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A question I was recently asked…

What would you say are the top 5 books you would recommend for someone aspiring to plant a church? Similarly, what would you say are the top 5 books for someone to grow theologically?

I have no conditions on what books, I am just trying to build a better library.

My response…

TOP 5 PLANTER BOOKS:

• Driscoll’s Radical Reformission
• Malphurs’ Planting Growing Churches
• Belcher’s Deep Church
• Chan’s Forgotten God
• Keller’s Counterfeit Gods

TOP 5 THEOLOGY BOOKS:

• Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
• Grudem’s Systematic Theology
• Wright’s The Mission of God
• Frame’s The Doctrine of God
• Pearcey’s Total Truth

Some of these may be a surprise—like my church planting recommended list. There are few books that are worth reading regarding church planting. It’s better to focus on slaying idolatry in our lives and on learning the Holy Spirit…He will teach you how plant a church. It’s about making disciples…not recruiting people.

My 2.5 cents.
Love you Brother.
Your Nashville brother,
Jeremy

admin Christian Life, Idolatry, Study Tools, The Gospel, Uncategorized, church planting church planting, idols, The Gospel, Theology

In my reading of 1Thessalonians this morning I found something I had not noticed before, and if I had noticed it before it profoundly influenced me like no other time. It is found in verse five of chapter one…

…our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Here I notice four things regarding the gospel that was delivered by Paul to the church in Thessalonica.

First, their message of the gospel (who Jesus was, is and will be; what Jesus did, does and will do) was delivered in word.
It has been a popular saying now for many years that Christians should always “tell of the love of Jesus but only use words when necessary.” I think this was linked back to Mother Teresa, but regardless, it’s limited in its helpfulness to those who have yet to hear of Jesus Christ.
If we only perform in front of others and simply hope that they “get” Jesus, understand their sinfulness and God’s holiness just by our actions, we are being disobedient. We must share with others the truth of Jesus Christ! If we only do good things for sick people we only make them feel good for a few minutes—at best! We have the cure for the soul-sickness of the world—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Share it! Tell of it—so often! The gospel came to the church in “word.”

Second, their message of the gospel was given in power.
As Christ-Followers, we must have the power of God in our lives—saturating the words we share with others. This was apparently a very distinct power that accompanied the words of the gospel that was shared by Paul and his gospel posse. We must seek the Lord for this power to be with us, in our lives as we share His message of hope to the dying, dark world that we are all called to love and share the gospel with. May we all be found begging God for His distinct power to guide and fill us and our message as we obey Him in sharing it with those around us—whether at work, in our neighborhoods or in our Christian gatherings.

Third, their message of the gospel was given in the Holy Spirit.
This is where it gets crazy! Unless the words we share are packed full of the Holy Spirit, they will not just be power-less, they will be utterly confusing and not at all life-giving. On our own we cannot manufacture this divine influence. We must pray for God to supernaturally deliver the words of the gospel that we share with others to—not just the mind—but to the very center of their heart/soul. When the gospel can penetrate the heart, the person will be convinced. When the gospel merely penetrates the mind, the person will desire more evidence or information. May we each spend much of our day in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to be involved—empowering—all we do and say!

Fourth, their message of the gospel was given with full conviction.
Here again, we see that as we share the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must have God’s help in the effectiveness of sharing the message. It is only God who can work in the soul of mankind. It is only God that can convince the heart of a dead man to begin to come alive. It is only God who can truly change the heart of man beyond that of simple behavior modification. Our message must ring true to the mind and the heart of our audience. Only God can allow our message of hope in Christ to make sense to the hearers. May we pray much for God to work in the hearts and minds of the people we are led to share the gospel to!

May God do what only He can do as we are busy doing the things that we can do!

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeremy

admin Christian Life, Study Tools, The Gospel Bible study, Jesus, The Gospel

Recently I was asked, via email, a few questions regarding certain pieces of theology that pertain to our salvation—a pretty big deal to say the least.
My friend’s questions will be in BOLD.
I hope this serves you as it did my friend. As I continue to receive questions I will post them here with my responses. Feel free to ask.

———
In order to witness and spread Jesus we have to have something to stand on. That is the Bible. We stand on that. As long as it is Biblical, we are good. And as long as we don’t run around rewriting scripture, we are good. Yes.

And then there is the part about living a life that reflects Jesus. That is the most important part. Yes—it is considered “obedience” or “holiness” or “godliness.” We are supposed to live what we believe. Yes—our “fruit.” That is how people know us and come to Jesus – not so much by our words but by our works. I believe it is best when we use both—words and “works” or “fruit.” But… it is impossible for us not to sin… right? Correct. And then there is the idea that Jesus considers all sins equal. Correct. All sin is evil in the sight of God. All sin is … sin. All sin is death. Yes—the result of our sin is death; is being banished away from God forever (that is if we never see Jesus as Lord, confess, repent and follow hard after Him). From cursing at another driver to sleeping around to murdering people…Sin has different consequences here on earth but in the sight of God, anything less than perfection or complete holiness is sin, yes.

So how does this work then? How do we live our lives as reflections of Jesus, even though we sin and are imperfect reflections? As Christians 1.) We have been saved, 2.) We are being saved, 3.) We will be saved.

1. We have been saved—justification, being made “right” or perfect before the eyes of God,—this is when God gives us a new heart (changing the heart of stone to a heart of flesh). God forgives our sin—all sin past, present and future. There remains two “natures.” The capacity of sin is still very real and active; we are still very much capable of sinning.
   At this point we have two natures…
   a.) Our “old man”, “self” “sin nature”
   b.) Our “new man”, “spirit”, our “new nature”
2. We are being saved—sanctification, or our pursuit of looking more like the original image of God (the imago dei) which is considered to many today to be our “pursuit of holiness.” This is the war raging within our bodies—the fight between sin and obedience; the struggle between “right” and “wrong”; killing the “flesh” and living in the Spirit.
3. We will be saved—glorification, or being made “completely perfect”—all physically, emotionally, socially, relationally, spiritually, etc.—this is when our sin nature is totally removed—the capacity of sin is no longer present; we will then be incapable of sinning.

How do we witness to people even though we sin? Our lives should reflect a deeper way of life—meaning that we should be more conscious of those around us, forgiving others, offering grace when we normally would have been very judgmental, etc. Our new life as a Christ-Follower is marked by humility, peace and love—both to the outside world and within our own lives. When we sin (we will sin), we confess (to others and to God) and repent (seek to obey the Spirit rather than the flesh)—then we see and believe that God has forgiven us because of Christ’s work for us on the cross. This brings peace. This is such a comfort. When others sin (the “unregenerate” or “lost” or “unsaved”) they will eventually experience an uneasiness with their inner being, within their souls (this “soul” is what distinguishes us from other animals on the earth) that will further lead to restlessness, bitterness, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, and so forth. As believers, we sin but we no longer see ourselves as carrying the burden—for Christ has liberated us, He has freed us from the dominion, control and power of sin—ultimately sin itself.

When we confess, we must confess to our God in Trinity (our Triune God):

• Confess to God the Father: He has forgiven us yet we still sin. We must realize that we have offended Him.
• Confess to God the Son: Acknowledge your sin before Him and thank Him for dying for you so that God could forgive you.
• Confess to God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is “quenched” or limited when we sin—it is as if we say to Him that His “leading us” (pushing us to obedience) was not near as important or worthy as obeying and going along with our sin nature, our flesh. We must welcome Him to consume everything in us and to pull us to better obedience as we seek to see the sin in our lives killed. It is the Spirit that awakens our heart (awareness) to our sin—He reveals the sin in our lives so that we can seek forgiveness for it.
  Unconfessed sin will fester if left that way. It will lead to “spiritual-soul-rot.”

And how do we love on people when our witness is damaged by the evidence of our sins? Again, we seek forgiveness—when you otherwise could have cared but only very little. Now there is a deep concern when others are hurt because of you—even when they do not acknowledge that is a big deal. They see you living in emotional freedom—you are never beating yourself up for things done and confessed because you see them as gone because of what Christ has accomplished for you. Is that why some people can reach certain types and not others? I suppose this may be true. I wouldn’t think that you could build a strong case for this—personally.
Why this dude over here can bring druggies to Christ but this guy over here can’t even get them to talk to him? Perhaps it’s more the Spirit of God at work and less of a particular dude being “different” or appearing “cleaner.” Again, I wouldn’t try building a case here.

It is happening – already people are deriding my choices as I start to slowly come out of my hidden Christian closet. Unfortunately they will continue to do so. The evil (Satan) does not like you being redeemed. He feels as if you were stolen and now he wants to ruin you. Here’s the good news—1) you have been stolen, 2) there is nothing he can ultimately do about that and 3) he cannot ruin you.
You now belong to Jesus. When the opposition gets worse, know that it is a spiritual battle that the Lord can handle for you. He fights for His people! Fight with prayer—calling on our most powerful God to come to your rescue. He will. Also, in moments of intense deriding, please learn to rely on your Christian community. We are to work with one another—helping each other through spiritual battles.

And still I sin and have to repent – every single day. Your repentance is beautiful. You are living in the Spirit. You cannot live comfortably in your sin anymore. That is a testimony of the very Spirit of God within you! So I’m confused and trying to fit the pieces together. ‘Cause I need to be able to stand up and defend my Jesus. Rather, your Jesus will stand up and defend you. He will fight for YOU. Your life of repentance will show all the power of Jesus. Right now I’m totally a Peter – “Jesus Who? I don’t know any Jesus.” And I am NOT going to be allowed to sit at His feet and rest if I keep that up. Jesus is at work in your life. The Holy Spirit is at work in your life. You do not need to live in the fear of not “sitting at the feet of Jesus”—as a believer you are already there. As a believer there is no more condemnation because of Christ’s work for us on the cross.

What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact, which underlies it — the fact that He knows me. I am graven on the palms of His hands. I am never out of His mind. All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me. I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me, and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted from me, and no moment therefore, when His care falters.
This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort — the sort of comfort that energizes, be it said, not enervates — in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love, and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me. There is, certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that He sees all the twisted things about me that my fellow men do not see (and am I glad!), and that He sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which in all conscience, is enough).
There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, He wants me as His friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given His Son to die for me in order to realize this purpose.
(from J.I. Packer’s 1993 Knowing God, pg 41-41)

You are such an encouragement. It is a joy to know that you can ask me these things. It is even a greater joy when I feel that God gives me the words to comfort your soul as one of your spiritual shepherds.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jeremy

admin Christian Life, The Gospel, Uncategorized Forgiveness, Jesus, Prayer, Q&A, The Axis Church, The Gospel, Theology

Today I Sabbath-ed (rested for spiritual and physical renewal/commandment #4) in the city of Nashville.
I woke up late—intentionally—got ready for the day and then simply began driving around my city—the city that God has called us to.

I was really unsure where my drive would take me. At first I was going to grab something to eat in East Nashville but turned around instead. I found myself back in the center of the city. I decided to grab an apple from the Farmer’s Market.

As I looked for a parking place for my Suburban, I drove past a homeless man who was drying himself out after yesterday’s rain. He was barefooted—socks and shoes were drying on the bench. I parked and grabbed the cash I had ($4) and a bottle of water. For some reason I knew that I was going to talk with this man. For some very strange reason I knew that I was to give him $4 and a bottle of water.

I walked over to him and he said “Hello.” He was just finishing up his lunch of saltine crackers and sardines. I said, “Hey, how are you?” He said, “I am ok.” I said, “Sir, I am to give you $4 and a bottle of water.” He looked me in the eyes and started singing—in a deep, passionate and clear African-American tone, “Jesus Christ you love me. Jesus Christ you take care of me. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

I was taken back a bit. He said, “Thank you sir.” I said, “Do you mind if I sit with you for a few minutes?” He said, “Please do.” I asked, “What’s your name?” He answered, “I am the 51 year old Edward Holmes. And you?” I said, “My name is Jeremy Rose.”

Come to find out he is from the Upstate of South Carolina. He moved to Nashville in 1984. He thought he was going to move to Washington, D.C. but upon purchasing the bus ticket he didn’t feel right about it so he asked the Greyhound employee where she thought he should go and she said, “Why not Nashville?” The rest is history.

He has been homeless for over 8 yrs now. At one time he had a home, two jobs and a car. Today he carries very little. I intended to share with him some joy and practical help—instead, Mr. Holmes served my soul. He preached the pure gospel to me, as I have never heard it. Mr. Holmes said, “Mr. Rose, God can handle your needs. He knows exactly what you are looking for. Do not be afraid. Even though the enemy encompasses around you, do not be afraid. Jesus loves you—what else do you need to know to do what it is that God has called you to do? Do not fear man. When their faces are in your nightmares and you are scared of what man can do, rejoice in Christ alone. He can handle it.”

He continued, “Sir, you do not have to feel sorry for me. I am homeless for the glory of God. My homelessness is a gift from God.”
I thought to myself, “Dang. This guy is a rock of the gospel.”
He said, “If I weren’t homeless I would not know that God could provide the way I have seen Him provide over these last eight years. If I weren’t homeless, how could I share about Jesus to the needy homeless people in Nashville? They all come to me to tell me their problems. They think I am crazy because I am always happy, but I’m not crazy in the head, I’m crazy in the heart. Jesus loves me and I just cant get over it. Job and Jeremiah are men that inspire me. They trusted Jesus. Hey, that’s a sermon, The JJ’s!
You know, I have seen Jesus as good both when I had anything and now when I have almost nothing.”

I do not have the words to say nor the time to say them to accurately give you a description of my soul after my hour and a half Mr. Edward Holmes. He blessed me. His BIG smile and genuine eyes, man…God sent him to minister to me today. On my Sabbath, God sent Mr. Holmes to teach me the gospel.

He said, “Mr. Rose, I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together today. You are a man who knows much and cares deeply. Thank you for ministering to me.” WHAT? Seriously? He ministered to me. I asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?” His answer, “You already have done so much. Thanks for asking.”

I hope that Mr. Holmes (or as he puts it, “just plain ‘Edward’”) gathers with us on Sunday as we gather as The Axis Church. I am sure that he would be the most honored guest in the gymnasium on Sunday if he can make it.

Take time to listen to those around you. You could be missing out on so much.

Now, time for me to finally eat my apple. 

admin All things for good, Christian Life, The Gospel, church planting fear, Germantown, Jesus, The Gospel, Truth

The Gospel is bad news before it is good news.
It is the news that man is a sinner, to use the old word, that he is evil in the imagination of his heart, that when he looks in the mirror all in a lather what he sees is at least eight parts chicken, phony, slob.

That is the tragedy.

But it is also the news that he is loved anyway, cherished, forgiven, bleeding to be sure, but also bled for.

That is the comedy.

And yet, so what? So what if even in his sin the slob is loved and forgiven when the very mark and substance of his sin and of his slobbery is that he keeps turning down the love and forgiveness because he either doesn’t believe them or doesn’t want them or just doesn’t give a damn?

In answer, the news of the Gospel is that extraordinary things happen to him just as in fairy tales extraordinary things happen.

Henry Ward Beecher cheats on his wife, his God, himself, but manages to keep on bringing the Gospel to life for people anyway, maybe even for himself. Lear goes berserk on a heath but comes out of it for a few brief hours every inch a king.

Zaccheus climbs up a sycamore tree a crook and climbs down a saint.
Paul sets out a hatchet man for the Pharisees and comes back a fool for Christ.

It is impossible for anybody to leave behind the darkness of the world he carries on his back like a snail, but for God all things are possible.

That is the fairy tale.

All together they are the truth.

(taken from Frederick Beuchner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale…find it for FREE here)

admin Christian Life, Study Tools, The Gospel Jesus, resource, The Gospel, Truth

This weekend the prancing city of Nashville has been crippled by our largest snowstorm in 7 years. Ambulances overturned, salt trucks lost control and slid off the roads, of course the multiple car crashes, and 3 mph commuters all played a part in our stories. Perhaps this all happened to allow us to see a little bit of the coming Kingdom—the Kingdom we are seeking to establish at The Axis Church. “Is Jeremy saying that Heaven will be full of chaos?”—hardly! I am speaking of the results of such a storm.

As everything slowed down we were forced to relax—and have fun! We went to Sevier Park (12 Ave S) to go sledding. Of course we walked there—the four-wheel drive went out on my Suburban on Friday. Bummer! I had no idea what I would find when we crested the hill there at the park.

We saw people playing tackle football (hard for me to resist!), sledding, taking pictures, laughing, crashing into one another, wiping out, sharing equipment—it was so exciting! It was wonderful.

I loaded the kids on my snowboard (sitting, like on a sled) and down the hill they went—and fast! As I sent them on their way I wouldn’t simply watch them cruise into the creek and stonewall at the bottom of the hill; I ran as fast as I could along side of them. I ran to make sure they dodged trees, people, and of course the wall and creek! At just the right moment I would dive—arms outstretched—reaching for the bindings on my snowboard to pull them back towards safety. AHHHHHH! It was killer! I had so much fun—I can’t imagine that they had any more fun than I did. I loved it! We would roll in the snow together, the board would eventually stop and we would make our way back to the top of the hill.

Here is where the Divine Kingdom comes into play…

First, as I would take a break, I’d stand and look at the hundred or so people gathered together to slide down a hill. They used cardboard, large woks, poster frames, kid pools, wakeboards, surfboards, actual sleds (imagine that!), and even casket lids—that was very strange but highly effective and creative! They were all so very happy. No one was without a smile. Why?—the absence of work related stress and the presence of sheer, childlike pleasure. The people of Nashville had fun together, in community.
When I stood back I couldn’t help but think that Jesus was looking down upon us and grinning, ear to ear—watching us all get a small glimpse of the New World that He has prepared for us. I cannot wait!
Pray for this type of life to come quickly. Pray for us to allow Nashville to see just how wonderful Jesus is and just how much He loves and cares for them.
Thy Kingdom come!

Second, when I would help the kids have a wonderful but safe adventure on the snowboard, I was reminded of God’s providence and sovereignty. God is so magnificent that He allows us to have great adventures all within the control of His will. He loves us. He will never allow us to go so far that He is still not there in absolute control. He so desperately desires our happiness.
Oh that we would find our ultimate happiness in Him!

admin All things for good, Christian Life, The Gospel Family, Jesus, The Gospel

My heart is full this morning.
I just had to write to share with you all a tremendous victory that our young church experienced this week.

Two weeks ago as we were setting up for our gathering, I noticed a man sitting on the park picnic tables. Let me be very honest here and say that we are very white so far at The Axis (this is humbling to confess). We pray each week during our core training for other races to be drawn to The Axis and that they partner with us. In our urban context, we must have other races…MUST. This man was from west Africa. He has his undergrad degree and seemed to be very genuine. He wasn’t interested in showing up that night.

I prayed for him at least 5 times over these last 2weeks. I even shared with him our prayer and need for “other cultures” to gather with us to worship. He thought it was funny but he understood and appreciated my desire for that.

Last night this man showed up. His name is Gilbert. He took a Bible as his own and used it during our gathering. After our time together I was tracing the room for Gilbert. I wanted to connect with him before he left. After 15minutes, I assumed he had IMMEDIATELY slipped out—that wasn’t a good sign.

One of our Interim Leadership Team members (Jacob) asked me if I heard about Gilbert. I had not. He said, “Bro, Gilbert just got saved!” I was elated! Not only did God give us an African brother, He allowed our very first convert to be GILBERT! Gilbert told Jacob, “I want to be adopted by Christ.” DANG! I love it!!!

I hugged Gilbert like a bear (I know that is perhaps weird, but under the circumstances and my manly example of a bear, I consider it OK). I said, “What happened bro? I heard something about you.” He said, “I am owned by Jesus.” I said, “Yes you are my friend.” He said, “I want to be apart of your family here.” I said, “Gilbert, you are already apart of our family. We are going to eat together, drink together, watch UFC together, sing together—all sorts of things that families do, we will do together.” Tonight Jacob is picking him up and taking him to supper then on to our men’s Bible study at 8pm.

This is huge for us. We have been gathering for only 4 months but that is quite some time to go with no convert. I just knew it was going to happen soon…BUT GILBERT?!?! Last night?! Wow. I am so blessed.

That’s it. Thanks for your time.
Grace. Peace. Jeremy

admin Great Story, The Gospel church planting, Germantown, Jesus, Prayer, The Axis Church, The Gospel

This week, Tiger Woods has had rough week—to say the least. When I think of this instance, I am reminded that temptation promises to make things better, more fun and much more exciting.

This week, Carlos Dunlap (defensive end for the Florida Gators) has had a rough week. He was suspended from the football team because of a DUI he received earlier this week.

Columnist Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinal writes,
If Gators lose today, Carlos Dunlap will go down as one of biggest goats in history.
This might be the biggest regular-season college football game in state history — a de facto national championship semifinal pitting two unbeaten teams against each other — and the Gators will arguably be without their most talented defensive player because he was arrested for being drunk and asleep at the wheel at a Gainesville traffic light earlier this week.
Can you think of a more glaring example of an athlete so selfishly letting down his team in the week of a big game? I can’t. Carlos Dunlap better hope his teammates pick up the slack today and win the game. If not then one of the most talented players in UF football history will go down as one of the most selfishly stupid players in UF history.”

Many already know, but the Gators lost last night…badly. It was by far their worst defensive performance of the season. Carlos was the backbone of their team’s defense.

Temptation tells Carlos Dunlap, “It’s no big deal.”
Temptation doesn’t say, “You will probably loose your chance to play in one of the biggest game of your career.”
Temptation doesn’t say, “You will probably not be the #1 draft pick in the NFL.”
Temptation doesn’t say, “Because of your actions, the Gators will not play in the National Championship Game.”
Temptation doesn’t say, “Continue doing what you’re doing so that pastors can use you as failure-illustrations during their sermon on temptation.”

A truth we must know is that our hearts are very wicked and actively seeking to worship ANYTHING for hope, fulfillment and contentment.

Temptation is what throws our heart out to these various hobbies, friendships, power trips and material goods seeking to find ANYTHING but the real hope…namely, Jesus Christ.

I remember being a sophomore in Bible College. I was concerned with being cool…girl friends, Dawson’s Creek, dorm life, fishing, hanging from highway bridges, etc. I did not want to study, but I needed to do well on my tests and papers. Due each week were 18 three page papers covering Plato-this and Aristotle-that…Well, I didn’t have time to write all my papers because of the fun I was having outside of class…much less the time to read all that I was supposed to! So I cheated. I would copy my roommate’s papers and hand them in as my own.
Some people call this plagiarism, I called it desperate.

Temptation says, “It’s no big deal. You need to pass your Bible College classes in order to go preach to the world and be used by God. That is important you know!”
Then it says, “It’s just one paper you’re referencing…two…five…ten.”

Temptation doesn’t say, “Jeremy, you will expelled from Bible College.” They graciously allowed me to stay enrolled but under academic probation. I couldn’t get my grades up. I had to transfer out.

Temptation never will say “God is bad; Satan and sin is good.”
Temptation will always try to get you to ignore God—to overlook God; to pretend He isn’t concerned.

James knew this better than most.
Check out his words.

James 1:13-15
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 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.

Here James begins by defending the character of God. “God cannot be tempted…He tempts no one.”
Remember, earlier James enforces a truth that God is GOOD. He would not lead you to sin…or death.

We must never say, or even imagine, that God is tempting us. He never has and he never will.
God has never been tempted (he is untemptable). God tempting is a moral-impossibility.

…HOWEVER…

When we experience guilt, our default setting is to blame God. We see this with Adam in the Garden (Genesis 3:12…The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit of the tree and I ate it.)

Here are important distinctions between temptation and testing…
-Temptation leads to sin…death.
–Testing leads to being proven…life.
-Temptation leads to despair.
–Testing leads to a more pure worship of God.

We all experience trials. I see trials as a large umbrella-term for “tough times in life.” These tough times, or trials, are either temptations or testings. God will test us. Just like He tested Abraham in Genesis 22. God tests us to prove or improve our character.

So if not from God, where does temptation come from?
“…each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”

This is fishing language.
What causes a fish to get caught?
The right depth of the lure. The right slant of the sun. The right speed of the lure. The right temperature of the water. The right time of day. Their own appetite. All of these things entice a fish.

Just like for David, Samson, Adam & Eve, Carlos Dunlap, Tiger Woods, Jeremy Rose…When temptation comes, we are all too often drawn away from the things which keeps us safe and protects our soul. Then all of a sudden, we are forgetting who we are and what we are as we throw caution to the wind…all the while, striving for contentment, hope and satisfaction in something other than Christ.

That is so wicked…yet so easy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,
With irresistable power desire seizes mastery over the flesh. . . . It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire, or ambition, or vanity, or desire for revenge, or love of fame and power, or greed for money. . . . Joy in God is . . . extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real; . . . Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but forgetfulness of God. . . . The lust thus aroused envelops the mind and will of man in the deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us. The questions present themselves: “Is what the flesh desires really sin in this case?” “Is it really not permitted to me, yes — expected of me, now, here, in my particular situation, to appease desire?” . . . It is here that everything within me rises up against the Word of God. (His book Temptation, 1961 pg.33)

RADIO v/s TV

The problem with temptation is that it’s fruit or it’s result is usually rather tangible. I consider obeying God and resisting temptation to be like a radio. Disobeying God/giving into temptation is like Television…on HD. Or to consider it another way is, giving in to temptation is video…resisting temptation is audio. TV is much cooler than radio…but for years, radio was the only thing there was. TV doesn’t teach us to hate radio…only to forget it. Or that it’s just not as cool. Oh that we would be satisfied with the still, quite voice of God.

The root of our temptation is our own evil. Romans 5:12 teaches us that we all sinned through Adam.
Romans 3:23 teaches us that all have sinned.

The source of temptation is not God, nor Satan…but our own hearts. If we are in the grip of lust, it’s our own fault…ALONE.

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Evil gives birth to sin…Sin gives birth to death. Romans 6:23

Temptation never leads to life…of any sort—ONLY death.

Once the hook is in there is a dreaded three-generational course: evil desire – sin – death.  But the cycle can be broken through submission to, the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.  “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous: (Romans 5:19) Jesus is the source of victory over sin and temptation! (K. Hughes James pg.49)

This is the glory of the gospel.  It breaks the power of sin and halts its inevitable train.  If you are in the grip of temptation, take the eternally healthy step of admitting that you are to blame and no one else.  Then, having confessed your responsibility fully to God, thank him for forgiveness and appropriate to yourself the life-giving unity you have in Christ.

Beyond this powerful truth, what do I think we all need to walk away with?

POINTS OF TRUTH TO WALK WITH…

• Outside of Christ, you are helpless in the grip of temptation. Only Christ can liberate you from it’s vice-grip. Christ defeated the root of temptation—evil—on the cross. Christ became sin for us.

The Bible teaches that Jesus took our place on the cross. “God made Christ Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor.5:21).

Christ became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM.

This is justification, and it is a free gift of God for those who are humble enough to recognize that they can never become righteous enough to meet God’s holy standards.

Don’t just believe this in theory…you must believe this in your inner core—in your soul.

• The devil doesn’t make you sin. Your friend doesn’t make you sin. Your circumstances do not make you sin. God doesn’t make you sin. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.

This is why it is imperative that you follow Christ personally. That you confess personally. That you repent personally. That you see that Christ died for you personally.

It doesn’t matter what your mom/dad/grandpa/grandma or who ever did for Jesus.
It only matters what you do with Jesus.

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• Seeking heavenly reward, NOT earthly riches, is the way of the wise.
• You are blessed and you can/will endure if you love God. God first loved us by giving us HIMSELF so that we would be welcomed to love Him.
• You can be faithful—NOT because of you—but because HE who called you is faithful.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
  • Philippians 1:6 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.
• As you endure (not if you endure) you will receive blessings both…
  • HERE
    • Joy (authentic happiness)
    • Contentment
  • And LATER
    • The crown of eternal, everlasting life
• We don’t receive a reward for our faithfulness or proving our worth by successfully enduring trials. We receive the reward/crown because Christ earned that reward for us (via the Great Exchange). Therefore we are now no longer condemned but we are welcomed as sons and daughters of righteousness through our adoption INTO Christ. As we look to Christ, through the very midst of our trials, we validate outwardly the internal work of God in our lives, on our behalves, that grants us the gift—the crown of life eternal.

Matthew Henry (a cool, solid puritan) said, “You will only bear a cross of suffering for a lifetime; but a crown of life for eternity.”

ALL THIS IS BECAUSE OF JESUS.

All this is because of and only through faith in the GRACE and MERCY of God provided to us through His Son’s life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.

He died for us to bring us to God.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.

This is what Christ was doing on the cross.

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Our thoughts towards materialistic goods–that we are so swamped with–must be like that of Paul who says in Philippians 3:7, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

We must make sure we appreciate God’s earthly blessing but not worship them/place our confidence, security or hope in:
Romans 1:25 – “They worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”
Proverbs 18:11 – “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city”
Lit., His security and identity was his fortified walls of protection.

Death rules our earthly lives.
We all fade away and become—at best—but a memory here on earth.
So what is our only hope?—Resurrection to new life!! How? Jesus!
How? He died in our place for our sins. (substitutionary atonement)

You see, the cross of Christ lifts up the poor and brings down the high. It is the great leveler of men.

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