Majesty…Father Almighty…Maker….Saviour

June 16, 2011

Eddie Adoration, Cleasing from Guilt, Commitment, Genuine Christianity, God as Creator, God as Father, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Intimacy with God, Obedience, Purity, Purpose, Savior, Service, Sins, Truth, Will of God, Worship Leave a comment

The following are excerpts from chapter 23, “The Open Secret”, in  The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer

“But the God we must see is not the utilitarian God who is having such a run of popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and flattered by everyone who wants a favor.  The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, the only wise God our Saviour.

“Knowledge of such a Being cannot be gained by study alone.  It comes by a wisdom the natural man knows nothing of, neither can know, because it is spiritually discerned.  To know God is at once the easiest and the most difficult thing in the world.  It is easy because the knowledge is not won by hard mental toil, but is something freely given”…”But this knowledge is difficult because there are conditions to be met and the obstinate nature of  fallen man does not take kindly to them.”

See the the chapter for the details of the conditions to which Tozer refers.  I present the introductory statements with these conditions which “as taught by the Bible and repeated through the centuries by the holiest, sweetest saints the world has ever known:”

  1. We must forsake our sins.  The belief that a holy God cannot be known by men of confirmed evil lives is not new to the Christian religion.
  2. There must be an utter committal of the whole life to Christ in faith.  This is what it means to “believe in Christ.”
  3. There must be a reckoning of ourselves to have died unto sin and to be alive unto God in Christ Jesus, followed by a throwing open of the entire personality to the inflow of the Holy Spirit.
  4. We must boldly repudiate the cheap values of the fallen world and become completely detached in spirit from everything that unbelieving men set their hearts upon, allowing ourselves on the simplest enjoyments of nature which God has bestowed alike upon the just and the unjust.
  5. We must practice the art of long and loving meditation upon the majesty of God.  This will take some effort, for the concept of majesty has all but disappeared from the human race.

Tozer closes the chapter and book with this statement:  “There is a glorified Man on the right hand of the Majesty in heaven faithfully representing us there.  We are left for a season among men; let us faithfully represent Him here.” 

Oh, Father, with the time I have remaining here, let me faithfully represent you!

 

A Minister: Sober, Suffering and Serving

July 26, 2010

Eddie Commitment, God is Sovereign, God's Word, Happiness, Obedience, Persecution, Perspective, Purpose, Service, Strength, Truth Leave a comment

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:5 ESV)

Second Timothy is part of what is called the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus).  Although it may be considered books to be read just for the preacher/pastor, one mest remember that all scripture is given to all of us and there will be some principles that we all can get from the teachings within these books.

Let’s begin considering the admonition Paul makes to Timothy to be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Consider ”sober-minded.”  The basic meaning is clear-headed.  It is an imperative.  Thus, we are commanded to be clear-headed.  The NIV translates it “keep your head in all situations.”  This subject could be elaborated on totally by itself, but think of how important it is that we remain clear-headed as we go through our daily lives.  We must have the mind of Christ in all things.  Keep His perspective on our situations, lest we get discouraged and overwhelmed.  Recently I had so many things building up on me, projects to complete, that I began to get foggy in my thinking and discouraged.  I contacted some close people to pray for me and that same day I became clear-headed and got the right perspective on all that needed to be accomplished.  Remember Romans 12:2.  We must be transformed in our *mind* so that we can be sober-minded.  We must make it a point to be in the Word daily so that we can see life’s situations through the eyes of Christ.

The next command is to endure suffering; another imperative.  We are commanded to endure affliction, suffering, evil.  Now remain sober-minded about this command!  We cannot do this in our own strength.  We must let God fight our battles and trust Him to get us through.

Then, do the work of an evangelist.  This is very much directed toward the pastor and his ongoing ministry.  But there is an application to all believers.  We should be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.  That is within the scope of the Great Commission and other Biblical teachings.

Finally, fulfill your ministry.  Dear reader, as Paul was commanding Timothy to fulfill his ministry, you and I have a ministry.  We have a purpose ordained and directed by God.  Maybe you have never considered it, but please do.  Consider the talents and gifts God has given you.  The greatest sense of fulfillment in our life is when we are seeking to fulfill our life’s potential for the One who gave us life.  He must be central in our life.  Our purpose must be coincident with His purpose. Purpose in your heart to fulfill your ministry.  Whatever line of work you are in, God has put you there, equipped you to minister — to serve Him.  Have you given that work to Him?  Have you declared, “Lord this work I am doing, I am doing for you!”  ?

Be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Be a Devoted Follower, Not a Blind Follower

July 2, 2010

Eddie Commitment, Genuine Christianity, God is Sovereign, Guidance, Happiness, Joy, Purpose Leave a comment

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, (2 Timothy 3:10 ESV)

In contrast to the imatators, Jannes and Jambres of verse 8, Paul commends Timothy as a devoted follower (not a blind follower) of Paul’s teaching, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions and suffereings.  So this gives me pause to think, if I were Paul and people were going to follow me, what areas may I be interested in them paying attention to:

  • What I taught.  If people are going to follow my teachings, those teachings better be, in turn, following God’ Word.
  • My conduct. My behavior.  The public display of what I really believe, since the way I act is based on my beliefs and values.
  • My aim in life.  I think, there is something a person may hear me speak about in my teachings, but it is fleshed out in my daily conduct as is the balance of the list.  The word here means a setting forth, thus a target, plan or purpose. How many have given thought as to “what is my aim in life?”  I ask you dear reader, what is your target in life?  Your aim?  What are you shooting for?  Are you just getting up and going through the course of the day making a living, providing for your family, coming home, going to bed and getting up the next day only to begin again?  Is that your attitude?  Maybe the weekend is your goal!  The next vacation!

Remember, God has purpose for you as long as he leaves you here on this planet.  He has equipped you with the full potential to be what he has designed you to be.  Take Him by the hand today and let Him guide you, with your talents into the area(s) He has in mind.  Reach your full potential for your Lord!

Lord, I pray that my life would be planned according to what you have mapped out for me.  You have wired me and chosen me to accomplish your will in my life here on Earth.  Father, given that fact, my greatest happiness in this life will be when I am doing and living what you have in mind.  Conform my will to your plan!  For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

The 20 Characteristics of a Worm

June 18, 2010

Eddie Commitment, Last Days, Obedience, Purity, Service, Sins Leave a comment


1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful,
proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control,
brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of
godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain
control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins
and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning
but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

The 20 Characteristics of a Worm – not a biology lesson but a
warning on human behavior.  Paul writes Timothy in this second
letter alerting him to some of the traits that will be found
to be prominent in many people in the “last days.”  Numbers 1-19
are listed in verses 2 through 5.  Number 20 is in verse 7.

We should meditate on this list and take the the following steps:

1) Are any of these traits showing up in our life?  Get rid of them!
2) Do we see them appearing in the lives of our spouse or children?
Lovingly talk with them about it, showing them this passage as
to what God thinks about it.
3) Are our children dating or hanging out with friends who display
these characteristics?  Point this out to them verse 5.  If
they won’t follow God’s instructions, loving be a parent at
that point (Ephesians 6:4).

A Benefit of Being Fully Committed

January 5, 2009

Eddie Commitment, Meditational Moments Leave a comment

commitmentHave you ever struggled with commitment to the Lord?  It seemed to ebb and flow.  Remember, how in the past you had trials in which you fully trusted the Lord and he proved Himself faithful and gave you victory?  Now, you’re facing a trial and you’re struggling with whether to commit it to Him!

Second Chronicles 16 records an incident when King Asa did the same thing.  He was approached by the prophet Hanani who challenged the kings decision to trust the help of anotherrather than the Lord.  Hanani told King Asa:

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.  (2 Chronicles 16:9a).

 I think most of us understand the concept of commitment.  A fan committed to a team regardless of wins-losses. Commitment to a cause or our spouse or a child.  Here we have a passage that states that our Lord is always on the lookout for hearts which are fully committed to Him.  And why?  It is for OUR benefit!!  In order to strengthen us.

“Lord, let us ponder your faithfulness of the past and not waiver in our commitment in the present. That you might strengthen us for the future.”  Amen.

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