Saturday, July 17, 2010, 7:07 a.m. – When I woke up this morning the following song was going through my head. The main words that were standing out to me were “ready yourself.”
Until the Whole World Hears / Casting Crowns
Lord I wanna feel Your heart
See the world through Your eyes
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Lord let Your sleeping giant rise
Catch the demons by surprise
Holy nations sanctify
Let this be our battle cry
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
To see You set the captive free
Until the whole world hears
And I pray the day will see
More of You and less of me
Lord I want my life to be the song you sing
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving me the words to this song this morning. This is exactly the encouragement I needed today, as you well know. I so want to feel your heart and to see the world through your eyes. I pray the day will see “more of You and less of me.” I want to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night until the whole world hears of your salvation; until your church (the sleeping giant) rises to obedience and to revival of their hearts, purpose, direction, etc. to where the church of Jesus Christ; Your Body; Your temple, turns from following after false gods and rises to follow after her first love, Jesus Christ, and makes it her goal to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night until the whole world hears. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“The Day” that is drawing near is the Day of Judgment spoken about in Revelation. That day is coming whether we want to accept it or not, so we, the church, need to be about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ “until the whole world hears” so that many will be saved. Like “voices in the wilderness” we’re crying out. John was “a voice in the wilderness” crying out “prepare ye the way of the Lord; make a straight path for him.” His mission was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry and to call people to repentance. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he rose again and he ascended into heaven. He sent his Holy Spirit to live in the lives of believers in Jesus, and one day Jesus is coming again to receive his own to himself, to make our salvation complete, to judge mankind, and to reign on the earth for 1,000 years. So, we are also to be like voices in the wilderness crying out to a world in need of the Savior so that the whole world will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ before His return.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Hebrews 10:19-39:
My Understanding: [All definitions, unless otherwise noted, are taken from Encarta Dictionary and/or Thesaurus.]
This passage of scripture says that we should “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” To spur means “to stimulate a person or organization to take action or make greater efforts in the hope of a reward or in the fear of punishment”. This definition fits with the idea presented in the passage that because we have salvation through Jesus, i.e. because we have that hope of eternal life we should draw near to God with full assurance of faith and we should hold unswervingly (firm and unchanging in intent or purpose) to the hope we profess. It also fits with the part of the passage where it says that we should encourage each other and all the more as we see the Day approaching. “The Day” is a reference to the Day of Judgment that is coming on the earth and on mankind. In light of both the hope we have of eternal life in Christ Jesus and a realization that other people need that hope, too, and in light of coming judgment, we should be encouraging one another and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds.
Vv. 26-27 are very important here. So many churches are teaching a “fast food” gospel message that teaches that you can get salvation and keep going on with your life just like one would drive through a drive-thru window at a restaurant to get food and keep going. It is not like that. Vv. 26-27 say:
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
This does not mean that once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior that you will be sin-free. What this is talking about is deliberate, willful sinning (actively involved in a sinful lifestyle). It is talking about a conscious choice of the free will to keep living in sin even though one has knowledge of the truth of the gospel. This is speaking about a refusal to truly accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This could be referring to those who literally just refuse to believe, or it could be speaking about those who say they believe because they are hoping to get a “get of jail free card” but that they are unwilling to make the commitment to take action towards turning from sin and turning to God. So, if we say we believe in Jesus, and yet we deliberately keep on sinning (active lifestyle), then this passage is saying that God’s saving grace is not applied to our lives because the faith was not genuine faith. God says that such a person would thus be insulting the Spirit of Grace.
This passage implies that there were people who received the knowledge of the gospel and who had all the appearance of those who were sincere in their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ by their willingness to stand on what they believed even in the face of persecution and they even stood with others who were being persecuted, yet if their “receiving” of the light is to be compared to those who “received” the knowledge of the truth, then it sounds as though this was not lasting faith. This passage reminds me of the parable of the sower and the four types of soil on which the seed landed and how only one of the four took root and bore a harvest. Yet, I know there are varied theological viewpoints on what this passage is really saying concerning our salvation.
To me, the main point of this passage is that it is possible to receive the truth of the gospel and to even have the appearance of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, yet have faith that is not true faith if it is not coupled with repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Jesus Christ. This passage emphasizes the need for a sincere heart, full assurance of faith, being firm and unchanging in our hope, not continuing in deliberate sin, not shrinking (becoming smaller) back (in reverse direction) in the faith we claim to have, but persevering so that when we have done the will of God, we may receive what has been promised (eternal life).
I’ve seen so many people who are relying on some decision they made or a prayer they prayed or an altar call they answered or a church they joined as their security in belief that they will one day go to heaven no matter how they live on this earth, but that is just inconsistent with what the Bible teaches. True faith is faith that lasts. So, to me, the BIG, HUGE encouragement here and the spurring on to love and good deeds is to let people know that Jesus died for their sin so that they could live without the control of or bondage to sin over their lives and so that they could have the hope of eternal life in heaven with God. Jesus came to set us free! So, if we choose to keep sinning deliberately, it is a slap in the face to God. It is an insult to God’s grace. And, it is trampling underfoot what Jesus did for us. So, we need to be encouraged to turn from our sin, to follow Jesus, to walk in obedience to him, to love with His love, and to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
Until the Whole World Hears / Casting Crowns
Lord I wanna feel Your heart
See the world through Your eyes
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Lord let Your sleeping giant rise
Catch the demons by surprise
Holy nations sanctify
Let this be our battle cry
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Wo-o-oh Wo-o-oh
We'll sing until the whole world hears
I wanna be your hands and feet
I wanna live a life that leads
To see You set the captive free
Until the whole world hears
And I pray the day will see
More of You and less of me
Lord I want my life to be the song you sing
Until the whole world hears
Lord we are calling out
Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving me the words to this song this morning. This is exactly the encouragement I needed today, as you well know. I so want to feel your heart and to see the world through your eyes. I pray the day will see “more of You and less of me.” I want to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night until the whole world hears of your salvation; until your church (the sleeping giant) rises to obedience and to revival of their hearts, purpose, direction, etc. to where the church of Jesus Christ; Your Body; Your temple, turns from following after false gods and rises to follow after her first love, Jesus Christ, and makes it her goal to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night until the whole world hears. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“The Day” that is drawing near is the Day of Judgment spoken about in Revelation. That day is coming whether we want to accept it or not, so we, the church, need to be about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ “until the whole world hears” so that many will be saved. Like “voices in the wilderness” we’re crying out. John was “a voice in the wilderness” crying out “prepare ye the way of the Lord; make a straight path for him.” His mission was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry and to call people to repentance. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he rose again and he ascended into heaven. He sent his Holy Spirit to live in the lives of believers in Jesus, and one day Jesus is coming again to receive his own to himself, to make our salvation complete, to judge mankind, and to reign on the earth for 1,000 years. So, we are also to be like voices in the wilderness crying out to a world in need of the Savior so that the whole world will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ before His return.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Hebrews 10:19-39:
My Understanding: [All definitions, unless otherwise noted, are taken from Encarta Dictionary and/or Thesaurus.]
This passage of scripture says that we should “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” To spur means “to stimulate a person or organization to take action or make greater efforts in the hope of a reward or in the fear of punishment”. This definition fits with the idea presented in the passage that because we have salvation through Jesus, i.e. because we have that hope of eternal life we should draw near to God with full assurance of faith and we should hold unswervingly (firm and unchanging in intent or purpose) to the hope we profess. It also fits with the part of the passage where it says that we should encourage each other and all the more as we see the Day approaching. “The Day” is a reference to the Day of Judgment that is coming on the earth and on mankind. In light of both the hope we have of eternal life in Christ Jesus and a realization that other people need that hope, too, and in light of coming judgment, we should be encouraging one another and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds.
Vv. 26-27 are very important here. So many churches are teaching a “fast food” gospel message that teaches that you can get salvation and keep going on with your life just like one would drive through a drive-thru window at a restaurant to get food and keep going. It is not like that. Vv. 26-27 say:
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
This does not mean that once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior that you will be sin-free. What this is talking about is deliberate, willful sinning (actively involved in a sinful lifestyle). It is talking about a conscious choice of the free will to keep living in sin even though one has knowledge of the truth of the gospel. This is speaking about a refusal to truly accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This could be referring to those who literally just refuse to believe, or it could be speaking about those who say they believe because they are hoping to get a “get of jail free card” but that they are unwilling to make the commitment to take action towards turning from sin and turning to God. So, if we say we believe in Jesus, and yet we deliberately keep on sinning (active lifestyle), then this passage is saying that God’s saving grace is not applied to our lives because the faith was not genuine faith. God says that such a person would thus be insulting the Spirit of Grace.
This passage implies that there were people who received the knowledge of the gospel and who had all the appearance of those who were sincere in their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ by their willingness to stand on what they believed even in the face of persecution and they even stood with others who were being persecuted, yet if their “receiving” of the light is to be compared to those who “received” the knowledge of the truth, then it sounds as though this was not lasting faith. This passage reminds me of the parable of the sower and the four types of soil on which the seed landed and how only one of the four took root and bore a harvest. Yet, I know there are varied theological viewpoints on what this passage is really saying concerning our salvation.
To me, the main point of this passage is that it is possible to receive the truth of the gospel and to even have the appearance of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, yet have faith that is not true faith if it is not coupled with repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Jesus Christ. This passage emphasizes the need for a sincere heart, full assurance of faith, being firm and unchanging in our hope, not continuing in deliberate sin, not shrinking (becoming smaller) back (in reverse direction) in the faith we claim to have, but persevering so that when we have done the will of God, we may receive what has been promised (eternal life).
I’ve seen so many people who are relying on some decision they made or a prayer they prayed or an altar call they answered or a church they joined as their security in belief that they will one day go to heaven no matter how they live on this earth, but that is just inconsistent with what the Bible teaches. True faith is faith that lasts. So, to me, the BIG, HUGE encouragement here and the spurring on to love and good deeds is to let people know that Jesus died for their sin so that they could live without the control of or bondage to sin over their lives and so that they could have the hope of eternal life in heaven with God. Jesus came to set us free! So, if we choose to keep sinning deliberately, it is a slap in the face to God. It is an insult to God’s grace. And, it is trampling underfoot what Jesus did for us. So, we need to be encouraged to turn from our sin, to follow Jesus, to walk in obedience to him, to love with His love, and to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
