Monthly Archives: January 2010

Heavens Light 1-27-10 All Things For Good

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All Things For Good

Romans 8:28

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. NASB

 

And we know – This in fact something we are assured of, it is the promise of God. It shall not fail, for it flows from the mouth of the Almighty God, who cannot lie, and whose power and knowledge are beyond comprehension. Again and again the scripture reassures us of things we have certainty of such as…

1 John 3:14 – 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, NASB

2 Corinthians 5:1 – 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. NASB

We are certain of this truth because it is “according to His purpose” and none can thwart God’s purposes and His plans. This not a wavering matter. The apostle did not say “we think,” or “we hope” but rather “we know.” This according to Paul, we can count on, God works all things for good for His saints!

 

God causes all things to work together – The Providence of God

Consider with me the weight of this statement…..God causes all things to work together! Here we see the great hand of God working in the midst of all things to make them work together for a purpose, for His purpose. Make no mistake, God is bringing all things of all times and ages, all men and women, all angels and demons, all nations and peoples, every planet and star and whatever can be named to an expected end! God is causing all things to work together! Consider with me for a moment the scripture……

Hebrews 1:1-3 – 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. NASB

Colossians 1:15-17 – 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —  all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB

Job 34:14-15 – 14 “If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, 15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. NASB

Acts 17:24-28 – 24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said,‘ For we also are His offspring.‘ NASB

Ephesians 1:11– In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, NASB

Look closely with me at what the apostle says…….

·      God causes – God is the primary cause behind everything that happens, and He uses the means of secondary causes to accomplish His sovereign will.

·      all things – This is happening with “all things.” Not some things, or most things, but “all things.”

·      to work together – He is working them “together” so that they cooperate to bring to pass His expected end!

God arranges the circumstances of history according to his purpose and plan- God is very diligently governing this creation He has made. It is all coming to pass exactly like He planned it, He will be sure to see that it does. The rain falls on the good and the bad, both peace and calamity come from God. Every authority which is on the earth has been established by God. All the events of human history had the divine approval before one of them ever came to pass. God rules on the Throne in heaven!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 – 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O LORD, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name NASB

 

all things to work together for good to those who love God

Do you love God? Is He your treasure and are your affections set on Him! Here is a promise for you! Here is a promise where we can find hope, assurance, comfort, faith, and strength to endure the race! God is working for our good!  This God of Providence, the Almighty is working all things together for our benefit, for our well-being, for our joy, for our eternal hope and blessing! This is to say that no matter what happens(if we love God and are “the called”), whether good things or bad things, joys or sorrows, pleasures or pains, mercies or judgments, God is working them for our ultimate good and well-being! Consider with me some of the things that work for our good……..

·      The worst things – God uses the worst things of life for our benefit.

Ø      The worst things drive us to God where we have all that we need

Ø      Our sorrows work for our good driving us to find comfort and rest in God alone

Ø      Our pains work for our good causing us to look to God to find healing and strength

Ø      God’s judgments and discipline bring about a harvest of righteousness and peace in our lives – They cleanse from our sins

When trial or trouble comes my way, it is God who holds me in the palm of His hand. More than this, we have the promise of eternal life with God in that place where there is no more crying or dying or pain. God our Father is even working everything for our own good having at all times our best interest in His mind. He will care for us, He will shepherd us, he will protect us and love us until we reach our home!

·      The best things – God uses the best things of life for our benefit.

Ø      He fills us with His blessed Holy Spirit, the fruit

Ø      He gives us the treasures of His Word, His promises

Ø      His angels camp roundabout to keep us secure

Ø      We receive His mercies everyday – abundant grace

Ø      We have everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him – He is an all-sufficient resource

Ø      He gives us richly all things to enjoy

Consider further what things God has done to secure our eternal well-being and the surety of His purpose for our good!

·      It is by grace – We have all these benefits by God’s umerited favor. We didn’t earn it, indeed we couldn’t earn it, it was God gracious love that motivated Him to save a people for Himself not according to anything we have done but for His own purpose.

2 Timothy 1:9 – 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, NASB

·      It has been secured by Christ, it will not fail – This favor of God which we now possess is “In Christ” and “because of Christ.” Jesus paid it all, He purchased us which His atoning sacrifice on the cross and satisfied the requirements of God’s righteousness on our behalf. It is finished, it is bought and paid for, it is a done deal, we have been justified once and for all!

Romans 3:21-24 – 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus

·      It is eternal – God is eternally pleased on our behalf in Christ! We shall never die, we have passed from death into life(John 5:24), none can snatch us from His hand(John 10:28), and nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ!

Romans 8:37-39 – 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NASB

It is abundantly clear from these things that we have a sure hope and certainty of ultimate good which shall shortly be our possession forever. When all of the mighty working of providence is complete, we shall lie down and rest in the eternal kingdom of God and none shall ever harm again for the coming ages of all eternity! We shall be perfectly fulfilled, joyously happy, and completely  satisfied and overflowing with the marvelous blessing of God, world without end!

 

to those who are called

Dear friends, were you so wise as to look for the Savior that you might find Him and trust Him? Were you so smart that you figured out that God’s salvation in the death of His Son was the hope for your soul? Did you work salvation for yourself by the strength of your arm? Did you possess the light of life in your dark soul by the work of your helpless will? I tell you NO! You were a helpless wandering, aimless sheep, lost on the mountains in the land of Nod til the Savior bright and true called you by name to return to His fold! It was the voice of God which “called you out of darkness” ( 1Pet 2:10) and “brought you to Himself.” (Ex 19:4, John 6:44) It was His divine choice which decided to set His love upon you and “set your destiny beforehand” (Rom 8:29-30)  by His own purpose and grace.

Romans 8:28-30 – 28 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. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. NASB

This calling which you have received had its origin in the heart and mind of God, long ages before the world was ever created.

Ephesians 1:4-6 – 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. NASB

Make no mistake about it, He called and you came by a power which was not your own. Indeed you could not even see the Kingdom of God until your were born again by the regenerating power of God’s Holy Spirit. You may not understand it yet, but let me make this suggestion…..you should spend your days thanking and glorifying Him for His electing grace rather spending your days arguing with Him about His rights to do it! What wonderous love is this that would call us His people who are not His people? Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Father , Son and Holy Ghost!

 

according to His purpose

Here is the divine plan behind all of the mysterious providence of all of the ages of God’s boundless creation, it is all according to the purposes of God.

Lamentations 3:37-38 – 37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth? NASB

God has a plan! God has a purpose and He will surely do it!

Isaiah 46:9-11 – 9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘; 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. NASB

Yes He will! He has a plan for our well-being, a plan for our good! God is working for our good saints, and we have a sure hope which is unchanging, immovable and will come to pass in due time!

Notice with me…….

·      His plan is for our good!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 – 11‘For I know the plans that I have for you,‘ declares the LORD,‘ plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13‘And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14‘And I will be found by you,‘ declares the LORD,‘ NASB

·      He is pleased to do it!

Luke 12:31-32 – 31 “But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock , for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. NASB

·      He is uses all things to bring it to pass!

Romans 8:28 – 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. NASB

 

Practical helps we can find here!

·      We can trust in and rely upon God! – Psalm 9:10

·      Be thankful for every circumstance! In good times and in bad! 1 Thes 5:18

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. 

 

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

Or read about the Christian Gospel here:  http://www.ligonier.org/welcome_whatisthegospel.php

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org

 
If you would like to be added or add someone to this email list, just reply with “sign me up” and the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
 
 
Shaan Sloan
Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ
505-348–5092
The Lord is the Strength of My Life

 
 
 
 
 

Heavens Light 1-11-10 Abiding in the Word

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Abiding in the Word

 

John 8:31-32 – Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

 

Tonight I would like to talk to you about Abiding in the Word of God.

 

There are three basic disciplines in the Christian life. These are:

·        Daily meditation on the Word of God

·        Daily communion with God through prayer

·        Regular fellowship with godly Christians

These basic disciplines are vital and necessary for every Christian to live an effective and productive life in order to both glorify God and enjoy Him.

·        They are basic because they make up the regular God ordained method for nurturing our relationship to Him and to His people the church, of whom we have become members. 

·        They are disciplines because these are something that require disciplined effort to maintain, habits to be formed and kept for the rest of our Christian life.

·        They are vital because without them we will surely lack the kind of spiritual life that they produce in and through us, as we will be disconnected from the life giving sap of the True Vine, Jesus the living Word.

·        They are necessary because we are new creations in Christ created to live by His Word and enjoy a communal relationship with Him and the Father, by the Spirit in prayer, and to become an effective and productive member of His family the church.

 

Now the first and most important discipline in the Christian life is the daily meditation on the Word of God. This is because the Word is where God speaks and communicates to us. It is the place where the understanding of who God is, what His purposes are in the world, and who we are and what our purpose in the world is communicated to us from the One who made us.

In fact, Bible is God’s way of speaking to us most clearly about everything we face in life, and how He expects to be worshipped and how He expects us to live. The Word of God is the wellspring from which all of God’s blessings flow into our life.  

 

The Bible is an amazing book. Its not just a book you read for information, it’s a book you read for transformation. The Words of the Bible are the very Word of God and they powerfully change your heart and life as you consider and meditate upon them. The Bible enlightens us, changes us, judges us, equips us and makes us grow. It penetrates our hearts and like a sharp sword cuts out the cancer of sin from our lives. The Bible comforts us, fills us with joy, gives us hope, and it teaches us to worship and praise the Living and true God. The Bible is the living Word of God. Through it we learn to know and experience God and His Son Jesus the Christ.    

 

Now in light of this, I would like for us to take a very brief look at 2 Peter 1:3-4…..

 

Now the main point here is that God is, through the Word, conforming us into His image. He is making us to be like Him and transforming us from the inside out, as we come to know Him, through the Word.  

 

2 Peter 1:3-4 – 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. NASB

A. 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness – Here Peter is clear that we have everything necessary granted to us by God for us to live and become like God (godliness). All the sufficiency that we need to be godly has been given to us by God. Everything we need to be patient and kind, loving and gracious, wise and prudent, joyful and fulfilled….everything we need is already ours!

 

B. through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – And here He describes how we get these all sufficient resources…. “through the true knowledge of Him.” That is, as we come to truly know Him. It is in knowing God that we have all that we need for life and godliness, because these things come from Him personally to us, and there is no other means by which they can be obtained except through personal relationship with Him. No religious duty, church work, community service, or any other means can cause us to become like Christ. That only happens as we come to know Him and trust Him, and love Him.

 

C. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, – And here is how we come to know Him, that is, through “His precious and magnificent promises.” It is through God’s revealing of Himself to us through the Word that we are transformed into His likeness. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 – 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NASB

D. in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust – Now here we see that it is “by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.” You see it is by the promises, the Word of God, that we become “partakers of the divine nature.” Consider “partakers of the divine nature.” Here Peter is saying that through the “great and magnificent promises of God,” we “become partakers of the divine nature.” Here is what he means…we become like Jesus as we come to know God through His Word. Now this is God’s great purpose in our salvation, to conform us into His image, to make us like Him.

 

Therefore it is of utmost importance for us to spend much time with God in His Word. There is absolutely no substitute for daily meditation on the Word of God. It is simply the most important activity that we engage in as a Christian. We must learn to feed ourselves on the bread of life and through it to become like God and we come to know Him through the Word.

 

His Word is the all sufficient resource for us to have an abundant and glorious spiritual life for now and forever. It is filled with “everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him.” On the basis of these great provisions that God has made for us to become like Him through the Word, it is therefore imperative that we seek Him through the Word. As we behold His perfections, and His marvelous goodness, and we see His character and nature in the Word, we begin to long for and crave to be like Him because of His excellent greatness. This longing is zealously instilled in us by the His Spirit which is in us, and through this longing and powerful conviction by the Spirit, through the Word, we become like Him. Now it is obvious then, that if we spend little time seeking God through His Word and communing with Him in the Word, we will in very little degree become a partaker of His nature. Then we will remain in our pitiful state of doubt and fear, always looking for self-esteem and someone to make much of us, and remaining in our spiritually insensitive state of narcissism, serving self and sin, that we were in before we came to Christ. But if we let the Word of God dwell in us richly, we will come to posses all the wealth of knowing Christ, and living in abundant life that comes from walking in Him, by the Spirit, and partaking in the divine nature.

Colossians 2:2-3 – 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God‘s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. NASB

Our life will then be filled with the fruit of His Spirit….

Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. NASB

Now this is the very thing we are longing for, and searching for in all our pursuits. The problem is, these things are spiritual treasures that come from Christ and cannot be obtained in lasting form upon the earth, or through things in the earth. They are other worldly, supernatural. Therefore we will never have lasting joy and will simply never find it, until we find it in Christ. Jesus the living Word, is the wellspring of these treasures in our life. In fact, He Himself is the great treasure we come to know through the Word. This is what he describes in John 17 as being eternal life itself…that is know God and Christ!

John 17:3 – 3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. NASB

 

On this basis then, I want to encourage you to seek the Lord through His Word and to discipline yourself in this matter in 2010. It is the most important thing that you can do in your life, period. And not only do I want to encourage you to read the Bible and come to know Christ through it, but to in fact do what he says to do there. After all, He is Lord of your life, is He not?

James 1:25 – 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. NASB

But if you only read the Word and spend time there out of a sense of duty, you will have missed the boat and this will simply become another religious exercise in futility which will not bring about the kind of abundant spiritual life that God promises. Instead it must become your great delight. Now this may in fact be a problem at this point. Maybe reading the Bible is a dreadful experience for you as you just don’t enjoy it, or it scares you to death with all of His holy commandments, or you have much trouble understanding it. To this I would like to encourage you to….

 

Cultivate a hungry heart and make the Word your delight – Learn how to delight in God and in His glorious Word. This happens as we begin to see the world through God’s eyes, as we come to understand His Word. And this we cannot do until we come honestly to God and ask Him personally for the understanding of His kingdom with a humble heart. Until we are honest with Him, and ourselves, about the sin that lives in our hearts, we will be blinded to the transforming power of the Word. We will be hiding in the bushes with guilty Adam. And what we need to do is come out into the open and fellowship with God. He will accept us and he will heal us, if we will let Him. I want to encourage you to open your heart before God, and let Him come in and wash your conscience, and forgive your sins, and set you free from the guilt and shame that sin has wrought in your life. And with this open honesty then, you come and fellowship with Him in the Word, and seek Him personally for the understanding of it, and He will grant you abundant life through it. In fact, you will begin to become like Him…loving, gracious, kind and patient, gentle and humble in heart.

 

Consider how those who have delighted in God’s Word before expressed their great delight in His Word. I have handed out this Scriptures and I want to encourage you to read them and meditate on them. I believe they will help you to cultivate a hungry heart that delights in and longs for God’s Word!

 

Psalm 119:127-131 – 127 Therefore I love Thy commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem right all Thy precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful; – Therefore my soul observes them. 130 The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. 131 I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Thy commandments. NASB

Psalm 119:47-50 – And I shall delight in Thy commandments, Which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Thy commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Thy statutes. Remember the word to Thy servant, In which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me. NASB

Psalm 112:1-3 – 12 Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. NASB

 

Lets end with this Word from 1 Peter….

 

1 Peter 2:1-2 – 2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, NASB

 

 
 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. 

 

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

Or read about the Christian Gospel here:  http://www.ligonier.org/welcome_whatisthegospel.php

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org

 
If you would like to be added or add someone to this email list, just reply with “sign me up” and the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
 
 
Shaan Sloan
Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ
505-348–5092
The Lord is the Strength of My Life