Are you Resolved to Grow Spiritually?

In 1722, when he was only 19 years old, Jonathan Edwards sat down and wrote out 21 resolutions in one sitting. Over the next year, he expanded that list to 70. 

He read through them every week for the rest of his life.

And now, more than 250 years after his death, we’re still reading them and his influence continues.

He serves as a great example of what a deeply Christ-focused life looks like. What a life focused on sanctification looks like.

The goal is sanctification.  

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 

nor stands in the way of sinners, 

nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

and on his law he meditates day and night. 

• Walking, standing, & sitting suggests deepening relationships.

So we are not to be in deepening relationships with those who are wicked, sinners, and mockers, but we are to delight in God’s Word.

Meditate on it day and night. And we should walk, stand and sit with others that are also delighting in God’s Word.

Where better to do that than within a local body of believers that puts intentional focus on the Word of God?

• This is an intentional focus on the Word of God.

This is a picture of someone resolved to focus on God’s Word

And we should be too.

• Jonathan Edwards was resolved was to pursue sanctification. 

Spiritual depth doesn’t have “one click ordering” like Amazon does.

It takes work. 

It takes effort.

It takes time.

It takes focus.

It takes determination.

It takes resolve. 

Resolution: A commitment to do something.A statement of commitment to intended reality.

Resolutions Fail because the details of how to carry them out are not planned out. Resolutions must be planned out and must have a right purpose. 

• Jonathan Edward’s resolutions were all for Christ’s sake. For the sake of His glory.

Jonathan Edwards wanted to grow in sanctification and destroy sin. And it was all for the glory of God. 

One of the resolutions says this:

Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I find, and plainly see myself growing in the knowledge of the Scriptures.

When you’re growing in the knowledge of the Scriptures, you start thinking biblically. You think rightly about things.  As we think toward 2013, we need to make sure that we’re thinking rightly about the church.

Biblically, the purpose of the church is threefold.

1. The Exaltation of Christ

One of the primary things the church should always focus on is worshiping God, especially in a corporate setting

2. The Edification of the Body

This is the body life. Believers function together and build each other up. It’s how we work together as the body. The different parts work together toward a unified goal. 

3. The Evangelism of the Lost

The church is the primary vehicle that God wants to use to proclaim His Gospel.

This is why we will always be very gospel centered in all that we do. 

We need to be a people who are all about knowing, believing, living, and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The idea behind all of this is self-evaluation with the goal of greater sanctification. 

So grade yourself in the following areas. You can use letter grades (A, B, C...), numerical grades (100, 95, 85, etc.), or just go “Pass/Fail.”

Spiritual Report Card

Don’t worry - you’re grading yourself...

Grade yourself in the following “subjects”

SANCTIFICATION Grade: ______

Do you have a clear understanding of sanctification? 

Do you understand your own need for sanctification? 

One of the primary elements in sanctification is Scripture Input. How are you doing in this vital area? 

Scripture Input…

• Includes hearing, reading, studying, memorizing

  and meditating on God’s Word. (John 17:17)

• Prayer for yourself, others, “stuff.” (Mark 1:35)

EXALTATION Grade: ______

Worship is something you do with your life, but corporate worship is a necessary part of the activities of the church.

Corporate Worship…

• Do you come prepared to worship?

• Are you engaged in worship? 

EDIFICATION Grade: ______

This is a broad area including many things. 

The summary of this is: What are you doing to build up the body?

The Body of Christ…

• Are you actively involved in the Body? (Acts 2:42)

• Are you serving & committed to the Body? 

Others Focused

• Are you loving the brethren? (John 13:35)

The church is the visible demonstration of the Body of Christ.

How are you showing this?

Giving…

• Money, Time, Resources, etc. (2 Cor. 8:7)

EVANGELISM Grade: ______

Sharing the Gospel…

• Are you prepared/preparing to share 

  the gospel? (1 Pet. 3:15)

• Are you making efforts to share the gospel?

Matt 28:19-20 , 1 Cor. 9:16

And that’s the “where you are”

Now for the “where are you going?”

10 Questions to Ask Yourself

1. What can you could do this year to grow and increase your enjoyment of God? (what will you do?)

2. How will you intentionally approach all of your relationships rightly? (exhortation, encouragement, evangelism)

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In what way will you intentionally grow in your love for and devotion to Scripture, and how will you go about it? (The 2013 Challenge?)

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. How will you grow in your love for and commitment to your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. How will you grow in your understanding of and love for the Gospel?

9. What specific thing can you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What can you plan to do this year will really matter ten years from now? In eternity?

For another great list of questions, go to http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/10-point-inventory/

To read all of the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, go to http://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/jonathan-edwards-resolutions/

Remember: The goal is sanctification.

Scripture plays a role in that as well as exaltation, edification, and evangelism. And don’t miss that the driving force behind it all is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

As always, if you have any questions, or would like help working through any of this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

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P.S. – if you haven't had a chance, check out "The 2013 Challenge" in our church newsletter. Click here to read it.

How to Study the Bible

Bible Study Guidelines

The Bible was written by God, so it’s extremely important!

God gave us Scripture, His Word, so that we could know Who He is and who we are. It holds deeper truth than anyone can ever completely wrap their mind around. It has continued to be relevant for over 2000 years. 

When you really look at Scripture, all the ancient documents, and the importance of them, it’s pretty incredible that people like you and me are able to have copies of it. 

Every time you read your Bible, the goal is to meet with, know, and hear from God. He speaks to us through His Word. One of the most important things you can do each day is spend time in God’s Word. Below, is outlined a strategy to study God’s Word in a meaningful way. Use this method each day as you sit down to study God’s Word. 

Remember: We seek to know not only what the Bible says, but also what it means, and how we are changed by it so that when we encounter the various situations in our lives, we respond in line with God’s will. 

Before you begin:

Approach your study each day with prayer, asking God to open your heart and mind to what He will be saying to you through His Word. 

Five basic steps to study the Bible:

~ 1. Observation: what does it say?

Who, what, when, where, why, how do you see in this passage?

What is surprising, emphasized, or challenging? Anything else?

~ 2. Interpretation: what does it mean?

Read the principles on the back side - this is the most crucial step and will take the most time.  

        The more time you put in during the “Observation” stage, the easier this will be.

~ 3. Application: how am I changed? How do I respond?

How does your life compare to this? What does this passage say to someone in your shoes. 

        How specifically will you change? 

Keep in mind that Application isn’t about next week when a certain situation comes up. You should ask “how does this change me right now?” Obviously it will impact what happens in every situation and there are definitely specific implications, but remember that God’s Word has power. The change should occur right now. How are you changed right now? Then that change will continue to overflow and affect other areas of your life in the future. Your decisions should be reflective of a changed heart and mind. 

~ 4. Pray: (prayer is talking to God) 

What do you need to praise God for, repent of, ask Him for, or yield in response to this Scripture 

         passage?

~ 5. Sharing it with someone: don’t keep it to yourself!

Who will you share this truth with? How will you share it? 

Interpretation Principles:

As you read the Bible, seek to understand what it means, and apply it to your life, please keep these principles in mind. 

1. Content – This flows from the Observation. You look at terms, structure, the grammar (who do the pronouns refer to? who is “he” or “they?”), the who/what/where/when/why/etc.. The more observation you do, the more content you have and the easier interpretation will be. 

2. Context – The Bible is a unified book. It is 66 books that stand together as one. Context basically means you look at the before and after of the passage you’re studying. Keep in mind the historical situation, the cultural situation, the geography, and the theological situation surrounding the passage. Also: the Bible NEVER contradicts itself!

3. Comparison – compare Scripture with Scripture. Remember that Scripture will never contradict itself. You can, almost always, use the Bible to help you understand and explain what’s in the Bible. Using a concordance (like in the back of many Bibles) and cross reference notes are both great way to compare Scripture to Scripture.

4. Culture – Culture was mentioned in Context, but it’s important enough for its own point. You need to look at the cultural background of not only the writer of the passage, but also who it was written to. A good study Bible (MacArthur, Reformation, ESV) will be a very helpful tool.

5. Consultation – This involves looking at what others have said about the passage. The technical term is “secondary resources.” Bible dictionaries, Bible handbooks, atlases, good commentaries, and other tools can be very helpful. Looking at what others say about a text can be helpful in understanding it for yourself. This should never be the first step you take. Always do this last. (the ESV MacArthur Study Bible is an excellent place to start. If you don’t have one, get one here)

Journaling - Write it down. It helps you solidify what you’re thinking and you won’t forget what you’ve learned. The difference between reading and studying is a pen and paper (or keyboard, or iPad, etc.). 

One of the biggest benefits of journaling is that it forces you to fully process your thoughts. If you have to write it down, it’s no longer thoughts floating around in your head, but words written down. And now, you won’t forget what you’ve learned because it’s in writing.

Check back on Wednesday for a specific method for the “Observation” part of your Bible.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

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What did Esau Do?

Someone at my church recently asked the question, “Why does God hate Esau? What did Esau do?” It’s a great question, one that could be answered with a book-length answer, but I’ll try to answer it a little more concisely. First, the background passages:

Malachi 1:2-3 – “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob ³ but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

The answer is found in Romans.

Romans 9:10-16 –  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

This is the simple answer with a more complex theological background. It wasn’t about something Esau did or didn’t do. This is an illustration of God’s sovereignty in salvation. He will choose who He will chose regardless of anything they might or might not do.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that our salvation is not your own doing... not a result of works,

Esau and his people clearly rejected God (as does everyone according to Romans 3). They later became known as the Edomites (Jacob’s people became known as Israel). In Obadiah 10, we see that the violence of Esau/Edom’s toward Jacob/Israel was part of the picture as well. Obadiah was written over a thousand years after Esau lived, so this clearly is about Esau’s people, not Esau himself. Also, God’s love of Jacob referred to his descendants as well. Specifically, the remnant, (through whom Christ was descended). Those who trust in God. Remember: God is faithful to His people and punishment will come to those who are not His people. 

Psalm 5:4-6 says, For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. ⁵ The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. ⁶ You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. Ultimately, it’s sin that God hates. And God’s hatred is not like ours. Our “hatred” is typically a malicious attitude, but God is righteous when He hates evil. In fact, we are called in many places to hate sin and evil. (Amos 5:15 – Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. See also: Psalms. 97:10 & 139:19–22; Proverbs 8:13 & 13:5).

The bottom line is this: God is God. Anything He does is just and righteous. We are only saved because of His grace and mercy. We all deserve condemnation, death, and hell. Yet, for those of us who repent of our sins and trust in, rely on, and cling to what Christ has done - we receive salvation and are reconciled to God. 

God didn’t “hate” Esau for what He had done, but neither did he love Jacob for anything he had done. This is all an illustration of God’s sovereignty in salvation. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

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