Friday, January 31, 2020

How To Experience God In Your Life

Experiencing God is probably the most influential Bible study that I have ever participated in. I have led the study several times, including once in Haiti.  The concepts and truths in the study shaped the way I view my life in Christ and has helped me to see God at work in me and around me.  Some friends and co-laborers have agreed to co-lead Experiencing God using Zoom which is a cloud-based Video Conferencing application.  Zoom can be used using WIFI or even on a smart phone by calling in.  So what is my point? Not to impress you with my IT acumen. I still struggle with emojis and am not sure what an Avatar is.

To refresh myself and to encourage whomever might read this, for the next seven devotions, I am going to share the seven spiritual realities, that are at the core of the Experiencing God study, in a “Readers’ Digest” version.  Google “Reader’s Digest” if you are not familiar with it.  Let’s get started.

REALITY 1. GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK AROUND YOU.

King David alluded to this truth in Psalm 139.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12

All too often we live our lives as if God were in Heaven far away, uninvolved in the affairs of this world.  We all know that Jesus is going to return, but until then, we act as though God has abandoned us to do the best we can. The truth of the matter is that we cannot escape the presence of God.  There is no place I can go to hide my sin, not even in my thought life. Jesus said that if you look at someone with lust in your heart or hate someone you are guilty of adultery or murder in your heart. The Bible says that we should confess our sins – that is to say we are to agree with God that we have sinned.  God is all around us and is the judge of our hearts.

But on the other side of things, He is at work in the world and will reveal Himself – act on our behalf – if we will but seek Him out. If we only will have eyes to see. Do you remember the story of Elisha’s servant.  Recall Elisha followed Elijah.  I remember that because “J” comes before “S”.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha..” — 2 Kings 6:15-17

God is all around us. The Apostle Paul prayed this for the Church in Ephesus and for us.

I (Paul) keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 1:17-20

The point is that there is a spiritual reality that we need the Spirit of God for us to see.  That God is at work all around us and He wants us – you and me – to join Him in that work. Our new life is so much more than simply being saved from Hell, attending church on Sunday, thanking God for the food we eat, and hoping He will somehow make our lives better by escaping all hardship, loss, or suffering.  He wants to use us for His eternal plan and purpose.  He wants us to join Him – He doesn’t really need us, but He wants us anyway.  Incredible as that may seem to you – it’s true.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Are You Flying The Plane Of Faith Or Merely A Passenger

Do you believe that what you believe is really real?” – Dr. Dale Tackett, The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

I was on a conference call the other day, and as we always do, we shared prayer requests and prayed before we ended the call.  One of the people on the call shared that they were going on a trip, on a plane, and they were afraid of flying. I was asked to pray and opened my heart to receive the Word from the Spirit. I was reminded of Psalm 139.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” – Psalm 139:7-10

Are there places or things where you must go or do and you are afraid? Has God asked you to go or do and you were fearful? Anxious that by going or doing you would be vulnerable to risks – health, wealth, possession, relationships?  Do you believe what God’s Word says is truth? It is easy to say “Amen”, or for most of us, just think it but never say it out loud, on Sunday morning. Amen means “so be it”. If you don’t believe it, if you don’t have faith in its veracity, then you won’t act on it.  You won’t do it, and even if you do, your heart will be full of fear and doubt.

God does not give us direction and then leave us to it. He is always present, but we are not always aware of His presence nor are we confident of His sovereignty over all things at all times.  That kind of living and thinking is not just reserved for the few “super Christians”. It is a gift to all Christians.

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” — Matthew 8:24-26

Jesus was with them, physically, visibly, and yet they were afraid of the circumstances they were facing – as if He was not in the boat with them.  If I may restructure Jesus words, “You were afraid because you lack faith.”  He is the master of the sea – billows His will obey. (Love Lifted Me, James Rowe and Howard Smith) I know that many people disagree with me about whether or not we should pray for “Traveling Mercies”.  It is just that traveling anywhere on any conveyance at any time offers no more risk than driving in Houston traffic or going to Walmart. We are fearful because we lack faith. For the Christian, we must “trust and obey for there is no other way.” (Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis)

Talking with a friend yesterday, he shared that he feels that he is at what Dr. Henry Blackaby would call a crisis of belief.  The Lord is leading him to a place that might upset is natural world – income and all of the comforts and amenities that comes with it.  He is in a boat in a storm that strikes fear in his heart. He is being challenged in his devotion.  It is easy to believe God when your physical needs are being met.  It is quite another when you are in the midst of a storm and your life or way of life is at risk.

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” – Psalm 37:25

King David’s words. Paraphrased – God is trustworthy – Why be downcast oh my soul, put your hope in God.  Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? If you do, you can face the storm and lean into it.  You can say “Yes” to God and lay fear aside. 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Living In The Presence Of God Who Is There

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being.” – Psalm 139:8-13

King David was aware of God’s presence – most of the time. Just like we are.  There were times when he was synchronized in harmony with God and then times when he seemed to forget the he was a man after God’s own heart.  When he surrendered to the temptation to sin.  Chased like an animal by King Saul, David had opportunity to kill him but would not harm “God’s anointed”. Then he would have a man killed, Uriah the Hittite, to cover up David’s sin with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.  A man of contradictions. 

David suffered the consequences of his sins, but did not lose his anointing as his predecessor, King Saul, had.  Where King Saul had un unrepentant heart, King David repented before God.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow …. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” – Psalm 51:1-7, 10-12

Friend the very worst thing we can do is to pretend that we are without sin. The very best thing we can do, when we sin, is to confess and repent before our God who is there. Do not try to hide your sin.  You may fool other people, but you cannot escape the gaze of God on your heart. If you are not aware – if you become insensitive to His presence – if your heart becomes hardened to spiritual matters – you can always trace it back to sin taking root in your heart and you letting it stay there.  It took Nathan the Prophet to confront David over his sin with Bathsheba, but it required David to confess and repent.  The same is true for us – no matter how small – how trivial you might consider your sin – it affects you spiritually. 

Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.” — Acts 13:36

I often share this verse when I talk about my life being spared after having two pulmonary embolisms in 2003.  The doctor said I should have died, but I didn’t.  At the time I was reading Purpose Driven Life, Day 40.  I told Martie that I survived because God was not done with me. Until He is, I am not going anywhere and when He is, no one can keep me here.  In 2005 we went on the mission field.  Today is the day my mom was born, she is in heaven now.  I was looking at the copy of the Purpose Driven Life book that I gave her on her birthday in 2003.  She wrote “A gift from Charley to me” on the inside cover.  Then on page 312 – Day 40 – she wrote “God prevailed in Charley’s life.” Oh that I would use that as my battle cry – perhaps even on my headstone after, like David I have fulfilled God’s purpose in my generation and sleep with my ancestors.

How we live our lives is more important than how much life we live.  Quality versus quantity. If you believe there is a heaven and the promise of eternal life there is true, then there is more to your existence than the years you walk this planet. But as we are living and walking we are to live walk circumspectly. Aware of our God-given purpose after we become one of God’s own by faith in Jesus.  Aware that God is present …. “Where can we go from His Spirit? Where can we flee from His presence? If we go up to the heavens, He is there; if we make our beds in the depths, He is there. If we rise on the wings of the dawn, if we settle on the far side of the sea, even there His hand will guide us, His right hand will hold us fast.”

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

How To Make The Most Of Today – Today May Be All You Have

it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” – Hebrews 9:27

Kobe Bryant. I don’t have to say much more than that do I? Good man, father, husband. Revered as a professional basketball player and philanthropist. Killed suddenly – unexpectedly – senselessly.  The country is in shock.  Pray for his family.  Death is always a tragic thing.  But sudden – accidental death always leaves people wondering why.  Perhaps questioning God and the idea that He is a compassionate – caring God. But here is a fact to ponder. None of us are not guaranteed the next second, minute, hour, day, month or year.

We do not know when, where, or how we will die.  We do not know if it will be in a helicopter crash, automobile, walking down the street, sitting on our sofa, sleeping in our bed,  suffering after a horrific illness, even if we will dies when we are young, when we are old.  We just don’t know. But what we do know is that physical death is inevitable and inescapable. That is a fact. My generation is the next to pass “en masse”. The older you get the more aware you are of the frailty of your life.  But when someone like Kobe Bryant dies, like he did, people are shocked into the reality that there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

So what to do.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:15-17

How we live our lives is more important than how much life we live.  Quality versus quantity. If you believe there is a heaven and the promise of eternal life in heaven is true, then there is more to your existence than the years you walk this planet. But as we are walking, we are to walk circumspectly. Aware of our God-given purpose after we become one of God’s own by faith in Jesus.  Just read the Bible to see what God’s intent for us is.

And he (a certain rich man) thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’.” – Luke 12:17-20

Be careful where you lay up your treasure, your devotion, your confidence.  All that the world has to offer will not matter when you pass from life on this earth.  King Solomon said it – after all he had achieved – wealth – power – fame – his conclusion - “All is vanity.” So, in the context of eternity and the God of heaven – what really matters. Dr. James Dobson spoke at a Promise Keepers Conference in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado. His speech was titled “Trashing Your Trophies”, he said that when we are all facing eternity – fame – wealth – achievement – none of it will matter – only relationships – with other people and with the Lord.  Don’t wait until then to come to that conclusion.  “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity – while you still have breath.” Before someone says "Did you hear what happened to …..?"

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Temptation – What To Do When It Comes Knocking

Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom.” —1 Kings 2:28

What does the story of King David's commander, Joab, betraying King David have to do with temptation? Joab was fiercely devoted to King David.  When faced with the choice of who to follow, he had resisted following Absalom, but later buckled when faced with the opportunity to betray David and join Adonijah.  No doubt that something he never imagined he would do, but he did it.  Have you ever had that experience?

“Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.[…] Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones. ‘…kept by the power of God…’— that is the only safety.  (1 Peter 1:5)” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

As a Christian there are a few things that are certain. One is that you are going to heaven.  You have eternal life in Jesus.  Another is that you are going to face temptation until you do .. go to heaven.  The question is .. How will you respond to it?  Temptation is not sin, but what you do with temptation can lead to sin.  

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” – James 1:13-15

You will face opportunities to sin by way of temptation every day.  To overcome temptation, first you must recognize that your struggle with temptation is a spiritual issue not a physical one.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”    Ephesians 6:12

The point is that if you try to defeat temptation through shear will power or I suppose, more appropriately, “won’t” power, you will fail.  You are trying to do something that is impossible.  It’s likened to trying to save yourself.  You need faith and the Spirit of God to be saved, not works or personal effort. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  The next time you are tempted do what Jesus did when He was tempted in the desert … trust in God and His Word. Pastor Greg Laurie, when describing temptation, said “You can’t keep a bird from flying over you head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair.”

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Proclaim The Gospel By How You Live And How You Love

He, Himself, is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” —1 John 2:2

When I first heard the word propitiation, I had no idea what it meant. What its significance was for me, personally and for the world on the whole. The word means to completely satisfy the wrath of God which, if meted out, would be eternal judgement for our sins and eternity in hell. Jesus went to the cross to satisfy the wrath and judgement that was sure to come for all of us.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23    There is none righteous, no not one.”  – Romans 3:10

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers said this about that. Although he directed his words to those who would be missionaries, they apply to all of us. – We are all on mission. When I first read the Chamber’s devotion, I wondered how it might apply to those who have not been called to be a missionary, separated from out for a specific purpose.  But then I thought about the fact that we have all been called out for a specific purpose. 

“The key to the missionary’s message (our message) is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. […] The greatest message of limitless importance is that ‘He Himself is the propitiation for our sins….’ The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is ‘for the whole world.’ When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.[…] He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim ‘the Lamb of God.’ It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, ‘Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,’ but, ‘…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!’ (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel— ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

We don’t live our lives just for ourselves and our own benefit.  We may not be preachers in that we stand before the people and verbally proclaim the Gospel, but we are preachers in that we live before the people and our lives should preach the Gospel.  People should see us as being a people are for Jesus and not just against sin and the ills of the culture we live in.  If all we have to offer a world that is headed for hell is condemnation, then we have nothing to offer.  If we live our lives exactly like the lost culture we live in does, then we have nothing to offer.  What the world needs is Jesus.  We need to show the world Jesus, in how we live and how we love.  We need to preach the Gospel by living our lives submitted to the Spirit and obedient to the Word.  Christians have been relegated to just being another sect.  Just another group of people who believe certain, outdated things.  Our light has lost its shine.  Our salt has lost it saltiness.  Our message, that Jesus saves, has been drowned out by the louder voice of the culture.  The world needs to see the difference Jesus can make … the world needs to see changed lives … and we are the only ones who can show them.  So my message to you today is this ….. Preach the Gospel Christian.   

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Monday, January 20, 2020

Our God Is A Consuming Fire

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” – Deuteronomy 4:24

When we surrender our lives by faith in Jesus Christ to God, we give up our right to be our own god, live our lives the way we choose. Are you familiar with the phase, “I gave my heart to Jesus” or perhaps,  “Jesus is in my heart”? When we were born again, something inside of us changed.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” –  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The price for eternal life was paid for by Jesus Christ. At the moment that we yield our lives to God, God seals us with His Spirit and marks us has His own possession. He consumes us, if you will. Spiritually, there is nothing that remains of the old me – All God sees is Jesus in us. Practically – we live a life torn between faithfulness to Him and the constant temptation to do as we will – in spite of Who owns us. Paul described his struggle, and ours in Romans chapter 7.

"I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”  – Romans 7:21-25 

God is a consuming fire. The old is consumed and, like a Phoenix, a new me and a new you rise from the ashes. Yet we face this conundrum, this dichotomy, this apparent conflict with the truth. Why do I continue to struggle with being fully devoted to God if He saved me from my old nature and given me new life in Christ? Not trying to dodge the question, but it is really a mystery. It is not fully explained except in the light of this fact. God wants to use us – to show the world Jesus. Not merely with words, but by the way we live and do. I don’t pretend to be a theologian. I am certain there are volumes of books that have been written on the subject. The Bible does not tell us explicitly why God chose to use us, but He does.  After study of His written revelation to mankind, what we can conclude is that He intends to use us for His eternal purposes.  Generation after generation of us. 

My generation is the next to pass. In fact I see it happening all around me with increased frequency.  People I have serve alongside in kingdom work, have passed through the gates of heaven before me. One day it will be my turn and yours as well.  Our lives are but a tick of the clock in eternity, but the way we live in between ticks, God intends that it will have eternal significance in the lives of others. Your faithfulness – my faithfulness matters. It is not just an issue of managing my personal sin, but being faithful to God’s purpose for me.  That is true for all of us.  The clock is ticking – use the time God has given you well.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Friday, January 17, 2020

We All Have Something to Shout About

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 3:13-14

Is there something or are the some things in your past that you deeply regret, but can’t change.  Does your heart hurt because you see the consequences of your sin being played out in your life or the lives of people you care about?  I think most of us do. Those “things’ might be small or may loom large, but in either case, we must be careful that we don’t let our past sins become the reason we say “no” to God today.  That is not to say we pretend like they didn’t happen.  In Celebrate Recovery, they say, “Denial is not a river in Egypt!” It requires faith to believe that God has, indeed, forgiven you if you have sought it with a pure heart.  That is proven in a changed life – where the person has repented – turned away from their sin. It is possible for God to use you even of the people who were touched by your sin have not.  The Bible is full of examples of people that God used in a mighty way who had done terrible things .. committed great sins … and yet, they found forgiveness and were given a new start as they walked with God.  There were some things that they could not do because sins do have consequences.  To imagine that we can do anything and it not affect others is an attempt to justify our sins .. to make an excuse for what we have done.

Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” –  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Confession – means to agree with God.  We must lay all of our excuses aside and understand that we are no different from anyone else.  All have sinned .. there is none righteous .. only Jesus … and in Him we can be assured of forgiveness.  Forgiveness means that we are no longer facing the penalty for those sins. Yield your heart and life to God and His purpose.  I am certain you are familiar with the phrase, “Let go and let God.” That is what I am encouraging you to do.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”  – Psalm 103:8-18 

We don’t have to be enslaved by what sins we have committed in the past, but can be free to live for God by His grace and mercy for eternity.  And that is something to shout about.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Oh Yes – I Am The Great Pretender

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.–  James 1:13-15

I woke up this morning with that verse on my mind. Waking up to the thought of a scripture happens to me, a lot.  I take it as a prompting to write.  It is not like I scan the Bible to find a verse or topic – it is just like “boom” there it is. Sound strange?  Yesterday I wrote about good and bad pretending as defined by C.S. Lewis. When we live our lives with un-confessed sin – we are bad pretenders.  Some of you will remember the song, “Great Pretender”

Oh-oh, yes I'm the great pretender. Pretending that I'm doing well. My need is such I pretend too much ….. Oh yes I'm the great pretender. Just laughin' and gay like a clown. I seem to be what I'm not, you see. I'm wearin' my heart like a crown. Pretending that you're (that would the Spirit) still around.” – The Platters, November 3, 1955

We are so afraid of what others will think of us if they only knew that we sin and we call ourselves Christians.  So we pretend like we don’t sin – when everyone already knows that we do.  Kind of like the children’s story “The Emperor’s New Clothes”  Everybody knew that he was in his skivvies, he was acting like he was actually wearing some beautiful clothes.  Then a little boy cried out “Look he doesn’t’ have any clothes on!”  Like someone saying of me, “Look! He is a sinner!” Then the pious will cry out in indignation, “And he calls himself a Christian!” 

The struggle we have with sin is real, as you well now.  How we respond to the sin, when we sin, and we will sin, will determine whether we are a good or bad pretender.  As a Christian, living with sin is spiritually deadly.  Sin brings separation – not eternal separation – but it incapacitates us spiritually.  We are living in disobedience even though we pretend that we are not.  It does not fool God.  Do you remember the woman at the well?  Jesus saw past her pretenses and saw her sin. Our sin may be veiled from the world but it is unveiled before God. The solution is a simple one.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8-10

Confession and repentance brings restoration.  We can’t live rightly with unconfessed sin – don’t believe the lie that a little sin doesn’t matter – James wrote that if we break any part of the law we have broken the whole law. (James 2:9-11) It is all or nothing – no compromise with sin is acceptable to God. 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Imagining That You Can Really Be Like Jesus

Each Monday I participate in a meeting – on a Zoom call.  Some of you may know what that is, but until I with joined Houston Responds as part of the Hurricane Harvey assistance, I had no idea. Zoom is a web-based video-conferencing service. Pretty cool actually. Anyway, at the start of each meeting, someone will give a short devotion.  Yesterday the devotion was centered on an excerpt from Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis. As often happens, what was said quickened my Spirit and I knew I should share it with you.

Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already. That is why children’s games are so important. They are always pretending to be grown-ups—playing soldiers, playing shop. But all the time, they are hardening their muscles and sharpening their wits so that the pretence [sic]of being grown-up helps them grow up in earnest (p. 188).” Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

The idea of “pretending” with respect to our faith is not suggesting we be hypocrites but rather that we have a desire to be  like Christ. That we would imagine that we can be and then act as if we are. That fact caused me to see Jesus’ parable about two sons in a different light.

A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? – Matthew 21:28-31

In the one case a son was struggling with obedience, but yielded to what he was told to do.  Even though he struggled with obedience, he yielded to his father. In the second, the son pretended to be obedient but was not. That son had no interest in being obedient, but wanted the appearance of being so.

There are two kinds of pretending. There is a bad kind, where the pretence is there instead of the real thing; as when a man pretends he is going to help you instead of really helping you. But there is also a good kind, where the pretence leads up to the real thing. When you are not feeling particularly friendly but know you ought to be, the best thing you can do, very often, is to put on a friendly manner and behave as if you were a nicer person than you actually are. And in a few minutes, as we have all noticed, you will be really feeling friendlier than you were. Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already. That is why children’s games are so important. They are always pretending to be grownups—playing soldiers, playing shop. But all the time, they are hardening their muscles and sharpening their wits so that the pretence of being grown-up helps them to grow up in earnest.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952; Harper Collins: 2001) 187-189.

We must imagine that we can be what God has called us to be and then live that way.  If you don’t believe that God can indeed transform you, then you will never mature. Living by faith requires imagination.  The evidence of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1) That is what is imagined. If you allow your life, your failures, to define you, then you may find that you live your life pretending to be righteous, but inside you are disobedient. But if you walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7) then you will find that at the root of your pretending is Love which leads to obedience, which leads to maturity – but not perfection.  Perfection comes on the day we see Jesus face to face. 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Monday, January 13, 2020

More Of Jesus - Less of Me - The Only Resolution That Makes Sense

Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” –  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Are you ready for a new year, a new decade? Perhaps you want to change some things about the way you live or look.  You want to breaking some old habits and start some new ones. As you know, most of those resolutions are tossed on the pile of those resolutions abandoned after a few days, weeks or months from previous new years.  There is an old hymn that describes what our attitude should be with regard to our past, our present and our future and the means by which lasting change can happen. “Have Thine Own Way”

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay! Mold me and make me, after Thy will While I am waiting, yielded and still. Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in thy presence Humbly I bow. Wounded and weary, Help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! Hold o'er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit 'til all shall see Christ only, always, living in me. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!  POLLARD, ADELAIDE

All of us have things in our past that we regret.  Satan, the god of this world, would have us cling to those things, so that they would define who we are today and limit what we will be in the future.  But Jesus has overcome sin and the grave. (1 Corinthians 15:17) In Him we have new life. (1 John 5:12) Old things are passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  We are forgiven, in Christ. (Ephesians 4:32) It is Jesus that defines us now.  Of course that is not to say that we should continue in sin, but, instead, that we should not let our sins, our failings, in the past be a wall that we cannot get by.  If you want to make a resolution for this year .. make it that you will draw closer to Jesus .. “So turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  Bòn Ane (Happy New Year)

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Friday, January 10, 2020

Tolerance Without Compromise

do not give the devil a foothold” –  Ephesians 4:27

A friend sent me a short video the other day where a Muslim-American politician was speaking to a Muslim audience espousing the need to convert the people of this country to Islam.  I suppose that my friend is concerned that there is a real effort in this country to do that.  Then I thought about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of our country and the fact that we stand on the principle that everyone has a right to believe what they want to believe. But what if they also believe that everyone else should believe the same thing.  That should not be surprising since, as Christians, we believe that our faith is the “true” faith and God wants everyone to embrace the Gospel and salvation through Jesus.

Read the Bible – for the Jews, there were only two types of people – Jews and people who were not Jews.  For us, there are those who are saved and adopted into the family of God by faith and those who are lost and bound for hell.  So – although we Christians, in this country, are to be tolerant of other faiths and non-faiths, we believe that there are really only two kinds of people, saved and lost. Well …. Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, but by definition has never been a Theocracy, a country under the rule of one religion.  In fact many of the founders of this country were escaping that when they came here as immigrants. But, if you think that everyone should be a Christian, and I do for their eternal sake, then don’t you see a conflict in our religious goals versus our national goals? So what to do.

I entitled this devotion “Don’t give Satan a foothold”, because I believe that our concern or fear about the dominance of other religions in this county gives Satan a foothold in our lives and impacts our faith. When I watched that video, frankly my first thought was , “How do we prevent this?” There seems to be a greater and greater tolerance for non-Christian religions and less tolerance for Christians.  But that is merely a reflection of the founding principles of our country. As a culture, in comparison to other nations of the world, our country is in its infancy. When I was in grade school, I was taught that the United States is “melting pot”, where all cultures, ethnic groups, faiths come together and are blended.  Well that may be true to some extent but many cultures and ethnic groups and faiths want to cling to their roots while embracing the prosperity that can be found here. There will always be tension among groups when that is true and that will always be true. Unless, of course, everyone could find common ground through faith or when Jesus returns. 

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” ― Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus was telling us that many more will reject the Gospel than accept the Gospel. Christianity is not something that is to be imposed on people as in a Theocracy. I am certain you have heard about people being killed because they refused to become Muslim.  By the way – people claiming to be Christians have been guilty of that in times past  as well.  So what are we to do?

As Christians, our place is to be a light in a dark world.  To first trust God and His sovereignty and not men and governments.  We are to put God ahead of our country but at the same time submit to the law of the land, so long as it is not contrary to God’s law.  This county’s moral tide will ebb and flow over time.  People with competing goals and faiths will always be in contention with each other.  In all of that, we must be true to our faith – our witness – and our God.  We must stand on our beliefs and not compromise truth to get along – which is the foot hold that Satan is looking for.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

I Can’t Save Anybody But I Can Tell Everybody

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”  1 Peter 3:15

Have you ever shared your faith with someone? Maybe went door to door. Maybe you have a taken a class on how to share your testimony and the Gospel. Or maybe you have decided to leave that aspect of being a Christian to others. I have heard it said that speaking in public, to people you don’t know, is one of the greatest fears that people have. You can get over that fear with preparation and practice.  Just like anything else in life, there are always going to be people who do “whatever it is” better than you.  That maybe important if you are getting paid to do it, but when it comes to giving you testimony – sharing your faith – not so much.

You see, when it comes to faith issues it is the Spirit of God who does the real work.  We are merely messengers.  Are you familiar with the term “Don’t shoot the messenger?” Well you don't shoot the messenger because all the messenger is doing is relaying information.  The message was crafted by someone else. In the case of the Gospel and your new life in Christ, the message is from God, the Father.  It is not up to you to save the person you are speaking to. It is impossible.  That said, you can’t argue anyone into heaven.  When someone comes to faith, perhaps when you are speaking to them, it is because the Spirit of God has gone ahead of you – preparing their hearts.  Your meeting is the means by which they hear the Gospel, the very thing their hearts have been yearning for.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” ― Romans 10:14-15

Implicit in the telling is the showing.  What I mean is that your life should reflect your message.  If you were buying a Chevy but the salesman was driving a Ford, you might wonder why he promotes one thing and does another.  That does not mean you must be sinless – none of us are. It does mean that your life should reflect your love of God and willingness to walk in the light.   

Listen – God will give all us opportunity. The question is, “Will we be ready and willing when the opportunity comes knocking?”

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts” ― Zechariah 4:6

You don’t have to be an eloquent speaker – merely a faithful servant. Being a witness to the Gospel is a basic Christian responsibility.  Jesus said –

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” – Matthew 28:19

That means as you go – as you live your life – be ready to do what God calls all of us to do. Oh, one other thing. Paul wrote …

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6

You never know what your place is – planting – watering – or harvesting.  Just remember, it is God that makes it grow.  You just need to be ready and willing.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

God Never Asks You To Do Something That You Can Do Without Him

You will always need God to accomplish what He sends you to do. We were just talking about Gideon. God used Gideon to defeat an army of thousands using only three hundred men, torches and clay pots. When Moses sent the twelve spies across the Jordan to spy out the land, all but two (Joshua and Caleb) came back with bad news. In the minds of the ten, it was impossible for Israel to defeat the giants that lived there. It was too hard a task. Forty years later, Joshua was once again standing at the banks of the Jordan. The task was the same. Joshua was to take the land for Israel. And the Lord said:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ― Joshua 1:9

God chooses to use ordinary people to do what is impossible in the minds of men. If you are going to do something for God, you cannot do it apart from God. What we do is by the power of God through His Spirit.

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts” ― Zechariah 4:6

I would be at great fault if I did not make it clear that anything that was accomplished during our journeys must be credited to the dedication and commitment of the hundreds of volunteers that helped us. Time and again, the right people with the right skills, heart for service, and financial resources came to Mississippi, and later to Haiti and to Texas. When we faced the trials and challenges that we faced, we often had no idea how to overcome them. “But God” is perhaps one of the strongest phrases in the Bible. It appears no less than 47 times. But God met the challenges and trials using the volunteers who would come to our aid.

I could not possibly acknowledge each one, each group, each church that set their lives aside to help the “man in the ditch.” I would have to devote an entire chapter of my book, “Where Faith Is Waiting” to each of them. Not only did they minister to the people in the communities, but they ministered to Martie and me. What we did, where we served was a very difficult and, at times, a dark and dangerous place to be. They were like the balm of Gilead for us personally. They encouraged us. They blessed us. They stood in the gap for us. To this day we count many as dear friends and partners in the fields in which the Lord has set our plow. And we knew that is was by God’s providence that we were able to do what we did.

 “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’  Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:36-39

If you read Matthew 22:36-39 you see that God requires all of your devotion and that devotion then gives birth to a love for others. Saying yes to God re-quires faith ― trust ― obedience. Where we get into trouble is when we make choices in our own wisdom. Have you faced faith challenges in your life? Are you facing one now?  Would you be willing to go to a difficult place or become involved in a difficult circumstance? Or maybe you feel like you are already there.

Most people I know put a limit on their devotion to God.  They struggle with natural devotion and spiritual devotion.  Anything can become a god if we let it have preeminence over our devotion to God.  The second greatest commandment is to love others, but that is the second greatest, not the first.  God really asks very few to physically abandon their families to serve him.  But He commands every one of us to abandon any and all devotions that would push Him aside. 

Even loving Him more requires Him to do it.  We can’t do it on our own.  We must do it by faith by the power of the Spirit.  There are many admonitions in the New Testament to love others – above ourselves – but never above God.  The temptation is strong, but God is stronger.  God never asks us to do anything that we can do on our own except this one thing; to lay our lives down at the foot of the cross, to trust in God and not ourselves.

I share what od has done in our lives not as a point of boasting about ourselves, we are nothing. No, we are boasting about what a great God we serve and hope to encourage you to say “Yes” to God and go to a place uncertainty.  A place where you must trust in God and not yourself.  It might be right around the corner. Or with the next person you meet. 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Monday, January 6, 2020

In God’s Economy, There are No Coincidences

God weaves a web of relationships that is improbable and, more likely, impossible for man to orchestrate. When I meet people, I always ask the Lord ― “Why am I meeting them?” I can’t see very far down the path He has me on ― but I know that some of the people I meet along the way will play a part in my journey and my mission which is to point people to Jesus.

I believe that the Holy Spirit works at “both ends of the stick” at the same time. What I mean is that if He is leading, then He is also preparing hearts to agree that “This is the way” (Isaiah 30:21). If we look at people as the source of our provision, we are looking too low. We must look to the hills! (Psalm 121)  There are no coincidences in the life of a Saint. God is always at work, all around you. The question is, “Can you see Him at work?” Even in the mundane, simple things, God is at work.

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ― Romans 8:28

It seemed that each time we solved one problem, another one would pop up. It is a little like that arcade game where you hit a gopher’s head with a mallet only to have another pop up. The more you hit, the more heads pop up. While we were in Haiti, we raised and provided funding for 6 church schools. We had the salaries; we had the books; we even had the uniforms by the providence of God. A pastor shared a Haitian proverb, “Empty stomachs have no ears.” Most of the children were coming to the schools without having eaten and would not eat until they got home. If there was food to eat. I recall Martie measuring children for uniforms in La Vallee. When one little boy took his shirt off to try on a uniform shirt, you could see all of his ribs. Martie cried.

We needed to feed the children (Matthew 25), but how to do it. By this point there were several hundred children in the schools. That represented thousands of meals each week. And we would need water and a place to cook the food.  

While in Haiti, I had two phones. One for the U.S. and one for Haiti. One day I received a call on my Haiti phone from the U.S. It was a bit unusual. It was a man, Lou, who lived near Chicago. He told me that he had been visiting his uncle in Demotte, Indiana. Churches from same Demotte that helped so much with hundreds of sheds in Mississippi. I had sent an update to the churches that had pro-vided volunteers and financial support. In the last up-date I mentioned that I needed food for the children. The churches would make copies of my updates and distribute them to church members. Lou’s uncle showed him the update and asked if Lou knew any-thing about it. Lou did not and that is why he called me. You see, Lou had been providing food to school children in Jacmel, the same city we were working in, for the past 16 years. He said he would be in Jacmel in two weeks and would like to meet to talk about how we might partner in feeding children. We would need to pay for shipping, but the food was free. Do you see God’s hand at work?

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.’ The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” – Acts 8:26-35

Philip was prompted by the Spirit to connect with the Ethiopian.   At the same time, the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah – seeking God. Has anything like that ever happened to you?  Prompted by the Spirit to speak to someone, and they were ready to hear. Did you see it as God at work or did you just right it off as an amazing coincidence.

 God is a “just in time” God. He is never late. We may become impatient, but God is always on time – His time.  When I meet people, I always ask myself, and the Lord, “Why am I meeting this person?” “How is God going to use this for His purpose and glory?” 

When I received the phone call about the food for the children, I knew the impossibility of me orchestrating that connection.  So often we miss what God is doing in and through us and the people we meet.  What He did through men and women in the Bible, He is doing today.  The same Spirit is at work in all of us.  Are you ready and willing to be used by God? God is ready and willing to use you for His glory and the good of others.

Paul wrote and I pray in agreement:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as His mighty strength.” – Ephesians 1:17-19  

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone