Archive for the Commentary category
What is happening?
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 6:26 AM by David Zavadil
We have been busy here in Northern Ireland. Ballyloughan Presbyterian Church hosted a 5x5 soccer outreach last night. I refereed 5 games and gave a brief gospel presentation. The ministry here is going well, though there is the constant feeling of oppression.
While I am here, I am reading "The Shack." I am not too impressed at this point. I will post a full review when I am finished.
Stay tuned for more.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS)
Respectable Sins postponed
Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM by David Zavadil
I apologize to the readers. In preparing for our mission trip next week, I have not posted a new Conversation on Respectable Sins. I will post for Chapters 4 - 7 on Monday. I will be out of the country from the 18th through the 28th and will resume the study on the week of the 28th. To see a blog of our trip to Northern Ireland check out our Church Web Site .
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Commentary (RSS)
Prince Caspian; The Movie
Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 1:17 PM by David Zavadil
My family and I went and saw "Prince Caspian" this past Friday night. I am always scared of sequels, especial after the likes of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Rocky V." (Boy did I just date myself bigtime?) Caspian turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I will say up front, it was by far a more violent film than was "the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." I would not send my young children alone, go as a family.
The film is the classic good versus bad story. The spiritual content focuses more on the personal faith and decision making of the characters than a broad gospel or biblical picture. Lucy deals with peer pressure verses obedience to Aslan. Peter struggles with self as much as the pressure of others, taking a very self reliant and prideful posture throughout much of the movie. One thing that surprised me was the movie makers portrayed the older Pevensies as "too old" to believe. This came across at times as saying belief in Aslan or in our case God was limited to children and at some point you will out grow it. I was pleased that Peter and Susan returned to their earlier belief before the end of the movie. There is one brilliantly done scene with allusions to the parting of the Red Sea.
I am intentionally being a bit vague with this review. I think "Prince Caspian" is a movie you need to go and see. Despite the violence (medievel war type violence), it is a movie the whole family should see together. There are many lessons that can be learned, making this a great movie to discuss after seeing. I give this movie a four and a half out of five stars.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS)
Comments Restored
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 3:28 PM by David Zavadil
I have restored the comments on this blog. It is a new account so all of the previous comments, including the spam have been deleted. I plan on writing more and moderating the comments tighter. I pray that at some time this site will be used by people around the world for edification and growth.
Edited on: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:03 PMPosted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Locarb (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS), Puritans (RSS), Stupid Movie Quotes (RSS), The Church (RSS), TNT (RSS)
Comments Spammed
Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 6:27 PM by David Zavadil
My comments were spammed recently so I have eliminated them until I can find a better system.
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Locarb (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS), Puritans (RSS), Stupid Movie Quotes (RSS), The Church (RSS), TNT (RSS)
Good Friday
Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 3:43 PM by David Zavadil
Traffic was soooo light this morning. I was surprised by how many people apparently have "Good Friday" off. Last night we had an exciting and successful Seder. The meal and service went very smooth and we had about a half dozen visitors to boot. Tonight we will be hosting our first Tenebrae Service.
The service of Tenebrae, or "shadows," is an ancient tradition, used on the Friday before Easter to impress upon the hearts of believers the awful consequences of sin and the magnitude of the Savior's sacrifice. This service is very moving and an interesting way to head into the Easter Celebration on Sunday. Pray for us as we remember the cost that Christ paid for us on the cross.
Edited on: Friday, March 21, 2008 4:50 PMPosted in Commentary (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
Maundy Thursday
Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 8:50 AM by David Zavadil
Today is Maundy Thursday. It is the day we remember the "Last Supper." At EPC we will celebrate by hosting a Messianic Passover Seder. For the purists reading this, I know that today is not Passover, it is about a month from now. We are seeking to visually remember the last few days of Christ's life beginning with this Seder. Pray as we remember the pain that began with Judas's leaving during the supper to betray our Lord.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
What is the Deal with these People?
Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at 10:52 AM by David Zavadil
I have determined that this is the most sickening display of politics I have ever seen. I had determined early on to leave commentary about politics to the radio personalities and the politicians themselves. All of the fore mentioned have enough to say without me chiming in. After yesterday's wierdness and weeks worth of "you called me this" and "she said this," I have had enough.
As a conservative, fiscally, socially, and governmentally, I have decided to abandon our two existing parties. As I look at the leading candidates, I see the same person, just different skin, gender or age. I do not anticipate that any of our current candidates are capable of enacting any positive change for our country and so I wash my hands of them all.
Some may be asking, "Are you going to vote?" Their argument will be , "No vote is a wasted vote." I agree and so I will be casting my vote for the only third party candidate I trust. Me. I have determined to write in my name, that is unless Pogo runs again. I am forming the Common Sense Party. Our platform is simple. If you govern as the constitution was meant to be used and do so with basic common sense, an implied desire of the founders, then you will govern well. So, with that in mind, I will now consider myself as the onlycandidate worth considering, well at least for my vote.
Posted in Commentary (RSS)
Puritan Challenged
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 at 12:18 PM by David Zavadil
As most of you know, I have been taking part in a modified form of The Puritan Challenge . I January I began reading, Grace Abounding for the Chief of Sinners. I have to confess that this has been a tougher read than I first expected. Though it is not an easy read, compared to the latest Olsteen book, it has been most challenging. I spent the first two weeks wondering, "When am I going to get to the slave trade?" Only after reading a while did it click that this is Bunyan's story not Newton's. After beating myself up for my idiocy, I pressed on.
Bunyan's constant struggle with doubt and his own selfish lusts proves convicting. I am amazed how many of his struggles and issues were similar to those we experience. Like Bunyan, I have often wondered how God could love and forgive a sinner such as I am. Like Bunyan, I seek God's grace as the chief of sinners. It is so amazing to see the truth of Scriptures revealing to my heart, as it did to Bunyan, the abundant grace of God.
Though I have not finished this wonderful book, I will continue to plug
on at the same time beginning Flavel's Mystery
of Providence (Puritan Paperbacks) (Puritan Paperbacks)
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
Ponderings on Sin
Posted on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 1:43 PM by David Zavadil
As I sit at my desk and eat my Bacon Ranch Salad ( It is time to buy
groceries, I am forced to forage at McDonalds), I am thinking about the
changes I have gone through in recent weeks. In late October I received
the Doctoral dictate, "lose some weight and begin exercising," due to a
high Cholesterol report. In November I began Men's
Health TNT Diet
I have reached a point where I am now disciplined in my body, though my family would love for me to loosen up a bit. I am concerned about what I eat and making sure I workout, almost to the point of legalism. (Just to keep myself honest, I have not worked out today.) Why does it seem that I, and those around me, are not as disciplined when it comes to sin in our lives? Now this is by no means a new thought. Reading through The Mortification of Sin , Owen's is beginning to address the issue. In Chapter 7 of the book, he points to our faith. He writes, "Unless a man be a believer—that is, one that is truly ingrafted into Christ— he can never mortify any one sin; I do not say, unless he know himself to be so, but unless indeed he be so." To deal with my sin, like with my body, I have to admit to the heart problem. If my heart is not set upon Christ I can not deal with my sin. The Psalmist put it like this, Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (ESV) To discipline ourselves against sin, we must begin with a heart that is focus on God, given over to God. Too often we begin dealing with sin incorrectly, we try to master the sin, with out ever coming to the Master. Owen has this helpful reminder for us, "It is true, it is—it will be—required of every person whatsoever that hears the law or gospel preached, that he mortify sin. It is his duty, but it is not his immediate duty; it is his duty to do it, but to do it in God’s way." God's way begins with our hearts set upon Him. Do you know Christ or know about Christ? You will never deal with the sin that haunts you without Christ.
Owen offers some help for those of us who are already believers. Our heart is set upon Christ, we desire to be rid of the sin in our lives and yet we still struggle. We are to run to the cross in obedience. I confess to be a rabid, "I can do it myself" guy. It doesn't matter what it is, I don't want help, "I can do it myself." Jesus says, "No you can't." Listen to Owen on this,
"Hatred of sin as sin, not only as galling or disquieting, a sense of the love of Christ in the cross, lies at the bottom of all true spiritual mortification...If you hate sin as sin, every evil way, you would be no less watchful against everything that grieves and disquiets the Spirit of God, than against that which grieves and disquiets your own soul. It is evident that you contend against sin merely because of your own trouble by it."
I can tell you that I hate sin as sin but struggle, too often, to turn to the cross. I am troubled by sin, and this often leads to trouble, but struggle with turning to Christ for the strength to be rid of it. How about you? Do struggle with sin but find it hard to really confess and repent? Have you truly mortified that which plagues you? On Sunday we will be looking at Matthew 6:24 which reads, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."(ESV) Jesus is using the illustration of the world and money to illustrate what I am talking about here. Where sin is concerned, we must serve one master, the Lord Jesus Christ. We can not serve both sin or Christ or we will find ourselves loving the one and hating the other.
So, now back to the discipline in my physical life and the discipline in my spiritual life. Why do I find it so much easier to workout and eat right than to mortify and put away my lusts and sins? I think one reason may be that with my phsyical body I can see results, sometimes quickly. When I am dealing with the spiritual, the results are not always as vivid. We are in a visual world and tend toward those things we can see. I, we, need to learn to open the eyes of our heart and truly see Christ and the work He is doing within us. As we begin to see our Lord in all His majesty, begin to cling to the cross in all its glory, then we will begin to see those things we hate most in this world, falling to the way side. I think I need a good dose of some Godly protein and a workout in His Word and Prayer.
Edited on: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:46 PMPosted in Commentary (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
The Puritan Challenge
Posted on Monday, January 07, 2008 at 10:41 AM by David Zavadil
It seems I was not the only one who felt called to the challenge of reading a puritan a month. The Puritan Reading Challenge has a plan for the monthly readings. I will be adapting, slightly, the list of readings as there are a few on the list I have already read. In the next day or two I will post my reading list for year. Won't you join me on this quest?
Edited on: Monday, January 07, 2008 10:44 AMPosted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
Knowing too Little about Sin
Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 10:42 AM by David Zavadil
As I have continued in reading the classic The Mortification of Sin by John Owen, I was struck by a thought he brought out on page 76 of the version I am reading. Owens writes:
It is to be feared that very many have little knowledge of the main enemy that they carry about with them in their bosoms. This makes them ready to justify themselves and to be impatient of reproof or admonition, not knowing that they are in any danger (2 Chron. 16:10).
How many of us really think about our sin? I am not speaking about dwelling on how we can commit our sins or wallowing in guilt over our sins. I am speaking about looking at our sins as if a general seeking to win a war. We spend too little time going beyond the outward observances of our sins and fail to get to the heart of the matter. What is the root cause of my sin? What moves me in that direction? What things set of those thoughts? We see the symptoms but we fail to diagnose the real problem. As Owen points out, this failure to bring true diagnosis leads to a failure to properly deal with or sin. Instead of mortifying our sinfulness, we justify it, we deny that it is a problem.
To properly deal with any problem, you must learn everything you can about the issue. The same holds true for our dealing with sin. We do not need to learn how to sin, but how the sin takes hold so that we can properly put it away, mortify that sin. How much do you know about those lusts that plague you? How do you begin to fight the sin that torments you? Comment and help us all learn to mortify our sin.
Edited on: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:45 AMPosted in Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
What Mortification is Not
Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 3:17 PM by David Zavadil
“Suppose a man to be a true believer, and yet finds in himself a powerful indwelling sin, leading him captive to the law of it, consuming his heart with trouble, perplexing his thoughts, weakening his soul as to duties of communion with God, disquieting him as to peace, and perhaps defiling his conscience, and exposing him to hardening through the deceitfulness of sin, what shall he do? What course shall he take and insist on for the mortification of this sin, lust, distemper, or corruption, to such a degree as that, though it be not utterly destroyed, yet, in his contest with it, he may be enabled to keep up power, strength, and peace in communion with God?”
In this week's reading of The Mortification of Sin, Owens discusses what mortifying sin is not. While brief, it is a section worth reading. I found myself convicted of my own attitudes toward sin as I read this chapter. Listen to some of Owen's words:
"A man may be sensible of a lust, set himself against the eruptions of it, take care that it shall not break forth as it has done, but in the meantime suffer the same corrupted habit to ventitself some other way; as he who heals and skins a running sore thinks himselfcured, but in the meantime his flesh festers by the corruption of the same humor,4and breaks out in another place...He that changes pride for worldliness, sensuality for Pharisaism, vanity in himself to the contempt of others, let him not think that he has mortified the sin that he seems to have left. He has changed his master, but is a servant still."
How often do you, like me, find yourself patting yourself on your back for overcoming a sin only to find that you are suffering from another form or manifestation of sin? Have you wondered why you just can't seem to eradicate some sinful behavior? Owen reminds us that we will never be fully free from sin this side of heaven. In fact, our constant mortification serves to draw us closer to Christ. If we completely eliminate sin, succeed in putting it all to death, would we need Christ?
"This we would have; but God sees it best for us that we should be complete in nothing in ourselves, that in all things we must be “complete in Christ,” which is best for us (Col. 2:10)."Edited on: Thursday, December 13, 2007 3:24 PM
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Commentary (RSS)
Psalm 119 He
Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:05 AM by David Zavadil
Originally posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 at 11:25 AM by David Zavadil
33 ¶ <HE> Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 ¶ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
37 ¶ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
38 ¶ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
39 ¶ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
40 ¶ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Left to ourselves, what do we want to learn most? Is it God's word? How to love? The way of salvation? No, what we want to learn most is whatever will make us feel better at the moment. Face it, we all struggle with the same condition. We are fallen men or women who, when left to ourselves, always seek self before God. It takes a constant effort on our part to follow God. The psalmist begins this section with a cry to God. 33 ¶ <HE> Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Charles Bridges, writing on this passage states, "We need no instruction in the way of sin." (Eccle. 7:29; Isaiah 53:6; Job 21:14; Romans 8:7) We do not need directions to sin, we need guidance to walk with God. Thus this prayer. Bridges continues, "But for a child of God, this is a prayer of constant use. The outward revelation is of no avail with out the inward teaching. The Divine Instructor must interpret and apply his own rule." We can not follow God in our own strength but only through the grace and strength of God in Jesus.
This verse, actually this entire passage, helps us to see the connection between our practice and our hearts. It is not enough that we know how to live, how to walk with Christ, we must also know, deep in our hearts, how He wants us to live and walk. We need the Divine Teacher to show us how. Only with his divine guidance will we ever be able to keep God's statues to the end. What a blessing this is, as we grow in our relationship, our knowledge of the Word, our nearness to Christ, we will be able to keep his word to the end. Our perseverance as his people is directly tied to our relationship with Him. As He teaches and keeps us, we are then enabled to keep His word for eternity. We are dependent upon Christ for our eternity and in that is blessing (Revelation 2:26-28).
Many talk of discipleship and evangelism today. Yet, why do we not see more true disciples of Christ? Could it be that we really don't know what we are talking about? Oh we know the basics, the Sunday School stories, the great stories of the Bible, but do we really know God? The previous verse showed us our utter dependency on God for revelation of His Word. In this verse, the psalmist cries out for more understanding that he might apply it to his life. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Bridges writes, "Man cannot teach what he does not know; and of God and of his law, he knows nothing." What an inditement upon our churches. We know how to run the best programs, draw the most people, have the most fun and excitement but we don't know how to make disciples. Why? We do not know God and his Word.
Look at this verse again. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. What should be our attitude toward studying and learning God's Word? Our response should be to whole heartedly embrace it. Is it not sad that the groups and classes in the church that are the smallest and worse attended are usually those that are the in depth expository (verse by verse, book by book) study of God's Word? My friends, our walk should include a passion to know more about God and this passion should drive us to the Scriptures. There is no use for us to be saying that the American church is Biblically illiterate. Christians should be learning and keeping God's Word with their whole heart.
Verse 35 continues in this path. 35 ¶ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. We, as I said earlier, are incapable of following God without God. As we look down the road God has for us, to many of us it is frightening. We wonder how can we ever make it. We question and doubt our way through church and life, wondering if we ever really will make it to heaven. The psalmist points us back to our source of hope and strength. Lead me in the path of your commandments... we can not and will not venture forward in our lives and walk without the gracious work of Christ in our lives. In our own strength, not only could we not make the trip, we would not want to. There are too many obstacles, to many trials, it is easier to leave it all alone. To sacrifice the fun and pleasure of the world is too hard for many. The only way to make it is to rest and trust in Christ. Like the paralytic, we must simply trust, pick up our bed rolls and begin to walk Matt 9:6).
We must not be content just to walk. I try to walk/jog for exercise. I confess, I hate it. By itself it is boring and seems a waste of time. However, I know that the benefit of it will pay off, that I will be blessed by it in the end. So, to get through, I find ways to make it fun, enjoyful. I may sing, or pray or take my ipod® and listen to a sermon. The walk along God's path is much the same. No where does God say it will be fun and easy. Yet, over and over again, we are told to delight. In this passage, for I delight in it. Bridges again, "Delight is the marrow of religion." God does not want forced contrition, passive aggression in our obedience and faith, He wants delight. Maybe that is why the Westminster Divines added that phrase, " and enjoy Him forever." to the end of the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism; "What is man's chief end?" Look at these encouraging words.
Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (KJV) Read this along with Hebrews 10:7 - 18. God rejoices in our delightful obedience to him.
Verse 36 continues in this vane, 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Our own inclination will be toward selfishness. One of the first things our kids learn to say is not, "sure you take it, I don't mind." but "No! Mine!" We are in desperate need of God's grace in our hearts to move us toward Him and His Word. We need Christ to be able to resist the selfishness of life. Our constant prayer should be, "God work in me to not be me but to be more like you!"
37 ¶ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Some of us walk as if we are impervious to everything. We read, "There has no temptation...." and some how think, "that is right, nothing can tempt me, I am king of the world." Then, we sit down and turn on the tv and watch our six hour average of tv or head off to the movies to watch killing, mayhem and sex. All the time we are wondering, "how is this stuff affecting me." The saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." The Christian should be in prayer daily, seeking God and asking for His strength to avert his eyes. Not just his physical eyes but his inward, spiritual eyes also. Averting them from those things that are worthless, time wasters. Rather than focusing on the worthless, we are to focus on God's ways. "The sincerity of our prayer will be proved by the watchfully avoiding circumstances and occasions of temptation. The fear of sin will manifest itself by a fear of temptation." (Bridges p. 90)
38 ¶ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Fear is a characteristic to be desired by a Christian as long as it is in the right mind set. We are not to fear spiders or snakes but to have a godly fear of God. It is a honor to fear God for we know that our fear draws us closer to Him. Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. The promises of God, salvation, forgiveness life, etc... give us the hope and strength to maintain our godly fear. Our fear of God is not like our fear of heights (personal confession time), but like the fear of a son toward his father. He is not scared of dad, just fearful of letting him down, or breaking the relationship. This fear, as it rests on God and his promises, moves us to know more about God, to study Him in the Bible, to seek to draw near to Him. Verse 39 is speaking of this type of fear.
39 ¶ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. As hard as our parent's rules are for us as we grow up, we ultimately learn they were for our own good. As hard as God's Word is to live and understand, we know that it is ultimately for our own good. To that end, we fear reproach, God's disapproval, and so we seek to apply and live by His Word. If we are driven to study God's Holy Writ to learn more, to be able to debate better or even to share the gospel we miss the mark. We are to learn God's Word that we might know God better, that we might not see his reproach but may rest in His promises. The reason we have the Bible is not to promote religion but to know God. That knowledge and relationship should be the driving force behind our evangelism and worship.
The psalmist writes, 40 ¶ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Life is found in Christ (John 10:10). The Bible teaches us where and how to find that life. Our prayer should be that the Word of God would be opened more and more that we may know Christ and all he is and that in His imputed righteousness we will find and live life.
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS)
Psalm 199 Daleth
Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 at 11:30 AM by David Zavadil
Originally posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 at 1:48 PM by David Zavadil
25 ¶ <DALETH> My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
26 ¶ When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 ¶ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
30 ¶ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
When you sin, how do you feel? Does it drive you crazy until you confess and repent or do you just move on, as everyone sins? The Psalmist provides a picture of how he deals with sin in his life, what it does to him internally and how he reacts. 25.My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! The sin in his live is such that it knocks him to the ground. The picture he paints for us is of a man prostrated before God, confessing and even then not feeling he is low enough. If you have seen the movie "Luther," you may remember a scene where Luther is praying in his chamber and is laid out on the floor with his arms spread wide confessing his sinfulness to God. This is the picture the psalmist creates here. Bridges writes, "To have a soul cleaving to the dust, and not feel the trouble, is the black mark of the sinner, dead in sins - dead to God." The power of sin in our lives should continually remind us that we came from dust, created by God, but over taken by sin. Apart from our clinging to our creation and crying out to God for help, we can not overcome our sin. No matter how hard we try, how hard we pray or study, if God does not cleanse us, we will not find forgiveness. What a blessing we have in his promise, 1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We may, in our hearts, be led to cling to the dust over our sinfulness, but we can rest in the sure confidence that God will forgive, and this is according to His word!
26 ¶ When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! We find a simple picture of the believers walk with Christ. As we lay our hearts before the Throne of Grace, God works in us. To often we question, "Why do I need to confess my sins, God already knows?" That is true, God does know our sin. A better question, and the one addressed here, is, do we know our sin? I can tell you, the reason I fail to confess and repent of sin is not that God already knows, but that I am not convicted of it or know it. The psalmist finds and reveals to us the way to dialog with God, open ourselves up. Confess and talk to him. When we confess our sinfulness it let us know and God know that we realize what we have done. When we confess, he answers with forgiveness. It is only as we come before God in His righteousness that we can then begin to understand His Word. Forgiveness leads to illumination. As we confess our sin and come to the cross, the Scriptures are opened up for us, leading us closer to the throne.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. How often do you, like me, open the Scripture up and read only to find yourself saying, "What did I just read?" The sin we just spoke about can often lead to a lack of understanding. Blinded by our sinfulness, we find ourselves blinded to all of the things of God. As our hearts come under the caring hand of the Holy Spirit, we are taught. Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. What the Church needs most today are not smarter teachers and preachers, but men of God who go to God daily to find clarity to the teaching of Scripture A knowledge of Greek and Hebrew doesn't make my preaching deeper, it doesn't allow me to expound any deeper, it is only as my knowledge, via my walk with God, grows, that I begin to find a new deepness in my preaching and teaching. I am to seek God's guidance through the Holy Spirit to understand and interpret the Scriptures and then I am to meditate upon them. Dwell on these teachings until they become and integral part of my life. The wondrous works spoke of here are not necessarily miracles of God's mighty hand, but the wonders we find in Scripture. In your next quiet time, instead of just reading, ask God to show you His wonders in the passage you are reading. Write them down and meditate on them. How do they apply to your life? How do these wonders make God even more real in your life?
28 ¶ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! This verse brings to us a contrast of hearts. As our heart is is set on self and sin, we experience sorrow. I don't know about you, but in my life, when I focus on self, I am almost always led toward sorrow. Why? Because the sinner that I am, I always want what I want. Sorrow enters because I rarely get what I want. Sin only begets more sin, it never brings fulfillment. So where do we go for fulfillment? Where do we go for strength The psalmist points us back to the Word of God. He cries out, strengthen me according to your word! In the last verse I challenged you to look for God's wonders in the Scripture. In this verse I want to challenge you to seek those passages that provide strength to the weak of heart. Passages like, Ex 33:14 And he said, ‘‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’’Mt 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Our strength is found in God and the promises of God found in Scripture bring us assurance and hope.
29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! Do you find yourself struggling with the same things over and over again? Are you like the addict that just needs one more hit and then they will quit? Our struggle with sin is often like that, it is addicting and difficult for us to over come. It is this power that the psalmist calls us to overcome by calling out to the only one who can help. For some of us, we will always have a weakness say for chocolate. It is not enough to say we won't eat any more, sometimes we need someone just to remove ever last crumb of it from our lives. We need God to remove those false ways from us. Sin over powers us, often keeping us from fighting back. We need to seek God and ask that He show his mercy to us by removing the temptations far from us. Ask God to remove those things that tend to tempt and then fill your mind with His Word. As we meditate on Scripture, we find we have less time to think of those things that taunt us daily.
30 ¶ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. 31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! 32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! These next three verses highlight the paths set before us. One path is laden with lies and deception, the other with truth. As Paul writes, 1Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. We will all be tempted. We will all face a decision, walk the way of God or follow our temptations. Here we see the writer, dealing with the fine line between God's active work in our lives and our responsibility. He makes clear that we have a responsibility in this thing we call sanctification. We are to choose, cling and run.
First we are to chose the way of faithfulness. He is not talking about our salvation but our sanctification or holiness. Jesus said, Lu 9:23 And he said to all, ‘‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Every morning as we arise, we have a choice to carry the cross or to leave it by the bed. To follow Christ and grow in our relationship or to watch our relationship stagnate on the vine. My friends, you will never draw nearer to Christ if you never choose to read the Word, let alone set His rules (Word) as your guide for life. You can not have it both ways. I believe in Christ, but I want to live my own way. No, you must chose the way of faithfulness and then set about to live according to God's Word. This concept teaches me that I must make the Word of God and integral part of my life, not just light reading for late in the evening.
Second, we must cling to that Word of God. The world bombards us with all sorts of messages. Even within the Church universal, we are being told that the Bible is a nice story but is not authoritative. The efforts to downplay the power of the Scripture is evident in everything from the evening news to the local school system. Yet, look where we are today. We have seen more advances by intelligentsia in the last hundred years than in all of history and still we have poverty, our kids struggle with drug and alcohol addictions, sexual addictions and people in general are no more happier than they were even fifty years ago. The Word of God promises fulfillment and satisfaction. It teaches they are found in the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. What a shame it would be if on that day we stand before God, He asks, "Why should I let you into my heaven?" and our only answer is, "uh, cause I didn't drink, I didn't swear, I didn't chew and I did not date any girls that do." The Word of God provides the teachings that will keep us from being shamed. As they point us to Christ, we find our confidence in Him.
Finally, we are to run in the way of His commandments. Paul writes of our walk being a race. 2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. The life of a Christian isn't a one and done proposition. We don't simply pray and all is over, we must daily hit the track we call life and live as though we are His chosen people. Again the psalmist reminds us of where we will find the strength to run this race, we are to find it in Christ. As we run according to the Word, our hearts will be enlarged, we will be enabled to see and receive more and more of what Christ offers. We do not receive all of our understanding of Christ and our relationship upon conversion, as we grow, as we walk, more and more comes clear. We need to run our race in such a way as to draw nearer to the prize, "for which we have been called heavenward." We need to run to Christ, that we may run with Him.
Edited on: Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:07 AMPosted in Bible Study (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS)
Mortification and Belief
Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 at 1:33 PM by David Zavadil
"Mortification is the soul’s vigorous opposition to self, wherein sincerity is most evident." - John Owen
When we contemplate our position in Christ, why do we most often focus on what we are not instead of what we truly are? Every ounce of my natural man can't stand the thought of puting away sin, of mortifying the old man. I rationalize my sinful attitudes and behaviors by arguing, "At least I am not... or I don't act like ..." I focus on what I am not, failing most often to see who I really am, a blatant sinner. I joyfully confim Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and then use the same passage as an argument for why I should not or do not mortify my sin. The thought of mortification is so, pardon the play, mortifying that I yield to the flesh more often than not.
I have been telling the congregation of Eastminster PCA that too many of us are professing Christ but living another way. We talk the talk, but fail to live the walk. What would happen if we truly lived as we profess? We would flee sin, the hatred of sin would be so strong we would be driven to our knees in prayers of confession. My major failure with repect to mortifing sin all revolves around my belief. I give assent to the Scriptures on sin, Christ's forgiveness and my redemption in Christ. My unbelief then leads me to ry to work my way into His good grace or to fail to trust and have faith that God's work will be effective in my life. As I mortify my sinfulness, my faith is challenged, and my faith in Christ is enriched. As I see who I really am, I cannot but run to the Cross. We have all believed the deception that we are not that bad, and no one could be that good. Do I, do you really believe that?
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The Great High Priest, knows all that we go through, struggle with, dwell on and harbor deep within. He pours out his grace upon His children, calling us to run to Him. When I mortify my sin, I am stripping myself of an encumbrance keeping me for Jesus. Each sin put aside is a burden lifted giving us more strength for the journey. I wonder what would happen in Churches if we really believed and practiced the mortification of sin. What other areas of our faith would be challenged and increased? If we put our sin to death, would we really believe that we can do all things through Christ who strenthens us? (Phil 4:13)
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS)
Mortifying Sin
Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 12:45 PM by David Zavadil
Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. - John Owen, The Mortification of Sin
As many of you may know, I am taking part in the Challies dot com book club. We are reading Owen's The Mortification of Sin. This book is a must read, that is being said after just two chapters. In a Previous Post I posted the address to download a copy of the book. You should also be able to find it at your local bookstore. Download or purchase it and join is in our reading, it is not too late.
In Chapter one, Owen set about to clarify and define what is meant by the term mortification. It is a term we rarely hear any more. We may here that someone is mortified, "scared of or afraid of something," but ask if they have mortified anything and most people will go, "Huh?" Taking Romans 8:13, "If you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body you shall live," as his foundation, Owens demonstrates that mortification means to put to death. We are to put to death the sin that reigns in our bodies. He writes:
"The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh, is the constant duty of believers.... The vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh." (pg 49)
Chapter two begins, see quote at top of this article, by challenging the reader to make mortification a daily habit. He warns of that happens when we allow sin to abide and do nothing to resist and fight temptation.
"When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion." (pg51)
"If sin be subtle, watchful, strong, and always at work in the business of killing our souls, and we be slothful, negligent, foolish, in proceeding to the ruin thereof, can we expect a comfortable event? There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on; and it will be so while we live in this world." (pg 52)
What a challenge to us in this day and age. Though the author was writing in the 1600's, the issue is timeless. In a day when everyone wants it easier, the true road is one of constant fighting. We are to be daily putting our sin to death. To rest even one day is to give victory to the evil one. Though he has lost the war, through our slothfulness he is daily winning battles and leading "professors" into sin at astounding levels. We have become so enraptured with our needs, our wants, our work, our families our everything that we forget the challenge to forsake it all for the cause of Christ. Anything that causes us to take our eyes off of Christ leads to sin. Think about it. Is it any wonder that our churches are so weak and ineffective today? Listen again to Owens.
"If vain spending of time, idleness, unprofitableness in men’s places, envy, strife, variance, emulations, wrath, pride, worldliness, selfishness (1 Corinthians 1) be badges of Christians, we have them on us and among us in abundance." (pg 56)
I read that passage and stood condemned. Like Paul, I find myself crying, "I am chief among sinners!" How often during the day do I spend my time allowing sin to fester instead of putting it to death. I have begun a diet and workout regimen and have become a legalist with it. I want to discipline my body and must also work to discipline my soul. Daily I, WE, must be seeking out the sin in our lives and be putting it to death. "The root of an unmortified course is the digestion of sin without bitterness in the heart." (pg 56) Oh that we, the Church, would get past our complacency and learn to hate sin to the point of wanting it to die, totally. "The good Lord send out a spirit of mortification to cure our distempers, or we are in a sad condition!" (pg 56)
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS)
A Rare Occurance
Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 10:19 AM by David Zavadil
When I started this blog, first under the first name "The Official Zavablog" and now "The Eastminster Pulpit," I had decided I would focus on helpful links, teaching the Scripture and ministry notes from our Church. After watching the last hour of the CNN® Democratic Debate, I can't help but make some comments. Let me say up front, I have voted for candidates in both parties and independents in the past. I am more concerned with the person in office than the title or party they belong to. I guess that is where I am beginning to struggle this time around.
The one thing that came to my mind very quickly last night was, "I have not seen so much makeup since on TV since Dennis' favorite read, Mark Packer was on the local news 10 nightly news." Poor Bill Richardson, he could hardly move his mouth it had dried so hard. Makeup aside, that was about the only fun thing I saw. I was amazed at the lack of answers to the powder puff questions they received. In answer to bringing peace in the middle east, one candidate replied that he would have the troops out within his first year and then proceeded to talk about how he would increase troop strength by three division. Explain that one to me. When they all were asked about Supreme Court choices, and litmus testing. Would they appoint a pro-choice judge, they all talked around the question. Only one, Kisinich (forgive me is the spelling is not even close, I had never even seen the man until last night) was bold enough to say he would have a litmus test. The rest resisted making that statement and in an effort not to touch the abortion issue, the rest all said they would appoint judges that respected the right of privacy. The secret code phrase, for " I will be pro-choice but I can not say the A word on national television."
The debate finished with a question for Mrs. Clinton. "Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?" Can you say, "idiotic planted question?" For those waiting with bated breath, her answer was, "both!" I was totally dumbfounded by this charade posing as a debate. I pray that some candidate steps up from somewhere. The ten or so I watched last night certainly didn't come across as the "best and the brightest" to me. I will concede that I had voted against most of the candidates in previous elections, but I was really hoping to hear some hope, all I heard was how bad we are. I was hoping to hear some ideas of moving our country forward, all I heard was how great it is that none of them are the present administration. I am very unsettled about our upcoming elections.
As I look at the line up, both Republican and Democratic (sorry independents and Libertarians a vote on principle is admirable but won't get your candidate elected, we are still a two party system), I do not see much in the way of a statesman. Even the men purporting to be the statesmen, when you listen close, are nothing more than politicos in nicer suits. We need a Washington or Jefferson of the 2000's someone who is concerned with this country, all of it, and not what his or her party thinks or does. We need leadership that knows where their grounding comes from and are not afraid to lead according the will of God not the whims of man. Wouldn't it be great if the people of Georgia could pray us up such a man? Now wasn't that a slap to the politically correct world of today, when the Governor calls for a day of prayer and fasting to lift up their drought stricken state and within the week it rains? God is indeed awesome. He will bring us through.
Thank you for reading my rambling, it felt good to get that off my chest. Now, back to the Word of God and His ministry. Pray for revival, that is our real hope. To the only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be hope and glory and honor!
Edited on: Sunday, November 18, 2007 2:50 PMPosted in Commentary (RSS)
Is there Common Ground with Arminians?
Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 10:02 AM by David Zavadil
Charles Simeon had an interesting conversation with John Wesley. Read below and consider the question in my title.
[Simeon:] Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?
[Wesley:] Yes, I do indeed.
And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?
Yes, solely through Christ.
But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?
No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.
Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?
No.
What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?
Yes, altogether.
And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?
Yes, I have no hope but in Him.
Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree. (from Charles Simeon: Biography of a Sane Saint)
Posted in Commentary (RSS)