Dear friends,
I will be sitting for my papers soon so I will not be posting much this period. Thanks.
~Wieky
In Christ Alone
November 25, 2009 at 9:33 am (Christ, Hymns/Songs)
IN CHRIST ALONE
by Stuart Townend, Keith Getty
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
____________________________________________
“In Christ Alone” is my most favourite contemporary song of all time. The lyrics of this song truly capture the spirit of Christ-Centeredness that we all ought to desire. ~Wieky
The Christ-Centered Preacher (Mark 1:7 Part II)
November 24, 2009 at 5:11 am (Bible, Christ, Church, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Gospel, Gospel of Mark, My Expositions, Truth)
Implications:
There is a crucial virtue in John the Baptist’s preaching that seems to be rare in today’s preaching and that is Christ-Centeredness.
John preached not to exalt himself but rather to exalt Christ. Just as I mentioned before that to be humble is to exalt Christ above ourselves. For those of us who are involved in the ministry of preaching or teaching, let us be careful lest we promote ourselves or our churches/organisations instead of our Lord Jesus Christ. Too often we are proud of our denominations, proud of our theological heritage, proud even of what bible translation we use! Paul would consider all of these to be rubbish in comparison to Christ (Philippians 3:8).
John preached Christ because he acknowledged that Jesus is the one and only way to the Father (John 14:6). I fear that many of us, even as conservative evangelical Christians today, are ashamed of this truth. It seems that our thinking has been strongly influenced by postmodern thinking of relativism*. I know that it’s hard to proclaim Christ as the only way in today’s pluralistic society. However, let us remember 2 Thessalonians 2:4 which says“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”. Let us therefore, stand firm in the blessed truth of Acts 4:12 that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”, Christ is not an option!
“Precious Father, help us to treasure and to delight in your dear Son more than anything else in this world. For He is the only one who had purchased us with His own precious blood. Amen.” ~Wieky
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV)
*relativism – the idea that there is no absolute truth and that everything is relative
The Humble Preacher (Mark 1:7 Part I)
November 20, 2009 at 7:55 am (C.S. Lewis, Gospel of Mark, Grace, Humility, My Expositions)
7And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. (Mark 1:7 NASB)
The very words of John the Baptist are now recorded for us by Mark. John definitely did not preach a one sentence sermon! But why out of all that John the Baptist preached, Mark chose to quote for us this very statement only? Why didn’t Mark quote for us instead the great proclamation of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? (John 1:29) As we know that Mark is very concise thus Mark definitely included only what is important and what will fulfill his purpose in writing the gospel. Let us take a look together why is this statement so significant.
- After me One is coming… This is no doubt refers to the one and only Jesus Christ! John preached repentance and faith not on the basis of works or laws. He based it on a person who is going to come! Once again just as Mark’s focus is to present Christ, as we have observed in verse 1, so also John’s preaching was always centered on Christ!
- mightier than I… not fit to stoop down… Here is an incredible statement! John does not preach to exalt himself. He recognized truly who Jesus is to such that he even felt that he is not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. Untying someone’s sandals is a job perhaps only for slaves and servant. However, to untie a king’s sandal, I would say is quite a great privilege. But John recognized that Jesus is more than just a king, He is the very son of God! I believe that John felt unworthy not so much because of Jesus’ status as son of God but because he is a sinner and Jesus is pure, holy and sinless! We are back to the same reason again why John came preaching repentance and forgiveness of sin.
Implications:
John set for us a great example of humility. I have learnt that to be humble is not to ‘put ourselves down’ but rather to exalt Christ above ourselves! It is more than just being others-centered but rather it is to be Christ-centered. No doubt, John said “He must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30 NIV).
Dear friends, I share this lesson with much fear and trembling for I am unworthy to speak on the subject of humility. I believe no man can ever speak about humility except Christ! We can only live out a humble life. The reason is that pride is deep in the genes of man. Pride simply refers to the exaltation of self above God and others. In fact, I agree with C.S. Lewis who said that pride is the greatest sin! Pride is always the beginning of all sin and evil. Satan fell because of pride. Adam and Eve fell also because of pride. However, just as pride is the greatest sin so then humility is also one of the greatest virtue! It is rather ironic but I believe that people who are truly humble will never be conscious of their humility but rather they will lament over their pride day and night!
“Dear Lord, how can we ever stand before you? For we are sinful and unworthy and you are pure and holy. Help us to come before you with an attitude of humility for this is pleasing in your eyes that we should humble ourselves and acknowledge our need of your grace and forgiveness. Just like the tax collector we say ‘have mercy on me, a sinner’. Amen.” ~Wieky
“He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34 NIV)
The Preacher of Repentance (Mark 1:4-6)
November 16, 2009 at 6:53 am (Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Gospel of Mark, Judgment, Love, My Expositions, Truth)
4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. (Mark 1:4-6 NASB)
Here we meet a character by the name of John the Baptist. When I was a kid, I love the character John the Baptist very much. I never know the reason but without a doubt John the Baptist was an important figure in the coming of Jesus the messiah to such an extent that he is mentioned in all four gospels! It is interesting to note that Mark did not even spend a single verse to mention on the birth of Jesus and yet he spent quite a number of verses mentioning John the Baptist. Here are a couple of observations about this man whom Jesus said “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;” (Matthew 11:11 NIV)
- preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. John the Baptist role in God’s plan of salvation is to prepare God’s people for the coming of Christ (Mark 1:2-3). How did he fulfill this? He did it by preaching! What did he preach? Repentance and forgiveness of sin! Repentance has always been his central and greatest message (Matthew 3:1-2). However, why repentance? Why forgiveness of sin? Why not God’s love? Why not His grace? The answer is simple; the Holy One of God is coming to dwell among His people! Oh! How can we, sinners ever meet the Holy One unless we have clean hands and a pure heart? (Psalms 24:3-5) How can we ever stand before the very son of God? (Isaiah 6)
- appeared in the wilderness… all the country of Judea was going out to him… clothed with camel’s hair… Few can believe what is being recorded here. One whole country went out into the wilderness to see a man dressed like a wretched beggar? Have they lost their mind? No, they were not crazy, what they did was expected if you knew the background. Apparently, what John wore was very similar to what the great prophet Elijah wore! (2 Kings 1:8) As of that time for the past 400 years, there had been no prophet in Israel. God was silent among His people as they anticipated the coming of the messiah. So it is no surprise that the people all flocked to John as they realized that God was beginning to speak to them again through a prophet. Some even thought that John was the messiah! (John 1:20)
Implications:
What can we take away from these few verses? At one glance; it seems to me to be just a few insignificant verses speaking about Christ’s forerunner. I was wrong! God never speaks for nothing. I believe that God has a purpose for every single word that is recorded in Holy Scripture. There are a couple of things that we can learn but I shall just mention one. In these verses we see how John the Baptist prepared God’s people for Christ’s first coming. The question we should ask ourselves is how can we then prepare God’s people today for Christ’s second coming?
The answer is plain! We have to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sin! We are to serve as a reminder both in words and deeds to the world that Jesus is coming back! In His first coming, He came as a humble man who died on the cross to save us from our sins. However, in His second coming, He is coming as great judge and king who is going to take His redeemed people back home (John 14:2) yet at the same time to also judge the world! (Acts 17:31) This is good news to us who have been redeemed but terrifying news to those who are lost. After realizing this, I am deeply troubled to know how often I have spoken to others about the good news without mentioning the bad news. Dear friends, how many of us have gone on telling others ‘God loves you!’ and ‘God bless you!’ without remembering that they also stand under God’s wrath and judgment unless they turn and repent! (Romans 1:18, John 3:36)
“Dear Lord, grant unto us that we may speak of your truths boldly yet with deep love and compassion. Teach us to be like John, the preacher of repentance, as we intercede and call others to repentance and faith in Christ. For your kingdom’s sake. Amen.” ~Wieky
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:8-10 NIV)
The beginning of… (Mark 1:1)
November 13, 2009 at 6:52 am (Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Gospel of Mark, My Expositions, Sovereignty, Worship)
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1 NASB)
This is the very first verse of the gospel of Mark. It begins with “The beginning of…” , it makes one remember the very first verse in the whole bible which is Genesis 1:1 which begins in a similar manner, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”. However, there is a significant difference between the two. In Genesis 1:1, it speaks of the new beginning in creation. In Mark 1:1, it speaks of the new beginning through redemption. It is about the beginning of God’s new kingdom through Jesus Christ. It’s a totally a fresh start of a new order. It is amazing how Mark begins his account. Verse 1, I believe summarize the whole gospel of Mark very clearly. It summarizes everything in 3 ideas.
- The first, the gospel. The word ’gospel’ simply means “good news”. However, it is more than just a good news, it is the sovereign plan by which God is working to redeem and purify a people for Himself and His kingdom (Titus 2:13-14). It is inevitable to read and interpret the gospel through ‘the Kingdom of God’ perspective.
- The second, Jesus Christ. The central point of the gospel is a person. This person is none other than Jesus Christ. I would like to focus specially on the word Christ. It is disturbing that many do not know what the word Christ means. I know of many people who pronounced it as ‘Krist’. It is amusing also that many thought that Christ is Jesus’ surname!!! Christ, in the original Greek, means simply ‘the anointed one’ or ‘the messiah’. He is the only person who is able to bring about God’s sovereign plan of salvation to pass (Revelation 5). He did it through his incarnation, his birth, his life, his ministry, his death and finally his resurrection. Many thought messiah will come as a great earthly king who will liberate the Jews from the Roman Empire. How shocked must they had been when they found out that the messiah was actually going to be born in a dirty stable and end up dying a criminal’s death on the cross! (Matthew 16:13-20)
- The third, Son of God. One of the purposes that Mark wrote the gospel is to prove who Jesus really was and is! He is the very son of God who “…being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV) In fact, the idea of the deity of Christ runs throughout the book of Mark. This is to the extent that at several occasions, even the demons can’t help but cried out “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24 NIV)
Implications:
The way Mark begins his gospel is really a rebuke to many of us and the church today. Mark begins his writings with the most crucial things, the gospel, Christ etc… Alas! How many of us today preach the gospel without Christ! How many of us preach Christ without proclaiming Him as who He really is! The very son of God. How often we in our minds, fantasize of how we hope or think God is like. We expect God to do things the way we want it to be instead of relying and trusting His sovereignty and wisdom. Just as many Jews misunderstood Christ during His time, many today misunderstood who God really is. The scariest thing is to realize that to misunderstand or to misinterpret God is idolatry! You don’t need to have a physical image or sculpture to commit idolatry. Idolatry is simply creating and worshipping a god of our own thinking or imagination. Nothing displeases our jealous God more than idolatry! May we repent and humble ourselves and give thanks to God, who in His wise providence had sent forth His dear son to redeem us!
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 NIV)
Thoughts on Writing
November 13, 2009 at 6:05 am (About me)
After several reflections, I have decided to write and share more from my personal study of God’s word. I am presently studying the gospel of Mark. May these expository thoughts from my personal devotions be used by the Holy Spirit to do some good in your soul.
soli Deo gloria,
~Wieky
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (ESV)
Reconstruction
November 11, 2009 at 11:03 am (General)
Hi everyone,
I am in the midst of thinking of how I can change the look of this blog and the kind of entries I want to post next..
Wieky
The Confessions
November 9, 2009 at 6:36 am (Augustine)
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
~ St. Augustine, in his magnificent work, The Confessions
