The glamor of the city is over with the Covid19 onslaught that dispersed many middle upper classes New Yorkers from NYC especially Manhattan. We used to have churches clamoring for midtown, etc., because Manhattan seems to be so hot with many young professionals, young families, dynamic, energetic, aspirating for career dream in this Big Apple. The density of population in New York is staggering. 27,000 people per square mile! Example: Over one-third of the population 25 and over in New York City has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 30 percent nationally. The borough of Brooklyn on its own would be the 4th largest city in the United States; Queens would also rank 4th nationally.[1]
With that kind of density, in the rush hour of Manhattan, literally people are rushing almost shoulder to shoulder, and the subways can barely keep up with the amount of traffic. With the recent advent of Covid 19 pandemic hitting the world, with especially New York city among the hardest hit in the world, the scene got ugly and scary. Morgues with freezers were set up barely 6 months ago in certain parts of New York like Queens, because there is just not enough morgues. It gets to that stage, hospitals were running out of space or beds to treat patients, lack of doctors and nurses who were bravely tirelessly sacrificially in the front line fighting the disease and trying to save lives. It was a very tense moment that lasts for almost half a year when New York peaked with Covid 19 more than Wuhan of China, Italy, etc. It’s just astonishing and downright scary how all these happened to such a beloved city at such a quick pace.
Now almost all offices have been having their staff working remote from home to avoid transmission of viruses for over 6 months now and growing. With that many middle upper classes professional living in New York are moving out or moved out already of New York to suburbs to get away from this congested city with #1 spread of virus in the world. Many have moved to the Hudson, CT, Long Island and many are not returning to New York city anymore. First they really have a much bigger space and yard to breathe than being jammed into an apartment with many other residents sharing elevator daily, fighting traffic on the roads, and subway. Now they begin to experience a fresh breath of air they never had a chance to, and now saving tons of dollars. Why? Because houses out there are much cheaper than in Manhattan, Brooklyn, UWS etc. And on top of that, they don’t pay the city tax of New York, because they don’t work in the city anymore, but in the suburb. And the fact that they can work remote from their suburb, what’s the point of staying back in the expensive congested vulnerable to virus disease city?? NY Governor Cuomo said, “In the old days we used to talk about people leaving Manhattan if the situation got bad, if taxes went up, if quality of life deteriorated,” Cuomo said on a call with reporters Thursday. “They left. They left because of COVID.”[2]
Piled up on top of the problem is the problem of violence viz. gun shootings killings in New York city recently. With the racism uproar recently of George Floyd in Minneapolis, some protests of Black Lives Matter has turned violent and , without going into details, NYPD New York Police has been defunded with a billion dollars been shifted from their budget in other social welfare depts in the city. The Police depts need reformation, retraining to prevent police brutality especially towards the blacks on the streets, but not defunding. The respect for Police has hence dropped to an all-time low, and cops struggled to really combat violence, crimes, etc., because they struggled with all the above reasons. Recently there have been 40-50 gun shootings in New York city over every weekend, something never been heard before. NY Times reported, “The city surpassed 400 shootings in the first half of the year for the first time since 2016, with 528 by the end of last month; the 205 shootings in June were the highest for that month since 1996, the police said.”[3]
It’s really a no brainer. So, what does that mean to the churches in NYC? I used to hear how much churches wanted to jam into the midtown of Manhattan as it’s the central strategic spot with professional, hip millennials all jamming in there. It’s a glamor to have planted a church in midtown. And now looking back, people have left, and many are leaving, and not coming back for the foreseeable future now.
I am in favor of spreading out the population outside of the hotspot of a mega city to decrease the density of population, giving more space to all and families with small children, and give more space for all for a healthier less hectic lifestyle. When so many people crammed in one hot spot, it’s a fertile ground for any virus to spread, and in future, there may be more! So let’s plant churches outside of the ‘mega city’ to the suburbs and smaller towns and cities too. It will be healthier lifestyle to all.
City is not our goal, it’s a means
Remember city is not our goal, it’s a means. The gospel for the people and the Kingdom of God is the goal. As much as much urbanization has happened for the last few decades, round the world, the trend most likely will reverse to a sizable extent for a good reason, and the institution of the gospel must follow suit.
This will also resolve the tension of raising families with young kids in a congested metropolis city with high costs of living, with poor public schools, and very expensive private schools. When families with children moved to suburbs, or outskirts of the city, families can have affordable good schools, and solve a lot of the inner city problems too.
Gospel doesn’t have to stay in the city, let it grow to the suburbs, smaller towns and cities, the outskirts of the city and spread out the glory of God.
Habakkuk 2 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Paul’s Church Planting Pattern in the New testament
Paul was preaching the gospel from city to city. Paul preached to the city of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. NT pattern of church planting of Paul is from city to city, not exactly in one huge mega city. Acts 14:21-22 (ESV) 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Paul and Timothy went through the cities, delivering the message of the gospel.
Acts 16:3-5 (ESV) 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him….4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Paul wanted to bring Barnaba’s together to return and visit the churches in every city where they proclaimed the word of God. Note: It’s the word of God, not just the gospel.
Acts 15:36 (ESV) 36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are.”
The pattern of evangelicalism of church planting by Paul in the NT is clearly from city to city, as opposed to one mega city.
The love of parents for their children is nearing ‘unconditional’ in a sense of whatever kids do, until they deny their parents or so. Something that’s unheard of in the world, and it has to be from God. Only the God of the universe who created all living beings, is capable of that.
My wife and I were in a zoom discussion group yesterday, one mother shared how she prayed for 5 hours in her 7 hours work while she’s working, all for her two boys. That’s doesn’t happen in one day, but generally regular, and she cried as she poured out how much she had prayed for her gone astray sons to come back to the Lord and questioned why after so many days, weeks, months of intense prayer, she doesn’t even see an inkling of change in her sons. She said she struggled with her own disbelief now, as the Lord doesn’t seem to hear at all even a little bit, after all these months of travailing prayers! I couldn’t help being choked up a little, as I felt her pain. We were all praying for our children and the burden upon the Christian parents is particularly heavy when the children had gone off from the Lord.
For you all with mothers, it’s time to call your mum, respect and honor you mum, for Christ sake. I am convicted myself! The depth of calling for mum and dad to love their kids, whether Christians or not, is a God given common grace inbuilt from the time of birth universally. No one needs to tell or teach a mum to love her kids. This is especially showing during the tender moment when a mother holds her baby in her arms.
From a commonsense point of view, who would have signed up to join a membership when you needed help in the field you signed up for, you don’t hear from the provider after repeated calls, requests. Anger boils. It does make you wonder why our God is sometimes so silent in things that matter so much to us and over months or even years of crying out in prayers? I think every Christian needs to know the God whom we worship in his holiness, justice, steadfast love.
But how does God not hear? In Psalms, there are plenty of cases when David or psalmist cried, “O God, why are you far from me?” But the ending is always praises of God’s steadfast love, and faithfulness. Let me take you through Psalm 22 in my devotion this morning from getting daily mails from Matthew henry, an amazing focused verse for meditation and prayers. https://www.matthewhenry.org/read/adoration/introduction-to-adoration/
Psalms 22:1-5
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.
1. Perfectly acceptable to cry out to God and question him with reverence in trying times
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
This is David crying out to God asking and questioning God why he has forsaken him. It’s okay to question God in an attitude of awe and reverence like David. He questioned God, crying why he hasn’t heard his prayers. That’s the kind of thing we experience sometimes. But David is always affectionate towards God, passionately worshipping God with all his heart, no matter what he faced. In fact, God delivered him at all times. Though there were times, when he was snubbed for God’s reasons.
He called God as “but you do not answer” 2 “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,” It’s better to have straight talk from your heart with God, instead of hushing it, and may just results in disbelief, and backslide in bitterness. It’s so much better to talk it over with God, just like you do it with your wife/husband, when things makes you mad. Always have a good talk. But with God, it’s different, because he is not a human, that you talk to and he responds. He is Spirit, and the Lord Jesus is our mediator, God, shepherd. But we can learn from David. Talking to God and pour out your heart to him. You will feel better after that, because you know he has heard you. That’s really important for you, your sanity, and the Lord wants our hearts, and he will take heart.
2. God is still enthroned that our fore-fathers put their trust in him in their hard times
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.[c] 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Life testimony is one of the most powerful encouraging things we have. When Israel crossed the Jordan River, God asked Joshua to pick up stones for memorial, that their descendants may not forget. The great acts of God need to be in our minds, at all times, especially in times of discouragement, travailing with no seeming answers. Testimonies is more powerful that theology at certain times. We need both, because testimonies is theology in life.
David’s genius is he is so good at shifting from the poor me, grumbling me, look at me, kind of mindset, to the awesomeness of God, the greatness of God immediately. He recounted the great things God has done before, what happened to his forefathers, as they trusted in God and God saved them, and were not put to shame. Those are precious moments that’s so important, from looking at ‘me’, to looking at God’s greatness and power and strength. In fact, that pretty much sums up psalms.
3. Remember that God made me to trust in him even at my mother’s breasts
God made you trust But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
That brings us back to the moment of creation of life. God designs us to be that way. Whether a person grown up to accept God or reject God, that element must be true in every human being. But it’s the corruption and the moral decay in this world that robs people of that, if they reject God later on.
In hard times, we must go back to our beginning with God. From our mother’s wombs, Jesus has been our God. That’s never changed, and never will, no matter what we go through. We must enthrone God higher than our kids well-being or even our own well-being. God is bigger than families. He is bigger than our own very souls. Nothing in the world that we can hang onto, not even our spouses, but only our Lord Jesus Christ. That realization must transcend our hardship.
4.Continue to cry out to God
But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
After all the complaining’s by David in this psalm, and then acknowledged the greatness of God, he returned to his original cry for help. Granted not everything was answered by God, the big ones and the righteous ones, God did. He cried out to God to deliver him. I think all mothers, fathers with children astray can and continue to cry out to God, and God in his own timing will answer. We can’t dictate him, but we can petition him.
5. We should continue to proclaim God’s name and revere him as he has dominions over all regardless of our prayers
I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
In fact this is a prophetic psalm for Jesus as our Messiah as the Son of God incarnated into this world, to bear the sins of the world, and finally crucified, rejected by God the Father as Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” This is a powerful testimony of his suffering and eventual turning up for something beautiful and wonderful that changed the world forever, changed our destiny forever. Can you imagine if he didn’t suffer? We will all be doomed to burning hell for eternity.
Jesus was not answered by his Father for good reasons. I know all parents prayers and petitions to God for their strayed kids, in all perspectives, are right in the sight of God, and therefore be answered. But there are times in history God rejected his Son, many apostles were beheaded, martyred, and great forefathers like Justin Myrtle, were all martyred for the glory of God.
With this perspective, lets believe in the bigness of God, his sovereignty, and God is good.
1. Holy Scripture 1.1 The necessity of Scripture 1.2 The contents of Scripture (positively stated): canon 1.3 The contents of Scripture (negatively stated): “apocrypha” 1.4 The authority of Scripture 1.5 The authenticity of Scripture 1.6 The sufficiency of Scripture 1.7 The clarity of Scripture 1.8 The immediate inspiration, preservation and translation of Scripture 1.9 The interpretation of Scripture 1.10 The supreme authority of Scripture in all theological controversy
2. God and the Trinity 2.1 God himself The one, living, true, infinite, perfect God The spirituality, invisibility, incorporeality, and impassibility of God [and simplicity*] The immutability, immensity, eternality, incomprehensibility, and omnipotence of God The unchangeable and righteous purpose of God The love, grace, mercy, patience, goodness, faithfulness, and forgiveness of God The generous reward of God The just and terrible judgment of God 2.2 God in and of himself The inherent blessedness of God The all-sufficiency and glory of God The self-existence (aseity) of God The sovereignty of God The omniscience of God The holiness of God The worthiness of God 2.3 God the Trinity The Trinity defined: God is one essence in three persons, consubstantial, co-omnipotent, co-eternal The personal property of the Father: neither begotten nor proceeding The personal property of the Son: eternally begotten The personal property of the Spirit: eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son (filioque)
3. God’s Eternal Decree (comprehensive, eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, sovereign purpose and plan) 3.1 The scope of the decree defined in relation to sin, choice, and contingency 3.2 The relation of the decree to God’s absolute, exhaustive foreknowledge 3.3 The inclusiveness of the decree (both predestination to life & foreordination to death) 3.4 The absolute unchangeability of the decree as to predestination and foreordination 3.5 The noncontigency of predestination to life, not conditioned or caused by the creature 3.6 The comprehensiveness of the decree, entailing the ends, means and subjects of redemption 3.7 The proximate cause and end of the decree of preterition 3.8 The special pastoral care and prudence required in the handling of this doctrine
4. Creation 4.1 The purpose of creation: the display of the Triune God’s glory 4.2 The creation of man, male and female, in God’s image, with law on their hearts
5. Providence 5.1 The nature of divine providence 5.2 The decree of God, noncontingency, providence and second causes 5.3 The ordinary providence of God, and means 5.4 The providence of God, the fall, and sin 5.5 The providence and the sin of believers 5.6 The providence of God and the sin of the ungodly 5.7 The providence and the care of the church
6. Fall, Sin and Punishment 6.1 The first sin, and the permission, purposes and glory of God 6.2 The consequences of sin for Adam and Eve 6.3 The consequences of their sin for their descendants 6.4 Original corruption and our actual sins 6.5 The persistence of original corruption, even in the regenerate 6.6 The nature and consequences of sin
7. God’s Covenant with Man 7.1 The necessity of God’s covenant as his means for communion and blessing 7.2 The nature of the covenant of works 7.3 The nature of the covenant of grace 7.4 The covenant of grace as testament 7.5 The covenant of grace under the law 7.6 The covenant of grace under the gospel
8. Christ the Mediator 8.1 The election, identity and offices of the Mediator 8.2 The divine-human person of the Mediator 8.3 The unction and vocation of the Mediator 8.4 The willing work of the Mediator 8.5 The atoning work of the Mediator 8.6 The atonement effective for the elect even before the incarnation 8.7 The Mediator’s hypostatic union and the Reformed communicatio idiomatum 8.8 The application of redemption
9. Free Will 9.1 The nature of human freedom 9.2 Human freedom in the state of innocence (posse peccare, posse non peccare) 9.3 Human freedom in the state of sin (non posse non peccare) 9.4 Human freedom in the state of grace (posse non peccare) 9.5 Human freedom in the state of glory (non posse peccare).
10. Effectual Calling 10.1 The subjects and nature of effectual calling 10.2 The effectual call is unconditional, the subjects passive until enabled by the Spirit 10.3 The effectual calling of elect infants and other incapables 10.4 Effectual calling and the non-elect
11. Justification 11.1 The nature of justification 11.2 The alone instrument of justification that is never alone 11.3 The ground of justification in Christ’s obedience and death 11.4 The act of justification is in time, not eternal 11.5 The state of justification and the sins of the justified (simul justus et peccator) 11.6 The nature of justification under the old testament and the new
12. Adoption 12.1 The nature, subjects, basis, and blessings of adoption
13. Sanctification 13.1 The nature of sanctification 13.2 The extent and imperfection of sanctification 13.3 The eventual overcoming in the war of sanctification
14. Saving Faith 14.1 The source of saving faith 14.2 The nature and acts of saving faith 14.3 The degrees of saving faith
15. Repentance unto Life 15.1 The source of repentance, and the necessity of preaching it 15.2 The nature of repentance 15.3 The necessity of repentance 15.4 The warning and warrant of repentance 15.5 The specificity of repentance 15.6 The practice of repentance
16. Good Works 16.1 The nature of good works 16.2 The place and value of good works 16.3 The ability of good works 16.4 The imperfection of good works (supererogation) 16.5 The imperfection of good works (merit) 16.6 The acceptance of good works 16.7 The works of the unregenerate
17. Perseverance of the Saints 17.1 The certainty of perseverance 17.2 The grounds of perseverance 17.3 The trials of perseverance
18. Assurance of Grace and Salvation 18.1 The certainty of assurance 18.2 The nature and grounds of assurance 18.3 The experience of assurance 18.4 The fluctuations of assurance
19. Law of God 19.1 The law given to Adam in the covenant of works 19.2 The moral law, from fall to Sinai 19.3 The ceremonial law (now abrogated) 19.4 The judicial law (now expired) 19.5 The moral law (still binding) 19.6 The usefulness of the moral law 19.7 The moral law not contrary to the grace of the gospel
20. Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience 20.1 The nature of Christian freedom 20.2 The nature of freedom of conscience 20.3 The perversion of Christian freedom (licentiousness) 20.4 The perversion of Christian freedom (rejection of lawful civil authority)
21. Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day 21.1 The duty and terms of worship 21.2 The object and means of worship 21.3 Prayer as an element of worship 21.4 The content of prayer 21.5 The other elements of worship (reading, preaching, hearing of Scripture, singing, sacraments, etc) 21.6 The place of worship 21.7 The day of worship (Christian Sabbath/Lord’s Day) 21.8 The observance of the Christian Sabbath
22. Lawful Oaths and Vows 22.1 The definition of lawful oaths 22.2 The basis of a lawful oath 22.3 The limits of oath-taking 22.4 The obligations of oath-taking 22.5 The definition of vows 22.6 The parties and purposes of vows 22.7 The limits of vows
23. Civil Magistrate (Civil Authority and Government) 23.1 The divine institution, purpose and power of civil government 23.2 The legitimacy and conduct of Christians in public office 23.3 The limits of civil authority in relation to the church 23.4 The duty of the people to civil authority
24. Marriage and Divorce 24.1 The nature of marriage 24.2 The purpose of marriage 24.3 The prerequisites of marriage 24.4 The explanation of forbidden marriages 24.5 The basis of lawful divorce and remarriage 24.6 The grounds and process of divorce
25. The Church 25.1 The identity of the church in all ages (universal and invisible) 25.2 The identity of the church under the gospel (universal and visible) 25.3 The endowment, purpose, and dynamics of the church’s mission 25.4 The varying visibility and purity of the church 25.5 The admixture, degeneration and preservation of the church 25.6 The head of the church
26. The Communion of the Saints 26.1 The basis and nature of the communion of the saints 26.2 The practical expression of the communion of the saints 26.3 Misunderstandings of the communion of the saints
27. Sacraments 27.1 The definition and purpose of sacraments 27.2 The relationship between sign and thing signified 27.3 The efficacy of sacraments 27.4 The number of sacraments 27.5 The relationship of old to new testament sacraments
28. Baptism 28.1 The nature and significance of baptism 28.2 The element and administration of baptism 28.3 The mode of baptism 28.4 The subjects of baptism 28.5 The necessity of baptism 28.6 The efficacy of baptism 28.7 The frequency of baptism
29. Lord’s Supper 29.1 The institution and purpose of the Lord’s Supper 29.2 The nature of the Lord’s Supper 29.3 The administration of the Lord’s Supper 29.4 Practices contrary to the nature of the Lord’s Supper 29.5 The outward elements and sacramental relation of signs and things signified in the Supper 29.6 The error of transubstantiation 29.7 The way in which we receive Christ in the Lord’s Supper 29.8 The danger of unworthy participation in the Lord’s Supper
30. Church Censures (Church Discipline) 30.1 The government of the church appointed by Christ 30.2 The commitment and nature of the power of the keys 30.3 The aims of church discipline 30.4 The types of church discipline
31. Synods and Councils 31.1 The need for wider church assemblies (synods or councils) 31.2 The work and authority of synods and councils 31.3 The fallibility of synods and councils 31.4 The jurisdiction of synods and councils
32. The State of Men After Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead 32.1 The nature of death, and the intermediate state of the dead 32.2 The last day, the living changed, the dead resurrected and reunited body and soul 32.3 The difference between the resurrection of the unjust and just
33. The Last Judgment 33.1 The nature of the day of judgment 33.2 The purpose of the day of judgment 33.3 The practical use of the doctrine of the judgment
Today I got my Air Conditioning contractor in my house to install some heat pump units for summer and also for heating in winter, a much awaited time. While the contractor guys were moving the units into my house, talking with me the location to install etc., I took great note how they do it and where they do it. If I go any further I risk micromanaging them, which is not cool for me and for them!
I realized I needed to pull back and enjoy the fruits of the labor of this hired elite contractor for Fujitsu AC! I began to reflect on my own life, thinking in fact, what’s the point of having the coolest AC units system, and heating, if one gets sick and not able to maintain health? Or relationship brokenness? Then I begin to recoup and think through the bigger pictures of life. Then the more I think over it, the more I go deeper. But the physical health and human relationship definitely is more important than a good cooling and heating system at home, but there is something even more important!
Finally I come to that occlusion our eternal life in heaven is the most important in my life or anyone’s life. I begin to be reminded that’s all we want ultimately in life and for all our family members, friends, and in fact, for anyone! That’s why we do evangelism and outreach. Is there anything more important than that in life? No! Why? Because that’s the only thing that will last. It will be for eternity. Our good health, good air conditioning, good relationship etc., will not last more than 100 years at most! And eternity is a looooong time, far more than 100 years, more than a million years even! Far more than a billion years or zillion years, or…finally running out of breath to count it, it’s called infinity!
With that said in mind, the attention I gave to the AC contractor, should now be amplified like a thousand times and focus in evangelizing and sharing the good news of the gospel to all and wide. But the thing is, we tend to forget in life what’s the most important and get bogged down with far less important. Why? One reason is that’s not tangible. You cannot see the eternal life. You can’t see what’s like. You can see the beauty of comfort living in a nice cool 72F while outdoor soars in the 95F with high humidity, or outside at 7 F, and you are comfortably in a 68 F or 70F living room on the sofa. We are physically wired minded creatures. We tend to be short sighted. We tend to give so much attention to things that are far less important in life. We put in hours and hours and overtime to climb in career in a rat race in New York, or anywhere else, but we don’t put in even half of the time and effort in prayer, reading God’s word, evangelism, building relationship in life which is what really matters! That’s such a mistake in life. Anyone taking that route will deeply regret when gotten old, and looking back, time is gone. So the time to move with the right perspective in life is now as you read this article.
I was reading Psalm 40 this morning and it brings out a beautiful and powerful reminder to me as I was watching this contractor doing my AC works in my house this morning.
Psalms 40:16-17 (ESV) 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! I am poor (spiritually & physically) and needy, You are my help!
Artikel hebat oleh @LigonDuncan mengenai ratapan mengaku mengaku berdoa dan mengasihi jiran-jiran sebagai orang Kristian sebagai tindak balas kita terhadap tragedi perkauman dan digunakan sebagai wahana keganasan dan penjarahan. Kekuatan gelap dilepaskan. Bangkitlah Ya Tuhan dan perjuangkan Amerika
Angkatan Kegelapan dilancarkan
-Melancarkan kekuatan kosmik kegelapan dan kekuatan rohani kejahatan di alam
surgaisme Racisme sangat tertanam di Amerika selama berabad-abad dari zaman perbudakan di selatan yang mendalam, dan bahkan Amerika hari ini masih gagah. dengan ketegangan antara polis dan orang kulit hitam sebagai banyak insiden yang telah menyebabkan penderitaan dan kemarahan yang mendalam di kalangan masyarakat Afrika Amerika, dan bukan sahaja mereka, tetapi juga banyak komuniti minoriti seperti orang Asia, terutama generasi milenial, dan juga orang kulit putih juga. Dalam satu perkataan, ini dapat diringkaskan sebagai ‘ketidakadilan’. Ketidakadilan telah dilakukan kepada masyarakat, dan ini adalah jaringan kewangan, keluarga tanpa bapa, dan masalah sosial yang kompleks. Tetapi baru-baru ini kekuatan yang telah menewaskan Amerika, pertama dan terpenting adalah Virus Corona yang telah membunuh 100,000 orang Amerika dalam jangka masa beberapa bulan. Skala kehancuran belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya, dan pekerjaan yang hilang menjadi jutaan orang, kematian yang ditanggung semuanya menambah kehancuran. Dan sekarang hanya pembunuhan George Floyd Amerika hitam di tangan polis putih dan video yang dirakam, baru saja membakar Amerika. Kemarahan yang mendalam terhadap perkauman, kebencian terhadap pasukan polis yang memperlakukan orang kulit hitam selama bertahun-tahun dalam beberapa insiden tertentu malangnya, semuanya telah meletus. Yang lebih teruk lagi, pasukan luar menambah rampasan dan keganasan yang menimpa bandar-bandar besar Amerika. Maksud saya adalah bahawa kita tidak boleh hanya mencuba semua ini dengan pemikiran manusia dan melupakan tangan di belakang pada tahap yang lebih tinggi adalah kekuatan kegelapan. Kekuatan kegelapan kosmik. Syaitan merosakkan kestabilan sosial masyarakat kita. Kekuatan kejahatan berarak melawan umat manusia. Ini adalah panggilan gereja untuk bangkit dan berdoa kepada Tuhan kita dan mendorong mereka kembali.
Efesus 6
10 Akhirnya, menjadi kuat dalam Tuhan dan dalam kekuatan kekuatannya. 11 Pakailah seluruh baju besi Tuhan, agar kamu dapat bertahan melawan tipu daya syaitan. 12 Kerana kita tidak bergelut melawan daging dan darah, tetapi melawan penguasa, melawan penguasa, melawan kekuatan kosmik atas kegelapan sekarang ini, melawan kekuatan rohani kejahatan di tempat-tempat surgawi. 13 Oleh itu, angkatlah seluruh baju besi Tuhan, supaya kamu dapat bertahan dalam hari yang jahat, dan setelah melakukan semuanya, untuk berdiri teguh. 14 Oleh itu, berdirilah di tali kebenaran, dan memakai pelindung kebenaran, 15 dan, sebagai kasut untuk kakimu, memakai kesediaan yang diberikan oleh Injil kedamaian. 16 Dalam semua keadaan, ambil perisai iman, dengan mana kamu dapat memadamkan semua anak panah yang jahat; 17 dan ambil helmet keselamatan, dan pedang Roh, yang merupakan firman Tuhan, 18 berdoa setiap saat dalam Roh, dengan semua doa dan permohonan. Untuk itu, berjaga-jaga dengan ketekunan, memohon doa untuk semua orang kudus,
Bertaubat, Meratap, dan Berdoa; Mencintai satu sama lain; Sayangi Jiran Kita; Sampaikan Injil — semua ini sangat penting dan membentuk degup jantung firman Tuhan.
Perang Rohani Perang
yang kita lalui adalah perang kosmik. Tidak mungkin kita hanya menghadapinya pada tahap manusia. Ia harus ditingkatkan ke tahap kosmik yang lebih tinggi. Kami akan berdoa dan bergelut. Perkataan yang digunakan adalah gusti, bahkan tidak bertengkar. Gulat adalah perkataan yang tegang. Jacob bergumul dengan Tuhan. Yesus bergumul dengan godaan kegelapan di Taman Getsemani di mana dia menjatuhkan keringat darah dalam perjuangannya melawan godaan untuk melewati cawan penderitaan, penghinaan, dan akhirnya kematian. Itu adalah pertempuran kosmik tertinggi, dan terus terang bahawa pertempuran menentukan nasib manusia kita. Hasil gusti itu sangat besar sehingga seluruh kesejahteraan alam semesta bergantung padanya, atau kehancurannya sepenuhnya ke api neraka.
2 Tawarikh 20:17 Anda tidak perlu berperang dalam pertempuran ini. Berdiri teguh, peganglah kedudukanmu, dan lihatlah keselamatan TUHAN atas namamu, hai Yehuda dan Yerusalem. ‘ Jangan takut dan jangan kecewa. Esok keluar menentang mereka, dan Tuhan akan menyertai kamu. ” Pertempuran adalah Tuan.
Betapa kita berharap kita dapat mendengarnya dari Tuhan di Amerika hari ini, ketika kita mengalami tragedi demi satu. Bangsa hancur teruk, tetapi tekad kita lebih kuat. Tetapi anda melihat perkara baik tidak menjadi mudah. Biasanya memerlukan pertarungan, perjuangan yang kuat. Ia berharga. Ini mungkin memberi kesan panen dan kebangkitan semula yang dapat kita lihat di Amerika hari ini. Ia tidak akan mudah, tetapi tidak mustahil. Kerana Tuhan menghendaki kita kuat pada diri batin, tidak lemah untuk ditiup angin dengan mudah. Orang Kristian mesti berdiri dan bangkit untuk memanggil Tuhan untuk bangkit dan berperang untuk Amerika. Itu tidak akan jelas, tetapi anda memikirkannya, maksiat yang dilancarkan oleh bangsa ini tidak pernah terjadi sebelumnya dan menyakitkan untuk dibayangkan. Ini membicarakan kebobrokan manusia, dan untuk beberapa sebab, Amerika nampaknya melambangkan kegelapan dan cahaya juga. Kami berada di titik penting bagi kebangkitan hebat yang telah kita lihat. Kami rindu pada hari orang akan berkumpul untuk menyembah Tuhan pada siang dan malam dan tidak pergi. Ingatlah di selatan Amerika (saya akan mengetahuinya), sungguh mengagumkan bagaimana Tuhan membawa kebangkitan ke tanah Wales, kawasan tengah Amerika, dan beberapa bahagian di Asia, Korea dan lain-lain, dan ya, dia boleh dan akan melakukan ia sekali lagi. Kita harus terus berusaha dan menyedari bahawa ini adalah peperangan, dan jangan lupa bahawa kita mempunyai tugas dan panggilan untuk bangkit dan mencari Tuhan untuk menyembuhkan negeri ini dan melindungi Amerika dari kekuatan gelap seperti itu. Pertama sekali, kita mesti menerapkan mentaliti dan teologi alam ghaib. Sama seperti Alkitab.
Mazmur 10
12 Bangkitlah, ya Tuhan; Ya Tuhan, angkat tanganmu;
jangan lupa yang menderita.
13 Mengapa orang jahat meninggalkan Tuhan
dan berkata di dalam hatinya, “Kamu tidak akan meminta pertanggungjawaban”?
14 Tetapi kamu melihat, kerana kamu perhatikan kenakalan dan kegusaran,
bahawa kamu boleh mengambilnya ke tanganmu;
kepada anda yang tidak berdaya melakukan dirinya;
anda telah menjadi penolong orang yatim.
15 Pecahkan lengan orang fasik dan jahat;
sebutlah kejahatannya sehingga anda tidak menjumpainya.
16 Tuhan adalah raja selama-lamanya;
bangsa-bangsa binasa dari tanahnya.
17 Ya Tuhan, kamu mendengar keinginan orang yang menderita;
anda akan menguatkan hati mereka; anda akan cenderung telinga anda
18 untuk melakukan keadilan kepada anak yatim dan orang yang teraniaya
supaya lelaki yang di bumi menyerang keganasan tidak lebih.
Pecahkan lengan orang-orang yang fasik dan jahat. Ini adalah doa yang tegas. Ini adalah serangan dan bukan doa pasif.
Bangkitlah ya Tuhan, jangan lupakan kami…. ini mengingatkan Tuhan. Tom memindahkan kita ke alam sarang. Ini doa oleh iman. Orang kuat mesti melakukannya dengan paksa. Bukan solat yang lemah. Berdiri oleh Tuhan yang kuat, Tuhan yang kuat, kita memerlukan pejuang doa yang kuat, yang akan berdiri di celah dan memanggil Tuhan.
Proverbios 1: 7 El temor del Señor: el comienzo del conocimiento;
la sabiduría y la instrucción los necios desprecian.
¿Por qué? El temor al Señor es el comienzo de la sabiduría y el conocimiento porque la vida moral comienza con reverencia y humildad ante el Hacedor y el Redentor. [1]
El fracaso de nuestra vida moral.
La vida moral no comienza con nuestra disciplina humana, resolución de año nuevo, porque nuestros instintos son imperfectos y pecaminosos. Nuestro defecto es inclinarse hacia la parte pecaminosa. No importa cómo decidamos ser morales, nuestro corazón no es eso, y tarde o temprano, se mostrará y se romperá. Por eso un hombre es prisionero de sí mismo. Simplemente no hay salida. Puedes ver cómo las estadísticas te dicen que no importa cuánto espere lograr la reforma de la cárcel, vemos crímenes y males constantemente cometidos por las noticias que leemos a diario. De hecho, quedó peor. La mentira, el engaño, el engaño, la codicia, el encubrimiento, la manipulación, la lujuria, las burlas, la matanza, etc., son todos nuestro idioma nativo. Eso fue lo que les sucedió a los primeros niños globales del mundo, los niños de Adán se mataron unos a otros, bastante increíble, pero esa es la verdad de cómo los seres humanos han caído de Dios desde el pecado original de Adán y Eva en el jardín del Edén. Por supuesto, también hay muchas buenas obras realizadas por la raza humana, los instintos naturales que Dios creó allí en la creación no se han erosionado por completo. Esto se llama la gracia común. Sin embargo, la depravación de la humanidad es abrumadora. Incluso esa bondad de la humanidades no sostenible. La única forma de recurrir a nuestro creador que es el gran Dios, la bondad, la justicia, la santidad, la bondad y el amor de Dios.
¿Cómo obtenemos verdadera sabiduría y conocimiento?
Reverencia y humildad
La sabiduría es sobre cómo aplicar el conocimiento. El conocimiento es genial, pero por sí solo, puede ser un arma de doble filo, bueno y demonio. Necesitamos sabiduría sobre cómo usar el conocimiento.
Como se describió anteriormente, el hombre ha caído y siempre nos alejaremos de los caminos de la sabiduría si nos dejamos a nuestro paso. Pero la forma de obtener vida moral es reverencia y humildad ante Dios y nuestro Redentor. La reverencia es un respeto profundo, asombrado por Dios. Una profunda admiración de quién es Dios. No tiene sentido acumular y reunir toneladas de conocimiento, pero no tiene temor ni reverencia hacia Aquel de quien proviene toda la sabiduría y el conocimiento.
Es el asombro de Dios lo que pincha nuestros corazones cuando cometemos errores. Verás, cuando David pecó, clamó: “A ti, oh Señor, he pecado”.
David, después de cometer adulterio con Betsabé, al ser confrontado por Nathan el Profeta, se derrumbó y lloró ante el Señor, reconociendo que había pecado contra el Señor. Él pecó contra Betsabé y su esposo, pero dijo contra el Señor que solo él pecó, lo que quiere decir es que el abrumador pecador contra el que pecó. Esto es cuánto asombro, reverencia y humildad hacia el Señor. Eso es lo que Dios está buscando.
Salmo 5 1Ten piedad de mí, oh Dios,
según tu amor inagotable;
según tu gran compasión,
borra mis transgresiones.
2 Lava toda mi iniquidad
y límpiame de mi pecado.
3 Porque yo sé mis transgresiones,
y mi pecado siempre está delante de mí.
4 Contra ti, solo tú, he pecado
e hecho lo que es malo ante tus ojos;
entonces tiene razón en su veredicto
y está justificado cuando juzga.
No se trata de cuán legalmente te mantienes moral, como los fariseos, sino de cuánto lleva tu corazón esa reverencia y humildad hacia Dios. Calvino dice que sin piedad, nadie podrá acercarse a Dios. La piedad es la devoción a Dios.
¿Cómo cultivamos un sentido de asombro, reverencia y humildad hacia Dios?
La adoración es la mejor manera. Expresa tu corazón a Dios y canta tus corazones a él en adoración, adoración.
Medita en salmos y proverbios, un libro poderoso. Agregará todo esto a tu vida.
La oración es un absoluto. No solo por pedir tings. Butyl, un tiempo de arrepentimiento, confesión y derramar su corazón a él todos los días, y rezar los salmos y proverbios de regreso a Dios. Esto te cambiará.
I started with this topic: Why many Christians especially Pentecostals or Charismatics ignore theology? But after reading Ravi Zachariah’s news today, he started a broadcast called “Let My People Think”, I thought it’s a great way to put it!
Coming from a Pentecostal background myself as a pastor for decades planted numerous churches in Asia and now in America, I would say that the assumption is that theology is left to the pastors, but the glaring fact is that pastors themselves are not theologically trained either, that’s the most shocking and saddest thing. All we needed is passion and zeal to spread the word, and we will just do on the job training, and be sent out to evangelize and make disciples.
The sad truth today most Christians have no desire or hunger to embrace the learning of theology from the bible, because they feel comfortable in their Christian lifestyle which pretty much sees no need of any in depth study of scriptures. Though on the other hands, you would see churches teach practical teachings week in and out and the flock follows suit. This shows me that folks are desiring to learn, but no direction towards theology.
When I say theology, I say primarily the study of God, or theism. We can learn the study of man & woman or anthropology, New testament books, psalms etc., but the most important one is theism, the study of God theology in the world that motivates, captures our imagination. The last one is my favorite. I remember hearing Tim Keller’s sermons over the last like 7 years, numerous times, his teachings, thoughts and theology captured my imaginations, and my longings for the Lord. I thought that he came up with all those cool theology and ethos, but now I am in the seminary doing my own MABS or MDiv, I realize that many of those he said are actually not new, but been there in the church fathers, especially the reformed world for centuries, quoting folks like Augustine, Calvin, and the like.
I am speaking to church planters, pastors, and in fact many Church members especially leaders. The church has suffered so much ignorance, left behind of all those trailing blazing thinkers like Calvin, Augustine, Barth, Bavinck etc.
1. They want the applications only
Because of our background, most evangelical churches apart from some Presbyterian and Baptist churches, we are pretty much getting used to the fast straight shooter to applications kind of sermons. Having preached over a decade now in a charismatic background, I can tell you that we are lucky to be even preaching expositional sermons let alone clean cut exegetical expositional sermons. The reasons is that we want applications. Part of the reason is that preachers have not really experienced good expositional sermons themselves, and hence a far reach of theology, thinking theology is irrelevant.
2. They think theology is dry and not for the commoners or even pastors
Theology is dry. This causes them to read book not of theological type or reformed type, but to , again, applications type, and experiential type. I would say that folks with college education or equal or even high school, level, can and should read up of good theology books, or listen to some good teachings MP3. I would say if pastors don’t start learning theology, he would have little left to feed the flock after a while, no matter how good the heart is.
3. They think theology is mostly apologetics and we don’t need them
That’s the sad part. But this has nothing to do with the pastor learning theology. Theology is FAR bigger than apologetics. Apologetics is basically defending your faith, theology starts from the immutability of God, to the brokenness of mankind, and everything in between and beyond. Missing theology because of a small fragment is sad.
4. They want signs and wonders and not more reading and studying
People in the developing world, especially, love the signs and wonders ministry, and I love them too. However, we can’t just stay in the mode of signs and wonders, because we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 1). We need the power of the Spirit and the power of the Word, who is the Lord Jesus himself (John 1). By the way, I think the developed West has the opposite problem, jettisoning the signs and winders by naturalizing everything. Different world, different culture. The biggest threat in the West is liberalism, naturalizing everything, and removing the supernatural. (FYI)
5. Pentecostals don’t believe in theology calling it head knowledge
They want power and straight application for folks to go home with. But the applications come from proper hermeneutics and exegesis skill, commentary, books to read up, theology to learn. This sounds like pastors looking for a short cut, and guess who suffers? The church!
6. Which seminary and the costs?
I know this is a huge driving force. I have wanted to attend seminary like 20 over years ago but to no avail, because I didn’t know better where to start. I am glad I am in Reformed theological seminary, a great reformed thinking, and I recommend all to go with reformed teachings.
Costs? I think after the whole church gets the attitude of theology treasuring; we will see more churches sending people to seminaries.
Conclusion
Missing Out the Rich Tradition of the Early church Fathers
I would say, not knowing theology and our rich theology developed from early fathers like Athanasius, Augustine, Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther to today, mentioning only some of the bigger names, we will miss out so much what God has already done in their lives, thinking’s, churches etc. To remove them from the thinking world of our flock, is a self-destructive mode.
The question of exhorting one another should be commonly practiced everywhere we are in this world as Christians.Merriam-Webster defines: Exhortation is defined as the act or process of making a strong urging or appeal. An example of an exhortation is an emotional speech that inspires people to act.
So its strong. Urging someone. Appealing to someone. Emotional speech to inspire. That’s “exhort”. 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
The Reason of Exhortation
Because of the fear of falling away due to unbelieving hearts. Now it says “Take care, brothers…..less you fall..” (v12). This refers to believers, as brothers. So there is a possibility for believers born again Christians to fall away because of an evil unbelieving heart developed, obviously from believing heart in the first place. I guess this is backsliding to the scale of de-conversion like well written by Dr Michael Krueger on de-conversion. This should make us to be even more all out to exhort one another, because there is such a thing of de-conversion, the antithesis or opposite of conversion. It’s very sad, and there are few big names in America who have sided into that.
I know Westminster confession says, just like Calvin has said:
The Westminster Confession of Faith (19.1) states, “They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.”
This is called the Doctrine of perseverance of the Saints. “The doctrine described says that the elect are not only redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Spirit, but that they are kept in faith by the almighty power of God.”[1] That’s a very important phrase right there, “kept in faith” by the almighty power of God. We are not only saved redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Spirit, but KEPT in faith by God’s power. That means there is always a tug of war trying to pull us away from God by the forces in this world and the forces of devil.
Curtis Thomas puts it well, “This doctrine of the perseverance of the saints does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven. It is saints, those who are set apart by the Spirit, who persevere to the end. It is believers, those who are given true, living faith in Christ, who are secure and safe in Him. Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace, for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptation, and they do commit sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation nor do they separate them from Christ.”[2]
The question is many who profess faith in Jesus also fall away, why? Because they were never in grace, therefore they can’t fall away from grace. But they so called profess their faith.
Where are the NT promises for that?
When we come to the New Testament (the new covenant) we find one promise after another that God will preserve His people. Jesus says, “it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matt. 18:14). In John chapter 6, Jesus promises, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. … And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day” (John 6:37–39). Speaking of the Good Shepherd and the sheep, Jesus very clearly teaches the doctrine of the security of the believer: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27–30).[3]
Jesus said it “I shall lose nothing of all..”(v14).The “no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand”. So those who fallen away, are those who were never in the grace.
Dr. Curt Daniel has done valuable work in explaining and setting these verses in their proper context in The History and Theology of Calvinism, Dallas: Scholarly Reprints, pp. 420–425. I conclude with his words: “The Reformed doctrine of perseverance is that a regenerate soul will certainly persevere through the trials of life and continue to believe and repent. He will slip and fall, develop bad habits, wrestle with doubts, but through it all he will keep on going even as he began. … all believers slip and fall into sin. But the truth of the matter is that no believer stays down. Just as God gave him faith and repentance unto initial conversion, so He supplies him with faith and repentance all along the way to heaven” (p. 415 ).[4]
But the most important thing is “Do not harden your hearts…” for 40 years Israel tested God and saw the miracles of God for 40 years and yet there were a number of them who rebelled against God, fallen totally away. Imagine that? After seeing some of the phenomenal miracles that will pale anything we have seen today? So if they could fall away even after seeing greatest miracles one earth, watch out in your own lives. Don’t take things for granted. There must a continual fear of God, deep reverence of God and a sense of piety and love for him.
Hebrews 3:7-9 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.
Feeling God’s Anger & Frustration
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Sometimes people forget that God has emotions too. He gets angry, and his holy anger rises and shown many times especially in the OT. He has deep passion for his people Israel in the OT, and in the NT and now, he has deep feelings for his church, who was purchased by his own blood. We are his. He is our God. Amen.
Conclusion
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Al Ngu sermons & devotion 