to the small sinner

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12339 Romans 2:1-16.  In the previous chapter, Paul laid it on thick. He showed all the wickedness that great sinners can get into by turning aside from God. In this chapter, he shows that even those who have not sinned in such blatant ways are still guilty of the same rebellion against God. The sin he zeroes in on here is a hard and impenitent heart.  The word is to those less sinful, but still unrepentant. These are also storing up wrath for themselves. Repentance is the beginning of a life that seeks glory and honor and immortality.  Without repentance and faith in Christ, all lives lead to wrath and fury — to suffering and destruction in hell. Oh small sinner, you possess no goodness that is good enough to keep you from hell.

LORD, help us all to trust in Christ, and live for him before it is too late!

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behind the scenes

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12299 Exodus 5:1-6:9.  It appears on the surface that Moses’ first attempt at delivering the people of Israel fails.  God is doing something behind the scenes that sets up the board for a new kind of operation. He is giving Pharaoh enough room to resist. Pharaoh appears to be the antagonist in the story, but actually he is serving Satan’s interest as much as Moses is serving the LORD.  God is also building within the Israelites a strong desire for freedom.  Slavery produces a hopeless feeling.  By demonstrating his power over Pharaoh in the plagues, God will instill hope, and a relationship with his people (6:7).

LORD, grant us insight to see you at work behind the scenes when things don’t look so well on the surface.

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message empowered mission

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12273 Romans 1:1-17.  A few years ago, when preaching on this passage, I used the following outline:  1. The Gospel has the answer for every person. 2. Faith is the means of receiving this power. 3. The message must be effectively communicated to every ethno-
linguistic people group. Paul was confident that the gospel that he preached would be the solution to the problems in Rome.  His mission was empowered by his message.  May the LORD give all his servants such confidence in his gospel.

LORD, may we trust in the message you gave us to empower the mission you give us.

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sharing his passion

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12354 Exodus 4.   The ESV Study Bible explains: “The three signs indicate the extent of the Lord’s power and prefigure the realms of the plagues to come: creatures of the earth (staff to a serpent), people (Moses’ hand becoming leprous), and the elements of nature (water to blood).”  Each of these signs also reveal a motif of harm and violence.  God is serious about redeeming his people from bondage. He is going to make an omelet, and intends to break some eggs.  The LORD had not been indifferent during those long years when his people were oppressed by another.  He is angry even at Moses for failing to be 100% committed to their deliverance.  He expects his servants to share his passion.

LORD, give us a passion for your people – to see them free from Satan’s kingdom.

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God left him to himself

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC11911 2 Chronicles 32.  The chronicler has a unique perspective on why Hezekiah made the mistake of showing the Babylonian envoys his treasures. He says that “God left him to himself in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart” (31). 

LORD, help us to seek your will in every decision we make.  We do not want to presume that we are smart enough to make decisions that honor you.

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preparing for the mission

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC11882 Exodus 2:23-3:22.  All the while Israel was groaning because of their slavery and crying out to God, the LORD was preparing Moses for the task of leading them out of Egypt.  The LORD taught Moses by having him raise a son, and by having him keep Jethro’s flock in the Midian desert.  After Moses had gained sufficient maturity, God revealed himself to him in the burning bush.  The LORD set forth the path, and revealed the obstacles there would be in it. Moses was not ready to lead until he had developed the wisdom, fear of God, and passion for the mission.

LORD, prepare us for what you want to do, and grant us patience to endure the preparation.

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strange deliverance

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12257 Exodus 1:22-2:22.  This story begins with a birth, and ends with a birth.  Moses is born with a death sentence on his head. He is delivered by means of God’s sovereignty and the intervention of several women.  Pharaoh had commanded the murder of all the sons born among the Israelite, but it was daughters – including his own – that thwarted his plan.  Pharaoh never saw that coming. After Moses flees to Midian, he too has a son. Gershom’s name indicates something about Moses himself.  As God’s chosen deliverer, he must be a Hebrew, but he would come from a strange land.  As Messiah, Christ had to be one  of us – fully human –yet he would come from God’s heaven.

LORD, may we truly come to appreciate the way you have brought deliverance to us.

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the gospel on trial

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12256 Acts 25:1-26:32.  During his two years in prison at Caesarea, Paul had opportunity to defend his actions against the accusations of his Jewish antagonists.  In doing so, Paul makes it clear that the gospel message he has preached is really what is on trial.  He outlines that gospel message this way. God calls upon all people to repent (26:20), to surrender to his will for their sanctification (26:18), to obey his word by proving their faith with works (26:20). God promises present forgiveness (26:18), and a future resurrection to eternal life (25:19; 26:6-8, 23). That is the hope which Paul proclaimed.

LORD, give us the courage to proclaim your gospel, and the understanding to proclaim the whole gospel.

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our tears in his bottle

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12255 Psalm 56.  David did not glide through life without challenges and troubles.  He had numerous enemies, and his life was in danger constantly.  He comforted himself not in the idea that God was going to help him overcome his problems — but on the fact that God would bring justice in his time.  He spoke of the LORD having a bottle in which he was preserving David’s tears, a book in which he was keeping count of his tossings (on his bed). I cannot promise you victory over your troubles in this life. I can promise you that God will make it all up to you at the resurrection. Trust him.

LORD, help us to trust in your eventual and inevitable justice.

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his geographical will

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12260 Acts 21:17-23:11.  My Bible records the words of Jesus in red letters.  Reading through this text, it becomes quite clear that Paul goes where he goes because Jesus prompts him to do so. Jesus told him to go to Damascus (22:10); to get out of Jerusalem (18); to go and minister among the Gentiles (21); and that he would testify in Rome (23:11).  Our Master requires of his servants that they no only obey him in regard to what they should do, but also where they should go.  Perhaps the LORD has been prompting you to leave your comfort zone and go somewhere that might be a bit less comfortable. Make haste and go. You will never find personal peace until you surrender to the Lord’s geographical will.

LORD, give us the courage to go or stay at your prompting. May we surrender to your geographical will.

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