions for which He has already received full satisfaction by the death of Christ. To affirm any of these things, would be blasphemous in the highest degree, and, therefore, that doctrine which involves such consequences must be unscriptural.
[The Reformed Faith: An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith]

HT: nwbingham

QTD Martin Lloyd-Jones on The Gospel

The true preaching of the Gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the impossibility of this charge [antinomianism] being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. That is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel.

HT: 5PtSalt

Undeniably Unconditional

Duet 10:14-15To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Psalm 33:12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 65:4Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!Haggai 2:23“‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”Matthew 11:27All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 22: 14“For many are called, but few are chosen.”Matthew 24:22 . 24, 31Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Luke 18:7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 11:28From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ Titus 1:1Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness1 Peter 1:1-2To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood1 Peter 2:8-9 They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.Revelation17:14They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”Mark 13:20If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. Ephesians 1:4-7 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s graceRevelation 13:8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the worldRomans 9:11-13for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."Romans 9:16So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. Romans 10:20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity John 15:16"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.Exodus 33:19I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." Psalm 115:3Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him. Romans 11:4-6 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Assorted Attacks on The Bible

Ensure you take the time to check out this latest sermon from Grace To You.

"We define life and ministry in biblical terms. It is what we believe , it is how we behave and it is the message we proclaim" - John MacArthur

View it here.