Paul Washer - For His Great Love Towards Us

Who Is He?

This Was Your Life

God is on the Throne

A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
(Proverbs 20:24 ESV)

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.
(Proverbs 21:1 ESV)

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before Him.
(Ecclesiastes 9:1 ESV)

These verses reaffirm and deepen my understanding of the sovereignty of God. Confusion and uncertainty is a natural reaction we observe looking out into the sea of humanity. How difficult it is to walk on the right path! And even when we stumble onto the right path, it is the Lord who leads us there. Who can walk rightly and understand life apart from God?

We look at the wickedness and immorality of the world and ask, "How can this be? How can God allow things to continue this way?" We are often plagued with personal difficulties and hardships and we ask, "Is it possible that God is not on the throne and instead, a random sequence of events, often saturated with unfairness, evil, and corruption is unfolding before us?" No. God is on the throne. He can stop and bound, and rule and overrule. The Lord can turn the hearts of men as He pleases. Their thoughts, will, and understanding, are in His hands -- and this not only to others, but intimately in our lives as well. He is the one who takes the heart of stone and turns it into a heart of flesh, receptive to what pleases Him -- His fear, His laws, His Spirit. There is nothing that escapes the hand and sovereign will of God.


For the righteous, that is, the one whom God loves and is pleased with, this is a comforting truth. For whether we are hated or persecuted, or loved and commended, we are by the promise of God, safe in His hands. He is awesome and mighty to save!

My True Country

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:1-4 ESV)

Can anything of this world fully satisfy the heart that longs for God? The things of earth will pass, and is passing quickly. Therefore, do not seek those things, but the things above. Set your minds on the glorious reality that is to come. In Mere Christianity, in a chapter called "Hope", C.S. Lewis describes the current condition that we see here on this earth, a mere reflection or copy, of things to come. We are not to despise the things of this world, as we are to be thankful for every good gift that comes from our Father, but we should be keenly aware that this is only a foretaste of a superior place -- Heaven.

"Most of us find it very difficult to want 'Heaven' at all -- except in so far as 'Heaven' means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognise it. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us. Now there are two wrong ways of dealing with this fact, and one right one.

(I) The Fool's Way. - He puts the blame on the things themselves. He goes on all his life thinking that if only he tried another woman, or went for a more expensive holiday, or whatever it is, then, this time, he really would catch the mysterious something we are all after. Most of the bored, discontented, rich people in the world are of this type. They spend their whole lives trotting from woman to woman (through the divorce courts), from continent to continent, from hobby to hobby, always thinking that the latest is 'the Real Thing' at last, and always disappointed.

(2) The Way of the Disillusioned 'Sensible Man'. - He soon decides that the whole thing was moonshine. 'Of course,' he says, 'one feels like that when one's young. But by the time you get to my age you've given up chasing the rainbow's end.' And so he settles down and learns not to expect too much and represses the part of himself which used, as he would say, 'to cry for the moon'. This is, of course, a much better way than the first, and makes a man much happier, and less of a nuisance to society. It tends to make him a prig (he is apt to be rather superior towards what he calls 'adolescents'), but, on the whole, he rubs along fairly comfortably. It would be the best line we could take if man did not live for ever. But supposing infinite happiness really is there, waiting for us? Supposing one really can reach the rainbow's end? In that case it would be a pity to find out too late (a moment after death) that by our supposed 'common sense' we had stifled in ourselves the faculty of enjoying it.

(3) The Christian Way. - The Christian says, 'Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, then; is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.'

There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of 'Heaven' ridiculous by saying they do not want 'to spend eternity playing harps'. The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grown-ups, they should not talk about them. All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible. Musical instruments are mentioned because for many people (not all) music is the thing known in the present life which most strongly suggests ecstasy and infinity. Crowns are mentioned to suggest the fact that those who are united with God in eternity share His splendour and power and joy. Gold is mentioned to suggest the timelessness of Heaven (gold does not rust) and the preciousness of it. People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves, He meant that we were to lay eggs." -- C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, Chapter 20

An Insignificant Tiny Dot

The beauty and the awesome size of this nebula is mind boggling (click on the photo to see it in detail). We are but an insignificant tiny dot in the grand universe, yet significant in that the Creator is extremely interested and mindful of this little dot. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

This is reasonable, since all things belong to God. Our material possessions, our wealth, the very breath that we breathe, all come from God. How much more should we present ourselves, completely and willingly, now that He has bought us and redeemed us with His precious blood! And why would our Lord save us from our sins? To bring glory to Himself by loving us with an infinite love, in order that we may have the capacity to love Him and walk intimately with Him...

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19 NKJV)

Oh how foolish it is to desire anything less than being filled with the fullness of God. The mystery that was hidden through the ages is now revealed in Jesus Christ. The invitation has been given, the door is open, and all who desire to walk intimately with Him will have their fill. Live and be satisfied!

I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!
(Song of Solomon 6:3)

For God So Loved The World

The last three sermons preached by John Piper are very good. He exposits John 3:9-21, and notably the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16. ""For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." These sermons are part of the ongoing Gospel of John series which started last September. Watch and listen and you'll be blessed as your knowledge of God and his Son, Jesus Christ deepens.

God So Loved the World, Part 1


God So Loved the World, Part 2


This Is the Judgment: Light Has Come into the World

Only For Him

Praise the Lord!

I received three "verse of the day" emails this week that were particularly meaningful to me.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV) -- We all need to get along and continue to love each other as God loves us, and at the same time, without compromising, living unto God in holiness, revering His Holy Name.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV) -- I talked to a friend today about happiness that God wants us to have. "Didn't Christ die so that we can be forgiven and that we can be happy?" Yes, but the happiness, or more accurately, joy, that God wants us to have is not the same happiness that the world offers. It is an eternal joy, knowing that we have been forgiven and are no longer in enmity with God because of our sins, and because it is eternal, it can only be found in Him.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! (Psalm 105:1 NKJV) -- Definitely give all thanks and all praise and all glory to the Lord who makes His deeds known among the peoples. Not just His people, but all people. His hand is upon all things, and He will receive all the glory. What an invitation to share in proclaiming His works to all the world! For those who have seen the glory of the Lord and the power of His hands in all things, what else can we do but praise Him? Lord you are good and faithful and just! Praise the Lord!

Ten Shekels and a Shirt

Topic: Humanism
Bible Text: Judges 17
Preached on: Tuesday, January 1, 1980
Description: Paris Reidhead preaches what could be called one of the most influential sermons of the 20th century. The real point of this sermon is an indictment of individuals and organizations practicing humanism behind a mask of Christianity! This sermon should be preached on a regular basis in every church in America!
Transcript

His Mercy Endures Forever

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!

For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

For His mercy endures forever:

To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who made great lights,

For His mercy endures forever;

The sun to rule by day,

For His mercy endures forever;

The moon and stars to rule by night,

For His mercy endures forever.

To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,

For His mercy endures forever;

And brought out Israel from among them,

For His mercy endures forever;

With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,

For His mercy endures forever;

And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

For His mercy endures forever;

But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who led His people through the wilderness,

For His mercy endures forever;

To Him who struck down great kings,

For His mercy endures forever;

And slew famous kings,

For His mercy endures forever;

Sihon king of the Amorites,

For His mercy endures forever;

And Og king of Bashan,

For His mercy endures forever;

And gave their land as a heritage,

For His mercy endures forever;

A heritage to Israel His servant,

For His mercy endures forever.

Who remembered us in our lowly state,

For His mercy endures forever;

And rescued us from our enemies,

For His mercy endures forever;

Who gives food to all flesh,

For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!

For His mercy endures forever.

psalm 136

Waiting

It has been days since I have fallen on my knees, face down before the Lord. I have been in a state of unrest and uncertainty, and though I know that Christ is my firm foundation, I haven't completely rested in Him. I should be going somewhere, doing something, heading toward a specific direction, flying high, but instead, I'm grounded. I suppose everyone is looking for something -- happiness, pleasure, excitement, friends, love, anything to satisfy the body and soul. We go to and fro, wanting and wanting more. This is where unrest begins. We go out into the world trying out new things, pursuing our heart's desire. However, do we ask if the Lord's anointing is upon these plans? Will we hear at the end of it all from the Lord of all, "These empires that you've built, these relationships, these pursuits... what have they to do with Me?" I pray that we won't have to face up to that shame. I pray that the Lord will say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant."

On my knees, face down before the Lord, I gained this insight. We are not accustomed to waiting. Some can barely wait a few seconds for a line to move. We live in such a fast-paced, overstimulated society that meditation on the Word of God and the waiting for His leading and prompting becomes foreign and uncomfortable. As a result, we run around like chicken with their heads cut off. How I wish we can slow down and examine things carefully. Consider the flowers, the trees, the fruits of the trees and how they grow marvelously over the course of not minutes, nor hours, nor days, but months and years. Nature's beauty, formed over time, declares the majesty and glory of God. His handiwork is evident in all the universe and so it would be preposterous to think that He neglects us and our daily needs. If He gives so much attention into the finest of details in nature, allowing months and years to pass in order to bring a work to completion, wouldn't it follow that He does the same with our lives? Oh if only we had more faith! Then we would trust Him all the more. Moses had this insight in a recorded prayer. "For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) It benefits us to remember God's perspective when we lose sight of our own. Learn to fear Him, so that we may obtain a heart of wisdom and experience the enduring love and mercy of the Lord.