Faithful's Defense continued - Superstition

Continuing on from our previous post, we consider Faithful's defense against the charge leveled by one Superstition.

Superstition: My lord, I have no great acquaintance with this man, nor do I desire to have further knowledge of him. However, this I know, that he is a very pestilent fellow, from some discourse that I had with him the other day, in this town; for then, talking with him, I heard him say, that our religion was naught, and such by which a man could by no means please God. Which saying of his, my lord, your lordship very well knows what necessarily thence will follow, to wit, that we still do worship in vain, are yet in our sins, and finally shall be damned: and this is that which I have to say.

Oh, for such grace to speak so plainly. Superstition understood somewhat from faithful that according to his religion he could never PLEASE GOD. And if God is not pleased the he will surely and finally be damned. We know that if Faithful said such things he said them in love. In hope that the words of his counsel would work to life in the hearer.

FAITHFUL's response to this Charge:

As to the second, to wit, Mr. Superstition, and his charge against me, I said only this, that in the worship of God there is required a divine faith; but there can be no divine faith without a divine revelation of the will of God. Therefore, whatever is thrust into the worship of God that is not agreeable to divine revelation, cannot be done but by a human faith; which faith will not be profitable to eternal life.

The Worship of God requires a divine Faith. We cannot devise whatever seems best to us and offer that up. But a DIVINE FAITH is required. What does the scriptures say:

Heb 11:6 Without Faith no man can please GOD.

But, note the further connection made by Faithful. There will be no divine faith without a divine revelation of the will of God. Again the Word of God is paramount. Those who would eschew the holy scripture have not a divine revelation and if no divine revelation there will be no DIVINE Faith. And no divine faith no TRUE worship of God.

FINALLY Faithful adds that whatever is THRUST into the worship of GOD not found in holy scriptures - not agreeable to divine revelation -- cannot be done but by a HUMAN FAITH - and such a human faith is not profitable to eternal life.

What superstitions are thrust into the worship of GOD? I was reminded of so many things some held very tightly even among evangelical churches.

SELFISMS:
"The most important thing is that you love yourself. You cannot love God or others until you first Love yourself."

PROSPERITY GOSPEL:
"God only wants to make you rich, Name it and claim it, positive confession, you are god."

TRANSUBSTANTIATION:
"Bow down and worship that wafer for it is now Christ offered again a sacrifice."

PURGATORY:
"Christ paid for part of your sins but you must yet make up by suffering in purgatory for those that remain."

FOOLISHNESS:
I once had a friend in his early twenties who went to church camp, had a great time there, and at the conclusion of the week made some vows and together with the other campers they braided a string together and solemnly put it around the wrists of all campers as a means to strengthen their vows, the string of power. Remove the string lose the power. Oh boy. My friend wore that string for months on end - it was filthy, but how could he take it off, solemnly the string was placed around his wrist. Where is this in the word of GOD?

SO CALLED DELIVERANCE MINISTRIES:
Jesus can save you from your sin, but subsequent to this you need to be delivered from all the demon strong holds. Salvation is good, but deliverance even better. And how to accomplish this? Research your ancestry, find out what a wicked person your great-grandmother was and REPENT FOR HER, break the bondage. Why do you still sin? Because you have yet to be delivered. REPENT for the sins of your ancestors and break that strong hold. (same friend with the string was caught up in this also.) This wasn't your typical charismatic power encounter but a kind of psychological/deliverance technique popularized by Neil Anderson and Mark Bubeck. SUPERSTITION! When I protested my friend said simply "you just don't understand the deep things of the word of God like my Pastor." My reply: "your pastor doesn't understand the gospel and the power thereof."

EMERGENT CHURCH:
"Don't tell me things about Jesus, I just want to follow him."

SUPERSTITION - HUMAN FAITH

GOOD COUNSEL FROM FAITHFUL:
"whatever is thrust into the worship of God that is not agreeable to divine revelation, cannot be done but by a human faith..."

In connection to Faithful's response to Superstition's charge my girls and I discussed those who claim: "You make an idol of the bible." "The bible is not God." "This is idolatry to worship a book." "Jesus is the word of God not the bible."

Certainly we know the bible is not God. But also, when we read the bible, God is speaking to us. The Spirit of God by the Word of God is communicating to us truth and Divine revelation. We don't worship paper and ink, but we do worship a God who has revealed himself to us via the Word and Spirit.

Faithful's Defense to the Jury of Vanity Fair

The girls and I have read through Vanity Fair and past up to Hopeful and Christian's meeting with Mr. Byends from the city of Fairspeech. But this morning before we could begin our conversations returned once again to Faithful's trial. First we thought of Mr. Blindman's humourous but deadly charge, "I see clearly that this man is a heretic. The rest of the jury followed suit according to their names as in Mr. Malice who hates the very looks of him and Mr. Live-Loose charging that Faithful would "always be condemning my way."

So with such fond memories we backed up and revisited the trial. And once again the same defense made by Faithful Cheered, instructed and edified us.

FOR EXAMPLE consider the Charge made by ENVY:

"And in particular, I heard him once myself affirm, that Christianity and the customs of our town of Vanity were diametrically opposite, and could not be reconciled. By which saying, my lord, he doth at once not only condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them."

Faithful is on trial for his very life. His testimony is at stake. His life here is threatened.

How did Faithful respond? How would you respond? You talk with your acquaintances in the world and before you know it they are quite incensed with you. They rightly conclude that if what you say is true then you call into question there very religion for you make their "customs" to be diametrically opposite to Christianity itself.

Faithfuls wise and faithful response:

"I say, then, in answer to what Mr. Envy hath spoken, I never said aught but this, that what rule, or laws, or custom, or people, were flat against the word of God, are diametrically opposite to Christianity."

And so we learned this morning also, that what is FLAT OUT AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD is indeed diametrically opposite to Christianity. This truth should sink into us -- enter the ears and eyes and flow down solid into our hearts. We must be concerned to find our rule in scripture and to oppose God's counsel found there is opposed indeed to Christianity itself.

We learned also not to think lightly of the Word of God. What seems right in our own eyes matters not but what God has declared this is rightness itself.

I liked Faithful's answer - he is not their judge nor did he pretend to be. Simply this what is FLAT AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD IS diametrically opposed to Christianity.

MBC 04/26/09 Sermon on 1Pet 2:1-3

Continuing our series from First Peter, this post is a summary of the most recent sermon preached at Morningside Baptist Church (MBC) by Pastor Dave Sowers. The audio of the sermon can be found at the "Sermon Audio Podcast" link of the website http://www.morningsidebaptist.us/. Pastor Sowers pictured to the left. As much as is possible it is hoped that these notes honor both the intent and the content of Pastor Sowers' original message. Please compare to the sermon audio podcast.

Remember the old GERITOL ad: "If you got your health youv'e got everything." This thought is engrained in us. When sick ourselves, or our loved ones being sick, we will at any cost we do what we can to become healthy or to have our loved ones healed.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH: How serious should we be regarding our spiritual health and the spiritual health of our loved ones. More so than our physical health the necessity of spiritual health should be ENGRAINED within us.

New Living Translation: NLT 1 Timothy 4:7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

We should be concerned to feed your souls as well as your body.

Our hearts need to be fed by Grace.

OUR TEXT TODAY: 1Pe 2:1-3
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

WHEREFORE: note the connection to the previous passage. In light of the fact that we have been born again: 1Pe 1:22-25

IF you have been born by the word of God -- NOW DESIRE that word.

FIVE DESTRUCTIVE THINGS TO BE PUT AWAY:
Harmless Things - toxic to our own soul.

1) MALICE: which is to desire harm to others. Malice stirred up when someone harms us. Put away All malice not just some. It is the opposite of "Love covers a multitude of sins." 1PE 4:8

2) Put away GUILE: Eph 2:22-24

3) Put away all hypocrisy

4) Envy - resentful awareness of an advantage others have.
Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

5) Slander see 1Pe 2:12
We are not to be the backbiter - evil speakers.

AVOID THESE FIVE HARMFUL THINGS LIKE THE PLAGUE

1Pet 2:2
Pursue the goal of your spiritual growth.

Learn from Jerry Bridges example to GROW IN YOUR FAITH.

He says he grew little the first three years of his christian life. He didn't know how. He didn't know that he should be INTENTIONAL about spiritual growth.

In general, growth is a normal expression of life. Something that is alive is something that should be growing.

IF you are not growing spiritually something is wrong. "It's a bad sign" in the case of a believer who is not growing. It is a bad sign physically for the individual or the child that is not growing. So also true spiritually.

God expects his children to grown.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Eph 4:11-16
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Phil 3:12-15

Col 1:28-29

Heb 6:1-2

HOW DOES GROWTH HAPPEN?

It doesn't just happen by osmosis -- by itself. But occurs as a result of INTENTIONAL and APPROPRIATE effort.

APPROPRIATE: in that it is biblical effort. Effort governed by the word of God.

INTENTIONAL: in that it is purposeful effort.

1Pet 2:2 DESIRING the sincere milk of the word. Growth is not apart from the word.

Not just reading the word but desiring "like new born babies desire milk."

1) INTENSE DESIRE: babies are serious about milk.

PSA 119 -- we should read this psalm all week long.

Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

2) REGULAR INTAKE: babies need milk on a regular basis, roughly every three hours.
Do we have regular intake of the bible?

PSA 1
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

3) BABIES are UNHAPPY WITHOUT MILK

They are unhappy until the get some milk. Nothing else will help: pacifier, finger, etc. Babies act like their life depends on getting milk.

Do we?????

We can't live without the bible.

Psa 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.


You don't have to mow dead grass or feed dead goldfish. You have to feed your pets. You can't tell a baby "I don't have time to feed you."

God's word is as important as spiritual life. It is more than necessary food.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Most of us work our schedule around eating every day. Do we work our schedule around eating God's word every day.

4) Babies are very content when they get milk
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Is there any resemblance between my DESIRE for the bible and a babies for MILK?

Why do we have to be prompted to dig into the bible? -- You have to be in the word!

Pray: God give me a holy hunger for your word.

Pray: God incline my heart.
Pray: I'm not what I should be God, make me hunger for your word.

1Pet 2:3
Have you personally, first hand tasted the word of God?

Taste it to Know it.

Matthew Poole:
If so be; this doth not imply a doubting, but a supposition, as was before observed, 1Pe 1:17.

Ye have tasted; not lightly tasted by a bare ineffectual knowledge, as Heb 6:4; but experienced and perceived by the taste of your spiritual palate; your spiritual sense, and ability to judge of spiritual things, being restored to you, with your new birth. He refers to Psa 34:8, and possibly to Isa 66:11.

The Lord; the Lord Jesus Christ, as appears by the next verse.

Is gracious; good, kind, or rather, sweet: the same word is applied to wine, Luk 5:39. The sense of the whole is: If ye have by faith received the gospel as glad tidings, and worthy of all acceptation, 1Ti 1:15, and therein perceived and experienced the sweetness of those consolations which are in Christ Jesus, Phi 2:1; or, which is the same, how sweet he is, who, in the preaching of the gospel, exhibits himself to your spiritual senses, to be fed upon and tasted by you.

Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

COME TASTE!

Glory to God, By His Grace and For His Glory