by HARVEYOPP | Jan 26, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Difficult times clearly reveal those who truly believe the teaching of God’s Word regarding His providential control over all things in heaven and on earth. It’s very easy to say that we believe God is in control of all things, but it’s quite another to bow to this sovereign truth when things don’t turn out the way we think they should. However, it’s during these difficult times that our trust in the Word of God becomes manifest by our actions. Scripture calls on every believer to pray for all whom God, in His glorious providence, raises up to power. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Notice the text does not say to pray only for those you like or vote for, but to pray for “all who are in authority” in order “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” When the Apostle Paul wrote this text Nero Caesar, a wretched beast of a ruler, was dominating the Roman Empire and was killing Christians. In calling Christians to pray for all rulers and those in authority, the Apostle Paul reveals his stanch trust in the sovereign appointment of God over all things. He also reveals the truth that God has determined to use the prayers of His people as a means to affect change in the lives of people, both in salvation and sanctification.
As Christians, do we want peace in the country in which we dwell? Do we want to live godly and reverent lives that bring honor and glory to King Jesus? If you’re a Christian, then you undoubtedly answered “yes” to the questions above. Well then, pray for all in authority in order that our God might mercifully bring these things to pass. Yes, pray for President Obama, congressmen, senators, governors, local officials, police officers, teachers, parents, pastors, elders, deacons, etc. We are never in a hopeless situation as the people of God because our Sovereign Lord, Gracious Redeemer, and Mighty King is seated on the throne ruling all things for His glory and the good of His church.
Meditate upon this truth and may the Lord Jesus Christ, by the working of His Spirit and Word, motivate His saints to bend the knee to the Word of our Lord and faithfully pray for all who are in positions of authority “that we (Christians) may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” to the glory and praise of our great King Jesus!
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 15, 2016 | Paul Tripp
If you pay attention to the way we speak and the way we act, we’re always hoping for something.
“I hope our company does well this year” / “I hope he isn’t mad at me” / “I hope God answers my prayer” / “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow” / “I hope this sickness isn’t something serious”
As human beings, we hope. It’s our default setting. We attach our security and our sense of peace and rest to something every day. The question is not whether we hope, but what holds our hope.
I want to give you five principles about hope as we kick off 2016. I “hope” this devotional will help shape the way you think about your life in the new year.
- You Hope In Something. You could argue that the life of a human being is propelled by hope. From the little momentary hope of the young child for a new toy to the profound hope of the adult for meaning and purpose, we all hope. We all place our hope in someone or something, and we ask that person or that thing to deliver something to us.
- Hope Is A Lifestyle. Your hope shapes the way you live. Your hope causes you to make the decisions that you make. A lack of hope causes you to feel stuck and unmotivated. Confident hope makes you decisive and courageous. Wobbly hope makes you timid and indecisive. Hope is not just something you do with your brain. You always live your hope in some way.
- Most Of Our Hopes Disappoint. We all do it: we place our hope in things in this fallen world that simply can’t deliver. Your spouse can’t make you happy. Your job won’t make you content. Your possessions can’t satisfy your heart. Your physical health won’t give you inner peace. Your friends can’t give you meaning and purpose. When our hopes disappoint us, it’s a sign that we’ve put our hopes in the wrong things.
- There Are Only Two Places Of Hope. The theology of hope is quite simple – there are only two places to put your hope. You rest the hope of your life in the hands of the Creator or you look to the creation for hope. We’ve been exchanging the truth about God for a lie and worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator since the Fall.
- Hope In God Is Sure. When you hope in the Lord, you not only hope in the One who created and controls the universe, but also in One who is glorious in grace and abounding in love. No one can satisfy like Jesus. No one can bring rest like the Father. Only the Sovereign King provides an unshakeable foundation for hope.
So as you begin 2016, remember that you’re always hoping. Be aware of the false hopes that try to distract your soul, and run to Jesus. Only He provides hope both now and forever more!
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 15, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
The easiest way for a person to sin is with the tongue. The restraining laws in our society prevent us from doing just anything we want, but it sure seems as if we can say anything we want. Man, because of his fallen, depraved heart, is prone to spew forth all manner of blasphemy and putrid language from his mouth, which produces a myriad of troubles for his soul. The Apostle Paul described man’s tongue in Romans 3:13-14 with these words: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Even those redeemed by Christ struggle to govern their vicious tongue. How many wars have been started because of a prideful, arrogant, rebellious tongue? How many couples have divorced because of a lying tongue? How many friends have been separated because of a gossiping tongue? How many times a day is God’s holy name or the name of the glorious Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, taken in vain, blasphemed, or used in an offhanded joke?
And make no mistake about it, the real problem with the tongue is the disposition of the heart. You see, the heart of every matter is the matter of the heart. As Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23). And Solomon wrote the following words: “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23). “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little” (Proverbs 10:20). “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Notice how closely knit together are the heart and the tongue. In other words, the condition of one’s heart is seen most clearly by the words one speaks. As Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Matthew 15:18).
Therefore, before you speak, remember the words of Christ, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 12:36). As those who are redeemed by Christ, let us daily practice restraining our tongue, the ‘little member of our body that boasts great things’ (James 3:5). We do this by constantly and conscientiously speaking true, kind, edifying, gracious, and loving words, which honor God, and also by keeping our mouth shut when it’s not absolutely necessary to repeat a matter. Too many matters are repeated again and again that would better be left untold since they bring no edification to the hearer. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6). And we read in Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Only by guarding our tongue will we keep our soul from unnecessary troubles. “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:11-12).
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 5, 2016 | Paul Tripp
It’s that time of year again when we examine what we don’t like about our life and make a resolution to change it in the New Year. As the calendar turns from 2015 to 2016, we want to create a better version of ourselves.
Some of us want to lose weight or get into better physical condition. Some of us want to save more money and cut out needless spending. Some of us want to change careers or kick that bad habit. This will finally be the year that we do it!
Can be I honest with you? If you need to wait until the New Year to make a resolution to change your life, I think you misunderstand how people change. Permit me an opportunity to explain myself.
I think change is important. I think resolve is essential. Taking steps to improve your lifestyle is a wise decision. Don’t confuse my purpose: I’m not trying to discourage you from writing or keeping a New Year’s resolution. I simply want to challenge the way you think about biblical change.
For the Christian who finds their hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ, change doesn’t take place in big, dramatic moments. Rather, the transforming work of grace operates in 10,000 little moments of life more than it does in a series of two or three life-altering events.
Are life-altering events significant? Absolutely – that’s why they’re called life-altering! But, the quality of your life and the character of your person is primarily shaped and defined by the 10,000 little decisions, desires, words, and actions you make every day. Even when we experience a life-altering event, we will have 10,000 little moments to respond to it.
So how can you make 2016 your best year ever? Well, for starters, don’t wait until New Years Day – start right here, right now! Confess in those 10,000 little moments of conviction. Live courageously in those 10,000 little moments of faith. Respond obediently in those 10,000 little moments of choice. Choose the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of self in those 10,000 little moments of desire.
Here’s the bottom line: you don’t need a big resolution to change your life, because your life is defined by 10,000 little moments. Jesus Christ is present and active in all these small, seemingly insignificant moments, and he has resolved (by his life and death) to rescue you from sin and transform you into his likeness.
By sovereign grace, God places you in 10,000 little moments that are designed to take you beyond your character, wisdom, and grace so you’ll seek the help and hope that can only be found in him. In a lifelong process of change, he is undoing you and rebuilding you again, not into a better version of you, but into a version of him!
So yes, you and I need to be committed to change in 2016, but not in a way that hopes for a big event of transformation. Our hope for change is a humble heart that finds joy in, and is faithful to, a day-by-day, step-by-step, moment-by-moment process of insight, confession, repentance and faith.
If you want to make a New Year’s resolution, resolve to live in those 10,000 little moments!
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 5, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:12-13).
As Christians, our continual prayer should be that God would instruct our tongue at all times with five virtues taught in Scripture: truth, love, necessity, wisdom and edification.
TRUTH: If truth was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Don’t speak unless your words are true. As a Christian, you represent Christ who is the Truth. Therefore, your words must be true.” Proverbs 8:7: “For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”
LOVE: If love stands before our words then we would hear our conscience say: “Are you speaking the truth in love? Are you really concerned for the one of whom or to whom you speak? If you’re not speaking the truth in love, then don’t speak. Keep your mouth shut!” Ephesians 4:15: “…speak the truth in love.”
NECESSITY: If necessity was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Is what you are going to say necessary or is it coming out because you simply like to talk? Are the words you’re going to speak about another person necessary?” So often we say things about others just to make conversation, and so often what we say is absolutely unnecessary. “Oh did you hear about so and so, and how he did such and such?” It’s almost as if we glory in the fact that we know something about someone else that others don’t know. Proverbs 6:16: “Six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
WISDOM: If wisdom was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Is it wise for you to speak these words at this time? Would it be better to give it further thought?” Proverbs 10:21: “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” Proverbs 10:31: “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.”
EDIFICATION: If edification was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Do your words build up or do they tear down? Do they preserve or do they spoil?” Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” 1 Corinthians 14:26: “Let all things be done for edification.”
The five godly virtues that must guard our mouth are truth, love, necessity, wisdom and edification. We know we need a guard when it comes to bad breath, yet our words are much more important than our breath because the effect of our words can last to eternity. As Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). How much more careful ought we to be with the words that come out of our mouth than our bad breath? “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.”
Recent Comments