"Ministers - who now often meet their people to preach to them the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, to convince them that he governs and will judge the world, and that there is a future state of rewards and punishments, and to preach to them a Christ in heaven, at the right hand of God, in an unseen world - shall then meet their people in the most immediate sensible presence of this great God, Savior, and Judge, appearing in the most plain, visible, and open manner, with great glory, with all his holy angels, before them and the whole world. They shall not meet them to hear about an absent Christ, an unseen Lord, and future Judge; but to appear before that Judge - being set together in the presence of that supreme Lord - in his immense glory and awful majesty, of whom they have heard so often in their meetings together on earth... Ministers are sent forth by Christ to their people on his business. They are his servants and messengers; and, when they have finished their service, they must return to their master to give him an account of what they had done, and of the entertainment they have had in performing their ministry... So we read, in Hebrews 13:17, of ministers or rulers in house of God, that 'they watch for souls, as those that must give account.'"
-Jonathan Edwards
JE
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Rise Up O Men of God
Here is a great hymn that I thought I would share. If you would like to listen to a stirring rendition, then click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtX7h107-s&feature=related
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
JE
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
JE
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord
- Teach me Thy way, O Lord,
Teach me Thy way;
Thy gracious aid afford,
Teach me Thy way.
Help me to walk aright;
More by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav'nly light,
Teach me Thy way. - When doubts and fears arise,
Teach me Thy way;
When storms o'erspread the skies,
Teach me Thy way.
Shine through the cloud and rain,
Through sorrow, toil, and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain,
Teach me Thy way. - Long as my life shall last,
Teach me Thy way;
Where'er my lot be cast,
Teach me Thy way.
Until the race is run,
Until the journey's done,
Until the crown is won,
Teach me Thy way.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Disturbing
Read this article in its entirety, and let it sink in...
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/24/egypt-face-tunisian-inspired-protests/
Humbly Submitted,
JE
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/24/egypt-face-tunisian-inspired-protests/
Humbly Submitted,
JE
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Gospel & Personal Evangelism (PT. 1)
During my Christmas break last month, I read The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever. To my understanding, Pastor Dever has an intense desire to see more and more Christians involve themselves in evangelism. What is evangelism? Well, at the heart and center of biblical evangelism is the gospel. What is the gospel? Try this:
The good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in His image to know Him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from Him. In His great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in Him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ's sacrifice and that God's wrath against us had been exhausted. "In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will... In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses." (Eph. 1) This one and only God, "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2)
Humbly Submitted,
JE
The good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in His image to know Him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from Him. In His great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in Him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ's sacrifice and that God's wrath against us had been exhausted. "In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will... In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses." (Eph. 1) This one and only God, "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2)
Humbly Submitted,
JE
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Greek Professor Said...
"What would you rather say? 'I'm not a trained speaker, but I have the truth', or 'I may not have the truth, but I am a trained speaker?' Now, I'm not saying that I want you to be a terrible speaker. I am saying that you must speak the truth. They don't need your outlines, beautiful words, elaborate methods, or expertise! They need the truth!"
- Dr. Couser
JE
- Dr. Couser
JE
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
God's Will
It must have something to do with the fact that I am entering my final semester of college, but a common topic of conversation that I conduct with folks is the will of God. On numerous occasions I have been asked, "Jonathan, what is God's plan for me? How can I find what it is that God wants me to do?"
My response to these questions is quite simple. Simple is generally the best way to go about things anyway (for example, never use a big word when a diminutive one will do!).
In all seriousness, my response is in the form of two questions:
1. How are you becoming more like Jesus, today? (sanctification)
2. What are you doing to make disciples? (obedience)
Sanctification has three aspects:
(1) at the moment of salvation when God's sets us apart (1 Cor. 6:11), (2) a continual process as we become more and more like Christ (1 Thess. 4:3), and (3) our standing before God without blame (1 Thess. 3:13). If nothing else, a single-minded desire to please God eliminates a whole lot of lifestyle choices. As a Christian works out his convictions, the direction of his/her life will certainly take shape.
Based on Matthew 28:18-20, I say with confidence that if a Christian is not in the business of making disciples, then he is not obeying God. What does "making disciples" look like? Well, that can be a post for another evening! For now, I want to make this point: becoming a disciple-maker is fundamental to being obedient to Christ's will. It is amazing how many times I have witnessed in my own life (in some cases), and in the lives of others, how God honors those who are faithful in discipling those who God brings at the present time. Think about it for a moment, How could you expect God to bring that one "big ministry opportunity" to you if you fail to be faithful to disciple the three men or women God has brought into your life for the current time? Don't you think that small group discipleship could be effective preparation for discipleship of a wife and children?
So, as we all wait patiently for God's revelation to each one of us about what we are supposed to do next year (or next week!), let's actively pursue our sanctification and discipleship opportunities. I believe that God will honor that more than you could know. And, about the whole patience thing, remember: God is seldom early, but He is never late!
Humbly Submitted,
JE
My response to these questions is quite simple. Simple is generally the best way to go about things anyway (for example, never use a big word when a diminutive one will do!).
In all seriousness, my response is in the form of two questions:
1. How are you becoming more like Jesus, today? (sanctification)
2. What are you doing to make disciples? (obedience)
Sanctification has three aspects:
(1) at the moment of salvation when God's sets us apart (1 Cor. 6:11), (2) a continual process as we become more and more like Christ (1 Thess. 4:3), and (3) our standing before God without blame (1 Thess. 3:13). If nothing else, a single-minded desire to please God eliminates a whole lot of lifestyle choices. As a Christian works out his convictions, the direction of his/her life will certainly take shape.
Based on Matthew 28:18-20, I say with confidence that if a Christian is not in the business of making disciples, then he is not obeying God. What does "making disciples" look like? Well, that can be a post for another evening! For now, I want to make this point: becoming a disciple-maker is fundamental to being obedient to Christ's will. It is amazing how many times I have witnessed in my own life (in some cases), and in the lives of others, how God honors those who are faithful in discipling those who God brings at the present time. Think about it for a moment, How could you expect God to bring that one "big ministry opportunity" to you if you fail to be faithful to disciple the three men or women God has brought into your life for the current time? Don't you think that small group discipleship could be effective preparation for discipleship of a wife and children?
So, as we all wait patiently for God's revelation to each one of us about what we are supposed to do next year (or next week!), let's actively pursue our sanctification and discipleship opportunities. I believe that God will honor that more than you could know. And, about the whole patience thing, remember: God is seldom early, but He is never late!
Humbly Submitted,
JE
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