Christ Church

Speaking to God

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Introduction

One of the key doctrines recovered in the Reformation was that of the priesthood of all believers. What that resulted in was an increased fervor for piety. Calvin’s original (very catchy) title of the 1536 edition of The Institutes was: The Institutes of Christian Religion, Containing almost the Whole Sum of Piety and Whatever It is Necessary to Know in the Doctrine of Salvation. A Work Very Well Worth Reading by All Persons Zealous for Piety, and Lately Published. The Reformation restored a biblical understanding of fellowship with God to the individual believer, and thus recovered true fellowship between believers as well. God wants to speak to us, in His Word by His Son (Heb. 1:1-3), and God wants us to speak to Him. In other words, God wants to be with us.

The Text

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8

Summary of the Text

Zoom out of this passage, and I want to highlight something about Luke’s narrative. One of his focal points is the activity of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus (Lk. 1:35, 41; 2:25-26; 3:16; 4:1, 18; 11:9-13; 12:8-12; 24:49). Think of Luke as volume one, and Acts as volume two of the same work. Along with this comes a frequent emphasis on prayer, which we know from elsewhere in Scripture is closely linked with the ministry of the Spirit. So Luke shows how Christ’s ministry, teaching, and example was marked by prayer (Cf. Lk 22:44).
Unlike most parables, this one comes with an answer key, this parable is an exhortation to prayer, the sort of prayer that isn’t feeble or fainthearted (v1). The sort of persistence we are to have in prayer is exemplified by the picture of the relationship between a hard-hearted judge (v2), and a widow (v3). Her request is to be avenged, but the judge refuses to take her cause (v4a); but because of her persistence he agrees to take up the cause of avenging her lest he wear out (v5).
Jesus tells us the takeaway from this story of the unjust judge (v6).  That is, even the most corrupt judge will finally give way due to persistent petition. This is a how much more argument (similar to Lk 11:13). If the unjust judge will finally hear the persistent petitions of the needy widow, how much more will God avenge His chosen people (v7)? His tarrying is not evidence of His not hearing their prayers, it is a means whereby their faith is tested and proved (v8). God has promised His people that He will avenge them. So, they must not relinquish faith that He will perform His promise.

The Importunate Church

Why does God wait to answer our prayers? The Evangelical church has been praying for close to fifty years that the abomination of Roe v. Wade would be overturned. The Chinese church has been praying for deliverance from communist persecution for close to a hundred years. The Reformers were persecuted for well over two hundred years before they enjoyed the peace of deliverance.
It might be easy to think that God’s delay is because He must be like the unjust judge. He must have a lot on His plate; or He wants to “teach us a lesson”; or He only begrudgingly answers our prayers. But this runs antithetical not only to this text, but to the whole of Scriptural revelation as to God’s character. He is a Father. He delights to answer our requests. And this text highlights the speed with which He will avenge His beloved.
One reason is His tarrying demands that our prayers continue in faith, which implies that we are all too likely to treat Him like Santa Claus. This makes man out to be the cause of the effect of answered prayer, rather than the believer being part of God’s means whereby He effects His answers to prayer. Another reason is that waiting for His answer to come results in us coming to see that the Giver is better than the gift, the Answerer is superior to the answer. Finally, we must not overlook the fact that He is not “time-bound.” He answers in accordance with His sovereign will. All our prayers, even if the answer comes long after we are dead and gone, result in great glory for God and the building up of the faith of the Church. The church has been asking “Thy Kingdom come” for millennia, and God assures us that it will come, and when it does the whole church will say, “Amen.”

Pray Like a Psalmist

Pray big prayers. Pray specific prayers. Pray tireless prayers. Pray that Your enemies might be undone (either in conversion or in judgement). Pray that God might be glorified. Pray in faith. Pray, pray, pray.
And just as importantly, expect God to answer your prayers. Jesus commands us to ask the Father for whatsoever, and accompanies that command with a promise that the Father will answer: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (Jhn. 16:23-24).” In other words, pray like God told you to pray. Pray like a psalmist.

Where Faith Shall Be Sight

Our Lord taught us to pray that God’s will would be done on earth as it was it heaven. We pray by faith, awaiting the unseen answer. But God does answer our prayers. Faith asks, faith waits, and faith keeps its eyes open for the answer.
Prayer need not be eloquent. In fact, grunts and groans are acceptable forms of prayer (Rom. 8:26). Lengthy times in the prayer closet don’t expedite the answer. But God invites you to ask. He wants to hear you. He wants to answer your prayers. He wants to answer them with nothing other than Himself.
We pray together throughout our service each Lord’s Day. But this should not replace frequent converse with the Lord both as families, individuals, and friends. Paul commands us to do everything by prayer (Phi. 4:6); Tozer pointed out that the church’s temptation is to do everything by committee, rather than by prayer and supplication.
So, pray without ceasing. After all, you are in Christ, Christ brings you to the Father, and the Spirit grants you power to ask with boldness what God delights to answer: that in all things He might receive all glory, honor, and praise. This is true piety. The sort of piety that isn’t lost in the la-la-land of introspection. This is the sort of piety that reads the Bible to hear from God and obey what He says, and then talk continually to God as His own child requesting what He’s promised to give. This is the fellowship with the Father which Christ purchased for you, which the Spirit seals to you.

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Faith and Practice: Dealing with Besetting Sin

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Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

1) CLEANING HOUSE
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. Joshua 7:12

What was the sin? Achan had stolen and deceived. What was the outcome? God was no longer supporting the armies of Israel. If we cling to any known sin, God hand is going to be against us not for us. Well, as it says in Hebrews 12:5, even God being “against” us is a blessing as His discipline is intended to remind us that we are His children and He is not willing to allow you to have your own way to your destruction.

What are some ways to keep your house clean?

2) RENEWABLE ENERGY
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

So, connecting to the renewable energy is centered on believing what God has said and revealed about Himself. The Scriptures are there not to fill our heads simply with more “to do’s” but to better understand the goodness of God in the to do’s. In this way we begin to love the commands because they are part of the Father. Our minds are connected to the inexhaustible source of power that is available every moment of every day when we are accessing it through faith.

How is repentance connected with renewing our minds?

3) PUTTING ROCKS IN RUTS
As we renew our minds on the truth of God’s character, we can do this practically by verbalizing our thanksgiving to God in prayer, praise and proclamation. In each instance, it is equivalent to CASTING STONES INTO OUR RUTS (of faithless behavior).

What are three ways of giving thanks?

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Psalm 90: Bears All Her Sons Away

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Introduction:
This psalm was composed by Moses, making it the oldest in the psalter. On top of that, it also makes it one of the oldest poems in the world. As you meditate on the phrases and connections here, keep in mind that the primary setting is most like the wilderness period. That setting makes sense of a number of these expressions.

The Text:
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God . . .” Ps. 90:1-17).

Summary of the Text:
There is one basic division in the psalm. The first eleven verses make up the meditation (vv. 1-11), and the second half contains the petition or prayer (vv. 12-17). The Lord has been the dwelling place of His people in every generation (v. 1). Before anything was made in this world, God has been God, from everlasting to everlasting (v. 2). God is the one who turns man back to the dust from which he came (v. 3). A thousand years is nothing to Him (v. 4). Mankind is carried away by time, and carried quickly (vv. 5-6). This is the consequence of God’s anger (v. 7). Our sins are right in front of Him (v. 8), and our days speed by (v. 9). We live for 70 years, or maybe 80, and yet they are all gone (v. 10). Who understands the power of God’s anger (v. 11)? Teach us to number our days properly (v. 12). God, please return to us (v. 13). Satisfy us with Your mercy (v. 14). Make us glad according to the days of our affliction (v. 15). Manifest Your works to us (v. 16). And let the beauty of the Lord rest upon all these transient works, and establish them (v. 17).

The Only Dwelling Place:
God Himself is our dwelling place. In the New Testament, we learn that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning that He dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Tim. 1:14). At the same time, we are told in numerous ways that we are in Him. Paul uses the phrase in Christ or a related phrase over 170 times. The saints in Ephesus were located in two places. They lived in Ephesus, and they lived in Christ Jesus in the heavenly places.
In the same way, the Shekinah presence of God was in the camp of the Israelites, at the tabernacle. And the entire camp of the Israelites was located within God Himself—He is the dwelling place of His people in every generation. He dwells in us, and we dwell in Him.

A Transient Wisp of Fog:
This psalm emphasizes how short this life is, and does so with various figures. Death comes like a flood. This life is like sleeping. We are like grass that withers. Our life is like a dream. It is like a tale that is told. Our lives are like a mist, a wisp of fog (Jas. 4:14).
Imagine a river cresting at flood stage. You see various people struggling in the river, bobbing up and down. One of them you see bob up and down three times before he is swept around the bend and out of sight. If his head went down and came up three times, that means he had an exceptionally long life. He was an old-timer—he bobbed three times.

Bede records that when Edwin of Northumbria was considering Christianity as preached by Paulinus, a pagan thane recommended conversion. He said that this life was like a swallow in a mead hall. There is a fire on the hearth, but tempest and black storm outside. A swallow flies in one door, is briefly warm in the hall, and then flutters out the other door. That’s all we know about this life, the thane said, and if the Christian faith gives us anything more certain, we should certainly adopt it.

Numbering Our Days Means We Should Weigh Them:
The petition is for God to teach us to number our days, and this numbering is defined as that which is consistent with wisdom. Numbering our days actually means weighing our days. Some people have many days, but each day is like a Styrofoam packing peanut. Others have fewer days, but they are hard, gold nuggets. Teach us to number our days so that we remember our own mortality, and live before God in the light of our own mortality.

Numbering our days rightly means coming to a right understanding of what sin is, and what sin does. God sets our iniquities out in front of Him, our secret sins in the light of His countenance. He sets our sins out in plain old daylight (v. 8). Nothing is hidden from His sight. Nothing.

When Beauty Rests Upon Us:
One of the primary works of the Israelites in the wilderness was the construction of the tabernacle. This was the work of their hands. Like all their other works, it was built in this world, meaning that it was transient and temporary.

It would be a noteworthy prayer to ask God to allow the beauty of His holiness to descend upon any of our works. But consider what has been reinforced by the first part of this psalm. Remember what kind of airy molecules make up our works. And what are we asking for then? We are asking that the crushing weight of the beauty of God come down and do what to our works? You would think that crushing weight would crush. But no. What is asked? God, You see this little bit of fog here in my hands? Do you see this wispy bit of nothing? God Almighty, send down Your beauty upon this, and establish it. Yes, I asked You to establish my fog, and to glorify my mist.

This prayer is not impossible for God to answer. But it has to be said that it would be impossible for Him to answer apart from an incarnate Messiah—one who lived a perfect sinless life (which the beauty of the Lord rested upon fully), and who then went to the cross and the tomb in order to deal with our ugly little lives. When He rose again from the dead, the foundation of this ultimate answer to prayer was finally and completely laid.

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Psalm 89: Turreted in Mercies

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INTRODUCTION:

In the previous psalm, Heman the Ezrahite poured out his complaint with seemingly no argument at all. In this psalm, another Ezrahite, a man named Ethan, has a strong complaint as well, but hemounts it on top of an unshakeable foundation of covenant promises.

THE TEXT:
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Selah . . .” (Ps. 89:1–52).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:
Foundationally, we know that God will be absolutely faithful to His covenant with the house of David (vv. 1-4). Ethan then expands his vision, and spends some time praising the power, justice, and mercy of God (vv. 5-14). When a people have a God like this, then they are truly blessed (vv. 15-18). Covenants have terms, and Ethan delights to go over those terms in some detail (vv. 19-37). Having laid the groundwork for his petition, he then pours out his desire and petition (vv. 38-51). And with that, the psalm ends on a double amen.

TURRETED MERCIES:
The psalm begins with the mercies of God, and Ethan’s desire to sing of them forever (v. 1). Mercy and faithfulness go together, and so he will make God’s faithfulness known to all generation (v.1). Ethan said, and said truly, that mercy shall be built up forever (v. 2), and faithfulness will be established in the very heavens (v. 2). What kind of mercies are we talking about? We are talking about covenant mercies (v. 3). God has sworn two things to David. One is that he will have a seed forever, and secondly that he will have a throne forever (v. 4).God will not break His own covenant (v. 34). He will not alter or adjust it (v. 34). To anchor this beyond any possibility of doubt, God put His left hand on His own holiness, raised His right hand, and swore by that holiness (v. 35). And what did He swear? “I will not lie unto David.”

HE DISCIPLINES HIS OWN . . .
God scourges every son that He receives (Heb. 12:5-7). Despite what we are about to argue, we begin by recognizing that when there is true fault, the fault lies with us. God’s mercy is constant, but our experience of it is not constant. This is because the psalmist recognizes that true covenant members can truly sin. When this happens, God chastises them, but does not forsake them. “If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression
with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him” (vv. 31-33). God will visit out transgressions with a rod, and will lay on many stripes. He may break the rod on us, but He will never break the covenant. We are receiving the chastisement because of the covenant. Look at what he says in the next breath—“my covenant will I not break” (v. 34).

BURNING DAYLIGHT:
Time is nothing to You, God, and so You can afford to postpone a deliverance. It is all one to You. But God, remember that we are only here for a couple more minutes. “Remember how short my time is: Wherefore has thou made all men in vain?” (v. 47). All men will die, and we who are now praying to You are going to die soon. You may have forever, but we don’t. If we are to see the great reformation, if we are to see the great deliverance, You will have to move quickly.

THE FORMER DAYS:
And why do previous generations get to see all the wonderful interventions? “Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?” (v. 49). I have taken what You did for them, and laid it out as part of my argument earlier. But now I take it back. Why do we have to read about these wonderful things in books? Why can’t we read about them in newspapers?

GREATLY TO BE FEARED:
Absolute confidence that God will never alter or abolish His covenant is fully consistent with fearing Him as well. Absolute faith and profound fear go well together. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (v. 7). At the same time, fearing the Lord greatly is also fully consistent with arguing with Him, like a trusted counselor in His heavenly council. Where did You go? What are You doing? “How long, Lord. Wilt thou hid thyself forever?” (v. 46). In short, the fear of the Lord is not craven. The fear of the Lord is not shy. The fear of the Lord is not ashamed. The fear of the Lord stands on the everlasting rock of the covenant, and there wrestles with the God of the covenant.

A RETURN TO THE MERCIES:
We must return to the fortress. The fortress is the everlasting covenant, and the foundation of this everlasting covenant is the blood of the covenant (Heb. 13:20). If God has said He will not lie to David, and if God has sent the Son of David to writhe on a cross in fulfillment of that Word, what on earth makes us think He would walk away from His declared purposes now? Why, when the difficulty is all past, would He throw it in? He is not one who undertakes to build a tower without considering the cost. That cost was the blood of the God/man, and it is a cost that has already been paid. It has happened, once for all. Why would God purchase all the nations of men in this way and then not take home what He purchased?

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