Uncategorized Murray McLellan on 19 Nov 2007 03:23 pm
Mmmmm… Nov. 19, 2007
Monday, Nov.19, 2007
Good morning, saints,
How I appreciated the time on Sunday being reminded of the gospel. We think we have it because we understand the concept with our mind. However, life unfolds (and our reaction to it) that we don’t believe the gospel in our heart that we understand with our mind. If we take a passage such as “Seek first His kingdom…” What do we believe in our heart? Our heart is not synonymous with emotions, but rather it is the center of our motives – it is what we really value or treasure. We would all “say” we believe that it is best and that we are to seek first His kingdom. However, what does our behavior say we really believe in our heart? This is an important question to consider as we seek to be a church-planting movement – for this is the mission of our Lord – the advance of the kingdom through the gospel in the building of His church in visible form for His glory. Think of your life in 10 years – what do you want it to look like? Your answer may reveal some of your heart’s treasure. Was it about a particular lifestyle in this passing and temporary world? Was it to be married? Or to have a particular family situation? Or to have a particular home, or career? What is your life energy, time, and resources being used up in advancing? Is it about your comfort, or Christ’s kingdom? Did you picture being a part of a church that has become a part of a network of churches in the strategic center of Saskatoon that has and continues to extend into the province and across western Canada? Churches where people love the Sovereign all glorious God of the Bible in and through the Lord Jesus Christ? Churches that influence and extend the gospel of Christ in word and deed as a city on a hill? Churches that are Christ-exalting and God-centered, and who understand grace – in their hearts? Churches that are communities where incurable God-lovers are real and love one another as they have been loved by Christ? Etc.?
Jesus died on the cross, not simply so we could get to heaven as individuals, and cope while we await His coming. He has created us into a body – a household – an army – a kingdom – a city – for His glory. He has created us into a living army of light and sent into the world with His gospel, that other lepers might eat and join with us. We want other needy sinners to be brought to Jesus and into His community and sent out with His mission in their hearts. This mission may well (in fact will necessarily) mean re-ordering “our” lives, “our” priorities, “our” plans for something far more wonderful – His life; His priority; His plan. He had to put Jonah in a fish to get him to slow down, and take stalk of what Jonah was seeking and treasuring in his heart – and it wasn’t the kingdom of God.
Do we believe the gospel in our hearts?
Below I will record a few of things I said on Sunday regarding two great enemies of the gospel.
TWO ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL – Idolatry and Religion
Everyone is a worshipper. We were created to worship. We go to concerts. We go to sporting events and cheer. Non-Christians are worshippers – they just worship the creation as opposed to the Creator. The good things God gives as gifts can become “god things” and they will ultimately disappoint us.
Functional saviors – a part of idolatry:
You have something you perceive of as “hell.” (There is fat hell; stupid hell; ugly hell; I can’t afford an i-pod hell, a marriage hell whatever - all these false ideas of hell – so people pick a “functional savior” to get them out of that hell – you give your time and energy to what gets you into skinny heaven, or smart heaven or i-pod heaven … the magazine covers have all the different pictures of heaven. – flat stomach heaven, big screen TV heaven, beautiful acreage and home heaven – the idol that people think will make them ultimately happy - satisfied).
Religion sees the world in terms of good and bad. The gospel sees repentant bad people or unrepentant bad people toward the one good person – Jesus. Religion functions on the “if” and “then” principle (if I am good then God is happy and pleased with me). The gospel is about what Jesus has done for me. It is all Jesus.
Religion is a stick and God is the piñata.
The gospel views God Himself as the gift.
Religion doesn’t know what to do with suffering and pain.
The gospel knows that no suffering or pain is in vain, and draws us closer to the one we love – without seeing – the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Religion leads to uncertainty – because you never know if you’ve done enough; you never know if you believed right; or prayed right; … because if it is based on your performance, you never have assurance of God’s love or acceptance or if God is pleased with you.
The gospel provides assurance because it is in the finished work and righteousness of Jesus. In Jesus there is a certainty – for it is wholly in Jesus.
Religion leads to either pride or despair. (i.e. God loves the one who is obedient and tries hard – that’s me. Aren’t proud religious people fun – they are so warm – these are the ones who murdered Jesus! )
The other result is despair because you can’t do it – aren’t faithful enough – I can’t do it…and the law is held up before you – but you know you aren’t good enough.
Religion only ends in pride or despair.
The gospel ends in confident humility. My standing with God is secure – my salvation is secure – because Jesus is great – He can change me; I bring all my sin to Him … I am nothing and absolutely fine with it.
Gathering and Dependent, Christ-centered Prayer
As a church beginning to church plant, we are in a gathering season. To that end, there will be a prayer time at 9:25 a.m. in the Sutherland Hall kitchen. Our God can do amazing things. He desires that we ask, so that when He shows Himself strong, it is clear who has done it and who rightly receives the glory. I am convinced He has many people in this city. He is able to do big things with small things.
Beginning in January, our community groups will take on a gathering flavour, as we desire others to know and love Jesus; so that they would turn from idolatry and religion to embrace the gospel in their heart.
Calendar
Make sure you are checking the calendar for your time on set up. With the snow, the people on set up need to be there early enough to clear the sidewalk, in addition to setting up chairs, turning up the heat etc. Make sure to get the key from Ken, the Sunday before your turn.
May we love God, one another, and the city of Saskatoon.
Jesus, build your church in Saskatoon for the glory of our heavenly Father.
Much love in, and dependence upon, the Savior,
Murray
“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Acts 28:31
“The story continues…”
on 20 Nov 2007 at 7:25 pm 1.Julie Cortens said …
See you Sunday at 9:25am! What a great idea - to arrive early to fellowship so we can spend time with the Lord that He might show Himself strong. Indeed He IS able to do great things with weak people….if only we ask Him to prepare our hearts for the task He has set befor us.
on 20 Nov 2007 at 9:05 pm 2.Murray said …
Yes, if we are going to grow as a church and glorify our King, we must pray - for it is God alone who can achieve this.
A couple of quotes ….
“Our greatest danger is not liberalism, modernism, postmodernism, bible criticism…. the greatest danger is the church doing the work of ministry in the power of the flesh.”
Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality
“Now we can say and again, safely and stunningly, what the awesome place of prayer is in the purpose of God to fill the earth with his glory. Not only has God made the accomplishment of his purposes hang on the preaching of the word; he has also made the success of that preaching hang on prayer. God’s goal to be glorified will not succeed without the
powerful proclamation of the gospel. And that gospel will not be proclaimed in power to all the nations without the prevailing, earnest,
faith-filled prayers of God’s people. This is the awesome place of prayer in the purpose of God for the world. That purpose won’t happen without prayer.”
John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad!
on 26 Nov 2007 at 6:09 pm 3.Julie Cortens said …
Wow - both great quotes…it begins with prayer…so why do we relegate prayer to the convenient moments in our lives? Does Satan not revel in this?