Denny Burk has the story behind the story of the three men who were martyred for their faith, men of whom the world is not worthy of. "The three men were heading to a previously arranged bible study with some Islamic “seekers” who had expressed interest in the Christian faith. It turned out that the five “seekers” weren’t interested in Christianity at all. After Necati read a chapter from the Bible, the five men assaulted the three Christians. The assault turned into a gruesome three-hour torture session." Some of this report is quite graphic in the details of the deaths of these men of whom the world was not worthy of. (HT: JT)

Martin Luther on the Truth War

Martin Luther, that noble gospel soldier, threw down the gauntlet at the feet of every Christian in every generation after him when he said:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all battlefields besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point."

Truth War

It seems like every time I turn around, every time I read some blog, there is something new that concerns me about evangelical Christianity in America today. That is not to say that I am encouraged on many fronts as I hear of the triumph of truth. For this I rejoice.

As we think of the battles that we must constantly engage in as we "fight the good fight of faith" as Paul writes to Timothy, I trust that we will not grow weary in doing well. I was strengthened to press on and persevere in the cause for truth as last week I read The Truth War by John MacArthur. This book is full of exhortations to the good and faithful soldier of Jesus Christ. (Of course all of this military allusions are spiritual and figurative. We do not fight with the sword as some other religions advocate). So for the next few weeks I may share a quote or two from this book that encouraged me and I trust may encourage others.

Now is not a good time for Christians to flirt with the spirit of the age. We cannot afford to be apathetic about the truth God has put in our trust. It is our duty to guard, proclaim, and pass the truth on to the next generation (1 Timothy 6:20-21). We who look to Christ and believe the truth embodied in His teaching must awaken to the reality of the battle that is raging all around us. We must do our part in the ages-old Truth War. We are under a sacred obligation to join the battle and contend for the faith. . . .

Our task as ambassadors is to bring good news to people. Our mission as soldiers is to overthrow false ideas. We must keep those objectives straight; we are not entitled to wage warfare against people or to enter into diplomatic relations with anti-Christian ideas. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12); and our duty as ambassadors does not permit us to compromise or align ourselves with any kind of human philosophies, religious deceit, or any other kind of falsehood (Colossians 2:8).

If those sound like difficult assignments to keep in balance and maintain in proper perspective, it is because they are indeed. . . .

We are ambassador-soldiers, reaching out to sinners with the truth even as we make every effort to destroy the lies and other forms of evil that hold them in deadly bondage. That is a perfect summary of every Christian's duty in the Truth War.

Sad news in China

The Chinese mother named "Wei was seven months into her pregnancy, and hers was no natural stillbirth. The 34-year-old is a resident of Guangxi Province in southern China, and local officials dragged her to a hospital, injected her abdomen with chemicals to kill her baby, and lingered to make sure that he died. Her forced abortion was one of at least 60 in the province that took place under the direction of Chinese officials in Baise City during a 24-hour period April 17-18." Read the rest of the story here and mourn.

Holiness: Transcendent Majesty

"But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." Habakkuk 2:20

"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)

A few months ago I read a chapter on the holiness of God that has deepened my understanding of this important aspect of God's character.

Stephen Charnock defines God's holiness as "a glorious perfection belonging to the nature of God. Hence he is in Scripture styled often the Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, the Holy One of Israel; and oftener entitled Holy, than Almighty, and set forth by this part of his dignity more than any other."

Holiness is more than just moral perfection; it is also transcendence as R. C. Sproul points out, "When we speak of the transcendence of God we are talking about that sense in which God is above and beyond us. It tries to get at His supreme and altogether greatness. . . .Transcendence describes God in his consuming majesty, His exalted loftiness. It points to the infinite distance that separates Him from every creature."

So when we think of describing God we have to use terms like "wholly, absolutely, infinitely, incomprehensible, supreme, exalted, solitary, unique, and peerless."

I concur with Jerry Bridges who writes in The Joy of Fearing God, "Majesty, refers to sovereign power, authority or dignity. It speaks of grandeur and splendor. It can be a relative term, however, when we use it of human rulers--some are more sovereign or powerful than others; some have more grandeur and splendor. When we speak of God's majesty, we have to mean absolute, unequaled majesty. Since transcendence means over and above, I propose the expression transcendent majesty to enable us to come closest to an understanding of God."

So, let us delight to fear God. Let us cleanse ourselves from evil in our flesh and spirit (2 Corinthains 7:1). May we practice humility in light of his transcendence (Isaiah 57:15). Surely we should grow in gratitude to God for His mercy to us through Christ. And such a sense of transcendent majesty should cause us to enter His presence with reverence (Hebrews 10:19, 22).

Enjoy God's holiness and praise Him for His transcendent majesty!

Last week Turkey, this week praying for China

Massive Arrest of Chinese and American Christian Leaders in Xinjiang

Contact: Bob Fu, China Aid Association, 432-689-6985, info@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.monitorChina.org

MIDLAND, Texas, April 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- China Aid Association has learned though credible sources that on April 19, 2007 in Akesu city, Xinjiang province, about 30 major house church leaders were arrested when they met with four American Christians. The four Americans were also arrested. Included among the arrested Americans are a senior pastor and an associate pastor of an American church. Sources tell CAA that the four Americans arrived at Akesu airport on April 17 and fellowshipped with the house church leaders on April 18 at a local church family house.

At the time of this press release the four Americans are still being held for questioning in an undisclosed hotel. The translator for the Americans, Mr. Jinhong Li from Beijing, is also still being detained. On April 23, the PSB confiscated the luggage of the four Americans from the house of their host, a local church family.

Eight Chinese pastors were released on April 20 and at least 6 others have already received criminal detention papers for 30 days detention, accused as "suspects involved in evil cult activities." The names of the accused are Pastor Xinglan Zhao, Pastor Xiurong Huang, Pastor Tianlu Yang, 41, Pastor Chaoyi Wang, 41, Pastor Cuiling Li, 48, and Pastor Sijun He.

The Chinese government may sentence the six accused pastors to 1-3 years re-education through labor because they were previously detained a couple of years ago for one month for organizing house church activities. Eyewitnesses told CAA that at least two of the arrested were seen with bleeding noses and bruises on their faces from torture at the interrogation site. They are being held at A Ke Su City Detention Center.

CAA has learned the US Embassy is intervening for this case.

“We urge the Xinjiang authorities to abide by both the Chinese and international laws in respect of religious freedom.” said Rev. Bob Fu, the president of CAA, “These Americans and Chinese Christians have done nothing wrong and the Police who are engaging in torture against theses Christians are to be held legally and morally responsible for what they have done.”

Issued by China Aid Association Inc. on April 24, 2007

The value of the OT to the New Covenant believer

Does the OT have any relevance or benefit to us as believers living under the New Covenant? I mean beyond just good illustrations for sermons or Sunday school stories for our children? If so, how do we know? And how are the helpful. How do we know that? Romans 15:4 tells us that events and stories of the OT were written for our encouragement. And in an extended passage we learn how the OT is for our benefit. Specifically drawing on some stories from the book of Numbers primarily Paul writes,

"I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

I heard a message recently from a well-known Presbyterian pastor named Ligon Duncan and in it he made several salient observations about how and why we as believers who are partakers of the New Covenant should view the Old Testament as edifying and important for us today. These events actually happened for us and God wants us to learn from them how we should now live today.

1 - The events that occurred in the OT were examples to us. The New Testament often uses examples from the Old Testament to draw application for the reader. The inspired writers use the Old Testament to encourage and exhort Christians to live the Christian life. Here Paul says the examples in the Old Testament happened to teach us.

2 - The events that happened happened as a moral warning to us. Those events are designed to warn us off from evil cravings.

3 - The Apostle does not merely say these things are recorded as examples for us but that they happened as examples for us. In God's design, all the pain and suffering in the wilderness happened so that we can learn from it and from this we learn just how much He loves us.

4 - The events of the OT provide exhortation to New Testament believers. God in His providence has in view New Covenant believers even in the events that happen in OT.

5 - Paul specifically applies this to New Testament believers in four areas. 1) Do not be idolaters. 2) Do not be immoral. 3) Do not presumptuously test the Lord. 4) Do not grumble against providence.

6 - Not only did these events happen for Christians, but they were written down for Christians. They were written for our instruction.

7 - The Apostle warns us against thinking that we will not fall like they did. Don't think that just because you have seen the glories of the cross that you are impervious to the temptation to fall like the people in the wilderness and in the OT kingdom.

8 - We are to learn from their temptations and failures in order to escape ours. Duncan quoted the old phrase "He who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it" and suggested that this is the spiritual corollary.

9 - Christ is at the very center of this story, the whole wilderness experience, yes of the OT kingly line that would eventuate in the coming of the Messiah who is Christ.. He is the rock and it is all about Him.

So, read, learn, apply the OT to your life, follower of Jesus Christ!

Praying for our children

At our church we have compiled a list of twelve prayer pointers for parents to pray for their chldren. Each one of these becomes a matter of prayer focus for our weekly midweek church prayer meeting. Jon Bloom at Desiring God posted a few more prayers (a friend shared with him) to include in our intercession for our children I think you will find them helpful.

Recently a good friend shared with me these verses that he and his wife have prayed for their two daughters (now teens) since they were babies. I find them very helpful and have included them in my prayer folder for my children. I thought I'd pass them along to you as well. (Thanks, Chris!)

That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15)

That they will respond in faith to Jesus' faithful, persistent call.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

That their thoughts will be pure.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord's work.

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

That when the time is right, they will GO!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Depression and finding joy in God!

Depression, as Ed Welch calls it correctly, is a stubborn darkness. I am reading through his book currently on this theme and he has several very helpful points that he makes. But several months ago I also listened to a podcast by John Piper on "How to Fight for Joy When You Don't Desire God." I found great hope in this message and I would like to offer the main points to you. If you get ocassionally "blue" or really fight serious depression I believe this principles and action steps will really help you. You can also find these thoughts in Piper's book When You Don't Desire God. So here is how he suggests and what I have found very helpful in fighting a loss of joy or depression in my life.

1. Recognize that joy is a gift from God and you can't just make it happen (Galatians 5:22)
2. Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly (2 Corinthians 1:24)
3. Resolve to attack all known sin in your life. The evidence that you are a Christian is that you hate your imperfections and are making war on them (Romans 8:11)
4. Learn the secre of gusty guilt. Learn how to fight like a justified sinner (Micah 7:17ff)
5. The battle for joy is primarily one of seeing God (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4)
6. Meditate on the Word (Psalm 19:7; John 15:11; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 17:7)
7. Pray earnestly and continually for open eyes and an open hear and an inclination for God. Pray for joy (Psalm 119:36, 10; 86:11; 90:14)
8. Learn to preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself (Psalm 42:5). Our minds are much too passive in our fight for joy!
9. Spend time with God-saturated people who will help you see God and fight the fight for joy (Hebrews 3:12-13). Fighting for joy is a community project.
   
10. Be patient in the night of God's seeming absence (Psalm 40:1-3). Don't begrudge God's timing.
11. Get the rest, the exercise and the proper diet your body is designed to have. Patience is the fruit of sleep and of the Spirit. Sleep makes you humble. It reminds you that you aren't God. Sleep is a daily witness to your finitude.
12. Make a proper use of God's revelation in nature (Psalm 19:1). A mouthful of sea air or a stiff walk in the wind's face would not give grace to the soul but it will yield oxygen to the body which is the next best thing. Don't be so introspective and so self-absorbed that you can't see the sun rise, the squirrels playing, the gnarled tree, or the intricacy of an eyeball.
13. Be sacrificial toward others.
    
14. Get a global vision. Think "Jesus owns the universe and I belong to Him."

If you are suffering with depression even now, let me encourage you with two thoughts in closing. First, Jesus shared in our sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10). And secondly, if you have experienced salvation from the Lord, remember God is always good and generous. ""He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32, ESV). There is light for the path that you are walking today.

Another helpful resource in dealing with VT massacre and suffering

Tabletalk magazine has offered this month's issue on line for free. The website reads:

As we mourn with the students and families directly impacted by the tragic killings at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute on April 16, 2007, we who are believers in the one, true God turn to His promises for comfort (Psalm 119:50).

With the hope that we might assist those struggling with the questions and feelings raised by this horrific event, Ligonier Ministries humbly offers for your reading the feature articles and columns from the April 2007 issue of Tabletalk magazine, which, in God’s providence, discusses the subject of grief.

We pray that these resources, in some small way, will help you find comfort in the arms of our sovereign God and will help you look for the day when He will “wipe away every tear” from the eyes of His people who rest assured in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:4).

April 2007 Tabletalk Articles:

• Sin, Death, and Grief by Burk Parsons
  


• A Grief Observed by R.C. Sproul
  


• From Grief to Glory by Jim Coffield
  


• Mourn with Those Who Mourn by Archie Parrish
  


• Good Grief? by Anthony Carter
  


• True Shepherding by Joel R. Beeke
  


• Hope by R.C. Sproul Jr.
  


• A Tale of Two Funerals by Gene Edward Veith

Some good reads on the Virginia Tech tragedy

Here are some items have read this week that have not been from the mainstream media regarding what has happened in Blacksburg, VA and the Virginia Tech incident.

Dan Burrell gives a first-hand ministry report from Blacksburg.

Fundamentally Reformed writes on "God and the Virginia Tech Massacre"

Douglas Groothuis constructively comments on the media coverage of this event

This is interesting and great: The Desiring God blog links to Friday's broadcast of John Macarthur's Grace to You discussion of the VT shootings. If you can't listen, you can call Grace to You at 1-800-554-7223 for a free CD of this program.

Finally, this breaks my heart and compounds the situation for Christians who are ministering biblically.

(HT: Pulpit Magazine)

Three men die for the gospel in Turkey yesterday

Three believers, a missionary and a two Turkish men, were killed yesterday in a Christian bookstore yesterday.

According to an email I received from a Baptist Mid Missions missionary, each men left behind a wife and children (in at at least one case some young children). One missionary couple, on their way to Turkey to minister to the grieving, asks us to pray as follows:

1. God's comfort and grace for the surviving wives and children.

2. God's help for the wives with all the decisions they will have to make in the next days and weeks.

3. God's insight for us to have wisdom and love to comfort these families effectively.

4. God's name to be glorified through the martrydom of his children.

Understanding the partial birth abortion debate

Greg Koukl at Stand to Reason has some excellent articles to equip you in talking with others about the so-called "partial birth abortion" procedure and debate highlighted this week by the Supreme Court's decision to uphold laws prohibiting this gruesome act.

A righteous decision: The Supreme Court decison

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld a law banning partial-birth abortion, a horrific procedure designed to murder children who are within three inches of full birth. While much focus has been placed in the last few days on the "worst massacre on a campus in US history" (and we do weep with those who weep), nonetheless this decision reminds us of the greatest massacre (which is still going on) in American history.

Yet there is hope. Al Mohler believes that "April 18, 2007 will go down in history as a landmark day in the struggle to recover human dignity and the sanctity of human life." Read the whole commentary here.

Jesus Christ: The Exemplar of Manly Dominion

In a book I am reading right now entitled Manly Dominion, Mark Chanski is motivating me to not just passively surrender to cowardice in my life, but to aggressively and courageously pursue Christ. The first few chapters are full of biblical men who exercised courage and manliness in their lives: Abraham, Noah, Joshua, David, David's mighty men, Nehemiah, and Paul. Our greatest example of manliness, however, is the Lord Jesus Christ "who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted" (Hebrews 12:3).

From the very beginning of his life till the very end of it, Jesus faced overwhelming circumstances but he never gave in to those. What a motivation for me to press on and "play the man."

John Flavel a great Puritan, writes to us regarding our obligation to aggressively and courageously, not passively and cowardly serve Christ:

Are you staggered at your sufferings, and hard things you must endure for Christ in this world? Doth the flesh shrink back from these things and cry, spare thyself? What is there in the world more likely to steel and fortify thy spirit with resolution and courage, than such a sight as this? Did Chrsit face the wrath of men, and the wrath of God too? Did he stand as a pillar of brass, with unbroken patience, and steadfast resolution, under such trouble as never met in the like height upon any mere creature, for a trifle? Ah did He not serve me so! I will arm myself with the like mind.

Dost thou idle away precious time vainly, and live unusefully to Christ in thy generation? What is more apt to convince and cure thee, than such remembrance of Christ as this? O when thou considerest thou art not thine own, thy time, thy talents are not thine own, but Christ's; . . .This will powerfully awaken a dull, sluggish, and lazy spirit. In a word, what grace is ther that that this remembrance of Chrst cannot quicken? What sin cannot it mortify: What duty cannot it animate: O it is of singular use in all cases for the people of God.

Men, in the face of intimidating obstacles, crippling insecurities, fears of failure, love of ease, and temptations to sloth, not to mention antagonistic personalities, overwhelming circumstances and seemingly impossible odd, let's with God's help today work out our own salvation with fear and trembling!

Should a lover of Christ marry an unbeliever?

Should a lover of Jesus Christ marry an unbeliever? How do we know the answer to that? What if a person becomes a Christian after marriage to an unbeliever?

The book of 2 Chronicles as well as Ezra teach that part of the repentant life of faith is not marrying an unbeliever, who in biblical terms is also called an idolater. Here is why: If you marry an unbeliever he or she will divide your heart.

Much of the idolatry in Israel came from marrying spouses who loved idolatry. King Jehoram, for example, marries a daughter of Ahab, a wicked king and she influenced his heart for ill: "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." (21:6, all references from 2 Chronicles unless specified). King Jehoshaphat, a good king, marries one of the Ahab's relatives as well (18:1). During the reign of Asa, a pretty good king, he had to depose his grandmother Maacah as queen because she was leading the people into sin (15:16). Who was Maacah? She was the wife of King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. And Rehoboam himself, the chronicler tells us, is the offspring of the union between Solomon and one of his Ammonite wives (12:13). All this goes back to King Solomon who intermarried with foreign wives who turned his heart from God.

What is the lesson? Marrying someone who is not fully allied with God will always yield grief and often times result in great evil.

For those returning to Jerusalem the message couldn't have been clearer: “Don't intermarry with the other nations! Intermarriage leads to disaster!” God had warned the people of Israel of this all the way back in Deuteronomy 7:3 and they did not listen and it lead to their downfall the first time.

Now, we aren't trying to set up a nation like Israel, but God is very clear that a marriage of a believer to an unbeliever is not His will (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Why? Well, how attractive can you, who are supremely attracted to Jesus Christ as a believer, find someone who is not? How attractive can that person really be? Now, if you came to be supremely attractive to Jesus Christ after you were married, then God can give you wonderful sustaining grace to keep you in that marriage. That is His will in that case.

But if you are single and free and are biblically able to marry, then the Bible tells you to seek a spouse who loves the Lord as much if not more than you do! He or she will help you and influence you as God intends. If you, a believer, marry an unbeliever, then you will not have exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ and you will not display the character of God as clearly as you can.

What a great deal!

Doxa Digital Press is offering 27 books for $27. Can't beat that price! (HT: Chailles). I downloaded these last night and this is for real. You actually get twenty-four books plus three free books that come with Bible Explorer. I downloaded and installed the Bible Explorer program first. When you register the program you get some additional free books. Then I downloaded this collection from Doxa Digital. There are some books that I would differ with theologically but there are some great deals.

On the Virginia Tech killings: the problem of evil

Here are some of the responses I have read and would recommend for their biblical worldview on the Virginia Tech killings.

Dr. Albert Mohler: Facing the Reality of Evil

Tim Chailles on Praying for Blacksburg: contains reports from two pastors who are ministering to that campus, families and their churches as you read.

Caroyln McCulley shares some appropriate Scripture

John Piper offers 21 ways to minister to people during such times.

Doug Philips on the Horror at Virginia Tech

What is the answer Christians should be giving to what needs to change after this massacre? The answer is not firing the college president, installing more x-ray machines, enacting stricter gun laws or closing our borders. The answer is a new heart. The heart is deceitftul and above everything else, desperately wicked. We need new hearts that love Christ.

Act Like Men!

Grace Community Church just completed a men's weekend conference at the Master's College. Nathan Busenitz blogged about it here. The first address was delivered by John MacArthur on Acting Like Men before God. Among other things he pressed home the truth that as men we must begin with knowledge of the word of God, then truly believe that knowledge deeply and finally love the Word of God and its truth wholeheartedly. He outlined this process as knowledge, information and affection.

He asked, "What is it to be manly? It is to stand firm in the principles and purposes of God, to go forward for the sake of the kingdom, knowing that God has given us the strength and promised us the victory."

True men are courageous, but courage doesn't flow from mere knowledge or principle, it flows from affection. At one point he remarked, "In many ways today, we are watching the emasculation of the church. We have a church without courage, without conviction, in which the Word of God is de-emphasized. What we need is men who love Christ, love the truth, and stand boldly for what they love."

Yes, Lord, give us men men who stand firm on the Word, who are informed by Scripture, who act courageously, who live counter-culturally, and who are strong in Christ! Give us Davids who rally others by stating, "Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”(2 Samuel 10:12)

Heaven blares about the cross!

Yesterday in the Adult Bible Fellowships at my church, the teacher spoke to us on Isaiah 53. I heard a message recently by C.J. Mahaney on this text which made a great impression upon me. As Charles Spurgeon said, "This chapter contains a topic that is worthy of an angel's tongue; it needs Christ Himself to expound it." This chapter is the Bible in miniature and the gospel in its essence.

Derek Tidball in The Message of the Cross submits, “Here then is the one of the peaks of the OT revelation of God. From its summit we can look across the intervening centuries and see the distant coming of Christ. From our vantage point we obtain a clear view of His work on the far off summit of Calvary and gain a definitive perspective on its meaning. This song takes us to the heart of the human problem and to the heart of the divine mind.”

And Franz Deilitzch thought, "It looks as if it had been written beneath the cross upon Golgotha."

This prophetic chapter depicts our crucified Lord and “When we behold the disfigurement of the Son of God, when we find ourselves appalled by his marred appearance, we need to reckon afresh that it is upon ourselves we gaze for he stood in our place.” (Calvin).

“Jesus Christ, who was moved to do everything necessary to save us, endured and exhausted the divine judgment for which I was otherwise inescapably destined. So he won for us forgiveness, adoption, and glory. To affirm penal substitution is to say that believers are in debt to Christ for this and this is the mainspring of all their joy, peace, and praise both now and for eternity.' (J. I. Packer)

The OT prophet focuses our attention on the cross. So do the Gospels. And Paul shows us that apostolic preaching featured Christ and Him crucified! Even in the book of Revelation the emphasis on the cross is great. It seems as if heaven does not get over the cross as if there are better things to think about. Oh no, heaven is cross centered and "quite blaring about it" (Jim Eliff).

If heaven is quite blaring about the cross, then may we never get over it. May we never be less than increasing amazed with the cross. For there Jesus suffered for us because of our sins!