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Posted on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:12 AM by David Zavadil
Posted in Commentary (RSS)
Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 11:49 AM by David Zavadil
Why is Christianity True? How would you answer this question? Is your answer based upon what you have expereienced or feel inside or do you have a true knowledge of what God has done and said through Jesus Christ. Michael Horton and his friends had an interesting exchange at The Whitehorse Inn . This discussion is worth a listen to.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), The Church (RSS)
Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 3:56 PM by David Zavadil
I just received an email from Equipping Pastors International. EPI had some interesting insights I thought I would share.
No Islam in Africa Anymore
"A Very Depressing Picture" According to One Islamic Scholar
During recent ministry trips overseas I have heard some astounding stories of Muslims converting to Christ. While I cannot personally guarantee the accuracy of these claims the statistics are staggering, and all over North Africa and the Middle East Islamic clerics are fearful of the reality of the collapse of Islam.
According to one Islamic scholar, six million Muslims convert to Christianity each year. That is more than 16,000 conversions per day, or 667 every hour. It is difficult to verify these numbers, and they do seem incredibly high, but there is no doubt that tens of thousands of Muslims are coming to faith in Christ throughout North Africa and the Miiddle East.
So it seems that the picture of Islam as a rapidly growing religion is not as accurate as some sources report. To put it in the words of Ahmad Al Katani, an Islamic scholar interviewed on Al-Jazeerah, The picture is very depressing and I fear that one day we may be overshadowed by a great darkness where we do not find Islam in Africa anymore.
Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 10:34 AM by David Zavadil
"Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night" - Psalm 1:1,2
Here are some simple rules for Bible reading.
Read God's Word with great reverence. Meditate a moment in silence on the thought that the words come from God Himself. Bow in deep reverence. Be silent before the Lord. Let Him reveal His Word in your heart.
Read with careful attention. If you read the words carelessly, thinking that you can grasp their meaning with your human understanding, you will use the words superficially and not enter into their depths. When someone tries to explain anything wonderful or beautiful to us, we give it our entire attention to try to understand what is said. how much higher and deeper are God's thoughts than our thoughts. "As the heaven is higher than the earth, so My thoughts higher than your thoughts." We need to give our undivided attention to understand even the superficial meaning of the words How much harder one should attempt to grasp the spiritual meaning.
Read with the expectation of the guidance of God's Spirit. It is God's Spirit alone who can make the Word a living power in our hearts and lives. Read Psalm 119. Notice how earnestly David prays that God will teach him, and open his eyes, and give him understanding, and incline his heart to God's ways. As you read, remember that God's Word and God's Spirit are inseparable.
Read with the firm purpose of keeping the Word day and night in your heart and in your life. The whole heart and the whole life must come under the influence of the Word. David said, "Oh how I love Thy law; it is my meditation all the day." And so in the mids of his daily work, the believer can cherish God's Word in his heart and meditate on it. Read Psalm 119 again, until you accept God's Word with all your heart, and pray that God may teach you to understand it and to carry out its precepts in your life. - Andrew Murray, The Secret of Fellowship Day 7
Posted on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 11:41 AM by David Zavadil
"In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result, we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
A. W. Tozer
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10:56 AM by David Zavadil
This Devotion is by Andrew Murray:
Ecclesiastes 3:1* ¶ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
"THIS is literally true, there is a time for everything. Can it be true, as many maintain, that there is no time for communion with god? Is not the most important matter for which we must find time fellowship with God, in which we may experience His love and Power? Give God time, I beseech you.
You need time to feed upon the Word of God and to draw from it life for your soul. Through His Word, His thoughts and His grace enter our hearts and lives. Take time each day to read the Bible, even if it be only a few verses; meditate upon what you have read, and thus assimilate the bread of life. If you do not take the trouble to let God speak to you through His Word, how can you expect to be led by the Spirit? Meditate upon the Word, and lay it before God in prayer as the pledge of what He will do for you. The Word gibes you matter for prayer, and courage and power in prayer. Our prayers are often futile because we speak our own thoughts and have not taken the time to hear what God has to say. Let the Word of God teach you what God promises, what you need, and in what manner God wishes you to pray. Thus by prayer and the Word your heart will be prepared to have fellowship with God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Dear child of God, it is of little use to speak of the deeper, more abundant life of Christ as our life if we do not daily, above all things, take time for intercourse with our Father in heaven. The life and love and holiness of God cannot be ours amids the distractions and temptations of the world unless we give God time to reveal Himself to us and to take possession of our hearts."
Posted on Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 8:58 AM by David Zavadil
Christmas. A time for family, gifts and ... well, for many that is it, family and gifts. On this special day, as you sit with your family amidst all your gifts, remember the greatest gift of all.
Luke 2:1* ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2* This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3* And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4* And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5* to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6* And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7* And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
John 1:1* ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2* He was in the beginning with God. 3* All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4* In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5* The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6* ¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7* He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8* He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9* The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10* He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11* He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12* But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13* who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14* And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:29* The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 at 9:44 AM by David Zavadil
As if I need any more examples of why I am not happy with either of our candidates, here are a few items they both voted to pass in the "Bail out" Bill.
On pg 301 of the bill - ‘‘(B) EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN WOODEN ARROWSHAFTS.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any shaft consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means of enhancing the spine of such shaft (whether sold separately or incorporated as part of a finished or unfinished product) of a type used in the manufacture of any arrow which after its assembly..."
From page 295 - SEC. 325. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF DUTY SUSPENSION ON WOOL PRODUCTS; WOOL RESEARCH FUND; WOOL DUTY REFUNDS.
Again from page 301 - SEC. 504. INCOME AVERAGING FOR AMOUNTS RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXXON VALDEZ LITIGATION.
Here are a few others:
Sec. 308. Increase in limit on cover over of rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands.
Sec. 309. Extension of economic development credit for American Samoa.
Sec. 310. Extension of mine rescue team training credit.
Sec. 311. Extension of election to expense advanced mine safety equipment.
Sec. 312. Deduction allowable with respect to income attributable to domestic
production activities in Puerto Rico.
Sec. 313. Qualified zone academy bonds.
Sec. 314. Indian employment credit.
Sec. 315. Accelerated depreciation for business property on Indian reservations.
Sec. 316. Railroad track maintenance.
Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility. - This one is a lulu
Two weeks ago we were told that it was imperative for the economy of not just our nation but the WORLD, that we pass the, then, three page "Bailout." The House failed to pass the 150+ page version. Our Senate, including the two primary presidential candidates and vp nominee, last night passed a monstrosity loaded with pork. I am praying that the House will once again "man up" and fail to pass this joke.
I have tried to stay away from political commentary, but American politics have become so ridiculous that staying away is becoming difficult.
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 at 2:08 PM by David Zavadil
Our lives seem to be one big paradox. We can sometimes feel we are doing great only to realize we have taken three steps backward. The healthy of us can actually be incubating a cancer within our body. This happens all too often in our walks with Christ. On the surface, to everyone else, we have it all together, but behind the scenes we find ourselves falling further from God.
I have been sharing jewels found in the book Here is another gem.
O CHANGELESS GOD,
Under the conviction of the Spirit I learn that
the more I do, the worse I am,
the more I know, the less I know,
the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
the more I love the more there is to love.
O wretched man that I am!
O Lord,
I have a wild heart,
and cannot stand before thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
by knowing thou has saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be an evangelical hypocrite,
who sins more safely because grace abounds,
who tells his lusts that Christ's blood cleanseth them,
who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved,
who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
with no spiritual understanding,
no desire for the Lord's Day,
ever learning but never reaching the truth,
always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
so I forget easily the lessons learned,
and thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Mortification (RSS)
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 4:00 PM by David Zavadil
I have been watching everything in Washington with both amusement and fear. Every day we have heard that we are the precipice of an economic collapse and so we must allow the government to save the day. If we do not do "our patriotic" duty and bail Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and all the other weird named financial institutions, all the world will face economic ruin. Yesterday we watched the House debate a bad bill and saw the DOW drop 7%. Today, without the "Bail out," the market is up almost 400 points. I am all for keeping the government out of the picture.
I am not smart enough to know the answer to this issue, but I do know throwing tax payer money at the issue won't solve the problem. Dave Ramsey has posted a proposed answer on his website. Check out his Common Sense Fix . It is easy and it makes sense.
Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 10:42 AM by David Zavadil
If you do not own a copy of The Valley of Vision, you must get a copy. These prayers and devotions are not only timeless but spot on in touch with the basic struggles and issues we all deal with each day. Read this one entitled "The Dark Guest."
O LORD,
Bend my hands and cut them off,
for I have often struck thee with a wayward will,
when these fingers should embrace thee by faith.
I am not yet weaned from all created glory,
hour, wisdom, and esteem of others,
for I have a secret motive to eye my name in all I do.
Let me not only speak the word sin, but see the thing itself.
Give me to view a discovered sinfulness,
to know that though my sins are crucified
they are never wholly mortified.
Hatred, malice, ill-will, vain-glory that hungers for and hunts after
man's approval and applause,
all are crucified forgiven,
but they rise again in my sinful heart.
O my crucified but never wholly mortified sinfulness!
O my life-long damage and daily shame!
O my indwelling and besetting sins!
O the tormenting slavery of a sinful heart!
Destroy, O God, the dark guest within
whose hidden presence makes my life a hell.
Yet thou has not left me her without grace;
The cross still stands and meets my needs
in the deepest strains of the soul.
I thank thee that my remembrance of it
is like David's sight of Goliath's sword
which preached forth thy deliverance.
The memory of my great sins, my many temptations, my falls,
bring afresh into my mind the remembrance
of thy great help, of thy support from heaven,
of the great grace that saved a wretch as I am.
There is no treasure so wonderful
as that continuous experience of thy grace toward me
which alone can subdue the risings of sin within:
Give me more of it.
Posted in Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS)
Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 2:35 PM by David Zavadil
I have already expressed my feelings about our presidential candidates. While I feel a little better about the McCain/Palin candidacy, I am not sold on either camp. Lately I have been wondering if we are watching the wrong race. Let me explain.
As much as the choice of Mrs. Palin excites folks, what would we really get? If the Republican candidates are elected, at best the VP will serve as President of the Senate, run a few meetings, meet with a few foreign dignitaries and make some speeches. Barring a tie in the Senate, she will not make a single legislative or executive decision in four years.
Every member of the House is up for election and 1/3 of the Senate. I submit that these are the races of concern for both parties. Regardless of the rhetoric, if the Democrats win the House and Senate and McCain wins we can expect four years of partisanship and nothing getting done to help the people of the US. Even if he, McCain, were to have the opportunity to make a Supreme Court choice, we will be guaranteed and extended and probably brutal confirmation process. If the Democrats win the White House and hold the House and Senate, we can expect the Democrat agenda to move forth quickly and in full force. The only hope for the Republicans, if the Democrats take the White House, is for a Republican sweep of the House and Senate.
Though a brief look, you can see why I am more concerned about the races we are hearing nothing about than I am about the major race. While the President and Vice President are important positions, in our system of "Checks and Balances" he or she needs the House and Senate to move their agenda forward. A sweep by the Democrats will all but ensure at least four years of a Democrat agenda. I submit that we should have more concern about our local House and Senate seats than I am seeing. What do you think?
Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:35 AM by David Zavadil
O GOD OF MY EXODUS,
Great was the joy of Israel’s sons
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives for ever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in Him I rose,
in His life I live, in His victory I triumph,
in His ascension I shall be glorified.
Adorable Redeemer,
Thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as man of sorrows wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than Thine,
no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car leading captive Thine enemies behind Thee.
What more could be done than Thou hast done!
Thy death is my life, Thy resurrection my peace,
Thy ascension my hope, Thy prayers my comfort.
The Valley of Vision - Resurrection
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
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)
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)
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 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.
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)
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 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.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
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 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 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) You can find it online Here . Join me on this journey.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
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 and have lost about 15 pounds and an inch or more from my waist. I am building muscle and look forward to my next blood test. What I am wondering is, why is easier to get rid of excess weight than it is to get rid of sin in my heart?
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.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
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?
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Puritans (RSS)
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.
Posted in Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
