I am Lazarus

I am Lazarus
Diseased beyond paralysis
Four days down the road: dead end
Impossible to mend
All desire for godliness dead
Not giving a care for the letters in red

Then Jesus' commandment spoke
And I awoke

I am Lazarus
Brought to the day light marvelous
Alive, Raised from darkness
No more hopelessness
Freed from my chains
'Til all that remains
Is the desire to please Him
Now there's joy and peace within

Pastors ought to Desire to Prosper
If you would prosper in your work, be sure to keep up earnest desires and expectations of success. If your hearts be not set on the end of your labours, and you long not to see the conversion and edification of your hearers, and do not study and preach in hope, you are not likely to see much success. As it is a sign of false, self-seeking heart, that can be content to be still doing, and yet see no fruit of his labour; so I have observed that God seldom blesseth any man's work so much as his, whose heart is set upon the success of it.
Richard Baxter
The Reformed Pastor

A Preachers Calling

When Paul begins his letters he often tell us who he is. Now the people he was writing to knew him already. He did not need to give a list of credintials with these letters, but he did. It was probably customary to start a letter this way, but it has more purpose than just custom. It seems that one reason he did this was to remind them of his calling. In Titus he says that he is "a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect." He reminds Titus that he is God's servant and an apostle. This reminder seems to be the basis for his authority to say what he is going to say. If Paul's calling were in question then his words to follow would likely be in question.
This is true of any pastor. It is one reason that churches who are calling new pastor should ask how the pastor was called. If along the way the poeple question his calling or character, then his preaching tends to have less effect on the people. When the authority of the pastor is clear to the people, God uses His preacher more in their lives. When the credibility of the pastor is questioned, his preaching is often questioned by the people. To Paul making his calling clear is to help make the preaching clear. This is one reason pastors must be called and have a proven biblical character. It is also the reason that people should attend a church where they believe the pastor is called by God and his character is true. If they continue to go to a church where they question the pastor's calling or character, they will tend to question his preaching more.
Questioning the preaching is not wrong if there is serious biblical error. If we find ourselves constantly questioning the preach we are the ones who could be wrong. Either way it prevent us from properly being fed, which hurts the listener more.

How Many Kings by Downhere

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child -
Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

All for me...
All for you...

Christians and Santa
If you have ever wondered why some Christians don't include Santa Claus in their Christmas celebration, Thabiti Anyabwile has an interesting article today called "Down with Santa Claus." Even if you have never thought about this, it might be spark your thinking to read this article. Even if you think it is ridiculous for Christians not to include Santa in their Christmas celebration, at least reading the post will let you know the reasoning behind the action.

"When I let my heart grow cold, my preaching is cold; and when it is confused, my preaching is confused; and so I can oft observe also in the best of my hearers, that when I have grown cold in preaching, they have grown cold too; and the next prayers which I have heard from them have been too like my preaching" Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

My desire for God to use the preaching of his word, makes be abhor my cold and confused heart. It drives me to hunger for holiness even more. My prayer is that God would so use the preaching of His Word to transform His people by the renewing of their mind (Rom. 12:2).

Grace Unmeasured
In my hunger for holiness, I have found that the grace of God is the main ingredient. His grace leads me to want holiness even when I would not have otherwise. He could have “gave (me) up to uncleanness, in the lusts of (my) heart,” (Rom. 1:24) but His grace has bombarded me instead. This song by Bob Kauflin captures just a snap shot of His grace.

Grace Unmeasured
Verse 1
Grace unmeasured, vast and free
That knew me from eternity
That called me out before my birth
To bring You glory on this earth
Grace amazing, pure and deep
That saw me in my misery
That took my curse and owned my blame
So I could bear your righteous name

Chorus
Grace (grace, grace)
Paid for my sins and brought me to life
Grace (grace, grace)
Clothes me with pow’r to do what is right
Grace (grace, grace)
Will lead me to heav’n where I’ll see Your face
And never cease to thank you for Your grace

Verse 2
Grace abounding, strong and true
That makes me long to be like You
That turns me from my selfish pride
To love the cross on which You died
Grace unending, all my days
You’ll give me strength to run this race
And when my years on earth are through
The praise will all belong to You
Words and music by Bob Kauflin. Copyright 2005 Sovereign Grace Praise.
You can listen to a portion of it here.

Steve Saint on Suffering and the Sovereignty of God