Two-Faced Chameleons

PART 2:

This next section of Psalms 50 was written to people that live double lives. To the ones that are eager to have their name associated with God, but live as though He doesn't exist.

Hypocrites, 

"Why do you act as though we have this great relationship? You talk about me, and tell of how much I mean to you. You HATE instruction, and you could care less about what my Word says. When you see an evil-doer, you run with them. You love evil. You do all of these sinful things; you justify them, and act as though I am ok with them. 

But, I WILL reprove thee, and set evil doers straight. Think about this and change, before I tear you to pieces, and there will be nothing left to save!" (I love God's bluntness here!) 

Then the chapter concludes with a statement for both groups,

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."

Our sole purpose it to glorify God. 

John

Thanks for giving me my stuff!

I have really been enjoying my study in Psalms. esp. the last couple of days. I started ch 50 today and I want to share what I have learned from it so far. 

The Psalmist starts out the chapter talking about the wrath of God and how it will be displayed at the tribulation (I think that is what it is talking about) and how God will gather up His saints. He will come with vengence and fire. Then the rest of the chapter is divided into two sections were God gives a message to the saints and the wicked. I only finished the part about the saints so I will post the rest about the sinners later.

Saints,

"First of all, I am your (personal) God! I am not reprimanding you for your sacrifices, but in reality... they aren't your sacrifices. I own the cattle on a thousand hills, I know all the birds and the beasts, and they are mine. So, I don't neeed you or your sacrifices. If I was hungery, I would not go to you for help. I reminded you in verse one that I am the creator, I make the sun rise and set. I made it all out of nothing. Yet, you like to think you are great for handing out a tract. (btw, keep handing out tracts!) Just remember every good gift and every perfect cometh down from the Father of lights. (then he ends with) Offer me your thanksgiving and pay your vows to me. (I love you even though you are worthless) call upon me in the day of trouble: I WILL deliver thee, and as a result, your natural response will be to glorify me."

We serve an awsome God! He is like none other! 

Keep praising God!

John

More thankful reflections

I was reading in Psalms 45 this morning. I was having a hard time understanding what David was trying to say, and who the psalm was talking about. If you read it, it looks like he is writing a secular king. But, how does that apply to my personal walk with God? So, I looked it up in the New American Standard Bible and it had this footnote which I thought was very insightful.

Psalm 45:1 Jesus spoke of what was written of Him "in the Psalms" (see Luke 24:44). This is one such Messianic psalm. However, the capitalization indicating the deity is offered provisionally. The chapter is written against the background of a secular royal wedding. But the New Testament reference to this psalm in Heb. 1:8, 9, where verses 6 and 7 of Psalm 45 are quoted and applied to Christ, makes any other interpretation seem incidental in importance.

So now as I look over it again, it makes sense that the psalmist IS writing this as if it was to an earthly monarch. But it refers to Christ!

I am thankful to God for the resources that I have to help me understand him better. I was preparing for my sermon Sunday and I was using the bible software that Jesse bought. It has almost every resource imaginable. So, if I had a question about anything I could get it answered with the click of a button.

I am also thankful for the godly men that have translated the bible and written those resouces so that I could know my God better

John

^{vs 17} I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Psa 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Psa 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.


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Last night at church, I had a very refreshing time focusing on the goodness of God displayed in my fellow believers lives. There was also testimony of ones who had accepted Christ later in life, and though they thankful for the forgiveness of God, one could still sense the regret. So today I am thankful that Christ has forgiven my sins, and that I gave my life over to Him before I could really do something dumb. I am also thankful for a godly parents, who put me in a godly home so that I would still be tender enough for the Spirit to work. I know myself! If I had been in any other home I probably would still be wallowing in my sin! I still have a hard enough time with it, now that I don't want it! But God is good and he orchestrated and shaped my life so that I would have the positive influences around me!

Striving for Excellence!
John P. Dierking

I'm frustrated with my sin!

Wow! I am tired! I was up studying my sermon until 3am this morning. At 7:30am my mom came and sprayed me with water! So much for sleeping in for the holiday! 4 and a half hours just doesn't cut it for me!

I am on Psalms 42 in my devo's
This is the Psalm that talks about the hart longing for streams, and my soul longing for God. I thought it was worthy of noting the end of the chapter. The Psalmist again, like so often before, tells of his love for God and then suddenly falls into discouragement because he sins, right after he has just had a great victory!

I remember Mr Byers giving his testimony at church once and he said: 'I felt as though I struggled even more after I got saved. I was having all kinds of bad thoughts. I felt discouraged, as though maybe I wasn't for real. I talk to pastor (Lutz) about it and his words of encouragement were: "That is proof that you ARE for real. Before, you did all these things but it didn't bother you. Now, you are living for the Spirit. When you do them it bothers you so you notice your sin more."

Take encouragement from this! No, you are not happy with your sin. Yes, God is grieved. But, it is proof that the Spirit is in you!

John

A lesson in hatred!

I read a quote once that went something like: "the closer you draw to God; the humbler you will become." I don't know if I am getting closer to God but, I know that I am beginning to hate myself. I hate my desire to sin. I hate my love of this world. I hate my self-satisfying attitude. But I love it! I turn around and do exactly what I hate!


"Lord, save this wretch from my sin. Cause me to know your strength! Do not withhold thy loving kindness from me. Grant me courage to suffer for the cause of righteousness. Give me a hunger for your truth!"

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What I have been learning:
I am doing a very interesting study on suffering for the cause of the Gospel. One of the verses, which I will be using this Sunday, has become very special to me. It's 1 Peter 4:1 "Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." I have been struggling to understand all that this entire chapter meant, but esp. this verse. I was listening to several sermon mp3's. One of the ones by John Piper help me to understand this verse a little better. This verse does not mean that if you suffer persecution you will not sin. It means if you have the mindset of: "I am willing to suffer the ridicule or persecution that comes with taking a stand for Christ because, I know that God wants me to and, doing it will benefit me because God wants whats best for my life." When someone takes the Lord's name in vain and you say something, they probably aren't going to say: "I really respect you for that!" No, they will probably ridicule you. But if you keep reading the chapter it talks about the joy that the Lord gives for those that suffer for his sake. This is not a "past a smile on your face" joy. But this is a peace that God works all things for good to them that love him.

That is just a sneak preview of what im working on for Sunday. Keep praying, I have a long way to go until its complete!

John

Ready? Set? Go!

I created this blog as a growth chart for my spiritual walk. This will be a place where I place my prayer requests and the answers that God provides! I also will place my thoughts and struggles (without getting to personal!) to encourage me and to serve of a reminder of God's grace.


John P. Dierking