Reflection: Psalm 40

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching at our church (Logos Community Church). For the past several weeks, we have been looking at the presence of God throughout the Psalms and this past Sunday we visited the Will of God as seen in Psalm 40 and I have been completely wrecked by it. I decided to write a few of my thoughts on what hit me the most, namely the first 3 verses. I think they set the tone for the rest of the Psalm. Nonetheless, I think this will turn into a short series of posts in light of who we are and what God does.

Humility and Hope

The two big themes that the Lord is wrecking me on right now as seen in verse one are humility and hope under the umbrella of waiting patiently. In this verse, King David is not only waiting patiently on the Lord, but says that the Lord hears his cry. Here's a king who had all the power you can imagine and then some waiting patiently and crying out to God.

David demonstrates the kind of humility I wish to pursue. Verse 1 presents a man who is utterly broken over his sin and I am no where near a king and I am not nearly as broken and in tears over my sin as David was (Psalm 6:6). I default to a horrible attitude of "working it off" many times. David's humility, helps me to learn of his Hope that is ridiculously confident in God as he waits. David places his hope in the Lord through his word (Psalm 130:5) and I'm over here taking hope for granted because it's been a pretty good season. 

You and I don't have room or time to take a back seat to our faith. It doesn't work that way because the truth is that we quickly desire ownership instead of worship of God (Genesis 2:16-17). 

Here's what we can think and chew on over the next couple of days: humility will not be cultivated by yourself. And hope is an assurance that is only found in the Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) and whether God saves a week later or a year later, God inclines and hears our cry. God saves His children for the purpose of His name being glorified.

Whatever your cry is right now, waiting patiently is not sitting still, but actively pursuing humility and placing you hope in what He has spoken through His written word. 

Recommended Reading: The Treasure of David by Charles H. Spurgeon; Sound Words by Jeremy Carr

Listen/Watch Sermon (vimeo was being a little fuzzy about starting at 0:00): 

I've been reading Russell Moore's book Tempted and Tried and I must say, it's one of my favorite books on the topic of temptation. Recently, I spoke at a monthly gathering we call "Man Church" and taught from James with influence from Dr. Moore's book, then I decided to write about it. As I meet regularly with several of the men I disciple, the subject of temptation is at the forefront of our conversations. In short, I hope this post helps you with some theological perspective as it has me and my boys. 

In his book, Dr. Moore writes that "temptation starts with a questions of identity" and then adds how it can lead to a confusion of our desires and ultimately to a place we don't remember how we got to or simply regret.  In the first chapter of James, he teaches that "each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death (James 1:14-15)."

Here are two things I want you dwelling on: (1) your desire and (2) your satisfaction in Jesus. First, when James refers to our "desires," he is implying that which we wish to impose our will upon, albeit someone or something; coveting. Secondly, when you and I decide to follow through with our sinful desire (the porn website you visited, your anger, your whatever) we are finding satisfaction in someone or something that isn't Jesus. Simply, we have "drawn away" from our identity. 

Ask yourself: Who Am I? 

Ask yourself that question out loud right and then preach the gospel to yourself. I want you to preach the beautiful message that reminds you that Jesus came down to earth fully God and fully man to dwell among us; lived the life we cannot live and dying the death that we deserve; who knew no sin, but became sin by taking on the Father's wrath on your behalf so that we might be saved. You have been saved by the blood of Christ and have been made new. Preach this over and over. Everyday. 

James knew what he was talking about when he called himself a slave to God (James 1:1) knowing that this meant it was going to effect every single facet of his life. More so, James knew that in an effort to move forward in difficult times, he was going to need a faith that produced endurance and character (James 1:2-3); faith that relies on what Jesus has done (preach the gospel to yourself again). Later, James adds that as we move forward and we lack wisdom that we should ask for it, but to ask in faith and without doubt (James 1:5-6); a faith that rests in knowing who Jesus is (preach the gospel again!). You and I find ourselves in the middle.

Our identity rests in the person and work of Jesus. We, through the blood of Jesus, are made new not patched (2 Corinthians 5:17). Let me submit to you that temptation is going to be an opportunity to either sin or to worship. Temptation will begin with a question: who are you? 

"It is no longer I have who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Recommended Books: Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore; Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself by Joe Thorn

In our second installment of Lessons in Discipleship, we're going to be looking at humility; a characteristic that implies not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Before we jump in, let's have ourselves a quick review from last week: compassion. 

Compassion, as we saw, means to suffer with someone or others during a time of need; more so, it's usually at the most inconvenient time though we saw how Jesus responded in Mark 6. 

I think many look at discipleship as a wonderful opportunity to teach others what it means to follow Jesus and while this line of thought is true, in my experience, we are quick to forget that discipleship also establishes reciprocity. In other words, if I am teaching someone what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life and because the same Holy Spirit dwells in me, I am and should be convicted of the same teaching points.

So, let's talk about it. 

HUMILITY: THINKING OF YOURSELF LESS

Paul writes and sets up the standard for humility in Philippians 2:3 writing, "do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves." 

When we consider others more important and not expect a "thank you" or some sort of praise, we follow in the example of Jesus. The leadership style of Jesus was that of placing yourself last and not because you're awesome, but because you "consider others as more important" than yourself. It means serving others and being a reflection of the person and work of Jesus not ourselves. 

The difficulty of humility in discipleship, in my experience, has been thinking I am pretty good at this Christian life when, in fact, I'm far from it.  When we teach others what it means to follow Jesus, this includes showing them our need for Jesus in the midst of our sin. Repentance is a great teacher because it's an opportunity to show our need for Jesus and an opportunity for growth and transformation.

If discipleship is merely coffee talk once a week, then we're missing our objective. If we are to teach everything we have observed (Matthew 28), then I'm practically sure that it infers the context of life: the place(s) where we know our sin will be exposed; a place where humility could best be observed, taught, and shown.

In humility, we make much of Christ, pointing others to Him. That's the whole point of discipleship, isn't it? It's in the context of life and meeting people where they're at and taking them to where Jesus wants them to be.

Questions for the week: 
• Where, in your life do you need to repent of pride?
• Have you demonstrated/modeled (not just talked/taught about) repentance to those you disciple?
• What does it mean to "consider others as more important than ourselves"? 
• How do Christ's actions demonstrate humility and a concern for others?

The Bible teaches and leads to several significant occasions on the importance of discipleship: Moses and Joshua, the ministry of Jesus with His disciples, Jesus' final command to make disciples in Matthew 28, Paul's words to the church in Thessalonica on sharing his life with them, and many more. Discipleship is integral and difficult and just as black coffee will sprout hair on your chest, discipleship will sprout character in you. 

Though I am still learning and do not consider myself an expert in discipleship, I have come across two conclusions: I am passionate about discipling younger men so they may surrender everything in pursuit of Christ and I am learning to do the same. 

I thought about 3 concepts or learning curves that I've experienced in discipling others. All of these points can be lengthy so we will split this up into a 3-part blog over the next few weeks. I hope you find them helpful and that they would help you to see the fruit of discipleship particularly when it's not the most convenient.

COMPASSION: TO SUFFER WITH

I wish to begin by saying that discipleship happens in the context of life and not always or simply at a coffee shop once a week for an hour. If that tends to be your only strategy, then you'll have two results: those you're discipling will think they know everything and you will limit their experience in the proclamation and practice of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Moving forward, if discipleship happens in the context of life (and not just my own), then compassion is one of our primary roles. And I've learned that compassion is not only a time to suffer alongside of someone or others, but it is not convenient. Ever. 

Mark 6:33 records "People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. So as He [Jesus] stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things." 

To  give you the context of what's happening, Jesus and his disciples are tired. They've been traveling, teaching, and prior to this John the Baptist was beheaded. The people in this story recognize that it was Jesus on a boat, rush to him and the disciples, and are looking to be taught, healed, prayed over, and led. 

The disciples, later, suggest that everyone go back to their homes to rest, but Jesus decides to spend His time with the people right at that moment despite being tired and hungry. He recognized and served them at their most desperate time of need. 

Discipleship and compassion beautifully go together. It is serving during a great time of need and will be inconvenient because it will force you to inject yourself into their life in order to care for them. Compassion will call out when you're getting ready for an important event and your friend's hand gets smashed under his car because it was a tire change gone wrong; or you'll receive a call that your friend's son has just been in a horrifying and fatal accident; or in a time of confession where so many tears are built up that words and emotions will not allow the proper communication. 

Compassion is to suffer alongside of others in their desperate need for Jesus and He has called you to display the same compassion He had towards others in Mark 6. 

As you begin to disciple others, ask yourself these questions: 
• Are you compassionate?
• Where has Jesus displayed compassion in my life? 
• Is your focus so narrow that you're more concerned with the exegesis of a passage at Starbucks rather than hearing the cry of one's heart for change and need in Jesus? 

*Spoken Word performed at Logos Community Church | Worship Night

 

G R A C E

An Ill-deserving living sacrificial favor from our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Grace is the favor we receive on the treachery we commit despite already been forgiven.

Grace fuels forgiveness; enables compassion; consumes love; and furthers the Kingdom.

It is by grace, through faith that we have been saved; a gift not a paycheck; purposefully not pitifully.

 

W O R S H I P

Could it be that as a people we have summarized and culturized Worship into music alone?  

I look through the lens of my life and ask the question that no one including myself wants to ask, do I worship God? Is my identity in the working of the church or in the working of my job or is it in the person and work of Jesus alone? 

You see, I will worship what I am passionate about and I can tell you that my time in worship of my Lord is a struggle.

I, like you, whether you like it or not, can plainly see through all His things; evidences of His work; the soundtrack of the gospel in His people; blind people seeing; dead people living.

And I think about what I see and ask if I really see; the gospel is true. 

 

F I N A L L Y

We are receiving a kingdom that is unshakeable; a kingdom of His creation, but are we shakeable? 

The power and majesty of His voice has spoken; the power of His kingdom cannot be shaken; it will not be shaken; there will be no other dispensation; are we shakeable? 

Jesus speaks through this writers telling us the canon of scripture is now perfected, the Spirit of prophecy has ceased, the mystery of God is finished, He has put his last hand to it. 

The church may continue to grow, the church may continue to be more prosperous, but it shall not be altered for another exemption; those who perish under the gospel perish without remedy.

It is through His work on the cross that we see him intricately at work in the lives of His creation; the fear of the Lord; reverence and awe like mary who used her hair like a wash rag to wash the feet of Jesus; giving up so much for this Jesus; could it be that her reverence was a sign that she had seen this Nazarene as the Christ? 

Our God in Christ deals with us graciously and kindly, but is a consuming fire; faithful and true; just and righteous; the sacrifice for our sin; the beauty of justice beyond what was seen when the law was given. 

May we taste his goodness and kindness; a kindness that leads us to repentance; for there will be a day where it will be too late; my friends repent and by grace let us worship God.