Love Is As Love Does

It does not help to say that you love if your actions speak the lie. This is true in worship as well in marriage and family relationships. God knows the truth and keeps us accountable. Ancient Israel and Judah proclaimed loyalty to God but their actions spoke otherwise. They sought to worship the LORD while also setting up other idols. They did not submit to the authority of God and His Word alone. God calls them up short.

         If we say that we love God, we cannot hate our brother. You cannot hate your brother whom you see and love God whom you cannot see. We must forgive our brothers revealing our love for them. We must let no root of bitterness grow up which will defile many. Love actively forgives. Love actively blesses. This is the message that we hear from God. It is especially true of a local body of believers but extends out from there to all those named in Christ Jesus. Matt. 18:7 “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

Best of Bach-Confessions of a Lazy Listener

I was more diligent in my younger days in listening to good music. I am glad to know that my 22 year old son often listens to such good music to study. There is a reason this music has lasted for centuries. It is easy to get lazy in our listening and go for the popular sound. This music is wonderfully enjoyable and simplicity presented with complexity. That is to say it represents the Trinity. Much of classical music is simple theme repeated with variations. The variations are astounding. That is very Trinitarian. God is unity and His diversity is astounding. I want to 'pump you up!' Give this a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwp9JkaESdg

Dies Irae

Preaching on Zephaniah tomorrow.

Here is a poem by Thomas of Celano in the 13th Century inspired by the book and an orchestral arrangement of the same name that captures the frantic nature of the impending doom of Jerusalem at the hands of the Chaldeans (Babylonians).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY\

DIES irae, dies illa, solvet saeculum in favilla, teste David cum Sibylla.	THAT day of wrath, that dreadful day, shall heaven and earth in ashes lay, as David and the Sybil say.
Quantus tremor est futurus, quando iudex est venturus, cuncta stricte discussurus!	What horror must invade the mind when the approaching Judge shall find and sift the deeds of all mankind!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.	The mighty trumpet's wondrous tone shall rend each tomb's sepulchral stone and summon all before the Throne.
Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, iudicanti responsura.	Now death and nature with surprise behold the trembling sinners rise to meet the Judge's searching eyes.
Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus iudicetur.	Then shall with universal dread the Book of Consciences be read to judge the lives of all the dead.
Iudex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit: nil inultum remanebit.	For now before the Judge severe all hidden things must plain appear; no crime can pass unpunished here.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? quem patronum rogaturus? cum vix iustus sit securus.	O what shall I, so guilty plead? and who for me will intercede? when even Saints shall comfort need?
Rex tremendae maiestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me, fons pietatis.	O King of dreadful majesty! grace and mercy You grant free; as Fount of Kindness, save me!
Recordare Iesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae: ne me perdas illa die.	Recall, dear Jesus, for my sake you did our suffering nature take then do not now my soul forsake!
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus: redemisti crucem passus: tantus labor non sit cassus.	In weariness You sought for me, and suffering upon the tree! let not in vain such labor be.
Iuste iudex ultionis, donum fac remissionis, ante diem rationis.	O Judge of justice, hear, I pray, for pity take my sins away before the dreadful reckoning day.
Ingemisco, tamquam reus: culpa rubet vultus meus: supplicanti parce Deus.	You gracious face, O Lord, I seek; deep shame and grief are on my cheek; in sighs and tears my sorrows speak.
Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti.	You Who did Mary's guilt unbind, and mercy for the robber find, have filled with hope my anxious mind.
Preces meae non sunt dignae: sed tu bonus fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne.	How worthless are my prayers I know, yet, Lord forbid that I should go into the fires of endless woe.
Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextera.	Divorced from the accursed band, o make me with Your sheep to stand, as child of grace, at Your right Hand.
Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis. voca me cum benedictis.	When the doomed can no more flee from the fires of misery with the chosen call me.
Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis: gere curam mei finis.	Before You, humbled, Lord, I lie, my heart like ashes, crushed and dry, assist me when I die.
Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla. iudicandus homo reus: huic ergo parce Deus.	Full of tears and full of dread is that day that wakes the dead, calling all, with solemn blast to be judged for all their past.
Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.	Lord, have mercy, Jesus blest, grant them all Your Light and Rest. Amen.

A Weather Report

This weather forecast reminds me that things are seldom as bad as they could be, or even as they might be, or even as they are expected to be. Sometimes they are and it is wise to be prepared. Prepare for the worst and be glad when the preparation was not needed.

But most of the time, the worst case scenario simply drifts out to sea. What will happen tonight and tomorrow? A disaster? Mabye, but probably not. It may just rain.

A good lesson in life, prepare but don't panic.

Clogged Downspouts

Dear Saints,

The real reason I am sending this email is to remind you to clean your gutters and downspouts. A lot of rain is supposed to be coming our way and the biggest source of water in your basement is a failure of your gutters and downspouts to drain the water away from your house.

But since that sounds like a very unpastoral reason to send an email, I want to take this opportunity to say something spiritual. ;)

We suffer when we fail to keep our downspouts working. There are many reasons for them to be clogged and it may be the case that the downspouts work just fine. Only problem, debris in the system. Get that cleared out and you are good to go.

I am referring to the Waters of the Spirit flowing through the downspouts of our Christian lives. 

What clogs us up? At least two things.

1. Sin and sins. Personal and private, so-called secret sins. But as my old pastor's mother used to say, "Beware, your secret sins will find you out." They may be revealed and reveal you. Or, they may simply accumulate and take you down. But it is a maxim that is true, what is hid will be made known. God already knows. Lusts, porn, drunkenness, gossip, bitterness, unbelief. Whatever it is. Confess to Him and be done with it. Let the waters flow.

2. Competing authoratative voices. We live in a loud age and the volume is deafening. Take all those voices and pack them into your head and your drains get clogged. The Spirit is quenched. Who is authorative? Academics? Celebrities? Popular vote? Internet bloggers? Of course not. Run all these voices through the test of Scripture. Sit there and hear God as He speaks loudly in a still small voice. 

So, go unclog your gutters and drain pipes before it rains.

Honor to whom Honor is Due

One of my most favorite people in the world is having a birthday today. He is a brother I look up to, well, if I wasn't looking down on him. Not that I look down on him, he's all good stuff. But that stuff comes in a rather diminutive and dynamic package. So, you can look down on someone while looking up to them and if you do that, you'll know how I see my brother from up, er down, here.

Larry, you are a good and godly man. You are blessed in the gates with virtuous woman, your quiver is full and you are respected within and without Christ's Church. God's blessings aplenty.

I am proud to be your brother and I am proud of you.

Happy Birthday!

Receiving Accusations

The internet is a great gift from God but like all great gifts, it can be badly misused. Calumny arises when accusers are assumed to be witnesses. An accuser can be a witness but witnesses and accusers are not the same thing. Thus, when accusers queue up on the internet as if they were witnesses and proclaim all sorts of evil against the accused, we need to keep calm and keep our thinking caps on.

An accuser makes the claim of a crime or a sin.
A witness is one who saw, or who has compelling first hand evidence, against the accused.
In our system of justice, as well as in the Bible, the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty.

The biblical standard for determining guilt is the credible testimony of at least two witnesses. Why do I say credible? Because witnesses must face the accused and cross examination by the accused or his counsel. Consider the Bible's admonitions about hearing only one side of a story. Prov. 18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

The two witness threshold is clear in Scripture. Deut. 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 

Note- This is not two accusers. It is two witnesses. Fifty accusers and one witness cannot convict. 

This post is titled Receiving Accusations. I want to address how Christians hear. We should be careful to hear with biblical ears. In Matthew 18, the discipline chapter, the Bible makes clear allowance for one brother going to another brother to set a wrong right. If someone sins against you, go to him to seek to make it right. If he will not repent, then take another brother with you TO the man. Note, it does not say to grab another brother and raise a cry on the internet. We are not to talk about the brother in question but to him. 

Furthermore, if the confrontation is racheting up from personal admonition to formal discipline, the standard rises. Bring one or two brothers. This is starting to look like two or three witnesses. In the case of a particularly unrepentant brother, the Bible requires that we take along witnesses of his stubborn rebellion. Perhaps these witnesses might also be witness to the original sin?

Matt. 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

The standard of two or three witnesses is not Old Testament. Paul was going to visit Corinth again and there were rumors of serious sins in their midst. He made it clear that he would use the Biblical standard of two or three witnesses to establish any accusations.

2Cor. 13:1   This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

Finally, Paul tells Timothy not to receive accusations against elders but before two or three witnesses.

1Tim. 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 

First, this establishes the standard. One person making accusation is not only not enough to convict or depose an elder, it is not even enough to take action. We don't like this. What if the accusation was dangerous, scurrilous, serious? The problem that the Bible recognizes is that if there is only one witness and only one accused, then it is only one man's word against another. There is no way to determine the truth of the matter. That is why other witnesses are required. I have no problem with 'other witnesses' being recordings, photos, or some other clearly objective 'witness.' But one person cannot condemn another on his or her word alone. That is the Biblical standard and it is a good one.

Second, there is a requirement on Timothy about being careful what he hears. Do not 'receive' an accusation. In our day, we act as if we are free to receive accusations against anyone for any reason. Assumed victims are so sacrosanct that their word cannot be questioned without accusations of heartlessness, failed empathy, etc. I refer you back to Scripture. Do not receive an accusation against an elder, but before two or three witnesses. Are there more witnesses? Then you can hear them out and act accordingly. Are there no witnesses but the accuser? Then, you shall not receive such accusations.

Third, Before two or three witnesses. The judge or hearing party must hear the two or three witnesses. The verse seems to imply that the witnesses are in the presence of the judge and the accused. This seems only fair. The accused, or his counsel, can see and cross examine his accusers and witnesses. They do not get to be anonymous or abstracted from being present. They do not get to accuse, or even witness, from the  cheap seats of the internet, without accountability. The Bible has strong accountability for witnesses. A biblical witness can receive the sentence reserved for the guilty if they lie under oath for the sake of a conviction. We would do well to apply such a standard in our day. Being an accuser or a witness should be a really big deal.

Fourth, this text is written to Christians to give them warning about accusing and receiving accusations against elders. Why? Because elders are likely to be accused. Can elders sin grievously? Yes, they can. And when they do, they should be held accountable according to Scripture. Paul is making that clear. But they are also in a position to say and preach hard words, call out sins, and as a consequence, make enemies, both in their own churches and outside their own churches. Paul knows this first hand. He had been much accused. But being accused and being guilty are two different things and Paul states the Biblical standard for making accusations. A church member, or someone outside the church, cannot simply accuse an elder of wrongdoing and have it be taken seriously. There must be witnesses and more than one.

So, Christians must be particularly careful about what sorts of complaints and accusations are to be received. There will always be a tendency for some to criticize and even accuse godly elders and pastors but such accusations must be evaluated on their merits according to the Biblical standard of witnesses. 

Finally, false accusers and false witnesses should be held accountable. If they are Christians, they should feel the weight of their sin and repent. If they are confronted by their brothers in the Lord, or if a pastor gets involved, the false accuser should repent on threat of further or formal discipline. By the way, the Church's sanctions are spiritual, not corporal. She can suspend from the Table and as the highest form of discipline, excommunicate. But anyone who is a brother, indeed, will feel the great weight of these sanctions. The sentence of discipline is what the false accuser sought against an elder or pastor in their accusation and it is biblically just for them to be held accountable up to the same sentence. 

Be careful who and how you accuse and in what accusations you receive.

Habakkuk Sermon Notes

Habakkuk 1:1-2:1, 2:1-14

Sermon Notes

The Power of God

August 30, 2015

Lynchburg, Virginia

EXHORDIUM

         There is a lot to contend with in this little book of Habakkuk, and the time is short today, so we will take two weeks to do so. This is an excellent book to study on many issues. Today, I want to put some questions before you and we will look at some answers today as we have time and more next week.

         The book opens with a dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Some have described Habakkuk as a philosopher. He is asking hard questions about present eveil and seeking answers from God.

         This book is set probably after the Fall of Nineveh in 612. Remember that Nahum had predicted judgment upon Assyria and Nineveh because they had attacked God’s people. Now, Habakkuk sees evil growing in Israel and he wonders when God will act and take care of it. God answers but Habakkuk does not like His answer.

         God is going to use the Chaldeans to bring justice and chastisement to Israel.  The Chaldeans defeated Nineveh in 612 BC. Nebuchaddnezzer’s father, Nabopallasar, was involved in the army that destroyed Nineveh. This book is probably delivered in the decade following. Nebuchadnezzer also defeated Pharoah-neco in a great battle at Charcemesh in 605 B.C. Thus, the Chaldeans were now the new power. So, a date shortly after this rise to ascendency is likely.

1.   Does God take notice of the wicked and bring justice to the evil?

Habbukuk’s Complaint

Hab. 1:2-4 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!  3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.  4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Violence is happening around Habakkuk and God is not delivering His people. There is violence, theft, strife and contention in the land. The law is slack, justice is not carried out. The wicked seem to have the upper hand over the righteous.

2.   Does God judge on a curve? Are the relatively righteous, righteous? Can I be counted righteous because there are wickeder men than me? Are there sins that are worse than other sins? Yes but all fall short of the glory of God.

         Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

3.   Is it just for God to judge wicked men by using wickeder men?

God’s Answer

Hab. 1:5   Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.  6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.  7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.  8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.  9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.  10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.  11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

god- little g. Nebuchadnezzer will think his foreign gods gave him victory but God will humble him, too.

Habukkuk’s Follow Up Complaint

Hab. 1:12   Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?  14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?  15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.  16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.  17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Hab. 2:1   I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Since God is going to judge wickedness with more wickedness, Habukkuk has some questions for God. He is nervous about God’s response but waits to see what God will say.

Yes, both deserve hell. However, God is working out salvation for His people. It would be unkind of Him to let His people continue in their sin.

4.   What is God’s standard for determining who is righteous and who is wicked? The just shall live by their faith. We, who are justified in Christ, are not righteous. Righteousness is relative. But those who fall short are all relatively wicked. What shall we do? Have faith in the crucified Jesus.

God’s Response

         Hab. 2:2-4 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

         The Lord weighs this all in the balance. Man is not saved by his relative righteousness but rather by putting his trust in the Lord. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. We are justified by faith and not works.

5.   What is God’s long-term game plan?

Hab. 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

His long-term plan is to save the world. He does this through His people. Israel was supposed to be the priests and kings of the Earth. They failed. But Jesus sits on the throne of His father David forever. Thus, the eternal priesthood, will, in fact, accomplish this goal.

Hab. 3: 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

EXHORTATION

         The power of God is having faith in Him for the just shall live by faith. It is our faith that overcomes the world.

         Through faith the knowledge of the Lord is as the water that covers the sea.

         Rom. 1:16-17   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

         Gal. 3:6   Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.  9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.  10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
         Heb. 10:34-39 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.  35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Justified by Faith

Dear Saints, we have been justified by faith and we know that if we had to be justified by our works then every mouth in this room and throughout the entire world would be stopped because all the world is guilty before God.

The law gave us knowledge of our sins but now the righteousness of God outside of the law is manifested, as was told ahead of time by the law and the prophets. The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ has been revealed to all and upon all them that believe in Jesus. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God but we have been justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

         Therefore, you stand before Him, justified in the risen Jesus. No longer an alien outside of the promises, but sons and daughters invited into the Holy of Holies, into Heaven itself where all the promises of Jesus Christ are yea and amen.