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“When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6This passage is the beginning of the prolonged digression that the Apostle Paul takes in 2 Corinthians as he underscores the unfailing goodness of the living Christ and the high calling of representing him to other people (2:14-7:5).Thesis: Understanding our insufficiency is the surprising secret of being an effective ambassador for Christ and representing him (before the watching world) to other people.1. The question of sufficiency: What happened to Paul?Scene 1 (Acts 7:58)"And Saul approved of his (Stephen's) execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:1 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Acts 9:1-2Scene 2 (2 Corinthians 12:10)"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling," 1 Corinthians 2-3“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 2. The Question of Sufficiency/Adequacy in the Culture at Large TodayThe runaway reality of “expressive individualism” (Carl Truman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Say Self)“But what we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; This has been exactly reversed. Nowadays, the part of a man that a man does not assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert–yourself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt–the divine capital, our reason." G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, pg.393. Are we willing to face "the extreme feebleness, and bottomless depths of the secret corruption and deceit of our own hearts" (Jonathan Edwards)?&a... Speaker: Buster Brown

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5“Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:5-11Arrogant (1 Corinthians 5:2), dismissive, and nonchalant vs. “mourning”The trivialization of the wonderful gift of intimacy for marriage (Hebrews 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)1. We must be careful to not be captured by the spirit of our age.2. We always operate from the standard of Grace.“Never look back at your sins again. Say: ‘It is finished, it is covered by the Blood of Christ’. That is your first step. Take that and finish with yourself and all this talk about goodness, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only then that true happiness and joy are possible for you. What you need is not to make resolutions to live a better life, to start fasting and sweating and praying. No! you just begin to say: ‘I rest my faith on Him alone Who died for my transgressions to atone.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures3. You are your brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9).Key ConceptsTrivialize the gift of intimacy.They were arrogant or puffed up with conceit and disregard versus mourning over a brother who is trapped in sinThe eternal welfare and salvation of an individual is our ultimate goal as ambassador for Christ.Satan is the one who seeks to out us by making us too lax or too harsh. The Bible gives us a place to plant our feet.Zealots for the glory of God and the welfare of others."These hands you may crush, these arms you may lop off, my life you may take, my blood is yours, you may shed it, but you shall never force me to give holy things to the profane and dishonor the table of my God.” John Calvin  Speaker: Buster Brown

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127Our Posture of Restlessness“What happens when work becomes the chief repository of identity, the prime source of status and reward, the paramount path to fulfillment? What happens is failure that we are poorly equipped to acknowledge, much less respond to fruitfully. What happens is “collective anxiety, mass disappointment, and inevitable burnout.” What happens is our worship of work is shown and seen to be absurd.” Bobby Jamieson, Everything is Never EnoughIn Prayerful Reliance“Once a day God sends us to bed like patients with a sickness. The sickness is a chronic tendency to think we are in control and that our work is indispensable. To cure us of this disease God turns us into helpless sacks of sand once a day. How humiliating to the self-made corporate executive that he has to give up all control and become as limp as a suckling infant every day.” John Piper, “A Brief Theology of Sleep”“Few things are as theological as sleep. Show me your sleep pattern and I’ll show you your theology, because we all preach a sermon in and by our sleep.” David Murray, Reset“Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 120:1-4The Prospect of Reward(s)“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9“Children are not our achievement but his gift. So is a completed house and a guarded city. All life must be lived to the full, all its joy enjoyed and its duties performed in unworried reliance on him who is the doer of all. Joyful activity, toilsome activity - but full of untroubled rest.” J. Alec Motyer, New Bible CommentaryThe Promise of Rest“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30RecommendedEverything is Never Enough (Jamieson)The Wisdom of Sleep (McCracken)Reset (Murray)For DiscussionWhy are doing things apart from the Lord in vain?What are the things that cause you to “rise up early and go late to rest” (v. 2)?How does your sleep indicate your theology?What are the benefits/blessings of caring for the coming generation?What is an area of your life you need to entrust to the Lord?“Our quest is not as we propose, but shall be as our Lord dispose; we’ll trust to all He may disclose;And in His promise rest.” Malcolm Guite, Galahad and the Grail Speaker: Van Barnhill

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17Big Idea: We must resist the fleeting world within. 1. We must not love the world (v.15)."Since the nature of friendship with God is such that if anyone loves this world he is an enemy of God, it follows that if someone wants to be a friend of God and dwell in God’s love, he must turn away from love of the world and the things which are in the world." Didymus the Blind2. The world is (mostly) within (v.16)!“Desires of the flesh”: wanting pleasure more than God“Desires of the eyes”: wanting beauty more than goodness “Pride of life”: presumption or complacency in our circumstances "The sum of the whole is, that as soon as the world presents itself, our lusts or desires, when our heart is corrupt, are captivated by it, like unbridled wild beasts; so that various lusts, all which are adverse to God, bear rule in us." John Calvin, Commentary on 1 John3. We can be free from the fleeting world (v.17) "The world will pass away on the day of judgment when it will be transformed by fire into something better, for then there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The lust of the world will also disappear, because there will be no place for it in the new creation. But the person who does God’s will does not have to worry about this because the things which he desires are heavenly and eternal, so that they do not and cannot change, whatever happens to the world." The Venerable Bede  Speaker: Leland Brown

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” 2 Corinthians 1:20-2:4"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21"But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” Philippians 1:24-261. Christian joy is a good feeling produced by the Holy Spirit that is the result of our beholding and treasuring the beauty and greatness of Christ. “Father, command what you will and grant what you command.” Augustine (d. 430) (i.e. our emotions are the result of our beholding and treasuring)2. Joy → Stand Firm → In the Faith (the Centrality of Christ)“What I finally came to as I walked and prayed for you is the old, old story of getting the gospel clear in your own hearts and minds, making it clear to others, and doing it with only one motive — the glory of Christ. Getting the glory of Christ before your eyes and keeping it there — is the greatest work of the Spirit that I can imagine. And there is no greater peace, especially in the times of treadmill-like activity, than doing it all for the glory of the Lord Jesus. Think much of the Savior's suffering for you on that dreadful cross, think much of your sin that provoked such suffering, and then enter by faith into the love that took away your sin and guilt, and then give your work your best. Give it your heart out of gratitude for a tender, seeking, and patient Savior. Then every event becomes a shiny glory moment to be cherished — whether you drink tea or try to get the verb forms of the new language.” C. John Miller, Heart of a Servant LeaderThe Treasury of Merit - a Roman Catholic doctrine holding that the infinite good works of Jesus Christ, the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the surplus good works of the saints form a spiritual reservoir in heaven3. Continually remembering and rehearsing the gospel (vv. 21-22).4. We live in security and expect progress by the power of the Holy Spirit (and opposition from the devil) (2 Corinthians 4:4-5, 11:13-14).5. In working with people, we experience the gamut of emotions: affliction, anguish, tears, sorrow, joy, hope, pain…"For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7Consider... Speaker: Buster Brown

"Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say 'Yes, yes' and 'No, no' at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Corinthians 1:15-22"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21In order to not have another painful visit to the church at Corinth, Paul changed his travel itinerary so that the church could have the opportunity to assess their attitudes towards Paul’s apostolic calling (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). And in the context of canceling his visit some detractors who were preaching a “different gospel” (11:4) were accusing Paul of being indifferent in his communication and vacillating in his decision making.The Apostle Paul has established that trust was of utmost importance (1:12 and 10:11). In this passage, he underscores the fact that all of life is lived out in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of all the promises of Scripture (v. 19).In building faithfulness:1. The fulfillment of all the promises of Scripture are found in the person and work of Christ (vv. 19-20). We are continually established and built up in Him (vv. 21-22).2. We have been anointed or set apart by the merciful grace of the cross and the indwelling Holy Spirit (v. 21).3. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a deposit/guarantee of the glory that is to come (v. 22).Applications1. In order to be people of observable faithfulness and consistency, we always glory in the greatness of Jesus Christ, our prophet, priest, and king. 2. All the promises of the Scripture found their fulfillment in Christ."Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6…because I am in Christ"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11…because I am in Christ"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10…because I am in Christ"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 Speaker: Buster Brown

"He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you." 2 Corinthians 1:10-14"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21Paul spent one and a half years in Corinth establishing and nurturing the church (Acts 18). But now “a group of super apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5)who preached “another Jesus” (11:4) were seeking to discredit Paul and his calling while causing the church to drift into error. In response to this Paul wrote a painful letter (2:4) but has now received good news that the church has repented and has fully embraced the gospel (7:6-9).“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up sake in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket–safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. I will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly sake from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.” C.S. Lewis, The Four LovesIn not being overwhelmed…1. Bank your hope and look to the “Father of all mercies and God of all comfort”(2 Cor 1:3); the one who “raises the dead” (v. 9) to refresh and deliver you in the midst of trials (Is. 40:28-31).2. Those who are potentially overwhelmed experience refreshment and strength through the prayers of other believers (v. 11).“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." Romans 8:34"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:253. Strive to live with simplicity and godly sincerity (as you realize that your sins are covered by the work of the cross). The gospel of done. 4. Labor to have a clear conscience toward God and man (v. 12) (Acts 24:16)."If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:6-105. Live in light of the glorious coming of the comin... Speaker: Buster Brown

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21An ambassador is a sent/authorized representative or messenger."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." 2 Corinthians 1:3-101. Comforters: “We despaired… therefore, we were taught to rely not on ourselves but on the power of God.” (v. 8-10)"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 hoped that in some favored hour,At once he'd answer my request,And by his love's constraining power,Subdue my sins and give me rest.These inward trials I employFrom self and pride to set you freeAnd break your schemes of earthly joyThat you would seek your all in me.”John Newton, I Asked the Lord, Stanzas 1, 3, 7"Whate'er my God ordains is right:though now this cup, in drinking,may bitter seem to my faint heart,I take it, all unshrinking.My God is true; each morn anewsweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,and pain and sorrow shall depart.Whate'er my God ordains is right:here shall my stand be taken;though sorrow, need, or death be mine,yet am I not forsaken.My Father's care is round me there;he holds me that I shall not fall:and so to him I leave it all."Whatever My God Ordains Is Right, Stanzas 3-42. Rejoicing in comfort…that we may be able to comfort others (v 4)3. Understanding the afflictions/difficulties patiently endured speaks of the power of the gospel, the sustaining gospel to others (v 6).Applications 1. Radical (total) obedience and the life of chosen suffering/affliction is one of abundantly living.“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”"Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles...What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'” 1 Corinthians 15:7,322. We should think much (ponder) on the character and grandeur of the triune God. “Our cure begins, to extend the medical analogy, when God as the Great Physician applies the medicine of the cross to the disease of our sin and nurses us through the love of the Holy Spirit into good health according to the prescriptions of his Word. The application of this divinely therapeutic balm of the gospel transforms our loves and reorders our lives. We become worshippers of God instead of idolaters. We trade in our vices for virtues. God breaks the power of our habits and addictions and undermines and propensities we may have toward violence. Our lives can only be r... Speaker: Buster Brown

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?' But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” James 4:1-6This passage is the description of the combatants in their “pleasure wars.” One group was involved in the embrace of a worldly system which minimized the character and standards of God and led to a type of “wisdom that was earthly, spiritual, and demonic” (3.15).There was another group who pursued the Lord with a desire to worship and honor him and embrace a wisdom that is from above, that is “first pure, then peaceful, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (3.17).James 4:5 is a lynchpin argument in this text. It is a difficult verse to understand, but the central argument in the passage is vitally important for the believer to understand: “The specific details of the verse have been much debated, but we understand the general force to be that God is a jealous God and will brook (tolerate, allow, endure) no rivals.” Curtis Vaughn, James, pg. 86“God’s jealousy means that God continually seeks to protect his own honor…It is healthy for us spiritually when we settle in our hearts the fact that God deserves all honor and glory from his creation, and that it is right for him to seek this honor. He alone is infinitely worthy of being praised. To realize this fact and to delight in it is to find the secret of true worship.” Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, pg. 205-206“...God’s jealousy is praiseworthy zeal on his part to preserve something supremely precious.” J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 189“So here’s the bottom line: the jealousy of God is the measure of zeal for happiness in him. His anger at our spiritual adultery, at having other lovers besides him, is a reflex both of his zeal for his own worth, but also of his zeal for our joy. If we turn away from him as the greatest treasure, we turn away from our greatest pleasure.” John PiperThe honoring of God and the well-being of His people are eternally linked (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; 1 Samuel 12:14; Matthew 7:24-27; Proverbs 3:4-8; Romans 8:13).1. The accurate understanding of the jealousy of God is a tonic to a life of worship and thanksgiving."You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:4-62. The understanding of the jealousy of God is an arresting (captivating, transfixing) teaching which prioritizes our pursuits.“…every preference of a small good to a great, or partial good to a total good, involves the loss of the small or partial good for which the sacrifice is made…You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.” C.S. Lewis, "First and Second Things," God in the Dock, pg. 280"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and... Speaker: Buster Brown

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?' But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." James 4:4-10 The believer fights daily against the world (the anti-God energy and thinking that is involved in the denial of God and his standards), the flesh (indwelling sin), and the devil (the stalking, roaring lion).James 4 addresses the mindset among some professing believers who were comfortable with the embrace of the world and its anti-energy standards.  James calls for sober living, earnest obedience, and glad-hearted embrace of life; instead of the non-authentic, slap-happy, insouciant, blasé, cavalier approach to life which did not take the eternal God and the eternal truths of Scripture with utmost seriousness. The way of the non-earnest/unauthentic:An empty laughter that takes little with eternal seriousnessSpeaks maliciously against others (v. 11)Boasts about accomplishments and their coming achievements with no thought of God’s empowering presence or eternity (v.13)Rejoices in accumulated wealth as they simultaneously abuse the day laborer by refusing to pay earned wages (5:1) “We cannot attain the fullness of the Spirit without being turned inside out so that our central focus is no longer on our own growth, but the glory of God and the growth of Christ's kingdom…Faith is the main route of spiritual growth. Spiritual discipline strengthens faith by leading us to prayer and by regularly exposing us to truth, as a solar battery is charged by exposure to light. Taken alone, however, the way of discipline can encourage the delusion that spiritual renewal is a matter of individual achievement. It needs to be balanced by the awareness that we are spiritually renewed as we are refreshed by the gifts of other believers and community and as the Holy Spirit is poured out in answer to corporate prayer.” Richard Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life, pg. 10Those who fight the embrace of the world:1. Have a deadly, earnest, sober-minded, glad-hearted approach to life2. Very careful regarding their speech (Matthew 12:37) (James 5:11)3. Understand the precious nature of time and do not presume on tomorrow. (We are Easter people and Second Coming people.)"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 54. Understand that all men and women are made in the image of God and are worthy of respect and Christian love.We live for two days: this day and that day.Sober-hearted or Sober-minded but Glad-hearted Reminders:The devil is stalking, prowling, lying and wants to devour me. There is a “worldly system” that is anti-God and anti-biblical, and leads to destruction and death and robs its adherents of life. I am called to submit to the Lord and resist the devil in this daily battle for my joy.As I draw near, he draws near for my joy (v. 5, 8).Live this day in light of that day (I'm not going to presume on tomorrow, on next week, next month, or next year).“Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself ... Speaker: Buster Brown

"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:1-9In fighting against the forces of the devil and the forces of darkness, we are to RESIST (set oneself against, to be hostile towards).We resist because the devil is a prowling lion and seeks to devour us.“Satan watches all opportunities to break our peace, to wound our consciences, to lessen our comforts, to impair our graces, to slur our evidences, and to damp (put out) our assurances (of salvation).” Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, pg. 280We resist because to leave sin unconfessed and unresisted is to give the devil an opportunity."Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27We resist because the devil's plan is to (James 1:14-15):1. lure and entice us into sin (sin is conceived).2. cause sin to be birthed in us.3. when sin is fully grown it leads to death."But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." James 1:14-15Because the way of the nonresistance of being lulled to sleep leads to death, while life in the power of the Holy Spirit leads to life."So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:12-13Heidelberg Catechism, Question 89Q: What is the dying of the old man?A: Heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more (We are to be firm in faith (firm = strong, steadfast, not soft, but mighty)."But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'” 2 Timothy 2:19We are firm in faith:1. when we realize that life is a b___________.2. when we comprehend the g________ and j________ of our salvation.“The gospel is not something partial or piecemeal: It takes a whole life, the whole of history, the whole world. It tells us about the creation and the final judgment and everything in between. It is a complete, whole view of life, and many are unhappy in the Christian life because they have never realized that this way of life caters, for the whole of man's life and covers every eventuality in his experience. There's no aspect of life but that the gospel has something to say about it. The whole of life must come under its influence because it is all inclusive; the gospel is meant to control and govern everything in our lives." D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure, Chapter 4“We must..." comprehend, embrace and enjoy (1 Peter 1:8, 1 Peter 2... Speaker: Buster Brown

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." 1 Peter 1:1-8In resisting the devil, the Scripture says we are to be sober-minded (well-balanced, self-controlled, clear-thinking, watchful, alert, vigilant, wide-awake.We are sober-minded because:1. We continually contemplate the greatness of our salvation. "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:132. Eternity is certain (and unending)."The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers." 1 Peter 4:7 "Since I am coming to that Holy room,     Where, with Thy choir of saints for evermore, I shall be made Thy music; as I come     I tune the instrument here at the door,     And what I must do then, think here before;"John Donne, Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness 3. Right now counts forever (1 Peter 5:2-4).“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.” C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory“That Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the débris of a universe in ruins—all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be safely built.” Bertrand Russell, Mysticism and Logic: Including A Free Man's Worship4. So much is at stake as we live our lives. Speaker: Buster Brown

"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:1-8The opening statement of 1 Peter is written to a group of believers who are going through difficult times, which involves persecution. Peter reminds them that they fight an enemy who incessantly prowls about seeking to eat them up. Therefore, they are to resist him. The first four verses of 1 Peter 5 deal with the leaders/elders of the church. He underscores the reason such weight is given to this group of people is because:Leaders (at all levels) are pacesetters.The avowed desire to honor Christ heightens the fierce rage of the devil.“The devil laughs. He is perfectly content to see you becoming chaste and brave and self-controlled provided, all the time, he is setting up in you the Dictatorship of Pride– just as he would be quite content to see your skin rash cured if he was allowed, in return, to give you cancer. For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love or contentment or even common sense.” C.S. Lewis, Mere ChristianityHow to Resist the Devil1. Walk in HumilityHeidelberg Catechism, Question 60Q. How are you righteous before God?A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, although my conscience accuse me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them, and am still prone always to all evil; yet God without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me; if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.Humility comes as the glory and wonder of the cross is continually understood. "But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.” 1 Peter 4:15 Prepare for the promise; the Lord will exalt/lift up His people.2. Cast your anxieties/cares upon the living God."But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." Mark 4:19 "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap."  Luke 21:34 "As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."  Matthew 13:22 The mighty, eternal, unchanging God tenderly cares for His people. Anxiety:"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not lif... Speaker: Buster Brown

"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'” Matthew 6:9-13“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?”“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianThe first three petitions of the Lord's Prayer establish the centrality of the living God and his kingdom in our lives. While petitions four through six deal with his provision for our well-being, forgiveness, and relational wholeness, and the supply of strength to fight the daily battle of faith.Heidelberg Catechism, Question 127Q. What does the sixth petition mean?A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one means: by ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies—the devil, the world, and our own flesh—never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual warfare, but may continually and strenuously resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.“When a man has no doubt that everything depends on the will of God, then he completely despairs of himself and chooses nothing for himself, but waits for God to work; then he has come close to grace.” Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will1. The greatest enemy of faith: stoic, fierce self-determinism (more detrimental than pornography or racism) 2. Let personal despair humble you in order to see Christ more clearly. “Learn much of your own heart. And when you have learned all you can, remember you have seen but a few yards into the pit that is unfathomable.” Robert Murray McCheyne (d. 1843)Enter into the joyous free fall of self despair by being focused on the glory of Christ. “The index of the soundness of a man's faith in Christ is the genuineness of the self despair from which it springs.” J.I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness, pg. 1703. Know yourself.“For what man in all the world would not gladly remain as he is–what man does not remain as he is–so long as he does not know himself, that is, while content with his own gifts, and either ignorant or unmindful of his own misery? Accordingly, the knowledge of ourselves not only arouses us to seek God, but also, as it were, leads us by the hand to find him." John Calvin, The Institutes of Christian Faith, Section 1, Book 1, Chapter 14. Know your enemy/the battle.“Most of us, if we're honest, live our lives too serious about casual things and too casual about serious things. We fret about clothes and calories. We fuss about diets and home decor. Our whole week can be ruined by a sporting event gone wrong. We are supremely concerned about these relatively unimportant matters. And yet we will start each new day as if we were in no spiritual danger, as if we had no enemy, as if we were not at war with our own flesh. We realize we need daily bread and we realize we need daily forgiveness. But how many times do we go about each day thinking that there is no battle, blissfully ignorant, sometimes willfully ignorant of the danger that we will face.” Kevin DeYoung, The Lord’s Prayer, pg. 94-95In November of 1941, a survey was done among Americans and the question was, “Is war with Japan imminent?” 52% said yes, 27% said no, and 21% were undecided. And yet three weeks later on December the 7th, 1941, there was the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. “There but for the grace of God go I...” John Bradford (1510-1555)Is se... Speaker: Buster Brown

"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'”  Matthew 6:9-13Forgiveness is desiring the welfare/good, not the ruin of the one who wronged you. It is the refusal to allow bitterness or hate to strangle our life in Christ as we trust that Abba Father is just in all his ways (Romans 12:19-21).One of the purposes of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is to push us to despairing of self-help righteousness and cause us to look to the mercy of Christ alone. We are to be forgiving and kind even to our enemies “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44). We are to be forgiving because forgiveness is a mark of a disciple of Christ."For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15Regarding Forgiveness1. This is a daily commitment because sin clings to us and will seek to have the upper hand until the day we die."If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9“'Okay, may I kill it,' said the angel to the man tormented by lust (represented by a lizard attached to his shoulder). To which the man responded, "Honestly, I don't think there is the slightest necessity for that. I'm sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it." 'The gradual process is of no use at all,' replied the angel." C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, pg. 106 2. In order to change, we must continue to behold the glory and goodness of Christ. The life of faith is the fight to see continually the wonder and mercy of Christ."But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." 2 Corinthians 3:14-163. In the fight of faith, the struggle to forgive is not disqualifying. But, when unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger rule as the operative emotion in our life, it is not only defeating; it takes away our joy and robs us of the assurance of salvation and calls into serious question the reality of our salvation. Unforgiving people are not in a saving relationship with Christ.  "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:3-54. In the fight of faith, why does the Lord allow these struggles? "The most wise, righteous, and gracious God often leaves his own children for a season to various temptations and the corruption of their own heartsto chastise them for their former sins, or to show to them the hidden strength of the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, so that they may be humbled,to raise them to a more close and constant depend... Speaker: Buster Brown