David is confronted with two conflicting things that he knows to be true. The wicked assault the righteous (as Saul did to him), and God is in control of this world. The solution to that dilema is two-fold; to become part of the process of giving refuge to those in need (i.e. being a part of God's refuge) and accepting by faith that God will in the end judge the world, that those who are martyred in the cause of Christ are victorious. For David, he still had to hide in caves from Saul, but he refused to raise his hand against the LORD's annointed; instead, he placed the outcome in God's hand; the LORD was his refuge.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
This blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.com
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Word of God in the hands of the people
In Diarmaid MacCulloch's superb book "The Reformation" there is a profound observation that comes originally from Bernard Cottret's biography of John Calvin, "the increase in Bibles created the Reformation rather than being created by it, and it is notable how many of these Bibles were translations from Latin into local languages." (P.73)
In other words, there were plenty of would-be reformers and reform movements throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, but it was the printing of Bibles in the vernacular (the language of the people) through movable type that made the Reformation possible. It is an amazing thing when the Word of God is read by God's people. In the days of Josiah (II Kings 22), the people of Israel had so little contact with Scripture that not a single copy was available until a dusty old scroll was found in the temple and read to the people. The subsequent weeping and mourning were inevitable because without God's Word his people will always wander away from the truth.
The same thing could be said of any church, regardless of denomination, in our world today. The closer the people in the pews are to God's Word, the more they ingest it themselves on a regular basis, the better off the church will be. Worried about a crack-pot pastor leading his flock astray? There is far less a chance of that happening when the people know God's Word as well as he does. Worried about people remaining true to the Gospel message in its original form? Not if they read it, teach it, and preach it every week.
Does our local church need reform, does yours? Follow the example of the Reformation, get the Bible into the hands of the common people and let the power of the Word of God convict God's people of their sins and bring them to their knees in worship of the LORD.
In other words, there were plenty of would-be reformers and reform movements throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, but it was the printing of Bibles in the vernacular (the language of the people) through movable type that made the Reformation possible. It is an amazing thing when the Word of God is read by God's people. In the days of Josiah (II Kings 22), the people of Israel had so little contact with Scripture that not a single copy was available until a dusty old scroll was found in the temple and read to the people. The subsequent weeping and mourning were inevitable because without God's Word his people will always wander away from the truth.
The same thing could be said of any church, regardless of denomination, in our world today. The closer the people in the pews are to God's Word, the more they ingest it themselves on a regular basis, the better off the church will be. Worried about a crack-pot pastor leading his flock astray? There is far less a chance of that happening when the people know God's Word as well as he does. Worried about people remaining true to the Gospel message in its original form? Not if they read it, teach it, and preach it every week.
Does our local church need reform, does yours? Follow the example of the Reformation, get the Bible into the hands of the common people and let the power of the Word of God convict God's people of their sins and bring them to their knees in worship of the LORD.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sermon Video: On the Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-35
On the afternoon of the first Easter Jesus walks alongside two of his followers as they discuss recent events. Cleopas and the other follower are disheartened by the death of Jesus and their dashed hopes. Jesus shows them from the Scriptures that what happened to the Messiah (himself) was both necessary and predicted. When they arrive and share dinner Jesus is revealed to them when he breaks the bread; immediately, they return to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that Jesus is indeed alive! When the whole of Scripture is consulted, God's people find the truth burning within their hearts.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
"take hold of the hope offered to us" - Hebrews 6:18
Something I was reading in the book, "The Reformation", by Diarmaid MacCulloch reminded me of this verse from Hebrews that we'll be looking at during Bible study tonight. The reference in Hebrews is to those who fled for their lives to the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, in order to physically take hold of the horns of the altar in hopes that their lives would be spared by those who pursued them. It was an appeal to God's mercy that was sometimes granted, (as it was by Solomon when his older brother Adonijah fled to the alter in I Kings 1:49-53 upon hearing that Solomon had been made king; although Adonijah later tried to get the throne anyway and was killed) and sometimes it was not (as with the case of Joab who had conspired against Solomon with Adonijah and who also had the blood of two innocent men killed in cold blood on his hands; he was killed despite having his hands on the horns of the altar). The whole point of the passage in Hebrews is that our hope in Christ is greater than taking hold of the horns of the altar. We can truly seek a sanctuary that is secure against all storms.
How does any of this relate to the Reformation? Simply enough, it was in 1414 that the Bohemian reformer, Jan Hus was given safe-conduct (a guarantee of protection) by the Holy Roman Emperor so that he would be willing to go before a church council and explain his grievances. The council and the Emperor changed their mind, put Jan on trial for heresy (Jan's reforms? He wanted the Mass given in the language of the people, and the cup given to all so that they could fully participate in the Mass); they then had Jan burned at the stake. The resulting uproar and civil war in Bohemia paved the way for the first Western Church that was independent of Rome, and example that would later influence Martin Luther. Had these men been true to their word the reforms of Hus could have been debated and evaluated, but instead those in authority tried to crush dissent. That such short-sighted and ungodly decisions led to the splintering of the Church is no doubt (more on MacCulloch's book as I work my way through it)
So how does this apply to me? The hope that we have in Christ avoid all such human double-dealing and uncertainty. God does not lie. His Word will stand for all time. When we flee and take hold of the Cross of Christ, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." -Hebrews 6:19
How does any of this relate to the Reformation? Simply enough, it was in 1414 that the Bohemian reformer, Jan Hus was given safe-conduct (a guarantee of protection) by the Holy Roman Emperor so that he would be willing to go before a church council and explain his grievances. The council and the Emperor changed their mind, put Jan on trial for heresy (Jan's reforms? He wanted the Mass given in the language of the people, and the cup given to all so that they could fully participate in the Mass); they then had Jan burned at the stake. The resulting uproar and civil war in Bohemia paved the way for the first Western Church that was independent of Rome, and example that would later influence Martin Luther. Had these men been true to their word the reforms of Hus could have been debated and evaluated, but instead those in authority tried to crush dissent. That such short-sighted and ungodly decisions led to the splintering of the Church is no doubt (more on MacCulloch's book as I work my way through it)
So how does this apply to me? The hope that we have in Christ avoid all such human double-dealing and uncertainty. God does not lie. His Word will stand for all time. When we flee and take hold of the Cross of Christ, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." -Hebrews 6:19
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Sermon Video: "He is not here, he is risen!" Luke 23:50-24:8
The Easter message begins with the faithful actions of Joseph of Arimathea and the women who followed Jesus from Galilee. Joseph, a disciple of Jesus and a member of the Sanhedrin, goes to Pilate to get permission to bury Jesus' body, then puts him in his own family tomb. This act of faith was not without personal risk to Joseph. Meanwhile, the women prepare spices to finish the burial process after the Sabbath (Saturday). When they arrive at the tomb on Sunday morning the stone is rolled away the the body of Jesus is gone! Suddenly, two angels appear and explain that Jesus is not among the dead, but the living, "He is not here, he is risen!" With that startling claim, the fulcrum of world history turns as everything now changes. Death has been conquered, life eternal is now available to all who would believe, and the Holy Spirit will now dwell among God's people when Jesus is taken back up to the Father.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
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