Thursday, December 31, 2009

God's Sovereignty & Man's Responsibility - Jeff Noblit


"You see, we think because God is sovereign we just kind of coast along and God builds His kingdom. Oh, no. He says three times, diligence, diligence, moral excellence, manly energy, get after it.(II Peter 1:5) Why? Because God’s sovereignty includes man’s responsibility. Don’t ever forget that. There’s a wicked, abhorrent teaching that’s called hyper-Calvinism. It goes too far. It takes God’s sovereignty into fatalism. And you must guard yourself from that and run from that and fight against that. We are responsible to diligently seek our God and serve our God."

Monday, December 28, 2009

Top Ten Books of 2009


This year, I have done more reading than I probably ever have before...well, reading on my own time that is. My dad always had my brother and I reading book after book after book, and frankly, we couldn't stand it...we would rather have played our Nintendo's and XBoxes wasting our time all in the name of "fun". It seems like more recently, the opposite has taken precedence. This Christmas, as I watched my brother glancing through his new MacArthur Bible Commentary, and as I found myself turning through the pages of Leon Morris' 'The Atonement' early Christmas morning, it hit me....God has truly done a regenerating, new heart and new spirit working within the both of us. Not that we weren't saved or hadn't been living for Christ prior to our new found reading habits, but this new found love for reading and searching the scriptures and books pertaining to them was just evidence that something new had happened within us. Reading has become a love, a pastime...something to pull me away from the addictions that come with the TV, Facebook, and the many other distractions that only serve at times to keep me from reflecting upon the glorious truths in God's Word.
Furthermore, these are the ten most influential books that I have read this year. Their effect upon me has shaped me as a disciple of Jesus Christ and through re-readings, and application, I hope that they will continue to increase my learning and knowledge of Him.

10. God's Passion for His Glory - John Piper
Excellent book! Half Piper-Half Edwards. I learned more about both of these men of God and their journey to glorify God in all things. Edward's work on "The End for which God Created the World" is a very hard read - but I recommend reading his scriptural defense before reading the philosophical defense.

9. Justification and Regeneration - Charles Leiter
If I were a university professor, and were teaching a class on regeneration - this would be the textbook. Great illustrations and explanations of justification. One of the best books on regeneration I have read thus far.

8. Finally Alive - John Piper
I read this book online through DesiringGod.org and I couldn't put it down....or click on another page if you will....this book and the sermon series that produced this book was awesome! A wonderful book on what it means to be "born again".

7. The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul
Classic. The chapters on Luther's experiences are some of the best writings on the holiness of God that I have ever read.

6. A Body of Divinity - Thomas Watson
Watson's style of writing is full of illustrations and similes that break down the great doctrines of scripture for an easier understanding. The Body of Divinity is a great catechism that has helped me to grasp a summary of the great doctrines in the Bible and it will definitely be a yearly read for me in the future.

5. The Jesus You Can't Ignore - John MacArthur
I was perhaps the most excited about reading this book. I couldn't wait for its arrival, and once it arrived - although I planned to read it next year - I jumped straight into it after reading the introduction. MacArthur in this book discusses the Jesus who confronted and at times initiated the hard situations that he encountered in the Gospels. I learned from this book that although it is never good to be the cause of strife or contention, when issues and errors arise that bring these elements, they must be confronted and counteracted with truth. Jesus never backed down or "played nice" with His enemies. Yes, he loved the Pharisees and extended the gospel to these men, but He never watered down His message, nor ceased to call them out when necessary. In this post-modern world that we live in today that runs from confrontation and softens truth, we can learn from the Jesus of the Gospels that as Christians, we must be ready to confront error and defend truth - in the most loving way as possible, yet with firmness and boldness that will strike the hearts of the hearers.

4. The Mystery of The Holy Spirit - A.W. Tozer
The last time I read a book on the Holy Spirit, it was nothing like this one. This book greatly helped me to understand and truly see, through the light of Scripture, who the Holy Spirit is, what He does, and why He is here. Tozer confronts the errors about the Holy Spirit, and the mistakes that many make by being 'scared' of Him. I really recommend this book by Tozer for a summary of who the Holy Spirit is.

3.The Faithful Preacher- Thabiti Anyabwile
Ive always been intrigued by African-American history, I love it. I really believe it is something that everybody should know about. As a race of people, like all others, we have a very beautiful history. As I've become more reformed, all the testimonies and biographies of great men that I have read have all been of European descent, white, or of other ethnicity. Before I found this wonderful book, I hadn't really heard of many great black ministers who were reformed in their theology, holding solely to the scriptures and seeking the glory of God in all things. From the history that I have learned in the past, it seems as though most of our leaders are "black first"and then the view of God and the scriptures comes second. Thabiti Anyabwile has done a wonderful job in introducing me to these 3 men of God. What I've learned from this book is that God is faithful to reveal himself to both the fathers of church history, the reformers and also to the slave who found himself in a country he was not familiar with. A high view of God and the Scriptures, proper theology and a sound education to back both was what each of these men possessed and I am truly thankful to both God and Pastor Anyabwile for revealing the lives of these men at this time. The Faithful Preacher has been a window for my young eyes to see through and appreciate these men who were both men of God and ancestors and this book has been a wonderful eye-opener.

2. May We Meet in the Heavenly World: The Piety of Lemuel Haynes - Thabiti Anyabwile
"The Faithful Preacher" introduced me to 3 great men of God from the African-American community, but out of these three men, one man captivated me in a way that no other preacher from the past has. In Lemuel Haynes, I found a mentor, a friend, and an example. Haynes served in ministry for over 60 years and many of those years were spent laboring at one church in Rutland, Vt. Haynes has greatly impressed upon me because he has the mind of an Edwards, with the persuasion of a Whitfield when one is reading his sermons. I have never seen eternity and judgment so clearly and so imminent as I have in reading Haynes' sermons. Haynes was a staunch defender of the doctrines of grace, and very reformed in his theology presenting straightforward, truthful views about the sovereignty of God and His providence that most in his day simply watered down. Everyday in this man's life was ministry. He was a wonderful husband, father and minister, and the most amazing part about his life is that this black man, pastored and all white congregation for over 30 years....in the late 1700's and mid 1800's in America. That is truly outstanding! You will definitely see more posts and quotes from Haynes' on this site in the near future....look for them!

1. The Decline of African American Theology - Thabiti Anyabwile
I guess it's no coincidence that my top 3 books this year have all been by Anyabwile, they all focus on African-Americans and they all focus on the reformed faith of African Americans. Come February 2010, Ill have alot to talk about... Let's just say that I devoured this book! I loved it. From the moment it came in the mail, I opened it, and never put it down for 3 days. I had read the introduction and first chapter online months before and I HAD to have the book. The Decline is a wonderful survey of African American theology from the beginnings of slavery to the present postmodern days. Although the book is a survey and a summary of African American theology, its(theology's) progression doesn't move in a linear fashion....it declines. I can truly say that this book has been the most influential book this year, simply because it has helped me to see the reality that, unfortunately, in slavery many more blacks had a God-centered Christianity: focusing on His Sovereignty, holding to His Word, and focusing on the relationship with Christ as primary; yet, in freedom, many blacks veered away from the proper theology they once had as slaves and ran towards heresies, liberation, and legalism. Things like the liberation movements, black power movements, and word-faith movements have creeped into the beliefs of African-Americans and although sincere in intent, these movements are sincerely wrong, and we can learn a lesson from our ancestors, many of them who may not have been able to read or write or even study a systematic or read a commentary, yet they knew the God of scriptures, never murmured against His providence in their slavery, and they knew that Christ was the only way to life. That is the impression that has been seared upon my heart as I read this book and I highly recommend it to all people, of any color.

More books that I have read this year**
Spectacular Sins- John Piper (re-read)
Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper
Desiring God - John Piper
The Doctrine of Repentance - Thomas Watson (re-read)
Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan (re-read)
The Reformed Pastor - Richard Baxter
A Call to the Unconverted - Richard Baxter
The Mortification of Sin - John Owen (re-read)
John Calvin - John Piper
The Atonement - Leon Morris
Fool's Gold - John MacArthur






Thursday, December 24, 2009

An Update on Myself ....

I wrote this post originally on my birthday this year, but drafted it and decided to post it now...exactly 2 months later....

Im 24. Wow! Time has flown by and recently I feel as though I have lived 1000 lifetimes only in the span of 6 years. I feel this way because it seems as though over these last 6 years I have gone from nearly two extremes in my walk with Christ. Ill explain.
I do not say this in meaning that I have gone from being some worldling who hated the things of God with a passion, one who was the chief of sinners in deeds; but I say this because at the beginning of these 6 years, I was full of zeal without knowledge, a professor of faith in a God who I really knew almost nothing about. I had a "man-centered" Christianity, which, if it was no Christianity at all, it was a very very shallow version of it. With ease and self -appeasement, I could live in sin, listen to the music of the world, lust constantly in my thoughts, lie and actually convince myself that I was ok with God. Because I was raised in a Christian home, I was moral, and I wasnt 'as wicked' as some of the other kids I grew up around, I really had convinced myself that I was ok in God's sight; that if I had died, I would enter into eternity and spend it with Christ because at one time when i was 6 I "prayed the prayer", and God knew my heart and knew that I "tried" to live right....This was nothing more than a works salvation: Rayshawn depending upon Rayshawn's deeds and intentions to get into heaven, and Rayshawn can adjust the standard for himself whenever Rayshawn wants to. Truth is, Rayshawn was nothing more than a decieved sinner. Yes, I was saved.Yes, I raised my hands in worship; Yes, I professed to be "filled with the Spirit"; Yes, I knew Scripture like the back of my hand (although I only knew it in appeaance only), I knew nothing of context and application, and Yes, I was heavily involved in church activities and "stuff". See, when it came to God, I wanted Him...I knew, because of conviction that I needed Him, and I knew that I should spend my entire life seeking after Him and Him alone....but my flesh, my mind, and my will did not want that and as hard as I tried, I could not- for the mind of the flesh CANNOT please God. Back then, I wanted both - most anyone who knew me could tell you that I wanted my Jay-Z and my Jesus, and I wanted to somehow make both worlds conform, I wanted the love of God poured out upon my heart by the Spirit, and I wanted my lusts as well. This produced an evil monster within me, a beast that hardened me, a force within that wanted to be acceptable to saints and sinners...and for a season I actually felt dead spiritually. I can remember one time in college, refusing to take a ride from friends, because I had an overwhelming sense of fear that if I went, and the car crashed, and I died, I knew I would go straight to hell, yet this fear wasnt enough to push me twoards grace.

As God's Sovereign hand was over my life, I pushed my sins away and tried to hide and cover them up as one sweeps dust under a rug. I put on morality, and actually tried to live more Christlike, all the while I still served the desires of my flesh. I justified my sins in my own eyes and I thought i was headed in the right direction, yet I never realized that my unrepentant, ignored sins cried out for justice and deep down conviction told me that it was not well with my soul. I stayed busy with church, work and school and I was simply "coasting" through that season in my life with all my self-righteounsess and morality. Thank God he shut that season down quickly, because not too long after that he began to work a deep work of repentance in me that would change me for the better. I can remember feeling conviction so strong at times that I couldnt funtion right on some days without reading scripture - and there were days upon which I had no classes and no hours at work and it was like God ordained these days so that He might break my hardened prideful heart because I was too far gone out of the way. I felt like a failure.Tears would stream down my face, my stomach would wrench inside of me and i would feel like a worm before the presence of the Almighty. I can recall crying out one day "God, why do you even continue to deal with me!" I felt hopeless, like I would never get anything right. In this hopelessness, I completely gave up hope in my works and in myself and many sinful chains and strongholds were broken in my life by Gods grace. This was the beginning of a work that God was doing that I wouldnt even begin to realize until much later.
During this time a search began, a search guided by zeal and not by knowledge. I knew the Lord had a call upon my life for ministry and therefore I took it upon myself to search out and seek teachers and teachings which I believed would be helpful to me. Name after name, teaching after teaching, personality after personality, I was learning things (I thought), yet for some reason I felt as though this learning was only surface, when the people teaching professed it to be deep...I took alot of things hook, line and sinker and just nodded my head, without really asking myself "What does scripture saith". I devoted hours and hours in study and prayer over the things I learned, and I was really going after trying to be the most "empowered,mighty, knowledgable, gift-working" preacher I could be. I knew the terms, read the books, watched the shows, ordered the products, and more, and the fruit that I saw from all my learning was not holiness,not brokenness, not a deeper working of repentance or even a genuine working of regeneration in the heart; what I learned was man-centered: how to "be positive", how to "grow my faith", how to "get God to work" for me, and how to "have power to do" a whole bunch of things, and how to get a whole bunch of "manifestations" in my daily walk. Not that some of these things were wrong, because some of them arent, most of them are, but it was like I was standing at the "highest level" of 'Christian maturity' (so i thought) and saying to myself "Is this it??" "The Kingdom?" "Your Best Life Now?" "How to be a miracle worker?" "How to create your world with your words?" "How to live in Health and Wealth in God?".. I was just following after every new mainstream Christian fad and adding it to my "Christianity".. I felt empty, and I watched as some of these "personality" preachers just started sounding like redundant broken records...it was all the same...it was all man-centered. "Have a good time in God, get Him to bless you, and go home"...
I can remember walking around in the back of youth group some nights listening to the awesome worship and hearing the Spirit convict me saying " Do you even know what happened at the cross?" "What is the Gospel?" "Do you desire holiness, for without it, no man shall see the Lord?""Do you feel the seriousness of God's grace?" These were just a few of the questions that echoed through my being and I honestly couldnt answer them, and felt stupid that I couldnt. It was like God was saying "Ill show you how 'mature' you think you really are" and He questions me with something that I thought was "basic"...but in reality I was missing out completely on what it meant to be a Christian...to be saved, chosen by God before the foundation of the world by the free grace offered in His Son so that whosoever believes in His wrath- absorbing sacrifice will be saved - and no one can come to Him except God draws him first.
See, I thought the gospel, the cross and God's grace were just basic Christianity 101 topics...something everyone knows and then you move on to bigger stuff...but the Gospel is everything, Christs death and resurrection is everything and none of it could be possible without God's Grace.
My search continued, my spiritual life was ups and downs, until I hit a valley that I didnt even know where I was. Temptation, dullness, and complacency really threw hard blows at me and I went through a season where I just didnt care anymore. Now although I didnt return to the sins I had previously committed and though I didnt stop seeking God in my own time, I was tired.... of teacher after teacher, conference after conference, fad after fad, and I stopped reading books, listening to sermons and even listening altogether while I was in the midst of live preaching. I would go to another passage of scripture and just read until the service was over....but it was in this valley of dullness where God would strike the hardest.

A friend of mine began reading some books by dead guys, listening to sermons that were not man-centered or entertaining, and he was putting me onto them. At first, I began reading and listening passively, not really even grasping what was being said too much because it was so different, but slowly these Zac Poonen's and Art Katz's and Carter Conlon's and David Wilkersons, and A.W. Tozer's began to wake me up a little and grasp my attention. I was still coasting and complacent as I listened to these sermons and read these articles until one day I came across a sermon on a forum that someone said was "too harsh". The sermon was by a man named Paul Washer, a young looking, striaght up guy who I thought looked too serious; but I listened to this sermon called "Modern American Christianity" and my world came crashing down....





Until I finished the last seconds of that YouTube video of brother Paul, I was paralyzed, shocked and my eyes were glued to that computer like my life was in the balance. I had started off following him through Matthew 7 as he preached on the narrow way, and I was thinking "this would make a good message", but by the end of the sermon, i was broken, crushed, and so heavily convicted that I had nothing to say, but to run to another room and cry out for forgiveness and repent ...God had come down in my little apartment and tore my "Christianity" into pieces. From then on I felt as though I did not know ANYTHING! I had to start all over and this time ask the Lord to guide me...This same friend that had been sharing these sermons and things with me introduced me to a book by A.W. Tozer called the "Knowledge of the Holy" and through this book I was re-intoduced to God, not the God of my imagination and of my customization, but the God of Scripture, Holy and Transcendent, yet Immanent and Omniscient. I had to repent so many times as I read this book, and I have never been the same...

As time passed, it was like God began to draw me twoards Himself in a way I had never experienced. The power of Scripture along withWasher's words and Tozer's writings resonated in my heart and mind and God began to work humility within me, I was afraid to open my mouth, afraid to speak of the things of God and it was God who never gave me a preaching opportunity during that time becaue I really had no clue as to what I would say. I knew Nothing. He slowly began cleaning out all the man-centeredness that I had hoarded up within me and He began to work repentance and faith. I began to study scripture in context, to see the God of scripture who wasnt hurting and waiting on man, but who was Sovereign and in control of all. Things like Justification, Repentance, Regeneration, and God's attributes were things that were consuming my study times and in my devotional times, I found the Psalms to be comforting and yet humbling - I would tremble before God wondering if He had even saved me, and how could such a sinner as myself ever stand before Him? I cried out for brokeness, grace and mercy because I had begun to see how sinful I was. I knew that without the Spirit giving me assurance and blowing as a wind upon my heart, I would be lost and no better than a cracked piece of pottery. I realized that God's goodness to me was not a reflection of how well I knew Him - for He rains on the just and unjust - but I saw that if I did not trust Him and believe on Him entirely with all, and if He did not rescue me by His grace, then I would just be another "professor" of Christianity, looking to be justified on the Great Day of Judgment because of my works.

Today, its like the scriptures have never spoken louder, The Spirit has never convicted stronger, and The Day of Judgment has never been so clear before my eyes. At the same time, Ive never felt more broken, and more appreciative of grace. Temptations, trials, and sins still knock upon the door of my heart, and whether they get in because of my frailness or because of my stupidity, I realize that my house will not fall because it is built upon the Rock of Christ and it is Him that will keep me from falling and failing. My prayer is like David's in Psalms 19:12-13 "Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;let them not have dominion over me!" Everyday day and night there must be repentance, and every morning there will be joy and new mercies. I desire to have that Christianity that says that God must be glorified and praised in my life even if He sends me to hell at the end of the way. I must trust and cleave to Jesus Christ and kiss the Son or there is no hope for me and I will perish forever. All that I can do is to thank God for 24 years of Grace, and humbly pray that He would graciously bless with 24 more.
May God be glorified in this life....

Monday, December 21, 2009

Jonathan Edwards on Irresistible Grace




Irresistible Grace.


To dispute, as more latterly they do, whether the divine assistance is always efficacious or no, is perfectly ridiculous. For it is self-evident that the divine assistance is always efficacious to do that which we are assisted to. And it is no less certain that it is efficacious to all that God intends it shall be efficacious to: that is, when God assists, he assists to all that he intends to assist to. But that the divine assistance is always efficacious to all that it has a tendency to in its own nature, is what nobody affirms.

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Judgment Seat of Christ



The Judgment Seat of Christ Audio











This is a sermon that I preached on the Judgment Seat of Christ last Sunday. If you cannot see the Flash Player, you can see the original post at AdjustMyThoughts
The Judgment Seat of Christ is perhaps the most riveting subject found in scripture because its a day that no man can escape - a day that everyone on this planet will share in common. Tomorrow is not promised, but that great and glorious day of judgment is promised to all....the question is "How will you stand on that day?"

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thoughts on The Role of the Church...

A few weeks ago in my Church Ministry class, I was asked to give my position on the role of the church....here is part of my response


I believe that the church should be Christ-centered in every aspect, namely because it is composed of those of whom Christ has “called-out” for Himself, and I believe that the church should be God-glorifying- seeking to please the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in all things, submitting to God’s Sovereignty and Supremacy. Colossians 1:18 says that Christ”is the head of the body, the church” and therefore everything that is done in His body must fall in line according to the Standard and Headship of Christ. Discernment and proper discrimination must be high priority in order for this to be accomplished and a love and high estimation for the truth must also be in place. Matthew 16:16-18 tells of Peter speaking to Jesus declaring to Him that He is the “Christ, Son of the Living God”. Immediately Jesus responds to Peter telling Him that this revelation of Him was not given by flesh or blood, but was rvealed to Him by the Father in Heaven. Jesus continues speaking and tells His disciples that upon this rock He will build His church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Many interpret this passage to mean that Jesus was building his church upon Peter, meaning Peter was somehow the first leader or foundation of it. I believe that the “rock” Christ was speaking upon building on was Peter’s statement and how that statement was revealed to him. “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”, is, I believe, the rock upon which Jesus has built His church; That all who this is revealed to – not by flesh and blood, nor by marketing plans, large buildings, culturally relevant music, or modern organization strategies, but by the Father who is in heaven – will come together and seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Christ, in Matthew 7 spoke of the house that is built upon a rock, a house that is founded on submitting to and glorifying the teachings and Person of Jesus Christ. My point is that no other method or strategy or vision besides the revealed “Jesus is Lord” will truly build His church. It is from this vine that all of our visions strategies and goals for ministry must branch from, and without it our churches will be nothing. With this said, I believe as Warren said, that the church’s purpose is about bringing in God’s lost sheep, and at the same time, teaching those sheep discernment, truth, and sound doctrine. The church must always look to Acts 2:46-47 where it says “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This verse is the church’s confidence and her foundation; that no matter how many trends, or strategies, or ideas that we come up with,as good or as bad as they are, only the Lord can add to His church. Like Ezekiel, God commands us to speak to the dry bones, but only He can give them life. Ideas, strategies and cultural relevance without compromise are all good and, at times, necessary factors in order for the church to continue to shine as a light to the world, but we must remember that we are a light, not the match, and it is God who adds men to his bride, not man. This is my current position on the church and as I grow in grace, this position may change. My prayer is that if it changes, may it glorify God, and may it fall in place to beautify His spotless and pure bride. "

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

It Will Cost You Everything - Steve Lawson



If you cannot see this video, please go to IllBeHonest to see it, or you can see this original post at AdjustMyThoughts