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Out of the 400+ leaders that are mentioned throughout Scripture, only 80 of them finish well. That means that 20% of leaders end well, what an awful number! I know that I am super young in ministry, so you could ask, “Why is he talking about finishing well, he doesn’t even know how to start well!” Truth! However, my greatest fear in life, literally, is not ending well. My greatest fear is that I will lose fire, passion, discipline, courage, zeal, and vision, and end up being this lame old dude who is not making a serious impact on the Kingdom, I just know how to run churches! I have seen far too many of those, and don’t want to be one!

I have seen people who are “wise,” in their elderly years yet they lack any true passion for the Lord. It is like they got tired of running throughout their life, and now they are being carried to the finish line and barely make it across. On the other hand I have seen older people, who although they don’t jump around during worship, they don’t yell like Piper or Chandler, they don’t nearly kill people like I do when I get excited, they have lost no zeal for the Lord, but rather gained true wisdom. They still cry when they think about the lost, they still fight for Biblical truth, they have lost no passion, and they are ending well.

Now, I know that ending well doesn’t necessarily mean ending with passion, passion is not the mark of a Christian living out his life correctly. However, I do think that, along with many other things, is part of it. One of my mentors once told me there are the flames that burn like a forest fire for all to see, but there is also a fire that is hidden in coals. Although the coals aren’t burning for all to see, there is an enteral fire that is strong, maybe even hotter than the forest flames! We see this in Paul’s life for sure.

As Paul was facing imminent death, he was writing to Timothy (2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter) and you see zealousness for the Lord that he still possesses. Paul said that young Tim needs to “fan into flame the gift of God,” and that he was “not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed” (Paul was currently in jail to be executed for his passionate faith). Paul charged Timothy to pass the baton by “entrusting to faithful men who will be able to teach others also,” to be a “good athlete” and a “hard working farmer.” Paul said that he, “endure[d] everything for the sake of the elect.” Paul was still “charging” Timothy, and said that, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (Scripture mentioned is 2 Timothy 1:6, 1:12, 2:2, 2:5, 2:6, 2:10, 4:1, and 4:7 respectively)

ONLY 20% OF PEOPLE IN SCRIPTURE FINISH WELL!!! That is a crazy, big, and somewhat discouraging number. So, while I am still young, and while most of you reading this are probably still young, we need to begin to prepare ourselves to finish well. This comes through being consistently disciplined with the Lord TODAY. It comes through loving and knowing the Word, sharing the gospel with all, making disciples, serving in ministry, murdering killing and slaughtering sin, being a good steward, fighting the good fight TODAY! 

When I asked a guy who is older in the faith, but still loves Jesus, how to finish well he said, “You have to finish well today. And tomorrow, you have to finish well tomorrow.” Amen. Psalm 92:13-14 is my promise verse I hold strong to. My translation of it is, “If you root yourself in the Lord. If you fall deeply in love with Him today, and stay steadfast through trails and disappointments throughout life, you will still be a beast in old age!” Fight today to finish well tomorrow, and do better than 20%; our generation depends on it.

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In the previous post on laziness we looked through Scripture at the many different examples it gives about the lazy person, and the sinfulness in being lazy. I want to personalize this one some and talk about what I think is one of the main reasons for laziness in my life, and in many people’s lives around me. The reason I have found so many people are lazy is that we do not know how to properly rest. 

Rest is a very godly thing, if done correctly. Think about this, in the Jewish system God ordained a whole day to do nothing but rest. So, follow my math here for a second; assuming the Israelites slept 8 hours a night, and then actually practiced the Sabbath (which most didn’t!) then they would be resting for 42.85% of their lives! Now, this doesn’t even include other times the Lord ordained for rest like festivals, times after the harvest, or even the Sabbath year! This probably means that about half of their lives were supposed to be spent resting, and enjoying the Lord and what He had given them.

I think the biggest reason the Lord orchestrated this is so that we would be able to frequently shift our minds back to loving and serving Him, and enjoying what He has given us (husbands/wives, kids, nature, etc.). I think the other reason is so that we would never mistakenly think that we were God! See, He needs no rest, but if we go more then 24 hours without sleeping we are like drunken men, and if we do anymore it could get dangerous for our health. The Lord is consistently reminding us that we need Him, even in the way that He has created rest!

Now, back to laziness. We are lazy because we don’t know how to rest. Here’s an example that frequently happens in my life. I work really, really hard one day (I know, I’m a Pastor, most of yall think I just have a quiet time all day!), and come home and am really tired. I know I haven’t actually spent time with the Lord yet, but since I have been doing “the Lord’s work” all day, I don’t really feel like cracking open the Word or praying (even though it always give me Life, every time!). I am too tired, and so then what happens? I hop onto the computer, spend 10 minutes on every one of my favorite websites, and then decide to play a game online or on my phone. I usually think, “Oh, I’ll read after I’m done,” although I know this never happens! After playing for like an hour I feel no more rested then before I played. So then I get back online, and then ask Natalie if she wants to watch TV. Then, when it is time to go to bed, I stay up an extra 35 minutes online again before I actually fall asleep.

The problem with all of that is none of it is actually resting. Actually for the most part all of that is being lazy. Now, I am not saying that anything I did is bad in and of itself, but there is a time and a place for everything right? Often times the way I use my time is a waste of time. Instead of doing things that give my soul rest, I simply waste it away.

I think this is true for many of us. It is different for everyone, but we tend to waste time, and we don’t truly rest. This is what laziness does this to us. We get caught up doing things that we think will benefit us, yet they really just steal energy and joy. Instead of playing games, I would feel so much better if I spent some time with my Savior, or even took a nap!

Sometimes to rest is to just watch movies with friends, or just lie in bed and do nothing, but you have to discern for yourself which is which. I know what being lazy looks like for me, as I am sure that most of you do for you too. Learn how to rest, learn what gives you energy, and what takes it away, or even just leaves you stagnant (doesn’t give or steal energy). For me, reading deep theological books, spending time in the Word and praying, playing sports, or doing almost anything communal gives me energy, and I feel rested afterwards.

Playing dumb computer games, watching TV in long doses, surfing the Internet does nothing but leave me the same as before. These things are lazy, and I think a sin, because it is not what the Lord would have you do. So, this is a small example, but one that produces big results if followed. Don’t be lazy, rather learn how to properly rest. When you do this I think you will actually work harder, and better, and in doing so give more glory to the King! And when you rest in Him, you get to know Him more! A true win-win. 

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Many times in Christianity we think about, confess, and strategically plan how not to do the “big” sins. For men pornography, lusting, pride, etc., always gets confessed with accountability partners. Women tend to deal with control, insecurity with who they are, etc. However in the midst of all of these “big” things going on (which are serious offenses), I think we often miss out on some of the more stealth sins, that are just as deadly (if not more deadly) as the large ones. One of these sins is the sin of laziness.

Laziness is something that I feel like I deal with on a continual basis, and the Lord has been gently rebuking me about this. It is something I deal with because I don’t know how to properly rest (which I will be talking about in the second post on laziness). Throughout this blog though I want to look at the sin of laziness, and what Scripture says about it, and why it is so offensive. 

The book of Proverbs is littered with wisdom against laziness (being a sloth, or being a sluggard or idle). Prov. 10:26, 12:27, 12:24, 19:24, 20:4, 21:25, 24:30-34, 26:15, 19:5, etc. I want to briefly exegete four of these Proverbs:

• Proverbs 15:19- Scripture shows that laziness actually stirs up trouble for the sluggard, and makes life harder for him, as if walking “through a field of thorns.” This is like when you wait until 4 hours left to finish a project you’ve had for six weeks! Instead of being diligent and working, you were probably being lazy, making life harder.
• Proverbs 6:6-11- The ant is the opposite of lazy. He is diligent. And even though he has no one “ruling” over him, he gets done what he needs to get done, and is rewarded for it.
• Proverbs 13:4- The lazy man wants things, but never actually puts in the effort to get them. This leads to entitlement, another deadly sin that our generation greatly deals with (probably from being so lazy!).
• Proverbs 22:13- The lazy person makes senseless excuses to not get done what needs to get done, causing harm for everyone around him.

See laziness is a sin because God has clearly called us to work, and be diligent with the time He has given to us here on this earth. Ephesians 5:15-17 shows us that the days are evil, and we need to get stuff done, not be foolish and silly with our time! Paul took so seriously the man who was lazy that he said to break fellowship with him, and to not let him eat (2 Thes. 6-15)! Those are pretty harsh, deep words, yet is shows the seriousness of this sin. Heck, even in our pursuit of the Lord we ought not be lazy but passionate (Rom. 12:11). 

Laziness also leads to several other sins. This was David’s problem with Bathsheba. In 2 Sam. 11:1 we see that it was the springtime, meaning the kings were off at war. However, David decided to stay back for some reason. Why? Now, I will confess Scripture doesn’t actually say he was lazy, yet I think it is pretty safe to assume. Israel was doing great, conquering tons of nations, why not just take a break for a while? We also see later in the story that when David brought Uriah back to sleep with his wife to cover everything up, Uriah was like, “No dude. Why would I sleep with my wife when I am supposed to be out there fighting the war with the rest of my men?” Probably shaming David in the process! Laziness is what likely lead David into sin. Not doing what he was supposed to be doing put him in a compromising position. I know, with guys especially, the same is often true with us

Laziness is such a threat that Jesus himself warns very strongly against it. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-29, Jesus gives a sharp rebuke to the servant who was lazy. He actually says, “You wicked and slothful servant!” Then he throws him into hell… WHAT?!?! Wow. Now, obviously this guy was not a believer, but God said that he was lazy (probably in pursuing the truth about who God was), and the end result for him was eternal separation. In a somewhat parallel story (although I believe they are different parables) in Luke 19:11-27 Jesus also condemns the lazy servant.  This time it seems as if he gets into heaven, yet all of his rewards are stripped away from him. 

Laziness is serious, and something not to be fooled around with. We would be wise to be diligent, and seek out what the Lord would have us do for Him and His glory. This actually leads to our joy in Him, which is much better then the “nothingness” laziness gives you anyway! Laziness does nothing but steals your joy from you in the long run, why would you give into that? 

I think we often dive into laziness because we feel like “we deserve” a break, because of how hard we have been working. I know this is what I do, and it is usually not even true. God rewards the diligent man, yet obviously laziness is not smiled upon. I could go on and on, yet I think Scripture is pretty clear about itself, don’t be lazy! Laziness is a cheap substitute for genuine rest, which we will look at in the next blog post. 

I wrote this paper for a recently seminary class. It is pretty lengthy, but I loved writing it, if you have time, enjoy:-)

Trinity in Marriage

INTRODUCTION

There are several mysteries in the Christian faith that are hard to explain in human terms. Some of them include Jesus being 100% man and at the exact same time being 100% God, or the fact that God is completely sovereign in salvation yet there is clearly some response required in man, as well as several of the seemingly contradictory character attributes that God fully possesses like grace and justice, mercy and wrath, and the list could go on. Perhaps none of them are as deep, hard to explain, or misunderstood as the Trinity. As John Calvin said, “While he proclaims his unity, he distinctly sets it before us as existing in three persons. These we must hold, unless the bare and empty name of Deity merely is to flutter in our brain without any genuine knowledge.”[1] Like Calvin, I believe we should try to understand our Triune God.

I believe along with this mystery, another very misunderstood, and possibly most mishandled relationship, is the marriage between a man and a woman. Since we as Christians believe that man was created in the “Imago Dei,” or the “Image of God,”[2] then this means that our lives should reflect the character, attitude, and relationships that God would. So it is not a wonder then that marriage is perhaps the most mishandled relationship because, like the Trinity, it is misunderstood and incorrectly applied. In this paper I want to look at the relationship of marriage and merge it with the understanding of the Trinity, showing how understanding the latter will help us correctly live out the former. In order to even begin to grasp the full beauty of marriage, we must have at least a basic love and understanding of the Trinity.[3]

Basic Workings of the Trinity

                Throughout this paper we will focus on how the relationship of the Trinity, as well as the mystery of it, helps us understand marriage. As John Piper said, “The greatness and glory of marriage is beyond our ability to think or feel without divine revelation and without the illuminating and awaking work of the Holy Spirit. The world cannot know what marriage is without learning it from God.”[4] So, a basic definition of the Trinity is, “In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.”[5] Another way to simpler understand this is that God eternally exists as three persons, all of one essence, of the same, unified, complete nature, yet distinct in their working.[6] So how is it that God is three distinct persons, yet one at the same time? Great question! If you spent the rest of your life studying this, you still wouldn’t come close to figuring out this great mystery. However, the beauty of our God, and the core of who He is, is Triune. Understanding this will shape the rest of this paper and our understanding of marriage. I will continually makes ties between the two (marriage and Trinity), showing how I believe that since marriage is the greatest covenant between two human beings, it is the relationship that can best show the beauty of the Trinity, and can only correctly operate between husband and wife with a correct understanding of how the Trinity interacts and exists together.

Trinity as One; Husband and Wife Become One

                Perhaps nothing is as confusing in marriage as to what it actually means to become one flesh. Genesis 2:25 tells us, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”[7] Now humanly speaking, this is literally impossible. It is just as impossible to be born again, so we see why Nicodemus was thoroughly confused when Jesus told him it’s the only way to be saved![8] So what does it truly mean to become one flesh, since this is physically impossible? Well I think since we are created in the Imago Dei, the only way to understand this is to understand how God is one.[9]

                Although God exists in three distinct persons, God is literally one.[10] As Wayne Grudem says, “Scripture is abundantly clear that there is one and only one God… God is only one being. There are not three Gods. There is only one God.”[11] However, God is three persons! The way we best understand this is that the Godhead is so intricately perfect, and deeply complex that all three members are God, equally, yet unique individually. Each member gives the other members glory over and over again. We see the Father placing glory to the Son.[12] We see Jesus honoring God the Father, and calling him greater than himself.[13] We even see Jesus honoring the Spirit, and giving him a lot of glory.[14] So, God exists as three persons, all equally loving each other, and giving glory to the other, yet existing in one.

                So, what does all of this have to do with marriage? Well, if in Genesis 2:25 God is saying that we are literally to be one in marriage, we would only be able to deeply understand this truth with respect to the Trinity. In the Trinity there are literally three distinct people, but they are so unified, and they are one God. In a marriage there are two distinct people, but, what if we could begin to model after the Trinity and begin to try to act as one flesh? I believe that this is a good picture of what Genesis 2:25 is communicating.

Created in the Imago Dei, we are created for relationships, since the Trinity has ultimate relationship within themselves. As God is one God, so we can begin to try to become one flesh. I believe this practically means loving each other so much, that we seek the other person’s will over our own, and seek their good rather than our own.[15] We can lay down our lives for the other person’s sake, and let them know they are honored. Just as the Godhead loves each other well, we can try to love each other so well, that we begin to become one flesh.

Along with this, we can also be so unified in mind that we have the same will, purpose, and desires in life.[16] Just as the Godhead has absolute unity in their plans, so spouses can have complete unity in their plan, beginning to unify them as having “the same mind.”In marriage that should look like glorifying Jesus with all that we have together, and desiring Him above all else. In this we can have the same purpose and begin to unify ourselves. I think this can practically be extremely beautiful, take for example Jesus and the Father once again. Jesus makes a profound statement in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Wow! That is huge! They are so unified that if you have seen Jesus, you have seen an exact representation of the Father. Whatever Jesus did, the Father would have done too! Now imagine if our marriage was the same way. Say that there was a nonbeliever who needed to hear the gospel. What if your husband or wife was so unified with you in purpose that whether they talked to you or them, they would get the same answer, same ideas? Or more simply what if there were unification about basic ideas in life: the way you use money, raising kids, how to spend time, etcetera, that both persons were so unified that if someone asked either one, “How do you use your money?” they would get the same response. Now that would be beautiful, and probably be a huge step toward landing an extremely healthy marriage. Obviously this is not the only thing, and since we are fallen men we will always fall short of this. This should not stop us from trying to be unified with our spouses however; we should try to model the Trinity in that regard.

Trinity as Distinct; Husband and Wife as Distinct

                We won’t spend as much time discussing the Trinity in this section as we did in the last, but it is important to know that just as the Godhead is one, they are also three. This was discussed in both sections above, but a brief overview is that all members of the Trinity have distinct roles, and follow those roles perfectly.[17] All having the same purpose in those roles, they do different things to bring it to completion. This same idea is given biblically in marriage and I believe can best be understood by examining the Trinity and how they carry out their responsibilities differently.

                Paul gives husbands and wives a basic framework of how we are to operate unified, but in different roles in the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 5:22-33 Paul sets up several different roles to be carried out in marriage. We see that wives are to submit to their husband, allowing him to lead the family well. This is not a “demeaning” thing as the world would see today; rather, this is a beautiful representation of the Trinity. Jesus submits to the Father and the Spirit to both.[18] No Christian who has any type of correct doctrine would say that Jesus is a little less valuable, or a little more worthless than the Father simply because He submits! That’s absurd, and blasphemous to say. In the same way the wife is not lesser, but just has a different role. According to Titus 2:4-5 wives are to love their husbands, to be pure, to work the home well, respect them, and the list could go on with several different verses throughout Scripture. Husbands also are to love their wives and lay down their lives for them. They are to honor them well (1 Peter 3:7), sanctify her and present her pure before Christ, sacrifice for her using Christ’s sacrifice for the church as our example, and once again the list could stretch on.

                Now in a fallen world, roles begin to get mixed up. The husband doesn’t feel respected, the wife doesn’t feel loved, certain things aren’t getting taken care of the way they should, and marriages end in divorce. The reason is because this is not how we were created. If the Triune God himself, being equal submits, serves, and carries out different responsibilities, then it only makes sense that we ourselves need to do the same. Both of us are co-heirs (co meaning equal, 1 Peter 3:7) of the same inheritance, which is Christ, yet working in harmony, arriving at that differently. The Trinity is the best model to follow, as they serve in different roles, yet each equally deserves worship as God!

Trinity: Perfect Example of Love

                Not only do we have a good example on how to be two different people yet equal, we also have a perfect example of how to love our spouses correctly. The Trinity is the perfect example of love as love fully exists within the Trinity. We know that God is love,[19] and since each member of the Trinity is God, each member loves the other with a perfect love and gives honor where it is deserved. As Dr. Horrell says, “Defined in 1 Corinthians 13, agape [love] is not directed inwardly but outwardly in the sharing and giving of oneself to others. In contrast to Islam, Judaism, and other religions that insist God exists exclusively as one person, the triune God of Christianity is not egocentric, solitary or isolated.”[20] He goes on to say this is why God doesn’t need to create something to love, He simply is love existing within Himself, knowing how to show that to each other perfectly. This too was touched on above, but what if husband and wife responded like this?

                In marriage we are created to deeply love each other. Once again, God is love and thus we need to love each other and learn this ultimately from God. The apostle John tells us, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”[21] As husband and as wife, if we are to reflect the Imago Dei, and truly represent the relationship of the Trinity, we are to love each other, with all of God’s might. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul tells us exactly what love is, which would be a good way to start to understand how to love each other.

No amount of human effort can produce this. We need to learn to adore God above everything first, and be filled with Him and with His love. Then, as John said above, we will naturally begin to love everyone else much more. In a true sense I believe that often is the biggest disconnect. We cannot muster up enough love in and of ourselves to sufficiently love the other person the way God has called us to. This is because God does not try to love, according to 1 John God is love. God the Father doesn’t have to try to love Jesus, or have an obligation that he must fulfill, and this is why the Spirit gets love. No, by no means! Instead God simply is love, and so naturally expresses it amongst Himself. Now, we are not naturally love, rather often opposite! But, if we begin to learn how to love the way the triune God does, our marriages will be much more God glorifying, and more satisfying to us as well as we will receive ultimate love freely and unselfishly (the way God gives to Himself) from our spouse.

Practical Applications: Church in Austin, Marriages Universally

                I am currently the young marrieds pastor at a church here in Austin, Texas, so this obviously has practical applications in my life as a worker in the Kingdom, as well as in my personal marriage. I can think of several ways it should change my own thoughts, as well as marriages globally, and I will list a few now.

CHANGES THE WAY I TEACH- Working in this role I am teaching often on what it means to be married, and how we should respond to our husbands or wives practically. Without a view on the Trinity concepts such as how we become one flesh, different roles, etc., are all just “things the Bible says so we have to believe it.” However with a healthy view of the triune God, we can begin to see how marriage is so precious in His sight, and how we should respond to that. This will change the way I teach about certain topics using God as our prime example as to how we should live life.

CHANGES THE WAY I COUNSEL/DISCIPLE PEOPLE- Often when people come to me personally with problems the same thing happens as when I am teaching. I have great biblical texts to point them to, but no practical example for them to model. So we are left with, “just do it because the Bible says!” Although this should be sufficient, it always helps to have examples to follow and respond to! Having a fuller view of the Trinity will do this. Not only this, but it helps us learn to love God so much more! When we see Him for who He truly is, I believe our hearts begin to fall more and more in love with Him! As Jonathan Edwards says in his analogy, “A statue may look very much like a real man to the eye, the resemblance of a very lively, strong, and active man; but yet an inward principle of life and strength is wanting; and therefore it does nothing, it brings nothing to pass, there is no action or operation to answer the show.”[22] In other words, if we only have something that is sort of real to us, or represents something that is real, but no has good solid proof to model, we are often stuck and don’t know what to do. Now in discipleship I have something tangible to point at in the Trinity and how we should spiritually respond to each other.

CHANGES OVERALL VIEW- Understanding the Trinity in marriage simply changes my overall view of marriage. Instead of just loving my wife simply because she is my wife, I now have a good reason because I get to show her the love of God in doing so. If I become more and more “one” with her, she sees a clearer picture of God, and falls more and more in love with Him. This is my highest desire, for her to love God so much, more than anything and anyone else! If I am modeling this to her more and more (and it is easier to model if you actually understand better what you are modeling!), than she will likely be more in love with God as a result. John Owen talks about this in his book, “Communion with the Triune God.” He talks about how understanding the Trinity will result in helping you to see why we should live our lives in respect to Him and how we can practically carry this out.[23]

CHANGES MY OWN LIFE- Not only should this affect everyone I am helping, but most importantly it should drastically change the way that I view God, and how I love Him. I can now more freely love God, because I understand Him more, especially in the area of my life that is most precious to me outside of Him and the one that I think about and cherish the most, being marriage. I can now more fully understand Him and serve my wife out of the overflow of my understanding of the Trinity.

Conclusion

                There is so much more we could cover with this topic that this paper doesn’t lend time to, overall however I hope this slightly changes the way you view the Trinity and how it could affect your most important earthly relationship. The Trinity not only affects this relationship, but everyone one in life as well, and not only relationships, but also worldviews, ideas, theology, etc. Overall, the Trinity is the only way, I believe, that we can fully understand the Biblical implications of marriage, and what that should look like for us. Understanding the Trinity sheds light about how we are to be unified as one flesh, yet separate as individual people, how we are to love each other well, the way that God loves Himself and us, not in an egotistic way, but freely, self-giving to another person. It also teaches us this should affect the way we read Scripture, teach, and guide others, the list could go on. All in all, we serve a God that is much bigger than we can fathom. Rather than a single being, we serve a single God who is three persons, meaning at His heart is relationship. The same can be true in our marriage. Rather than living a life strictly thinking about self-benefit, we can focus on another freely, and actually live more fully in the Imago Dei. It is not good that man should be alone;[24] God isn’t, so let us freely love someone else and lay down our lives for their honor and glory. To God alone be glory and power, to all their good before ours.

So I was watching X-Men 3 last night with my wife (in response to the new X-Men movie which is good, I recommend!), and in the middle I started thinking, “Man that’d be tight to be Wolverine!” As I was thinking about running around and cutting people’s heads off I got a gentle reminder from the Lord that I would love to share. I think so often we see superhero movies and love them for one main reason, because we were created to be Wolverine on steroids, and we are missing the mark. We are longing for something that we were created to do and to be, yet aren’t, and so we fantasize about them because our soul longs this. Let me explain.

We are in a vicious war, vicious, vicious war. Yet, most of us are casual bystanders, doing nothing to help the cause. There are two sides to this war good and evil (just like in every movie), and honestly that would better be communicated as perfectly holy, just, lovely, and everything good, versus completed depraved, wicked, and utterly sinful, and everything against God. God, the most powerful, holy, awesome, wonderful being ever (most powerful key in this analogy), is fighting against the most powerful thing he ever created in Satan. Now, lest we get confused, God could obliterate Satan in a millisecond if He so desired, and one day will, no contest, but for now there is a war, 2 Peter 3:9 is the reason this war continues if you were wondering. Okay, so there is a holy war going on, and guess what, you are the target and victim, as well as the reason and possession. Now, what are you going to do with this? You long for war, because you were created to be in the biggest one ever! Yet often we do not take a hold of this!

See if you are a Christian, then you are now on God’s team! Ephesians 6: 10-18 hits on this theme very strongly, especially Eph. 6:12. Paul reminds Timothy to be a good solider for Christ (2 Tim. 2:3-4), Peter reminds his listeners that the devil is like a lion, waiting to see whom he can devour (1 Pet. 5:8), the list goes on. I think Peter can definitely understand that his soul was wanted by Satan because Jesus told him that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat (Luke 22:31-32), but gracefully God was fighting for him! So you are in a battle, and the battle is for the souls of millions, upon millions, upon millions that do not yet know the Lord as their God, King, and Messiah. Your own soul, even if saved, is still being attacked with fear (2 Tim. 1:7), and doubt from our own heart (1 John 3:20, I’ve found new love for this verse!), our flesh acts up and tries to act like we use to act and worship who we use to worship (Romans 7), I mean, this is war! Jesus even very aggressively tells us to cuts off our hands and gouge out our eyes (that’s bloody battle!) if it causes us to sin (Matt. 5:29-30).

John Piper hits at this idea brilliantly in “Don’t Waste Your Life,” he says, “Sometimes I use the phrase ‘wartime lifestyle’ or ‘wartime mind-set.’ The phrase is helpful – but also lopsided. For me it is mainly helpful. It tells me that there is a war going on in the world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief. It tells me that there are weapons to be funded and used, but that these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs, but the Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). And it tells me that the stakes of this conflict are higher than any other war in history; they are eternal and infinite: heaven or hell, eternal joy or eternal torment (Matthew 25:46).” Beautiful.

So, what are you going to do? Now, we have a battle, so men (and women!) please gird up your loins! Please be a man, and not be passive, we need to gather around and fight! Fight for the Kingdom of God. Now, this is done in many ways. I think literally every time we respond in obedience, if if it is small, we are shooting our “guns” at the enemy. However every response opposite I think we are shooting at the air (1 Co. 9:26 type stuff), or we are shooting at our brothers. Which, that will bring me to one quick tangent, please stop arguing and bickering and complaining against each other! Pathetic! We are on a team together, yet we are fighting against each other as much as we are fighting against the enemy! Arguing over things that don’t matter and… yeah, you understand where I am going. K, back on topic, we need to aim at Satan!

Every single move we make matters! Even a smile at a cashier or something, I literally think we are moving somewhere. Jesus doesn’t just ask you to smile though, he asks you to lay down your life for the gospel. Be willing to be martyred for it. There are casualties in this war, but God is using it for good! So, I am sure you follow my thoughts, I just want to encourage you to fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12). In the end, this is serious, more serious than ever! You were created to be Wolverines, so we need to stop puddling around like we are kittens! Get your claws up, do something to advance the Kingdom, make war on your flesh, Satan, wickedness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, let’s partake in the great battle today.

Okay, so I will say that this is coming from studying Leviticus for a long time in my OT class at DTS. I have been thinking, man, people don’t appreciate this part of the Scripture, but it is so rich if you simply take some time to draw it into today’s context (contextualizing). So, this didn’t just come by looking at it, but really studying it, and I am drawing a large portion of this from a commentary that I was reading for my class. But anyway, I wanted to exegete a portion of Leviticus, let me know what you think, hope it blesses. Leviticus 4:1-5:16, if you have time, chop that up.

K, so there are several sin patterns that we see in this section of Leviticus that we, especially we who are leaders, need to heed today. Sin is detrimental, and affects our relationship with God, so we need to be aware of the different sins we tend to commit. As short and brief as possible let me break down seven things that I see throughout this section.

1. Accidental or unrecognized sins (4:1-12): “If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done…” (Italics mine). This is somewhat scary, but true in every moment of our lives. The definition of sin is “missing the mark.” So sin is not just, “don’t murder, or lust, or steal and other “big” stuff, and you are doing okay,” it is literally anything this misses the mark of perfection from a holy and perfect God’s standard. Dang it, so this is the type of sin we probably commit most often. Sins that we don’t even know what we are doing, or don’t even recognize it’s wrong, but we are “missing the mark” that God would have for us. This is a bad start to the rest of this blog if this one starts off so depressing!!! Yes, you are a sinner, and probably a much bigger one than you would like to think!

2. Conforming to sinners (the world) around you (4:13-21): “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally…” Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world. Conformity happens when you are not thinking about the Lord, or are unaware of His commands. Your flesh (since it is sinful) will naturally conform to this world, like cookie dough will naturally conform to the shape of a cookie cutter if pressed in. And please believe me, this world is pressing in! Even if it is Christians that are sinning, and you happen to follow the pattern of their sin, you are in sin! You must not conform, but be transformed, or work hard at murdering your sin, and submitting to God. Conformity happens all too often because people are passive with their faith, and just follow the crowd, don’t do that, follow the Scriptures!

3. Thinking exemption because of our high status (4:22-26): “When a leader sins…” Listen leaders are held more accountable for their actions (James 3:1, Heb. 13:17, several parables, etc). Whether through reward, or through negative consequence, leaders should be extra aware of their sins. In Judges, and honestly throughout almost all of Scripture (minus rare cases obviously) whenever there is a good leader, all of the congregation follows. They are then blessed by the Lord, and experience favor. However, when there is a bad leader, Israel is in ruin, or heading that way! Leaders are not exempt from sin, they are actually held more accountable.

4. Thinking exemption because of our lowly status (4:27-35): “If any of the common people sins…” Just because you are not a “leader” doesn’t give you reign to sin any less. Hebrews 13:7 tells us to mimic our leaders. Wouldn’t this then mean that we should act like them (in holiness, not in sin) and are then responsible before God as well. God isn’t going to look at you and say, “Well okay, you weren’t as ‘important’ so I will let you off of the hook.” That just sounds ridiculous. Now, you may have deeper responsibilities, but most commands are for all people, not just leaders. Mimic the leaders, or as Paul would say, follow them, as they follow Christ (1 Co. 11:1). Greater or lesser, no excuse for sin, and you have the same responsibility, repent (turn away from) from your sin.

5. We don’t do what we know is right (5:1-3): “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;” James says it straight up, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17). Simple as that! That is also unfortunate, because often I know what I should do, and do the opposite.

6. Speaking foolishly quick (5:4-13): “Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything…” Once again, James 3 is all about taming your tongue, telling you how deeply evil it is. We are to think before we speak.

7. When we thoughtlessly trivialize what is sacred (5:14-16): “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord…” Simply put, when we are not thinking about God, and His greatness, holiness, power and perfection. We are probably neglecting what is sacred, and are likely missing the mark.

So, you are an awful person! Praise the Lord that is not the end. See in Leviticus it often shows the Israelites what the correct sacrifice is for sinning against the Lord, mainly what animal are they to use to atone for their sin. Well Leviticus is simply a foreshadow to something greater. The animal sacrificial system was simply to point us to two main things, the severity of our sin, and our need for a substitute. Praise be to Jesus, that he took on all of these seven categories of sins mentioned above, and became a curse, so that we might live in freedom and perfection, and enjoy the blessing of a restored relationship with the God of the universe. Simply put, we are sinners, do it often, and need to Savior, praise be to Jesus, God incarnate!

Okay, I am writing this knowing that I probably don’t have this whole idea completely understood (obviously)! I definitely haven’t perfected it and would love some dialog as to whether or not you think this is right, mainly because I don’t wanting to be teaching truth if it is not complete truth, that’s scary (James 3:1). So know that this is a completed thought, but rather a work in progress, but I think I am on to something that has really helped me, hopefully it will do the same for you.

So, Romans 6:1-2 tells us that we should not continue in sin so that grace may abound, that is simply silly and doesn’t make much sense. So my question is, when you do experience grace with the Lord at its highest form? Like, when does grace make most sense to us, when can we understand it the most, when can we enjoy the benefit of it, fall in love with it, etc. When did we see its most power? Now, the first thought for most would be, “When I came to Christ the first time.” And for sure, that seems to make sense, you were dead, children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3), wicked and an enemy of God (Jas. 4:4) since you loved this world. Then, boom, praise Christ the King He had grace on your soul! You went from death to life (Jn. 5:24), from darkness into light (Jn. 12:46), man, and this is abundant grace. So grace would be at work in us in the greatest extent at salvation, I am not sure if I would argue against that.

Okay but then what, is grace over? Like do we not experience grace anymore since we are now Christians? I think only a foolish person would say no, no more grace! So, now when do we receive grace? I think the thought is, “Well when I mess up, God forgives me, and that’s when I experience grace.” Yes, but, is that when we experience it to the utmost?

What is Paul writing to the Romans for? So that they will believe in the gospel and fall in love with God and KNOW Him, I think Christians and non-Christians (Rom. 1:1-15). So, we know that “to know” God is to have life (Jn. 17:3), and that Paul actually cares about nothing else besides knowing Him, and making Him known (Phil. 3:7-11). So, grace, and experience grace is part of knowing God correct? So, the more we experience grace, the more we understand it, feel it, fall in love with it, the more we will know God, and fall in love with Him I would logically say, right? So then, if grace comes by not destroying you once you sin, shouldn’t we keep on sinning, so that we can experience God more? By no means (Rom. 6:1-2). So then, how is it, if grace draws us closer to God and helps us know Him, that we experience grace to the fullest?

Here’s what I am thinking, you actually experience grace the best, when you are under the umbrella of grace continually, not when you step out of it and then need to be forgiven. Think of it like this, when you are completely starving, like, starving, and you haven’t eaten in a long time, then you eat some food, doesn’t that just taste so good? Like, I know when I haven’t eaten for a while, and then finally eat, that is always the best time! So food tastes better then. However, does that mean that the food is better then? No, we just haven’t had it in a while, so it seems better. In reality, if we have gone too long without food, our bodies begin to slowly dwindle, and begins to be destroyed, because we need food correct? So, when is food best for us, like when does it take the full effect in our lives? When we are continually eating. When we have a few meals a day, then our bodies are fully charged, and have calories to maintain us, and help us in our activities. So food is “best” when we stay “under the umbrella” of it, does this make sense? You don’t starve yourself so that it tastes better, that’s not the purpose of food! You nourish yourself, and eat to live!

Let’s take that analogy and extent it to grace. When does grace “taste” best? When you have been in sin and you haven’t experienced it in a while, man, it feels so good to “eat” of it again. However, to fully experience grace I think we need to be continually under its umbrella. That’s when we fully experience it. That’s when it takes its full effect in our lives and we fall in love with it/God. Make sense?

So Paul is trying to draw the Romans closer to God in writing this letter correct? So if they got to experience and know God more when they sin, then come back for grace, wouldn’t Paul just tell them to do that? But he says, “That’s a foolish thought.” Instead, by staying close to the grace of God, we actually begin to fully experience it, and understand it. We see that no good thing comes from us (Rom. 7:18), and that even us staying close to God is a grace act on His part! I think we experience grace the best out of sin, close to God, not in sin. Does this make sense? It sounds counter-intuitive, but so does the rest of the gospel!!!

So, for the Christian to truly experience grace, we need to eat of it frequently. Now, that is not to say that we should live self-righteous lives, so as to make us moralist. We know that we suck! Which is why Romans 7 is the next chapter! But what is the fruit of grace? The fruit of grace is knowing God and experiencing/having eternal life (Rom. 6:21-22). So I think the person who truly “gets” grace, the one who has felt it’s affects the most, is the one who strives to live under the umbrella of grace, not by his might, but by the grace of God!

I know this might be a little hard to follow, and may not make much sense (I think I could explain it better in person!) but let me know what you think. Essentially, we know grace best, not when we are in sin, but when we are free from sin, alive in Christ. Grace is known best (post-salvation) apart from sin, under the umbrella of grace. I feel like I didn’t do a good job of explaining this! But hopefully you get me. So don’t keep on sinning, that’s foolishness. Rather live in the grace of God, and experience the full affects of grace by your changed life! Thanks for reading, feel free to respond. Grace and Peace.

Hearing God: A Key Component to Staying Out of Sin

Okay, so here is something that I have been realizing recently, both in the Word, and in my own life. The more I hear from God, it seems like the less I sin. Ironically (not really) the same seems to be true with the people I am seeing in Scripture. Let me explain.

Who sinned first, the first human to ever sin? Now, some would argue Adam, and I honestly do see how it could be a mutual thing (since Adam was there and should have protected his wife), but overall Eve took the bite. Paul also talks about that in 1 Tim. 2:14. So Eve was deceived, and disobeyed one of the only commands of the Lord in the garden. Keep going, if you could point out one of the biggest sins of the exodus, what would that be? Think about it, stop reading until you have an answerJ it was the calf incident. If you are not familiar with that read Exodus 32 for the whole story. The Israelites built an idol, and began to worship a golden calf! What? After Yahweh God lead them out of the wilderness?!?! Who was the main sinner in that situation? Aaron, who was supposed to be leading the people actually helped them build it! Then he gave one of the lamest excuses for sinning in all of Scripture (as well as one of the funniest) Ex. 32:21-24.

Now, I could go through tons of examples in Scripture, and here is the point I am getting at. The people who are lead into life ending, deep, dark, ferocious sins are the ones who have not heard directly from the Lord. Now, Adam sinned, Moses sinned, Abraham sinned, however, they seemed to be less entitled to sin than their counterparts with them.

Essentially, I am slightly distracted right now while I am writing, but what I am saying is you are so much more likely to sin, and so much more likely to have a weak relationship from the Lord if you are not personally hearing from Him. This is one of the reasons (and there are hundreds of them) why getting in the Word is so important. And not just diving into Scripture (although I do think that is the main way God speaks to us), but praying, fasting, worshipping, listening to the Holy Spirit, and what He would have you do to glorify Him.

Now Israel had a chance to hear from God themselves. However, because they feared for their lives, they wanted only Moses to hear from God, eventually only to end up in sin. Eve must have heard from Adam? The text doesn’t say, but we could probably assume that’s how she knew she shouldn’t eat. Joseph, when he didn’t hear from the Lord about the virgin birth, didn’t believe. However, once God spoke, he turned and became faithful. Is this making sense? Hearing from God is so crucial to our individual walks.

So, are you hearing from God? All too often we rely on hearing from God on Sunday mornings! We wait until the pastor gets a sweet revelation about the Word, and then teaches us. This shouldn’t be. We need to be hearing from God personally. When God teaches me things they are penetrating, soul-wrenching, life-altering things. When I hear about something from another man, even if it is deep, it doesn’t have the same impact in my life. That’s because God’s voice is powerful. Shoot it spoke the earth into existence! I know the same is true with you!

If we want to be used by God we have to be hearing from God and we have to be being altered by His Word (Jn. 17:17). Psalm 119 is a huge testimony to that. Listen to your pastors, and submit to them for sure (Heb. 13:17), and learn from them, because the Lord does use what he teaches us to lead other people closer to Jesus (2 Co. 1:4, Gal. 6:6, I think that’s the verse, I don’t have my Bible!). In the end however, you need to hear from God first hand.

So, here is a question I have for you. When is the last time you heard from God? What did He say to you? To hear from God is one of the greatest experiences that man can have! So open your ears and hearts, and draw near to God, listen to him, not through me, but for yourself! Get in the Word today, beg God to speak to you, then go obey. If I said anything not true it’s not my fault, I can’t think clearly right now, and don’t have my Bible!!! JK, but just some random thoughts. Talk to me…

You know, something has been striking me recently as sort of surprising, and really disturbing. There are so many people who claimed they are saved by grace, but then they go on living, as if they were saved by works. We see this same problem in Galatians, and for some reason we think we are far from it (Gal. 3:1-5, 11).

So here’s a practical example. If you sin a ton during one day, you lie, treat someone poorly, go home and look at porn, hide that from everyone, don’t pray or read your Bible for a few days, etc., then you probably feel like you are as far from God as possible, you and God aren’t doing too well  (because of your works). However, if you tithe, love your neighbor, read and pray for 2 hours a day, walk someone’s dog to be missional, fast (whoa) etc., then all of a sudden you a being a great Christian, and you and God are doing well (based on your works). Now, is this true? You may be tempted to say yes, and of course, I will say, if you are walking in the Spirit you are a lot more likely to do the latter things mentioned than the former. But really? You think that your relationship with God is based on the things that you do? Read Galatians 3, and you will see this is a foolish thought.

Listen, you were saved by grace, through faith, and guess what, right now, you are being kept by God by grace through faith, not of your own works. Your works are generally going to pull you away from God. Matt Chandler says that the way you can tell an immature believer from a mature one, is that when the immature one sins, he runs away from God, and thinks he is further, or worse than before, but when a mature one sins, he runs to God, who he knows is the author and perfector of his faith, it is not based off of his own works or merit.

This couldn’t be more true. Let’s take Adam, he foolishly sinned, and what was the first thing that he did? He ran away from God, went and tried to cover the mess up himself, and hid (Gen 3:7-8). Now, this shows that he didn’t understand who God really was. He thought that God was going to smash him, instead look at God’s response. He immediately calls Adam back to Himself (Gen 3:9), because He knows that Adam is safest by Him, and that He can love and protect completely. Then He made a better covering for Adam (Gen 3:21), showing His forgiveness. Notice what this covering was, animal skin, how did He get this? Through sacrifice? Atoning for Adam’s sin? Then He blocked the garden and didn’t allow Adam in (Gen. 3:22-24). Now you might say, how is that good? Because God knew if he ate from the tree of life, he would live forever in his sin, and God didn’t want that, he wanted him to be able to die, and be risen again as a new man through the cleansing of Christ for his sins, which is why he predicted Christ’s coming right away (Gen 3:15). Later, when we are perfect, we get to eat from the tree of life again, and live forever in perfection (Rev. 2:7). God was the earth’s first missionary, coming into this earth, and drawing men to Himself for forgiveness and repentance.

Now, did God discipline this sin? Yes, of course as He will always, but even this is a sign of deep love and affection (Heb. 12:7-11). But to punish us, to shun us, to push us away from Him? Foolishness, and a direct trick from Satan this is! Listen, God wants a RELATIONSHIP with us!!! This means we run to Him for everything. Blessings, we worship Him (1Pet. 1:3-5); mistakes, we cling to the Cross (Eph. 2:1-9); good things we do, we honor Him who gave us the ability (Eph. 2:10, 1 Co. 12:4-7); shortcomings, we plead with His help through prayer (Eph 3:20)… run to your Savior and Deliverer who is able to deliver you from all sins! Stop running away from the throne room of grace, but run towards it (Heb 4:16).

Stop thinking that you are saved, or rather should I say sanctified, by the good works that you do, know that it is Christ who redeems you (nothing you did), sanctifies you (nothing you can do), and will eventually glorify you and present you as a pure, and perfect vessel (nothing you will even do) (Eph. 5:27). THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT WILL MAKE GOD LOVE YOU ANY MORE, OR ANY LESS, tell yourself that! If you have accepted Christ as the substitute for you on that Cross, and have believed in Him for the forgiveness of your sins, you are clean, and that is the end of it. Now we just try to love God and know Him more (Jn. 17:3), and make Him known to others (Matt. 28:19-20).Take freedom in knowing that we can run to Christ every second of our lives, and He is faithful and just to cleanse us from our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We cannot save ourselves with our good works, we never have been able too, and we never will be able too, remember that. You are beautiful to God, stop running away when you sin, run towards Him, and let Him love on you with His perfect, unfailing love.