For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)
Bob Hoekstra writes, God delights in pouring out His grace into humble hearts. "God…gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). What a remarkable arrangement this involves. The God who dwells on high in heaven above wants to also dwell with the humble here on earth below.
God is bigger than life, he is true and living God. He is high and lofty. "For thus says the High and Lofty One." He is exalted. "For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods" (Psalm 97:9). Hoeskstra writes, He rules far above, and completely over, every valid authority and every false god. Also, eternity is His rightful habitation: "who inhabits eternity." Furthermore, holiness is His essential character: "whose name is Holy." Among all professed powers or spiritual usurpers, none is like our holy Lord. "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11).
In light of His holy and eternal character, it follows that He would make this proclamation: "I dwell in the high and holy place." Beyond the atmospheric heavens, beyond the stellar heavens, the Lord dwells in the heaven of heavens. In this spiritual dimension beyond time and space, the fullness of the Lord's presence is known. Yet, He is even greater than this "third heaven" itself. "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool…Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You" (Isaiah 66:1 and 1 Kings 8:27). (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
The Lord is high, lofty, holy, and eternal. These truths impact us with awe and reverence. Yet, there is a corollary truth that brings us encouragement and hope (even though it seems almost contradictory). "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit." God essentially dwells on high, but He also desires to dwell with man here below. Who are the people who experience the Lord dwelling with them? Such communion with God is for the contrite and humble. The Lord wants to make Himself known to the repentant and meek in order to bring them spiritual revitalization: "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Jeremiah Contrasting the Two Options on Trust
Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5-7)
Bob Hoekstra writes, Jeremiah also offers insight into living by grace as he contrasts the two options on trust. When it comes to where we will place our trust, there are basically only two choices: man or God. This choice is a critical one, because one is a curse, and the other is a blessing. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD."
The natural mind of fallen humanity places its confidence in man (usually, in themselves). The flesh of every born again believer is tempted to place trust in the same direction. This brings a very serious spiritual curse. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength." When we exercise dependence upon man, we can only draw upon fleshly resources for strength. This amounts to a departure from the Lord in whom we are to trust: "whose heart departs from the LORD." The Lord is the only source of all true blessings. Consequently, to trust in man results in a curse.
The curse that results from depending upon human resources (ours or others) is barrenness of life, spiritually speaking. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert." A desert shrub represents the antithesis of abundant spiritual life. It is the picture of a plant that is barely surviving. Desert shrubs are typically sparse in growth and lacking in fruitfulness. A person who trusts in flesh is like this shrub. He will not see good days of bountiful vitality. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes." People who trust in the fallen resources of man never do really see days that God's word would call good. Rather, they dwell in spiritual conditions that are like salty soil, wastelands, scorched land, incapable of habitation: "but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited." Such living is a cursed spiritual existence of carnal desolation.
Yet, there is a fully effective option by which such barrenness can be avoided. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."
Dear Lord, I confess that I have often trusted in myself. I agree with Your word that the flesh always brings the curse of spiritual barrenness. I have found the same is true when I place my hope in others. Lord, teach me to trust in You, that I might know the blessedness of having Your grace as my resource, Amen.
Bob Hoekstra writes, Jeremiah also offers insight into living by grace as he contrasts the two options on trust. When it comes to where we will place our trust, there are basically only two choices: man or God. This choice is a critical one, because one is a curse, and the other is a blessing. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD."
The natural mind of fallen humanity places its confidence in man (usually, in themselves). The flesh of every born again believer is tempted to place trust in the same direction. This brings a very serious spiritual curse. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength." When we exercise dependence upon man, we can only draw upon fleshly resources for strength. This amounts to a departure from the Lord in whom we are to trust: "whose heart departs from the LORD." The Lord is the only source of all true blessings. Consequently, to trust in man results in a curse.
The curse that results from depending upon human resources (ours or others) is barrenness of life, spiritually speaking. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert." A desert shrub represents the antithesis of abundant spiritual life. It is the picture of a plant that is barely surviving. Desert shrubs are typically sparse in growth and lacking in fruitfulness. A person who trusts in flesh is like this shrub. He will not see good days of bountiful vitality. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes." People who trust in the fallen resources of man never do really see days that God's word would call good. Rather, they dwell in spiritual conditions that are like salty soil, wastelands, scorched land, incapable of habitation: "but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited." Such living is a cursed spiritual existence of carnal desolation.
Yet, there is a fully effective option by which such barrenness can be avoided. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."
Dear Lord, I confess that I have often trusted in myself. I agree with Your word that the flesh always brings the curse of spiritual barrenness. I have found the same is true when I place my hope in others. Lord, teach me to trust in You, that I might know the blessedness of having Your grace as my resource, Amen.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
We need your HELP!!!
I would not normally do this, in fact it is the thing that I hate the most in life and that is ASKING FOR HELP. As most of you know Amica and I have been on this journey of planting a church in RTP area for the last 8 months. It has been amazing seeing how God has orchestrated all kinds of miracles throughout the process. We are few months away from our first service and still have so many things we want to do to communicate the truth about God’s love for the unchurched, uncommitted and undecided of our community. Within a few months out there are a lot of decisions and purchases that need to be made and that is where WE NEED YOUR HELP. We are believing God for an additional $50,000 which we do not have now to get the items we need, market our church to the community and reach out to the people around us in a practical and relevant way.
We are asking that you would prayerfully ask God what would be your part to play in this new church plant. We know that the local church is the hope of the world, and we would love for you to partner with us in this investment into the kingdom of God. Thank you so much for your belief in us and what the Lord is doing here in RTP area.
Bringing People to God with the Love of Jesus,
Raphael and Amica
If you would like to invest in this church, you can give securely through donation: 3413 Skybrook Lane, Durham, NC 27703
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
UP THE MIDDLE CHURCH
In The Up The Middle Church, Matt Keller offers an on-the-field playbook for pastors and leaders who need to know how to win their Super Bowl one yard at a time!
The church world today is inundated with stories of Overnight Success. The one percent of churches who have a long bomb story seem to make the headlines, but what about the other ninety-nine percent? Are we destined for failure? Are we left without options? Will we ever see our dream of doing something great for God come true?
In The Up the Middle Church, Matt Keller unpacks the myth that just because a church isn’t big, fast, doesn’t mean it isn’t successful. When Next Level Church began in 2002, it was anything but an overnight success story. However, by learning and implementing the principles that are in this book, that same church has grown from four people to nearly a thousand every week!
There is a new normal in the church world today, and it’s The Up the Middle Church. It’s possible to win in your church, but maybe God wants to show you how…one yard at a time!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Life Giving Life-Space
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin so that we could have life. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly. He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous so that we can have life and more the abundance.
So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.
That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven (New-Life). The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new life-space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new life-space that you will inhabit for eternity.
It will be the perfect life-space, designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father), rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood). But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect life-space.
Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin so that we could have life. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly. He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous so that we can have life and more the abundance.
So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.
That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven (New-Life). The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new life-space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new life-space that you will inhabit for eternity.
It will be the perfect life-space, designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father), rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood). But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect life-space.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Launching Large
“Launching Large – Launching large is the ability of a new church to reach as many people as possible within the first six to eight months of existence. It’s an issue of discovering and fulfilling potential. Of course, large is a relative term. Launching large will look different for different church planters in different environments. Church is local, and launching large is as unique as the area to which God has called you. Areas that are warm to the gospel may lend to a larger launch than completely unchurched areas. We have also seen the reverse hold true. Don’t get too caught up in the numbers. Instead focus on the potential of your area.”
“Launching large is about cooperating with God to see his vision accomplished in an area. Don’t underestimate that vision.”
(excerpt taken from Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas of Church Leader Insights.com)
The idea of launching large has nothing to do with ego or numbers for numbers sake. The idea of launching large has everything to do with reaching as many people with the life saving message of the cross as we can! Our plan for NJC Church is to do everything we can possible to launch large!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Life Giving Community-A Community of Believers
How do you value community? In many cases we have to understand that our neighbor perhaps value community different than the Church Community. In some cases people base their vale of community upon what they can get out of it rather what they can put into a community.
List of Community Values:
• Resources
• Networks
• Commonalities
• Friendships
• Religion
Christianity means community in Jesus Christ and His body, the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is His community. Nothing more or less than this. We belong to one another only through Jesus Christ. What does this means? It means that as Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ. He is the head of the community and we are the parts. He holds it together through the members of His community. Jesus committed to God‘s master plan of community to reach and transform a lost world to the Kingdom of God. Jesus came with the purpose of reclaiming the world with the Gospel. His plan is simple and profound he formed a community of twelve ordinary men and gave himself to train these men for three years through service.
In this lesson, a community was born?
1. The Believers Form a Community
Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer.
What are the marks for a believer community?
• Love God through Worship: Prayer
• Show love for others through Ministry: Service.
• Share God’s message through Evangelism. Sharing
• Identify with his church through fellowship: Connection
• Created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship: Teaching
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
In this text, we see an authentic conversion because the people were a deep reverence God.
2. The Believers Community has a deeper understanding because they fear God and His word.
• A believer community fears God vs. 43
• A believer community admit there sins:
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
• A believer community understands, they deserve death for their sins.
Romans 6:2a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
• A believer community understands salvation is a free gift from God to you!
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
• A believer community understands that Jesus died on the cross and He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death!
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
• A believer community calls out to God in the name of Jesus
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
• A believer community believes with their heart and confess with their mouth
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
• A believer community understands you must be born again John 3
• A believer community opens their heart’s door.
Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice
We belong to one another only through Jesus Christ.
3. The believers’ community are united by sharing everything they have.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
So this week, when you feel like there is no one that can grasp what you are going through; when you feel like throwing up your hands and giving up; remember there is a community of believers who understands and there is a Community Savior who wants to share Himself with you.
For more information about this and other subjects, visit the Raphael Yon blog:
http://raphaelyon.blogspot.com/
List of Community Values:
• Resources
• Networks
• Commonalities
• Friendships
• Religion
Christianity means community in Jesus Christ and His body, the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is His community. Nothing more or less than this. We belong to one another only through Jesus Christ. What does this means? It means that as Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ. He is the head of the community and we are the parts. He holds it together through the members of His community. Jesus committed to God‘s master plan of community to reach and transform a lost world to the Kingdom of God. Jesus came with the purpose of reclaiming the world with the Gospel. His plan is simple and profound he formed a community of twelve ordinary men and gave himself to train these men for three years through service.
In this lesson, a community was born?
1. The Believers Form a Community
Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer.
What are the marks for a believer community?
• Love God through Worship: Prayer
• Show love for others through Ministry: Service.
• Share God’s message through Evangelism. Sharing
• Identify with his church through fellowship: Connection
• Created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship: Teaching
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
In this text, we see an authentic conversion because the people were a deep reverence God.
2. The Believers Community has a deeper understanding because they fear God and His word.
• A believer community fears God vs. 43
• A believer community admit there sins:
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
• A believer community understands, they deserve death for their sins.
Romans 6:2a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
• A believer community understands salvation is a free gift from God to you!
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
• A believer community understands that Jesus died on the cross and He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death!
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
• A believer community calls out to God in the name of Jesus
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
• A believer community believes with their heart and confess with their mouth
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
• A believer community understands you must be born again John 3
• A believer community opens their heart’s door.
Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice
We belong to one another only through Jesus Christ.
3. The believers’ community are united by sharing everything they have.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
So this week, when you feel like there is no one that can grasp what you are going through; when you feel like throwing up your hands and giving up; remember there is a community of believers who understands and there is a Community Savior who wants to share Himself with you.
For more information about this and other subjects, visit the Raphael Yon blog:
http://raphaelyon.blogspot.com/
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