The Aquila Report Archives - Page 9 of 942

God Is Good to Forbid Sin

By Justin Huffman — 4 months ago

It is the goodness of God to forbid us from sin. It is the goodness of God also to describe sin for us in his moral law, so that we might know it when we see it and keep from it with all our might.

Not long ago our church studied through the Ten Commandments together. In preparation for considering this formidable and famous piece of Old Testament law, it was helpful for me to consider, or reconsider, the goodness of God in all that he does, including giving us the law.
More than just a list of do’s and don’ts, Jesus later summarizes all the law, including these “top ten,” in terms of love. So, we might well approach each commandment as an answer to this question first and foremost: how can I better love God and love my neighbor? And, like everything that God says and does in this world, it is for our good as well as his glory.
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Mark 14:66-72: The Courageous Lord II

By Paul Ritchie — 4 months ago

Why did Peter’s courage fail him? Primarily because he hadn’t taken Jesus’ advice! Do you remember back in Gethsemane? Jesus had said to Peter, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Sadly three times Peter had failed to pray, and now three times he fails to identify himself with Jesus. Sincerity and passion, in and of themselves, are not enough. If we want to remain faithful to Jesus when the pressure is on then we need to be dependent on God and asking him for the faithfulness that he alone can give. You might be the most naturally courageous person in this room but if you are not a person of dependant prayer there will come times when your courage will utterly fail you and you let your Saviour down.[1]

Imaginary John has just started a new job.  He hasn’t yet got around to telling his workmates that he is a Christian.  When he sees how people make fun of Jane, the other Christian in the company, he is not sure that he wants people to know that he too follows Jesus.  It’s difficult to be faithful to Jesus in John’s workplace.
John is told not too put certain things through the company books.  It’s explained that some transactions are best run on a ‘cash only’ basis, he knows that this is to avoid paying VAT.  John is aware that this is wrong but doesn’t want to upset his boss.  It’s difficult being faithful to Jesus in John’s workplace.
In the canteen the conversation revolves around dirty jokes and juicy gossip.  He believes that it is good to be friendly with these guys but he feels the pressure to laugh along at what is being said.  He doesn’t know what to do.  It is difficult being faithful to Jesus in John’s workplace.
Being faithful is difficult.  It is difficult for us.  As we see in this passage, it was difficult for Peter.  And remember too, it was difficult for Jesus.
Peter crumbles under pressure.
It is the night before the cross.   Jesus is in the high priest’s house where he has been tried by the Sanhedrin.  Outside in the courtyard is Peter, who has followed at a distance.  He is sitting with the guards warming himself by the fire.
One of the servant girls of the high priest comes by and sees Peter.  She looks at him closely and says, in front of the guards, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus.”   What a scary position Peter finds himself in!  If he admits to being one of Jesus’ disciples will they arrest him also?
Now Peter by nature is not a coward.  I reckon that if I were one of the disciples I would not have followed all the way to the high priest’s house but would be with the others wherever they had fled to.  Neither is Peter half-hearted.  After all he had been sincere when he had passionately promised Jesus, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  However, what does he do when the pressure is really on?  He denies knowing Jesus, “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entrance.
You’re at the hairdresser or barber, you’re sitting on the train or in a taxi, you’re in school or at work and someone begins to ask you questions about yourself.  How do you feel about letting them know that you are a Christian?  Are we a bit uncomfortable with being different?  Are there times when we would rather not be thought of as a Jesus-freak?  How many times we have denied Jesus with our silence!
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Marie Durand (1711–1776), the Famous Prisoner of Faith — Introduction

By Campbell Markham — 4 months ago

Marie Durand is quite well known in France, and a number of different causes have taken her as a figurehead.
During the nineteenth century, theologically liberal French Protestants held Marie Durand up as a heroine of freedom of conscience. They portrayed her as the woman who spent decades in prison for a cause being fought out by the French Enlightenment, by such great minds as d’Alembert, Diderot, Rousseau, and Voltaire. Liberal Protestants observed that, while the philosophes fought for freedom of conscience on the intellectual level, Durand’s decades of physical suffering made a powerful social-conscience contribution to the cause.
Conservative French Protestants, fiercely loyal to their religious and cultural roots, viewed Marie Durand as a heroic Huguenot, the ultimate example of a faithful Calvinist holding fast to her sixteenth-century Reformation heritage.
Evangelical Protestants in general have presented Durand as an example of steadfast faith in Christ under severe persecution. For them, Durand exemplifies the faithful Christian martyr, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Simonetta Carr, for example, has written a beautifully illustrated biography of Marie Durand as an inspiring example for Christian children and teens.
During World War II, leaders of the French resistance used Marie Durand’s name and story to inspire the French people to resist Nazi tyranny. And in 2016 actress and author Ysabelle Lacamp portrayed Marie Durand as a heroine of religious freedom in a series of books dealing with all kinds of social justice matters.
In short, many have held up Marie Durand as an inspiring heroine for their own causes. Few, however, have examined her life. Fewer again have examined her remarkable forty-eight surviving letters, forty-one of which were written from her dungeon.
Marie Durand was born in 1711 in a remote southern French village called Bouchet-de-Pranles. It remains to this day a delightful region of chestnut groves, undulating streams, green hills, and ancient stone farmhouses. You can still visit her home, which is now a museum devoted to her church and family, the Musée du Vivarais Protestant.
On the lintel above the family hearth Marie’s father etched, in exquisite uncials, these words of praise:

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Pastor, Preach Theology

By Charlie Rampfumedzi — 4 months ago

Theology cannot be overlooked in preaching. Theology must form the core of our preaching. In fact, it will. Whether that’s intentional or not is up to us. Preachers must start with the text of scripture, extract its theology, and then present it to the audience, helping them apply it to their lives for salvation or sanctification.

Theology plays a crucial role in preaching, particularly in the context of the doctrine of salvation. This is often overlooked or soft-pedalled by preachers. But it is essential to incorporate theology into our preaching. In fact, it’s inevitable that our theology will be communicated in our preaching.
This article argues that theology is not an optional aspect of preaching. Instead, theology is the foundation of all preaching. The preacher’s theology is communicated to the audience and helps them apply it to their lives. This is true, whether the preacher is aware of it or not. Our theology comes through in our preaching. So I want to exhort preachers to thoughtfully and deliberately consider their theology as they preach.
The Pastoral Epistles Emphasise Doctrine
Consider the pastoral epistles, the letters to Timothy and Titus. Paul urges his understudies to uphold sound doctrine, emphasising the importance of teaching what accords with sound doctrine and rebuking those who contradict it (1 Timothy 1:10; 4:6; 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1). Paul also highlights the grace of God bringing salvation, based on the message of the scriptures, through the preaching of the word.
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Reverence

By Mike Ratliff — 4 months ago

If we examine our own devotion to our Lord in how we walk through each day, do we really entrepō Him as we should? Instead of putting ourselves to shame and completely bearing ourselves to God, entertainment is demanded. If the “worship style” is not exciting or upbeat enough then we get bored and look for another church. We want what we want and, in this, we are doing the opposite of entrepō.

37 But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ Matthew 21:37 (LSB)
37 ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου. Matthew 21:37 (NA28)
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated “reverence” is usually שׁחה or shâchâh. It is the same word used for worship as well because it speaks of assuming a humble posture before royalty for instance. However, in the New Testament we find a most remarkable word translated as respect or reverence or even shame. It is found in the passage above (Matthew 21:37). Look at the Greek passage of the same verse I placed below it. Here we have ἐντραπήσονται the plural, future tense, indicative mood, passive voice form of ἐντρέπω or entrepō, which literally means “to turn into oneself, to put self to shame, to feel respect or deference toward someone else.” If you are at all familiar with the parables of our Lord then I am sure you recoginze from where I drew the passage above. You may be asking yourself, what has this got to do with worship? Let’s see…
In the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers from Matthew 21:33-40, Mark 12:1-9, and Luke 20:9-16, a vineyard owner hired men to tend his vineyard, but they were wicked. When the owner sent servants to collect the harvest, the tenants beat them and stoned them, even killing some. He finally sent his son, thinking the tenants would “reverence” or “respect” him, but instead they killed him. When Jesus told this parable, the Jewish religious leaders knew that He spoke it against them and it only angered them even more against Him. The parable is, of course, about the Lord Jesus and the many servants of God who came before Him.
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Three People to Thank

By Reuben Bredenhof — 4 months ago

Whenever we treasure the gift of an earthly relationship and we thank God for it, we should consider how we can give back. For whom in your life do you thank God? Have you thanked God for them? And have you told them that you are thankful?

We should thank God for his good gifts, and thank people too, for how they bless us.

It is fitting that a grateful Christian develops a habit of reaching out to thank other people. Perhaps in person, or by phone, through email or social media—we let them know that we are grateful for who they are and what they do.

First, we could show our gratitude to someone who probably does not expect it. Perhaps it is the checkout person in the grocery store who packs your groceries with care. Say thank you. Perhaps it is the stranger on the bus who gives up her seat for an elderly woman. Say thank you.

Second, we could thank the people who have often supported and helped us. Here Paul sets an example of gratitude. In Philippians 4:10-19, he thanks the Philippians for how they looked after his material needs. Or in 2 Timothy 1:16-17, he acknowledges how Onesiphorus searched for him in Rome to bring encouragement. He does not take for granted the kindnesses that he received from others.

This requires us to think back: who has influenced you, or who has cared for you?

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Strengthened by God’s Love and Peace

By Forrest McPhail — 4 months ago

It is these truths—God’s love and His presence and control over circumstances–that brought strength to Daniel’s soul, even affected his body, and gave him courage to go on. He was not ready to receive this vision, one that would somehow take its toll on him. He said to the angel, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Are we lacking in strength, exhausted, burdened with cares, even with good reason? If so, we need to re-immerse ourselves in who God is, which includes His perfect love.

The prophet Daniel saw many mighty works of God on the behalf of himself, his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, works performed before the greatest of kings of his era. He received revelation from God in visions and was given ability to interpret dreams for the seeming all-powerful king, Nebuchadnezzar. And yet even such a man as Daniel knew what it was to be utterly spent and in need of encouragement. He needed to be renewed in the love and peace of God.
A Full Life
As Daniel chapter 10 opens, it is the third year of the reign of Cyrus the Great, King of the Medo-Persian Empire, whose armies had toppled and absorbed the Babylonian Empire. Daniel had been a Jewish captive now for decades, though God has greatly exalted him to positions of authority and influence in both empires. Throughout all this time Daniel has seen God’s hand at work powerfully and clearly. He is now a very old man, and the world has radically changed, is still changing.
Prayers Answered
Daniel knew the time was close for the Jewish captives to be allowed to return to Jerusalem, just as God had said. He had spent the last three weeks now in fasting and prayer, seeking God’s face for revelation about the future of Israel and the last days. In answer to his prayers, it appears that the pre-incarnate Christ (Christophany) and a mighty angel visited him. The angel then gave him a vision of the future sent from God.
Before giving Daniel the vision, the angel tells Daniel about the great battle taking place in the spiritual realm between God’s angels and the fallen. The battle was so intense that God sent his famed archangel Michael to join the battle to ensure that the vision reached Daniel.
All of this is fascinating and rich with devotional truth, but these are not the points I would like to raise here. What happens next is what we will consider.
Exhausted and in Pain
Daniel is exhausted from prayer and fasting, overwhelmed by seeing the pre-incarnate Christ in His glory (compare with Rev 1:12-18), seeing the angel, and hearing of the great battle in the spiritual realm.
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Ministering to Addicts

By Burk Parsons — 4 months ago

We must pray, confess, confront, admit, intervene, befriend, and love. As the family of God, we must not give up on those who struggle with addictions as we depend on the transforming and renewing work of the Holy Spirit through the gospel of Jesus Christ, who has overcome the world.

As a pastor, I often find myself counseling people with addictions. Having served in local church settings for more than twenty years, I find ministering to addicts and their families to be one of the more difficult, complicated, and sad things I do. Every week, I preach the Word of God to people who have never been addicts and may never become addicts, to former addicts, to addicts themselves, and to future addicts. There are some addicts who know they are addicts, some who are seeking help for their addiction, and some who either do not know they are addicts or do not want to admit it. Some people think they will never become addicts because they do not have an “addictive personality.” Others think they will never become addicts because their parents were not addicts. And some fear becoming addicts because they think they have an addictive personality or because so many in their family history were addicts.
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I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow

By Jacob Crouch — 4 months ago

He refines me and causes me to loosen my grip on this world that I might cling more closely to Him. He causes me to stop trusting in myself and causes me to trust more fully in Him. He answers the prayer for growth that I might say with the Psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

I asked the Lord that I might growIn faith and love and ev’ry grace,Might more of His salvation know,And seek more earnestly His face
I have often prayed a prayer like this. I need to grow in faith and love and every grace. I am weak, and I need God’s help. Praise God that we have the promise that we may come to Him to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).
‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,And He, I trust, has answered prayer,But it has been in such a wayAs almost drove me to despair
God answers these prayers. When we pray according to His will “He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). But I often have a way that I think God should answer these prayers.
I hoped that in some favored hourAt once He’d answer my requestAnd, by His love’s constraining pow’r,Subdue my sins and give me rest
The way that I want these prayers answered is with ease and rest. I’m being noble to ask, right? The least God can do is make it easy for me. Surely He will pour that grace out on me in such a way that *poof* magically makes my sin disappear. Right?
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Get the Basics Right

By Stephen Kneale — 4 months ago

The Big Picture for Small Churches (which is brilliant, by the way), John Benton helpfully boils it down to these five things: Quality presence, Quality welcome, Quality teaching, Quality hospitality, and Quality prayer. These are the basics as far as churches go. Basics that any church can do well.

I was watching a bit of post-match analysis from Roy Keane after England’s dismal loss to Greece. He was characteristically pretty miserable about them. But then, it’s hard to deny that they deserved it this time. His main takeaway – as has been that of many a football commentator and pundit for many decades – was this: they just didn’t get the basics right.
If in football we talk about getting the basics right, in basketball we tend to talk about fundamentals. You don’t wind up on the receiving end of absolute pastings without failing to work at the fundamentals. You can do all the fancy trickery under the sun, but if you can’t do the basics on defence or don’t commit to running back to help, all your skill will be for naught. You’ve got to get the fundamentals right before we talk about anything else.
We probably baulk at fundamentals (for different reasons) in the church. So, I think we’ll stick with basics. But it still holds true. Many a big church has come a cropper because it has run away with itself and forgotten about the basics. Many a small church has thrown the towel in because it doesn’t think it can operate on the necessary level whilst failing to spend any real time considering the basics, basics even they can do. In the church, we’ve got to do the basics.
The question is, what are the basics? What are the core things any church, of any size, can do well? What are the things that the Bible wants the church to be about? Helpfully, in his book The Big Picture for Small Churches (which is brilliant, by the way), John Benton helpfully boils it down to these five things:

Quality presence
Quality welcome
Quality teaching
Quality hospitality
Quality prayer

These are the basics as far as churches go. Basics that any church can do well.
By quality presence, we mean presence in our community. Being around as faithful witnesses to the Lord Jesus. It is through our presence in our community we will get opportunities to speak of Christ and share his gospel.
Being welcoming is Church Basics 101.
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