Historical Posts
Incomprehensible!
It Is Incomprehensible That We Should Fully Grasp The Mind Of God
The human brain can contain only so much information before it is overloaded and information becomes incomprehensible. When the brain does get overloaded, it may feel as if smoke is rising off of it. Some things can easily be understood, while others may be too complicated. Some things the human mind just cannot fully grasp. One concept incomprehensible to the human mind, that we fail to fully grasp, is God.
Paul said He is able to “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).” God can do so much more than what we can even think of. After all, He created us! He gave us our minds! Our knowledge is nothing compared to that of God. Paul also said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the LORD (Romans 11:33-34)?’”
It is indeed impossible to know the mind of God. He is incomprehensible. However, even though we cannot think like Him, He can think like us. Jesus, God in the flesh (John 1), came to be just like all of us. Jesus walked like us and talked like us, yet He did not sin. Through Him, we can know more about God. “’For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).”
By having the mind of Christ, we can begin to think like Him. When we put on Christ in baptism, we are to be transformed by renewing our minds (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2). We become more like Him because we think more like Him. We are to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).” Let us think less like ourselves, and think more like Christ!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Pure Minds – audio
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Most of the time my mind is going in a million different directions.
If you ask me something, and I request some time to think about it and get back with you, I’d better write it down immediately. If not, I’ll forget about it within 30 seconds. I don’t know if it’s the inevitable effects of getting older, or just an easily distracted mind. Or maybe some combination of both.
I suspect I’m not alone.
If Satan can’t get us to abandon Christ, he’ll just make us so busy that the Lord is just another thing on our to-do list.
- Bed made? Check.
- Exercise? Check.
- Kids up and dressed? Check (sorta).
- Quick prayer as I run out the door? Check.
And so the day goes.
Whisper a quick prayer before eating lunch at your desk, and an exhausted Thank-you-for-getting-me-through-this-day prayer before sinking into oblivion to prepare to repeat the next day.
To that kind of mind, my mind and yours, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Much of my life I’ve thought that meant that I need to keep my heart clean – keep the garbage and sinful thoughts out – but now I’m not sure that’s exactly right, at least not here.
I think Jesus meant that my heart doesn’t need to get too full – full of distractions, to-do lists, chores, deadlines, stresses.
As one commentator puts it, “The ‘pure in heart’ exhibit a single-minded devotion to God that stems from the internal cleansing created by following Jesus” (Craig Blomberg, p. 100).
A single-minded devotion. That’s what I need. It’s what you need.
Something that’s pure is unmixed, unadulterated. Pure water or pure gold or pure milk has nothing added to it to dilute its value.
Same with us. God wants to fill our hearts with him so that there’s no room for anything else. That doesn’t mean, of course, that we won’t have concerns about work or school or bills. But it does mean that we filter everything in our lives through him.
God doesn’t want just one part of our mind.
He doesn’t want just a little slice of it, but he also doesn’t want the biggest slice. He’s not one of many jostling for a little bit of our time and attention.
He wants it all.
And once he’s got it, all those distractions and worries seem so much smaller.
Once he’s got it, then you and I will see God everywhere we look.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Colossians 03:01-17 Conforming Your Life to Christ
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Text: Colossians 3:1-17 – Scripture Reading: Romans 6:4-14
Introduction
- Conform – “to fashion, shape, outline, and contour, change one thing to bring into harmony or accordance to another.”
- If you’re a true Christian, you’re setting your eyes, mind, body, and soul on the things that are above (Spiritual, eternal) where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God – Colossians 3:1-4.
- Christians must conform to Christ, and put off their sins. Sin makes them look like and sound like, conform to, the devil instead of Jesus Christ. To conform your life to Christ, you must cut off and destroy the works of the devil which is sin – Colossians 3:5-10. When you’re in Christ, the old man of sin is dead, and a new man is raised to life with Christ – Romans 6:4-7.
Conform Your Life to Christ, the Holy Spirit Must Capture Your Mind
- You will not conform your life to Christ unless the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, convicts your mind of sin to the point where you desire to surrender all to Jesus Christ – 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Why not allow the power of the Word of God to convict you and your sin that you might change and be conformed to Christ – Hebrews 4:12.
- To conform your life to Christ, you must not disregard the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 simply says, “Quench not the Spirit”. In 2 Samuel Chapter 11 David King of Israel, a man after God’s own heart, was guilty of quenching the Spirit when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and murder her husband Uriah.
- To be conformed, shaped, or changed to Christ, you must have the mind of Jesus Christ, which is the mind to humble yourself and to serve God instead of your own ambitions – Philippians 2:5-8. Your mind needs to be renewed by Jesus Christ and not be conformed to the world. To conform to Christ, your love for yourself and the world must be diminished and eliminated – 1 John 2:15-17.
One the Holy Spirit has Engage Your Mind, You Must Take Action
- The action that you must take to conform your life to Christ involves getting ride of sins out of your life – Matthew 5:29-30. For example, if you’re accustomed to spending $40 a week playing the numbers you will need to take action to eliminate the sin of covetousness out of your life – Colossians 3:5-10. Therefore, repentance is necessary to conform your life to Christ – Luke 13:3.
- To conform your life to Christ you must separate from evil associations that will lead you away from God – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. This is why God told Israel to not marry into foreign nations whom are idolatrous, because they will be lead away from following God (Deuteronomy 7). We can learn from Solomon because his wives lead him away from following God – 1 Kings 11:1-10.
- To conform your life to Christ there are some things that you must learn to put off, and some things to put on you so that your life can be conformed to Christ. You must put off the old man and sinful practices and put on the new man of truth and holiness – Ephesians 4:21-32.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
Psalm 100 Singing
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(Getting More Out of the Singing)
Text: Psalm 100:1-5
Introduction
1. An important part of our assemblies the act of singing praises
a. We spend nearly a third of our assemblies engaged in this activity
b. Rightly so, for it has the potential of reaping great spiritual benefits
2. Singing is an important element of our worship
a. It is mentioned in the text upon which our title is based – Psalm 100:2
b. There were those in Old Testament times who delighted in singing – Psalm 63:3-5
c. Christians were taught to respond to the goodness of God in a similar way – James 5:13
3. But I often wonder if some have lost the joy of singing
a. Many Christians sing with virtually no emotion, some do not sing at all!
b. I have personally known Christians, who
1) Complained because time available for classes was taken up by the singing of a few hymns
2) Will not attend a worship service if they know it will be devoted primarily to singing
c. In contrast, it was common in the past for people to travel some distance to attend a service devoted to praising God in song
4. Why do such conditions exist? I suspect it may be a failure to appreciate:
a. The true purpose of singing
b. How we can get more out of singing?
Body
I. THE PURPOSE OF SINGING
A. TO PRAISE THE LORD
1. This is the most common concept of the purpose of singing
a. Indeed, this is certainly the idea inherent in the word ‘hymn’
b. Which comes from the Greek word humnos, “a song in praise of”
2. Praising God should be a natural for Christians !
a. David reacted this way to the blessings God gave him – Psalm 28:6-7
b. Paul and Silas even reacted to persecution with singing praises – Acts 16:25
3. Singing is one of the spiritual sacrifices that we are to offer to God – Hebrews 13:15
a. As spiritual priests we offer up “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” – 1 Peter 2:5
b. If we are not careful, we might be guilty of offering defiled service to God as was the case in Malachi’s day! – cf. Malachi 1:7-8, 12-13
4. Is not God worthy of our best praise?
B. TO TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER
1. Our singing is not just directed toward God
a. Certainly, many songs are
b. But many songs are rightly directed to each other – cf. Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19
2. That’s because many songs are designed to teach one another
a. Teaching and admonishing us to live properly, to enjoy the blessings of the Christian life
b. It might even be said that ‘congregational singing’ is actually ‘congregational teaching’!
3. Do not our brethren deserve the best encouragement we can offer?
C. TO BE FILLED AND ENRICHED
1. Singing can be a means to being filled with the Spirit
a. Paul charged the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit – Ephesians 5:18
b. He explained how: by singing and making melody in one’s heart to the Lord – Ephesians 5:19
2. Singing can be a means to being enriched by the Word of Christ
a. Paul charged the Colossians to let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly – Colossians 3:16a
b. Again he explains: by singing with grace in one’s heart to the Lord – Colossians 3:16b
3. For a truly Spirit-filled life enriched by the Word of Christ, singing is essential!
II. GETTING MORE OUT OF OUR SINGING
A. ENGAGE THE ‘MIND’ AS YOU SING
1. Remember, singing is teaching and admonishing one another
2. This assumes that we understand what we sing – cf. 1 Corinthians 14:15
3. We must be careful that our enjoyment of singing is not like how many people enjoy their popular music (i.e., liking the music without necessarily understanding the words)
4. Give careful attention to the words of the songs
B. ENGAGE THE ‘HEART’ AS YOU SING
1. When we sing, we must do so
a. “with grace in your hearts” – Colossians 3:16
b. “making melody in your heart” – Ephesians 5:19
2. This assumes that we involve our ‘heart strings’ (emotions) as we sing!
3. To sing without emotion (without grace in our hearts)
a. Is hypocritical, and condemned by Jesus! – Matthew 15:7-8
b. Will be evident in our countenances! – cf. Proverbs 15:13
4. Put your heart into your singing
C. EXPAND THE SPHERE OF YOUR SINGING
1. Is your singing limited just to the public assemblies, on the first day of the week?
2. Singing, like prayer, ought to be spontaneous, arising whenever the circumstances call for it – cf. Acts 16:25; Psalm 34:1-3
3. Sing while you work, travel, or while alone in your private meditations
4. Make use of hymns on tapes or CDs when traveling or meditating
5. Take advantage of special opportunities to sing, such as monthly and annual singings
6. Increase your opportunities to sing at other times with others, and when alone
D. UTILIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN TO SING
1. Singing is more enjoyable when we are able to read musical notes, sing different parts
2. Churches often provide singing classes; every opportunity to sing is an opportunity to learn
3. Take advantage of any opportunity to learn how to sing
Conclusion
1. Singing is like any other activity…the more you put into it, the more you get out of it
2. Increase your joy of singing, and you will get much more out of your worship times.
3. Have we lost the joy of singing…?
a. If we could see ourselves as song leaders do, we might be constrained to say yes
b. If so, rekindle this act of worship which can do so much toward “Serving The Lord With Gladness”
4. May David’s attitude, truly describe our own when it comes to singing:
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” – Psalm 104:33
“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.” – Psalm 147:1
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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