GOD: SPECTATOR OR PARTICIPATOR?

When our son Travis was a little boy I remember quite vividly how he liked to be or play the character that he was watching on television. If we were watching a Cowboy and Indian TV show, he would go get his cowboy clothes and dress up like a cowboy… and go running through the house like he was shooting Indians. When we would watch a show that had some military drama in it, he would go get his army outfit and play like he was a soldier.

And when we would be watching a football game? Yep, you guessed it. Off he would go and dress up like he was a football player. He didn’t like and wasn’t content to be a spectator; he wanted to participate. He was a cowboy, soldier and football player all rolled into one. Travis was and is a participator. Our daughter, Leigh, was a little school teacher, all day, every day and to this very day! Both were active and involved in life!

As we grow older, we have a tendency to want to be more of a spectator than a participator, don’t we? We pride ourselves by saying that we have served our time; we have done our duty. We just want to kick back and “let somebody else do it.” But, is that attitude Biblical? Does God pay spiritual social security? I think not.

Caleb, the Old Testament stalwart, was still climbing mountains and facing enemies at age 85. Along with Joshua, Caleb said that the people should trust the LORD and conquer the land! See Numbers 13:30. The other ten spies were afraid and said it was impossible. Caleb was a participator! See Joshua 14:10-13.

And likewise, our God is NOT a Spectator God; He is a Participator God! And for that, we should give Him thanks! We worship Him as such today!

A TRINITARIAN BLESSING

Previously we have talked about the reality of adoption being a Biblical doctrine and related to the doctrine of the Trinity. Allow me to expand a little further on this great truth. Adoption is built upon a Trinitarian concept of God!

God the Father has bestowed on us His love. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” I John 3:1

God the Father has adopted us simply because He loved us and He loved us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

God the Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration, which is the evidence of our adoption. No one becomes a member of the family of God without being born again. (John 3:1-7). God is the Creator and Sustainer of all men but only the Father of those who have been born again.

God the Son is the heir of God’s riches and because we are joined in union with Christ, we become joint heirs with Christ and share in all the family blessings. See Ephesians 1:3 and 3:14-19. His God is our God and His Father is our Father! Look in John 17:21-26.

Behold that truth. Gaze upon it. Reflect seriously upon it. No longer do we belong to the family of Satan. We really, actually belong to the family of God!

May “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”  II Corinthians 13:14

WALKING ON THE WATER

The ministry of Jesus Christ was filled with the performance of many miracles. One such miracle is found in Matthew 14:22-33. Open your Bible to that passage as you read this blog. Miracles in the New Testament were done primarily to authenticate, to corroborate the sonship and divinity of Jesus as the Son of the living God. They proved that He was who He said He was and He did what He said He would do.

To walk on the water in faith is to identify with Jesus and share in His overcoming power. It is a call to a Christ-centered life, a Spirit-filled life and a life of obedience to Him. There are some reasons we are called by faith “to walk on the water.”

1.    You must be dissatisfied with “boat life.” With mediocrity. With the status quo. With ordinariness. With sameness.

2.    You must realize that “boat life” is a life of virtual helplessness and drifting. Easy to be tossed about by the winds and storms of life.

3.    An unchallenged and uncommitted life is a very unproductive life. You get content with a non-growth existence.

4.    You have a desire to get to Jesus! That is the proper motivation. To be near Jesus. To sense the closeness of His presence

The rewards are many :

You get out of the boat!

You get to walk with Jesus.

You get where you are going.

You get to worship Him. vv.32-33

Are you walking on the water?

ADOPTION

The evangelical doctrine of “adoption” is a Biblical doctrine and is defined as “an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the family as sons and daughters of God, and have a right to all the promises and privileges, of the respective family of God, as such members!” This is a truth that has primarily been ignored and seldom taught from the pulpits of our churches. Ask yourself – when is the last time you have heard a sermon on adoption? Can you remember?

It is a wonderful doctrine that should be proclaimed, understood and experienced. It is a subject that is related to election, to the atonement, to spiritual life and to the consummation and perfection of the entire universe. It is a Trinitarian doctrine in that the Father planned it, the Spirit effected it and it is in Christ that we are adopted!

Read Ephesians 1:4-6; Romans 8:14-23 and 9:4

God is our heavenly Father and He has promised to love us, bless us, provide for us, direct us, protect us, discipline us and keep us forever! Being a child of the living God is one of the most unique features of the gospel of grace. Philip said to the Lord in John 14:8 “show us the Father and it will suffice us.” It would satisfy Philip. It would satisfy any man or woman, if we could but grasp that great truth in our consciousness and realize in our experience that the great Creator Sovereign God is actually our Father!

It is an act of pure grace. No man can ever have a right in himself to become adopted. It is a gracious and glorious truth whereby God makes us a member of His family and unites us to the Lord Jesus Christ!

DEPRESSED? A LOOK AT PSALM 23

Depression is not a popular subject but it is a prevalent one for sure. People today do not like to talk about it because they think others may think they are mentally ill. And, for some, mental illness still carries a stigma. Let me say several things about depression that are very important.

1.    Depression is real. And especially during COVID 19.  I guarantee you that depression cases have increased significantly because of the virus. Adhering to the CDC guidelines of staying at home is tough. Real tough. Working from home is difficult.  Many things in life easily breed depression.

2.    Depression is more prevalent than you want to admit or realize. Many people fight depression and some fight it constantly. Ministers, like myself, are especially susceptible to the ups and downs of depression.

3.    Before you reach for that bottle of self-pity oil, let me also say that a Christian does not and cannot dwell in depression! Many Bible characters experienced the reality of depression but they did not stay in that condition long. They did not dwell there. They refused to allow self-pity defeat them.

This Wednesday night I am going to talk about depression and teach from Psalm 23 and relate it to depression. I would bet you have never heard a sermon from Psalm 23 on depression. If you really want to know what Psalm 23 says about this unique subject, you have three options:

Join us in person at 7:00 p.m.

Join us on YouTube livestream at 7:20 p.m.

Watch it later from our website at your convenience

ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS

One of the very best books that I have ever read is a book entitled Knowing God by J I Packer. He is a British theologian who has a knack for taking complicated subjects and breaking them down in order for simpletons like me to understand. That particular book was life transforming for me because it deals with the person and character of God. I knew who Jesus was and that He died on a cross for sinners like me but I had never studied the person of God in depth.

I never thought of His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, greatness, eternal wisdom and immutability, etc. Nobody ever taught me those things and I was literally enthralled with the largeness and bigness of God. I was forced to think … as my personal theology was challenged.

Now, every decision I make, is made in the awareness of this great God. I fear that today many believers are, like me, saved but basically ignorant of God. Ignorant of His ways and His character and His dealings with His children. Christians today are preoccupied with maintaining religious practices in a post Christian world and easily allow God to remain remote off in the distance. I was not content with being a pygmy Christian. I wanted to know God better and I was thirsty for that knowledge of Him.

We must not allow modern day skeptics to keep us in the Christian ghetto.

God did create the world.

There really was a Noah and a flood.

God did meet Israel at Mount Sinai.

Jesus did die on a cross.

He was raised from the dead.

He is coming again.

Jeremiah 6:16 says “stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls!”

NEVER, EVER FORGET!

Memorial Day is a unique holiday for all Americans. It is special because we take time, at cemeteries, at parades, civic celebrations, family gatherings and other places to remember those who gave their lives in service to this country. It is a federal holiday and always occurs on the last Monday of May. We must never forget the brave men and women who left these shores to go fight in foreign lands to protect our nation and sacred freedoms we possess.

My Dad served in the United States and fought in World War II. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgium/Germany border. Others fought and served in other places and many never had the privilege of returning home. It is those we remember today.

Thank God for those young and courageous souls.

Thank God for their sacrifice.

Thank God for their love of country.

Thank God for their training and discipline and perseverance.

Thank God for their faith and belief in the values of our nation.

Thank God they considered it their duty and privilege to defend America!

Thank God for their parents and families.

Thank God for their example!

It is because they were willing to die that we live in such a great country and enjoy the blessed freedoms we have today!

We salute those men and women today. We honor them as true warriors.

We remember them and vow to never, ever forget the tremendous sacrifice they made for us and our nation.

Psalm 33:12 says “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he as chosen as his inheritance.”  Selah = stop, pause, reflect on that!

PRIORITIES, PLEASE?

One of the side benefits of the COVID 19 pandemic is that it has been a true revealer of our personal priorities. As we have been stripped of the comforts, freedoms, and entertainments --- we have been able to truly see what our real priorities are. Is it work? Money? Freedoms? Pleasure? Family? Sports? Church?

For Christians, not being allowed to attend church with other believers has been truly discouraging but it has forced us to think a little bit out of the box and be more creative. Social media worship has exponentially  increased and that is good and certainly better than no worship at all but it is un-natural for a believer not to go to church! The very word “church” means an "assembly of the called-out ones, a gathering, a community of like-minded people whose hope, faith and trust is in the Lord Himself." Social media worship should and must never become a substitute for being present in person, if physically able. There are those who are not able for providential reasons and that is understandable.

Hebrews 10:25 says simply:

 “do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.” In other words, DON’T FORSAKE IT!

Worship should be a priority for every Christian. John MacArthur, prolific author and noted Pastor of Grace Community Church in California said recently:

“We should long to worship God in spirit and in truth. Worship should be a persistent inclination of your heart and mind toward the majesty and glory of God. It is not a momentary event but a full-time activity born out of love for the truth of God’s Word.” Is that a picture of your worship life?

And all of God’s people said … “AMEN!” See you in church Sunday!

JESUS IS LORD!

 

We Americans have a problem bowing to a sovereign God. We place great value on our autonomy and freedoms and indeed we should. The rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today were purchased with the blood of our greatest treasure: the men and women in uniform who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We Americans do not want anybody or anything dictating to us what we can or cannot do. It is in our historical DNA. During the Revolutionary War the battle cry of the people was “we serve no Sovereign here.” The reference was to the King of England.

 

There is, however, a higher authority than a King or a government or even a Constitution. The specific authority I am referring to is the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. He commands us to repent, believe and take up our cross and follow Him. He said in Matthew 28:18:

 

“All authority is given to me, both in heaven and on earth.”

 

His authority extends to every area of our lives and until the end of time and history when Philippians 2:9-11 says

 

“Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!”

 

This Memorial Day weekend 2020, take a little time to remember all the fallen who have given their lives for our freedoms AND to acknowledge the real King of Kings and Lord of Lords, even the Lord Jesus Christ!

LORD OF PROVIDENCE!

It is really easy for us to get so caught up in the daily news, the weather, COVID 19, our jobs or family ... that we forget that the Lord of Providence really cares about us. The affairs of our lives can easily block the truth and reality of God's care for us. To all His children, God says, "I love you and I care about what you do today. I care where you go and who you go with ... I care about your work day ... I care about your health ... I care about your relationships ... but I care the most about your spiritual growth and maturity as a member of my family." Read II Peter 3:18.

How do I know that the Lord cares about me and my life? That's a good question and the Bible has a great answer! He tells us:

1. Jeremiah 33:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love."

2. I Peter 5:7 - "casting all your anxieties upon him, because He cares for you."

3. Psalm 68:19 - "Blessed be the LORD, who daily loads us with benefits..."

4. Psalm 55:22 - "Cast your burden on the LORD and He shall sustain you."

But He not only just tells us, He shows us in many, many ways. Look at your life, count your blessings, list your benefits and all the things for which you should be grateful. We see that love and care most supremely in the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. There, as He shed His precious blood, He says to His people, "I love you and I care about you... forever." Think about that truth today as you live. God cares, really cares about you!

PRIORITY OF WORSHIP

The real business of the church should revolve around three major ministries and in the following order:

1. Worship

2. Discipleship

3. Evangelism

In our Wednesday Night Bible Study we talked some about the priority that the Bible gives to praise and worship. Psalm 146 gave us some guidance in showing us that praising the LORD is a:

I. Command to be obeyed  vv.1-2

II. Conviction to trust only the LORD  vv.3-4

III. Creator who creates AND sustains  v.6

IV. Caring ---the LORD cares for His people  vv.6-10

My old friend, long deceased, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said this about worship:

Some go to church to talk and walk

Some go there to laugh and talk

Some go there to meet a friend

Some go there ... their time to spend

Some go there to meet a lover

Some go there a fault to cover

Some go there for speculation

Some go there for observation

Some go there to doze and nod ...but

THE WISE GO THERE TO WORSHIP GOD!

It's Thursday but Sunday's coming! See you on the Lord's Day!

DO YOU REALLY KNOW HOW?

The question before us today is really a question for believers only. Non-believers are simply unable to praise the Lord. They lack ability and desire. We know we are commanded to praise the Lord. We know that Psalm 50:23 states that "whosever offers praise glorifies me." We know we should do it but we struggle, don't we? But the jolting question is this: do we know how to praise the Lord?

Several Hebrew words help us:

"Hallal" = to boast, to laud, to celebrate, used in Psalm 145:2, translated praise

"Tehillah" = singing of the hallals, used in Psalm 145:21a, translated praise

"Barak" = to declare God as the source, origin of success, used in Psalm 145:1,2 , translated bless

"Yadah" = to throw out the hands and give thanks, used in Psalm 145:10, translated praise

There are many ways and expressions of praise but those must come from: 

1. A mind that knows the Lord

2. A heart that loves the Lord

3. A life that serves the Lord

Only then can you really worship Him! Maybe, just maybe, that is why praising the Lord isn't such a big part of our lives! 

Celebrate His grace today. Sing a little song of praise. Acknowledge that He is the source of all you have. Lift up your hands to heaven and say "thank you, Lord." Can you do that?

Wednesday Night Bible Study > "HALLELUJAH" from Psalm 146.

ACTS 17:24-28

In the Acts 17 passage, the Apostle Paul is preaching to a group of pagan intellectuals at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece and he held nothing back. Verses 24-28 are literally crammed with truth about the providence of God! The key text is probably verse 25:

            

                "Nor is he worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, 

                since He gives to all life, breath and all things."

The real question, the imposing question is simply this: what do you believe about the providential hand of God? Have you ever studied what the Bible says about it? Did God create you? Does He sustain you?

Both our being and our actions depend on God for their existence. You could not utter one word, think one thought, turn one eye, move one finger, lift one foot, take one step, hear one sound, smell one thing, feel one emotion without the concurrence of His power who gives life and breath to all things! Think about that for just a minute.

But hold on --- God's highest goal is not just that we speak and eat and enjoy all the things He has created but we exist for the praise of His glory. Our entire lives and being should be lived to the praise of His glory! (Ephesians 1:11-14). The next time you enjoy a good meal and a big cold glass of tea --- pause a second to say "Thank you, Lord." Express that gratitude by being in church on Sunday with others who owe God for their very existence.

A DEFINITION OF PROVIDENCE

Providence is a big word, a ten dollar word that cries out for meaning. Words have meanings and when we use the words, we should know what they mean. Let me give you a definition of the word providence:

                God, the great Creator of all things, upholds, directs, disposes and governs all 

                creatures, actions and things, from the greatest of them even to the least,

                by His most wise and holy providence, 

                according to His infallible foreknowledge,

                and the free and immutable counsel of His own will,

                to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy.

I believe the truth of that definition because it is taught in the Bible. Read and note the following verses:

Nehemiah 9:5-6; Psalm 33:6-7; Isaiah 46:9-10; Luke 12:22-32; John 1:1-3; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3 and Revelation 4:11 (and that is just a few of many)

Do you believe in the providence of God? 

Providence is a biblical truth found on the pages of many places in the Bible. You will never find the word "providence" itself but its truth is abundant all throughout the Bible. You will never find the word "Trinity" either, but all of our basic Christian doctrines are built upon a trinitarian concept of the doctrine of God! God's providence is alive and well in your life today. Thank Him and praise Him and worship Him for it!

                

WORSHIP HIM TODAY!

Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:24 that "the Father is seeking those who worship him in spirit and in truth." Today, at Southport Church, we are going to do just that. We are going to ascribe praise and adoration and reverence and honor to the Lord --- as the Body of Christ. We are going to fellowship and sing and pray and give and study the Word. What a joy and blessing it is to worship the Lord, not just on Sundays but every day.

Our worship theme today is 'THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD." Revelation 4:11 is an excellent definition of that:

                                         "You are worthy, O Lord
                                           to receive glory and honor and power
                                           for You created all things
                                           and by Your will they exist and were created."

Think about that great and wonderful truth. God created all things and by His will they exist!
Sometime today, somewhere today --- take a little time to worship Him and thank Him that He is a God of Providence! Selah = stop, pause, reflect, cogitate on that. Creation and Providence are twin brothers!

Southport will livestream at 10:20 a.m. today on YouTube OR you can watch anytime after that on Facebook, YouTube or the Southport website. Be careful ... for you will be blessed!

HAVE YOU EVER ASKED WHY?

For Bible believing Christians there is no such thing as luck or fate or chance! Nothing happens to you willy-nilly or for no reason at all. Most Christians embrace the teaching of Romans 8:28 which states that "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and who are the called according to his purpose." That verse means that everything and I mean everything that comes into your life ... must first pass through the sovereign and permissive hands of God. That is a hard and mysterious truth to fathom, understand and accept. And yet --- it is a Biblical doctrine.

"all things" > check out John 1:3, I Corinthians 3:21-22; I Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:11 and Colossians 1:16-17. I challenge you. Read them and note the reference to "all things."

This coming Lord's Day and for several weeks thereafter I am going to talk about this subject > "THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD" beginning with  Luke 12:22-31. If you have ever asked "why did this happen to me?" Or "why did this happen to me now?" Maybe things have happened in your life that you simply do not understand at the present time. Understanding the providence of God is practical, comforting, life changing and eternity preparing!

Simply stated, the providence of God means that the Lord designed and created the world and that He controls all that He created.  If He is not in control then who or what is? Creation and providence are twin brothers. I know what you are thinking - "but what about my free will and human responsibility?" The Bible addresses that issue and much more. Join us for worship Sunday in person or you can watch livestream at 10:20 a.m. on YouTube. You may be surprised!

EVERYBODY NEEDS A ROCK!

When I was a young man, my Dad was my rock. He was my provider, protector and was always there for me. He offered me wisdom, counsel and any kind of help I needed. He taught me about Jesus Christ and salvation. He went to church with me. He lived the life before me. He loved me unconditionally and was always, and I mean always, there for me and my three sisters! Then in 1989, he died suddenly and that rock was gone. 

In the Wednesday Night Bible Study on Psalm 46, the last of my three points was that the Lord is our Rock. See Psalm 46:8-11. He is always with us. He loves us unconditionally. He has promised to meet all our needs. He never forgets about us. He loads us with daily benefits! See Psalm 68:19! What a verse! And, He has promised to take us to heaven when we die AND re-unite us with our saved loved ones! What a God!

Do you have a Rock you can lean on? Call on in times of crises and need? Allow me to recommend Jesus Christ to you as your Rock. Read Psalm 18:31 and 46, 31:3, 95:1. Everybody needs a Rock like that!

That is why I love the hymn "The Solid Rock":

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand!

Jesus is my Rock! Who is your rock?

Knowing God!

There is nothing more vital to the Christian life than a Biblical understanding of who God is. In fact, salvation IS knowing God , in His person, character and providence. Look at John 17:1-3 and Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Charles Spurgeon said in1855 "the highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father." Go back and re-read that! That is a profound utterance which exhorts us to practice. It is a lifelong work!

One reason such a knowledge is vital is that it helps us to face the storms of life and they do come. Sometimes, in torrents. Wednesday Night we took a look at Psalm 46. That particular psalm reminds us to WHOM we need to look to when those storms come. God is our Refuge, River and our Rock. He alone will guide you through those storms.

"Refuge" Psalm 46

Wednesday Night Bible Study:

"REFUGE"

Psalm 46

*****************

Define salvation?

Few would define it biblically

John 17:3 and Jeremiah .9:23-24

Psalm 46 — more than a funeral psalm

Teaches us how to know God better

I. HE IS OUR REFUGE     VV.1-3

A shelter from storms of life

II. HE IS OUR RIVER   VV.4-7

Brings life and growth

III. HE IS OUR ROCK   V. 8-11

A look to His omnipotence

v.10 - be quiet and listen to Him

Selah = stop, pause, mediate on these things