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Ash Wednesday – Hope for Our Sin

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Was explaining Ash Wednesday to the boys on the way to school.  I kept circling back to being aware that I’m a sinner and that Christ has come.  Then, I opened up Psalm 130 this morning:

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (Psalm 130:3-4 ESV)

Rest there…


Good Friday – Mourning Over Our Sin, Triumphing Through Christ’s Victory

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Good Friday is always one of those days of mixed emotion.  John 19:37 says that Jesus was pierced to fulfill Scripture and that Scripture is Zechariah 12:10.  Looking upon the one we’ve pierced and mourning.

Make no mistake.  We pierced Him.  Sure, a Roman guard was the agent doing the deed, but it was our sin that put Him there.  I was meditating on this text again and read this helpful piece from the Gospel Transformation Bible on Zechariah 12:10-13:9:

“Mourning for sin comes through a pouring out of God’s grace and spirit (12:10). Repentance is a gift from God, worked by his Spirit, not an attitude that we drum up. Our sins have pierced the Lord not just metaphorically but literally, as our sin was paid for at the cross. That reality should make us weep over our personal sin, as well as the sins of others in our community. Yet the cross denotes not merely the sad reality of what we have done to God but also the triumphant reality of what he has done for us. At the cross, my sins pierced Christ, but the blood which flowed from his wounds forms a cleansing fountain that washes away all of my transgressions (13:1). As we confess our sins in true repentance, the blood of Christ purifies us from all our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). For that reason, when we fix our eyes on the cross, we not only mourn for our sins, but we also glory in the grace of God that saved us and which will ultimately renew all creation.

“The Good Shepherd that the Lord provided would be struck down (Zech. 13:7), resulting in difficult times of testing and purification for the flock. This prophecy is fulfilled in the death of Christ and the scattering of the disciples that followed (Matt. 26:31). The Christian life is a constant experience of trials and difficulties, yet these afflictions are God’s means of refining his people and setting our hearts firmly on our heavenly home. And through it all, we know that our trials are not to punish us in anger but to train us in love. For Jesus was punished on our behalf, so that every trial can only be from a heavenly Father (not a detached Judge), for our good.

This Good Friday, let’s fix our eyes on the cross and not just mourn over our sins but glory in God’s grace that saved us and will one day make all things new.  

Weekend Recap – All Under Sin

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My 3/30/14AM sermon, All Under Sin from Romans 3:9-20, is now online.  This sermon was a hard one to preach (as a sinner) but one in which the good news of the Gospel shined so brightly that it brought great encouragement.  Until sin is bitter, the Gospel doesn’t taste sweet.  So, this sermon got at the reality of our sin and then drove us to a Christ-centered dependance.  I hope it’s encouraging to you.

Weekend Recap – On Sin

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Yesterday’s sermon, On Sin, from Hebrews 3:12-13 is now online. In that sermon, I tried to unfold how having believing hearts nurtured in the Gospel equip us to be aware of sin’s schemes and fight it together in community.

We had an amazing morning of worship, too. I’m really grateful for the musicians and singers who use their gifts to bless us week in and week out.

Killa by Lecrae

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Lecrae‘s song Killa from Rehab is one of the best descriptions of the fight with sin I’ve seen in a while. Here’s the lyrics:Uh, I know it’s going to kill me but I just can’t let it go
And the, taste so appealing it’s got a grip upon my soul
These honey dip lies mesmerize me
Pride’s got its crooked fingers twisted all inside in me
Fools walk the path I’m on, never to be seen again
Sipping on seduction while we eating on some secret sin
(No one will ever know) says the whisper in my ear
And I know I should be over this, but I ain’t seeing clear
And I ain’t leaving here, unless somebody save me
Walking to my grave letting evilness enslave me
Evil looks so lovely covered in her lace of lies
And the silky smooth seduction just manipulates my mind
Her fabric of fabrication is fueling my fascination
While I’m intoxicated she starts her assassination
I’m losing all my honor and my years to the merciless
Giving all my life away but I’m just so immersed in this (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Her feet go down to DEATH, so don’t let her consume you
Even though her heart is black, her exterior’s beautiful
She’ll take your life away, strip away your joy
Pretends that she gon build you up but she’s just gon destroy you
My friends fell low, when they was so high
Got me running scared of myself, no lie
And I know I’m gon die, I tried cold turkey
But when I’m feeling worthy, Satan’s sure trying to merk me
I’m doing myself dirty, flirting with what’s perverted
I should follow the word but I guess I’d rather be murdered
(Eh-hreehmm) —Excuse me I mean martyred ‘cause I’m killing myself
My sin conceived a baby, and we gon name her death, breath
(Gasps) —Taken, she take my breath away
Replaces it with poison and I’m so swept away
I need some PRAYER today hope I wake up
Before they start my wake up somebody make me break up
I’m dating a (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Raising Obedient Children

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As a man struggling to subdue my sinful nature married to a wife in the same struggle, seeking to raise 2 boys who have somehow managed to learn how sin (shocking isn’t it?) I found this post over at The Resurgence, Raising Obedient Children, helpful. The points they cover are:

1. We are confident in our God-given parental authority.
2. We never count to three.
3. We model it ourselves to authority figures in our lives.
4. We try not to exasperate our children (Ephesians 6:4).
5. We use appropriate forms of punishment.
6. We are convinced that it really is worth the effort.

Enjoy.

Gossip & Slander Defined…

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I am using Mark Weathers’ book, How To Pray for Your Wife as a devotional aid. In it, we are directed in praying for our wives based on Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31:26 begins “she opens her mouth with wisdom.” The particular meditation on this day was so helpful, but especially when he defined gossip and slander. I have a hard time sometimes knowing exactly when I am slipping into these sins of speech. Here’s the definitions he offered:

Gossip – speaking incriminating truth about someone
Slander – speaking incriminating lies about someone
(taken from pp. 111-2)

Next time you are tempted to drift into this, remember these definitions and speak in a way that glorifies God.

Longing for Jesus’ Reign…

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I feel like Spurgeon, who in this letter to his father from September 19, 1850 said:

Yes, where Jesus comes, He comes to reign: how I wish He would reign more in my heart; then I might hope that every atom of self, self-confidence, and self-righteousness, would be quite swept out of my soul. I am sure I long for the time when all evil affections, corrupt desires, and rebellious, doubting thoughts shall be overcome, and completely crushed beneath the Prince’s feet, and my whole soul be made pure and holy. But so long as I am engaged within this house of clay, I know they will lurk about, and I must have hard fighting through the victory by grace is sure. Praying is the best fighting; nothing else will keep them down.
– Spurgeon’s Autobiography (Volume 1, p.189)

I read this and felt like it was another restatement of what we looked at this morning and thought you might enjoy it.