This past Friday my lovely wife took a short trip with a friend to Atlanta. I was left at home of course with my puppy to keep me company. Although my sons were in and out and my daughter and her husband came over to stay the night with my grand daughter I could not help but miss my wife. I knew she needed the time away and was genuinely happy for her. But I have discovered over the years my sleep just is not the same without her by my side. We have become incredibly close over the course of our marriage.
I guess it is safe to say with the greatest of sincerity that I deeply love my wife and do not enjoy being apart from her for any length of time. I have friends in ministry who seem to love to travel. For me a ministry trip is a genuine sacrifice seeing I no of no other place than I would rather be than at home with my wife. This has guarded me over the years from making any trips other than what I know to be the Lord's leading.
I guess I should be thanking Jesus for joining me to such a delightful, beautiful and enjoyable woman with whom I am my most comfortable. She truly is my best friend in the world. I am truly a blessed man. So glad she is back home again by my side, man did I ever miss her while she was away.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Worthy of Praise Part Three
The Bible declares,
Psalms 93
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.
Psalms 145
1 I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. 7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
J.I Packer says this about the majesty of God.
“The word majesty, when we apply it to a discussion of God's character, is always a declaration of His greatness as well as an invitation to worship.”
In a passage that I personally dearly love for how amazingly it captures the essence of the greatness and supremacy of Christ we discover Majesty has been ascribed to our Savior Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." 7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." 10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
When it comes to realizing how great the grace of God is towards us we cannot afford to neglect to develop our understanding of His greatness so that we can know that when He determines to grant to us His kindness and mercy no man can interfere!
This is what makes the declaration of Romans 8 so incredible!
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is this kind of knowing God in the truth of His own declaration of Himself and His abilities that we find strength to conquer, and overcome what appears to be impossible situations!
A God this amazing and great loves us so completely in His own Son! If this kind of God be for us, who can be against us?!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Psalms 93
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.
Psalms 145
1 I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. 7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
J.I Packer says this about the majesty of God.
“The word majesty, when we apply it to a discussion of God's character, is always a declaration of His greatness as well as an invitation to worship.”
In a passage that I personally dearly love for how amazingly it captures the essence of the greatness and supremacy of Christ we discover Majesty has been ascribed to our Savior Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." 7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." 10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
When it comes to realizing how great the grace of God is towards us we cannot afford to neglect to develop our understanding of His greatness so that we can know that when He determines to grant to us His kindness and mercy no man can interfere!
This is what makes the declaration of Romans 8 so incredible!
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is this kind of knowing God in the truth of His own declaration of Himself and His abilities that we find strength to conquer, and overcome what appears to be impossible situations!
A God this amazing and great loves us so completely in His own Son! If this kind of God be for us, who can be against us?!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Worthy of Praise Part Two
In England, whenever there is an official gathering to which the Queen is to attend. When she, known as her majesty, enters the room all heads are turned to her and all eyes are fixed upon her and she is recognized as the head of the nation in that moment. There is no one more important in that room at that moment. She has the high position.
It is a weak human example for establishing an understanding of the majesty of God for us but for practical purposes will have to assist us in realizing how much greater God is than we are.
There is a story told of an old missionary woman near death in Dick Eastman’s book a Celebration of Praise.
As the elderly missionary lay motionless on her deathbed her nine children gathered solemnly around her. Her life had been a long and beautiful example of dedication and sacrifice. All of her children followed in her footsteps and served in some aspect of missionary service.
Before a new day dawned the saintly warrior would be with Jesus, and everyone present knew death was moments away. Suddenly, one of the children thought she heard her mother speak. It was unusual it seemed like days since she spoke. Motioning to the eldest son, the younger sister said, 'I think Mother is trying to say something."
Her brother was certain it was but a groan, perhaps an indication that death had finally arrived. But a few seconds passed and it seemed that she again wanted to speak. This time what appeared to be a forced groan was clearly loud enough to be heard. Still, none could recognize what she wanted to say.
The eldest son put his ear close to his mother’s lips and said, "Mother, please tell us what is it you want"
The dying saint struggled as she reached within for all the strength that remained. This time a clear word was heard; the single word—"Bring." There was no doubt about what she said.
The son leaned closer and spoke. "Mother," he said softly, "tell us what it is you wish. You name it, and we will bring it to you."
The missionary's body seemed to quiver as she reached within for greater strength. "Bring," she cried out with authority.
Again the eldest son, longing to satisfy his dying mother's wish, responded, "Whatever it is you wish, Mother, just tell us. If we can possibly bring it to you, we will"
Almost interrupting the son, the mother cried even louder—"Bring!"
By now, the son seemed agitated, and responded firmly, "Mother, just tell us what it is you want and we will bring it"
Suddenly, a remarkable thing happened. The saint seemed to burst forth with supernatural energy. Rising on her bed, an impossibility in her condition, she stretched a hand toward heaven and boldly exclaimed— "Bring... forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all!"
With those words, the missionary fell backward on her pillow and died. She ended her earthly experience honoring the majesty of God.
To honor the majesty of God one must understand the difference between God’s greatness and the greatness of man. There simply is no comparison to be found between the two when rightly understood. God is actually that much greater than humanity.
It has been said that if Christians lose their sense of the greatness of God and thereby remove themselves from the recognition of His majesty they risk constructing an image of God that cannot rescue in the most difficult of situations. They end up with a God who is weak and anemic incapable of saving whom He wills and has become dependent on the aid of men. Martin Luther rebuked Erasmus the Monk by saying, “Your thoughts of God are too human!" What can be said of us regarding our thoughts of God?
Whenever we speak of God’s majesty we are talking about His divine splendor and supremacy as it relates to His ruling over the entire universe. His supreme authority! His greatness!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It is a weak human example for establishing an understanding of the majesty of God for us but for practical purposes will have to assist us in realizing how much greater God is than we are.
There is a story told of an old missionary woman near death in Dick Eastman’s book a Celebration of Praise.
As the elderly missionary lay motionless on her deathbed her nine children gathered solemnly around her. Her life had been a long and beautiful example of dedication and sacrifice. All of her children followed in her footsteps and served in some aspect of missionary service.
Before a new day dawned the saintly warrior would be with Jesus, and everyone present knew death was moments away. Suddenly, one of the children thought she heard her mother speak. It was unusual it seemed like days since she spoke. Motioning to the eldest son, the younger sister said, 'I think Mother is trying to say something."
Her brother was certain it was but a groan, perhaps an indication that death had finally arrived. But a few seconds passed and it seemed that she again wanted to speak. This time what appeared to be a forced groan was clearly loud enough to be heard. Still, none could recognize what she wanted to say.
The eldest son put his ear close to his mother’s lips and said, "Mother, please tell us what is it you want"
The dying saint struggled as she reached within for all the strength that remained. This time a clear word was heard; the single word—"Bring." There was no doubt about what she said.
The son leaned closer and spoke. "Mother," he said softly, "tell us what it is you wish. You name it, and we will bring it to you."
The missionary's body seemed to quiver as she reached within for greater strength. "Bring," she cried out with authority.
Again the eldest son, longing to satisfy his dying mother's wish, responded, "Whatever it is you wish, Mother, just tell us. If we can possibly bring it to you, we will"
Almost interrupting the son, the mother cried even louder—"Bring!"
By now, the son seemed agitated, and responded firmly, "Mother, just tell us what it is you want and we will bring it"
Suddenly, a remarkable thing happened. The saint seemed to burst forth with supernatural energy. Rising on her bed, an impossibility in her condition, she stretched a hand toward heaven and boldly exclaimed— "Bring... forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all!"
With those words, the missionary fell backward on her pillow and died. She ended her earthly experience honoring the majesty of God.
To honor the majesty of God one must understand the difference between God’s greatness and the greatness of man. There simply is no comparison to be found between the two when rightly understood. God is actually that much greater than humanity.
It has been said that if Christians lose their sense of the greatness of God and thereby remove themselves from the recognition of His majesty they risk constructing an image of God that cannot rescue in the most difficult of situations. They end up with a God who is weak and anemic incapable of saving whom He wills and has become dependent on the aid of men. Martin Luther rebuked Erasmus the Monk by saying, “Your thoughts of God are too human!" What can be said of us regarding our thoughts of God?
Whenever we speak of God’s majesty we are talking about His divine splendor and supremacy as it relates to His ruling over the entire universe. His supreme authority! His greatness!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, September 24, 2012
He is Worthy! Part One
How many here would testify that they want to know God more?
Is there an accurate way of doing so without risking creating an image of God to our own liking that is not consistent with who He truly is?
I mean if we reject the notion of going to a source of authoritative testimony concerning who He is and what He is like we might construct our own idea of God and what He is like and be found serving a God we created for ourselves that is not consistent with His own testimony about Himself.
Have you ever had someone speak to you about another person as though they knew about them but yet had never met them personally and were only speaking from what they had heard through others?
Have you ever thought you knew someone only to be surprised by some event that revealed something entirely different than what you thought you knew about them?
There is the person they told us they were but then there was the person their actions revealed they were and the two were not the same. Ordinarily you cannot go by a person’s own testimony of one’s self since human beings tend to skew the facts to help themselves look better than they truly are. Self-testimony for this reason is considered highly unreliable at best.
To this reality the Bible says,
Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
This is very wise counsel as it pertains to human beings. But the Scripture says something different about the testimony of God.
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
How many would like to know God accurately according to what He says about Himself?
Well to achieve that we must allow the Scripture to reveal to us the character and nature of God and not insist He be a certain way for us to like Him or want to call Him God.
We begin with the idea that there is only one absolutely perfect person in all of eternity. God alone holds that title of being absolutely perfect in every way imaginable.
This automatically places Him high above all things created!
This puts God in such an exalted position that when He is known to be present all attention should be focused upon Him alone.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Is there an accurate way of doing so without risking creating an image of God to our own liking that is not consistent with who He truly is?
I mean if we reject the notion of going to a source of authoritative testimony concerning who He is and what He is like we might construct our own idea of God and what He is like and be found serving a God we created for ourselves that is not consistent with His own testimony about Himself.
Have you ever had someone speak to you about another person as though they knew about them but yet had never met them personally and were only speaking from what they had heard through others?
Have you ever thought you knew someone only to be surprised by some event that revealed something entirely different than what you thought you knew about them?
There is the person they told us they were but then there was the person their actions revealed they were and the two were not the same. Ordinarily you cannot go by a person’s own testimony of one’s self since human beings tend to skew the facts to help themselves look better than they truly are. Self-testimony for this reason is considered highly unreliable at best.
To this reality the Bible says,
Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
This is very wise counsel as it pertains to human beings. But the Scripture says something different about the testimony of God.
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
How many would like to know God accurately according to what He says about Himself?
Well to achieve that we must allow the Scripture to reveal to us the character and nature of God and not insist He be a certain way for us to like Him or want to call Him God.
We begin with the idea that there is only one absolutely perfect person in all of eternity. God alone holds that title of being absolutely perfect in every way imaginable.
This automatically places Him high above all things created!
This puts God in such an exalted position that when He is known to be present all attention should be focused upon Him alone.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Gaining Ground in Grace Part four
So, if we find we are struggling with the humility issue we should first acknowledge our lack of humility to Him, we should then ask Him to grant us revelation understanding of the truth of our situation, and when we see things as He sees them, we need to run to Him and ask for His help in enabling us to do the thing He says we need to do about it.
Humility leads us to a place of obedience to His will for us and that is where the greater grace is most realized. What we might have thought before was impossible is now the most reasonable thing we could have ever imagined due to the working of His greater grace!
No matter what it is you are going through right now, turn to God give Him your cares for He cares for you. Humility will lead us to pray even more when times are tough and much suffering is occurring.
We need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He might exalt us in due time. Only He knows when that is, all we need to know is that He is with us and He is for us, and if God be for us who can be against us!
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
We need to pray!
We need to turn to the only One who can help us in our time of need in a very concerted and deliberate manner.
We need solutions and answers.
We need strength and endurance!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Humility leads us to a place of obedience to His will for us and that is where the greater grace is most realized. What we might have thought before was impossible is now the most reasonable thing we could have ever imagined due to the working of His greater grace!
No matter what it is you are going through right now, turn to God give Him your cares for He cares for you. Humility will lead us to pray even more when times are tough and much suffering is occurring.
We need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He might exalt us in due time. Only He knows when that is, all we need to know is that He is with us and He is for us, and if God be for us who can be against us!
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
We need to pray!
We need to turn to the only One who can help us in our time of need in a very concerted and deliberate manner.
We need solutions and answers.
We need strength and endurance!
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Gaining Ground in Grace Part Three
So what should we do?
1Peter 5
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever an d ever. Amen.
Why is getting this turning to God thing so important?
Because we have an adversary! We have an enemy! He is looking for those who are not steadfast in the faith so he might devour them.
Everyone in this life suffers on some level.
Job said, “A man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Sin and Satan make sure that there is plenty of suffering to go around.
Christians are not protected against suffering either. This cuts to an entitlement attitude in Christianity.
God does not owe us a perfectly convenient life absent of all suffering. He is not obligated to guarantee we get the perfect family we dreamed up with no problems along the way. He is not obligated to give us the perfect job according to what would be most convenient to us according to our own wisdom.
If we allow ourselves to think that such is true we will inevitably become bitter with God and angry that things have not worked out as we think that they should, and instead of hearts of humility that turn to God, we will find ourselves resisting God and running into the arms of the world and Satan.
But when we walk in true humility we resist the devil and take our stand steadfast in the faith!
Notice what Peter said, “Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
In other words you and I are not the first people to suffer and we will not be the last and the thing we are going through is not unique to just us as though we were the only ones to ever experience it.
With so many Christians throughout the world suffering why wouldn’t God go ahead and end all suffering for them?
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
What sets us apart from this world is the manner by which we endure hardship and suffering as compared to those without faith. Our resolve to trust God and our ability to walk in humility before Him receiving the grace He gives us to do so, serves as an amazing testimony to those outside the faith.
Not only that but it further establishes us and perfects us in our being more like Christ. God is to be our only source. He is enough for those who th rough humility have learned to turn to Him in all things.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1Peter 5
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever an d ever. Amen.
Why is getting this turning to God thing so important?
Because we have an adversary! We have an enemy! He is looking for those who are not steadfast in the faith so he might devour them.
Everyone in this life suffers on some level.
Job said, “A man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Sin and Satan make sure that there is plenty of suffering to go around.
Christians are not protected against suffering either. This cuts to an entitlement attitude in Christianity.
God does not owe us a perfectly convenient life absent of all suffering. He is not obligated to guarantee we get the perfect family we dreamed up with no problems along the way. He is not obligated to give us the perfect job according to what would be most convenient to us according to our own wisdom.
If we allow ourselves to think that such is true we will inevitably become bitter with God and angry that things have not worked out as we think that they should, and instead of hearts of humility that turn to God, we will find ourselves resisting God and running into the arms of the world and Satan.
But when we walk in true humility we resist the devil and take our stand steadfast in the faith!
Notice what Peter said, “Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
In other words you and I are not the first people to suffer and we will not be the last and the thing we are going through is not unique to just us as though we were the only ones to ever experience it.
With so many Christians throughout the world suffering why wouldn’t God go ahead and end all suffering for them?
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
What sets us apart from this world is the manner by which we endure hardship and suffering as compared to those without faith. Our resolve to trust God and our ability to walk in humility before Him receiving the grace He gives us to do so, serves as an amazing testimony to those outside the faith.
Not only that but it further establishes us and perfects us in our being more like Christ. God is to be our only source. He is enough for those who th rough humility have learned to turn to Him in all things.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Gaining Ground in Grace Part Two
James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Obviously no matter what type of grace it is we need it will not be realized without our knowing it is God we need to turn to for our help.
Are there any examples of practical indications of walking in humility before God?
James 4
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Here we discover there are people walking in a way that demonstrates the opposite of humility before God. Pride in mankind is a primary source of all kinds of problems. Pride is the opposite of humility.
Here humility is expressed when someone is not a friend of the world. We cannot recognize how little the world has to offer us without humility of heart. It is humility that causes us to look to God for answers and wisdom. His ways and knowledge is often contrary to what the world offers.
Here humility is expressed when someone is not looking to please themselves but are free to do for others. Being others minded and willing to serve without thinking you now owed for it is a clear expression of humility.
Here humility is expressed when someone resists the devil and turns to God for help. It leads us to the source of our strength in battle.
Here humility is expressed in a desire to draw near to God. It recognizes the importance of relationship with God and leads us to desire Him even more.
According to the Holy Ghost people with this type of attitude will experience the reality of closeness with God and a greater grace!
In speaking to a people who were suffering and struggling, the Apostle Peter moved by the Holy Ghost said things to the church he was writing to that sound very much like what James was saying to a completely different group of believers. I want us to look at it because it also addresses the entitlement attitude and speaks of the benefit of humility in a slightly different way.
Peter begins by addressing the elders of the church.
1Peter 5
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
In addressing the elders he is saying they need to have an attitude of humility that enables them to serve the body of Christ for the right reasons. This kind of service is what Christ desires for His church. But then Peter goes on to address the younger people in the church and the church as a whole. He is dealing with how they need to relate one to another as a community of believers.
1Peter 5
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
It might be that if you are experiencing resistance in your life that it is not all the devil’s work. It may be due to your own lack of humility that much of the resistance is being felt. If you are ignoring the counsel elders give you and treat them with contempt, if you dishonor parents, and if you disregard the ones God has placed in your life you should not expect God to open doors for you. Instead you should expect God to be shutting them. You may mistakenly say it is the devil when it is quite possibly God resisting you.
God wants us to be dependent upon Him and He desires that we come to Him with anything and everything that troubles us. It is also His desire that we appreciate and respect the people He has placed in our lives to help us grow spiritually and live effectively.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Obviously no matter what type of grace it is we need it will not be realized without our knowing it is God we need to turn to for our help.
Are there any examples of practical indications of walking in humility before God?
James 4
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Here we discover there are people walking in a way that demonstrates the opposite of humility before God. Pride in mankind is a primary source of all kinds of problems. Pride is the opposite of humility.
Here humility is expressed when someone is not a friend of the world. We cannot recognize how little the world has to offer us without humility of heart. It is humility that causes us to look to God for answers and wisdom. His ways and knowledge is often contrary to what the world offers.
Here humility is expressed when someone is not looking to please themselves but are free to do for others. Being others minded and willing to serve without thinking you now owed for it is a clear expression of humility.
Here humility is expressed when someone resists the devil and turns to God for help. It leads us to the source of our strength in battle.
Here humility is expressed in a desire to draw near to God. It recognizes the importance of relationship with God and leads us to desire Him even more.
According to the Holy Ghost people with this type of attitude will experience the reality of closeness with God and a greater grace!
In speaking to a people who were suffering and struggling, the Apostle Peter moved by the Holy Ghost said things to the church he was writing to that sound very much like what James was saying to a completely different group of believers. I want us to look at it because it also addresses the entitlement attitude and speaks of the benefit of humility in a slightly different way.
Peter begins by addressing the elders of the church.
1Peter 5
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
In addressing the elders he is saying they need to have an attitude of humility that enables them to serve the body of Christ for the right reasons. This kind of service is what Christ desires for His church. But then Peter goes on to address the younger people in the church and the church as a whole. He is dealing with how they need to relate one to another as a community of believers.
1Peter 5
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
It might be that if you are experiencing resistance in your life that it is not all the devil’s work. It may be due to your own lack of humility that much of the resistance is being felt. If you are ignoring the counsel elders give you and treat them with contempt, if you dishonor parents, and if you disregard the ones God has placed in your life you should not expect God to open doors for you. Instead you should expect God to be shutting them. You may mistakenly say it is the devil when it is quite possibly God resisting you.
God wants us to be dependent upon Him and He desires that we come to Him with anything and everything that troubles us. It is also His desire that we appreciate and respect the people He has placed in our lives to help us grow spiritually and live effectively.
Tim Atchley
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Transitions of Life
As I sit in what after twenty seven years has become a quiet house with my wife nearby. I contemplate the joy of seeing her occasionally looking up from her iPad where she is watching an art instruction video to muse with me over a thought. I am a man marching towards 50 years of age with an empty nest, a beautiful wife, a grandson right next door still close by and a brand new grand daughter. She is just six weeks old now and I can't wait to get the chance to take her for ice cream and do the whole Pop-pop routine with her where I get to spoil her in a good sense.
My fluffy little puppy named Rambo is by my side and I have a new office space I get to retire to in order to study and work with my wife's new art room next door to it. Never had anything like this before but I think I can get used to it.
Of course it has been a busy difficult journey to this place of an empty nest. I had to do a little construction work in my son in law and daughters new home. She needed a laundry and pantry space. It is quite a sight to see grandson laying on his stomach in the grass at the edge of their front yard kicking his feet and saying Pop pop.
I got to hang a little bell at knee height on the large maple in our front yard for the grandchildren to ring and play with when in the yard. I enjoy the things that make for memories. Of course kudos to my lovely wife Sheila for the idea in the first place.
I guess when the seasons of life enter major transition we can choose to allow it to rock our worlds or to drive us to God, to one another even more and to realize that God has wonderful plans for us that adjust right along with us. I know my wife and I plan to enjoy this new season and to grow old together gracefully should the Lord tarry His return.
The long and short, I am a blessed man, grateful to my Savior, thanking God for the grace that moves me into each new season of life and looking forward to what He has planned!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
My fluffy little puppy named Rambo is by my side and I have a new office space I get to retire to in order to study and work with my wife's new art room next door to it. Never had anything like this before but I think I can get used to it.
Of course it has been a busy difficult journey to this place of an empty nest. I had to do a little construction work in my son in law and daughters new home. She needed a laundry and pantry space. It is quite a sight to see grandson laying on his stomach in the grass at the edge of their front yard kicking his feet and saying Pop pop.
I got to hang a little bell at knee height on the large maple in our front yard for the grandchildren to ring and play with when in the yard. I enjoy the things that make for memories. Of course kudos to my lovely wife Sheila for the idea in the first place.
I guess when the seasons of life enter major transition we can choose to allow it to rock our worlds or to drive us to God, to one another even more and to realize that God has wonderful plans for us that adjust right along with us. I know my wife and I plan to enjoy this new season and to grow old together gracefully should the Lord tarry His return.
The long and short, I am a blessed man, grateful to my Savior, thanking God for the grace that moves me into each new season of life and looking forward to what He has planned!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Gaining Ground in Grace Part One
The huge royal navy ship, HMS Ambition, ploughed effortlessly through the stormy seas. The captain proudly looked out from the cabin to the waters ahead.
Suddenly he saw a light in the distance. The ship was heading directly towards it. Then through the morse code came a message, "Change your course by 20 degrees or you will crash into us".
The captain turned up his nose and said to his staff,"Who does this ship think they are, this is the HMS Ambition, no one asks us to change course, send back a message asking them to change course by 20 degrees."
Obediently the message boy tapped out the morse code message as ordered. However the same message was received as before, that they had to change course or they would collide.
The captain grew enraged and tapped out the next message himself..."This is Captain Proudhead , I order you to change course immediately".
The return message was interpreted as ...."This is ordinary seaman Bloggs, I repeat my request for you to change course or you will crash into us!"
The captain was now fuming , "What! Ordinary seaman ordering me to move. This cannot be!"
He banged out his next message.."THIS IS HMS AMBITION, THE QUEEN'S OWN SHIP. SHE TURNS FOR NOBODY. CHANGE YOUR COURSE NOW!"
After a while the final message came through...
"This is a LIGHTHOUSE..please change course now or you will crash into us!" (Rich Mullins)
Proverbs 3:34 Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.
There is no arguing that there is a particular favor that God gives to the humble. His compassion is ignited by genuine need that is recognized through humility by the one who has the need. But what if I cannot recognize the need and act as though I am owed something by God as opposed to looking for His mercy?
According to Scripture He gives His grace to the humble.
We are living in a generation that thinks they are owed certain things no matter what they act like or how unthankful they might be. It has created no small amount of problems for society at large, the family, and for the church as well.
When families suffer the church that cares for those families feels the impact of that suffering.
This ideology of being owed something just for existing is hellish at its root and it is opposite humility. It is a worldly attitude at it's root and it does not open our hearts to the grace and mercy of God. God owes no man anything, but He is gracious to those who are humble.
As Christians we are supposed to be growing in knowing the difference between the life and wisdom of God and the death and nonsense of worldly living and wisdom. This is why Scripture teaches us to not adopt worldly attitudes in life but to rather look to God for the right way to think and act, and for the right attitudes to walk in.
There are two attitude enemies when it comes to a greater realization of grace.
1) I earned it by how hard I have worked for it.
2) Because I am a human being equal with all other human beings I am owed it.
Grace is never earned because humility is not a work, it is an attitude.
Having a humble heart towards God does not obligate Him to us, instead it opens up our hearts to realize the love He has for us and just how willing He is to help us according to His great wisdom and purpose for us.
Fact is we desperately need His grace all the time if we are to endure and succeed in the Christian life.
So does Scripture say anything about how grace is gained and if more grace is available to us?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Suddenly he saw a light in the distance. The ship was heading directly towards it. Then through the morse code came a message, "Change your course by 20 degrees or you will crash into us".
The captain turned up his nose and said to his staff,"Who does this ship think they are, this is the HMS Ambition, no one asks us to change course, send back a message asking them to change course by 20 degrees."
Obediently the message boy tapped out the morse code message as ordered. However the same message was received as before, that they had to change course or they would collide.
The captain grew enraged and tapped out the next message himself..."This is Captain Proudhead , I order you to change course immediately".
The return message was interpreted as ...."This is ordinary seaman Bloggs, I repeat my request for you to change course or you will crash into us!"
The captain was now fuming , "What! Ordinary seaman ordering me to move. This cannot be!"
He banged out his next message.."THIS IS HMS AMBITION, THE QUEEN'S OWN SHIP. SHE TURNS FOR NOBODY. CHANGE YOUR COURSE NOW!"
After a while the final message came through...
"This is a LIGHTHOUSE..please change course now or you will crash into us!" (Rich Mullins)
Proverbs 3:34 Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.
There is no arguing that there is a particular favor that God gives to the humble. His compassion is ignited by genuine need that is recognized through humility by the one who has the need. But what if I cannot recognize the need and act as though I am owed something by God as opposed to looking for His mercy?
According to Scripture He gives His grace to the humble.
We are living in a generation that thinks they are owed certain things no matter what they act like or how unthankful they might be. It has created no small amount of problems for society at large, the family, and for the church as well.
When families suffer the church that cares for those families feels the impact of that suffering.
This ideology of being owed something just for existing is hellish at its root and it is opposite humility. It is a worldly attitude at it's root and it does not open our hearts to the grace and mercy of God. God owes no man anything, but He is gracious to those who are humble.
As Christians we are supposed to be growing in knowing the difference between the life and wisdom of God and the death and nonsense of worldly living and wisdom. This is why Scripture teaches us to not adopt worldly attitudes in life but to rather look to God for the right way to think and act, and for the right attitudes to walk in.
There are two attitude enemies when it comes to a greater realization of grace.
1) I earned it by how hard I have worked for it.
2) Because I am a human being equal with all other human beings I am owed it.
Grace is never earned because humility is not a work, it is an attitude.
Having a humble heart towards God does not obligate Him to us, instead it opens up our hearts to realize the love He has for us and just how willing He is to help us according to His great wisdom and purpose for us.
Fact is we desperately need His grace all the time if we are to endure and succeed in the Christian life.
So does Scripture say anything about how grace is gained and if more grace is available to us?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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