Tasted God's Goodness and Thirsty for More

O God, I have tasted Your goodness,

and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.

I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.

I am ashamed of my lack of desire.

O God, the Triune God,

I want to want You;

I long to be filled with longing;

I thirst to be made more thirsty still.

Show me Your glory, I pray,

so I may know You indeed.

Begin in mercy a new work of love within me…

Give me grace to rise and follow You up from this misty lowland

where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

HT: Grace Community Bible Church

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

What Were We Made For?

What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set for our lives? To know God. What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God... What us the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God.
- J.I. Packer in Knowing God

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Finally, a sunny day in Louisville

This is my third Sunday in Southern Seminary; and finally - a sunny day with a temperature of 16'C. It feels good to have the sun shining and being able to walk about in the open without layers of warm clothing.

This morning I visited Clifton Baptist Church. I was at the Sunday School class at 9.30 am on the Pastoral Epistles taught by Bob Briggs. It was a good session as we examined the first chapter of Titus. It was well taught and Bob, as a layperson, showed a good understanding of scriptures and a commitment to sound teaching and doctrine. The class had a mixed of old and young with two visually-challenged individuals. What left an impression was the obvious care for one another and the warm welcome Lars and myself received.

During the service which started at 10.45 am, Dr. Tom Schreiner preached from Revelation 7:1-17. He spoke on the theme that as believers we are sealed by God, and though we were endure suffering here on earth, we shall be kept safe forever. I enjoyed the hymns and songs sung as we were lead by Chip Stam, who despite his operation on Friday, facilitated our worship of God in singing.

After the service, I had lunch with Lars at Great Wall - it was a good time of conversation around the Gospel and Missions. After which I had the pleasure of a slow Sunday afternoon spent in reading. One of the readings that impressed me was from my personal study of Jerry Bridge's Book - "The Discipline of Grace". In it he quotes a poem attributed to John Bunyan. It goes:

Run, John, run, The Law commands
But gives neither feet nor hands.
Better news the gospel brings;
It bids me fly and gives me wings.

"Grace disciplines us" as Jerry Bridges said, "So where the law condemns, grace forgives through the Lord Jesus Christ. Where the law commands but gives no power, grace commands but does give power though the Holy Spirit who lives and works within us."

This is a good reminder as I start my seminary education that Grace disciplines and instructs. I pray I remember the Gospel daily and place myself in a position to be trained by Grace.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

A Summary of The Gospel

I just received a copy of "Gospel Reconciliation - God's marvelous plan of Salvation" that I ordered from Monergism.com. It contains the sermons and writings of Jeremiah Burroughs on the work of Christ which brings reconciliation with God. I eagerly look forward to reading this in between the assigned readings from my classes.

I leave you with a "Summary of The Gospel" as written by Jeremiah Burroughs:

The gospel of Christ in general is this: It is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ. More largely it is this: As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them the chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought upon the children of men and has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again.

Namely, the second Person in the Trinity takes man's nature upon Himself, and becomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it by suffering what the law and divine justice required, and by making satisfaction for keeping the law perfectly, which satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the souls that are given to Him.

And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be received into the number of those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed unto them , and that they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

- Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Conversation (1657), reprinted by Soli Deo Gloria Publications

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Need for Discipline

"We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not 'disciplined' "?
- A W Tozer (Christianity Today, 20 Nov 1987)

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Snow Storms and a Sovereign God

Pathway under frozen tree limbs coated with ice

Louisville was hit by the recent snow and sleet storm this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures dropped to -10'C. Southern Seminary had about 15 cm of ice and snow, and the falling branches and trees knocked out power lines resulting in power outage to most of the seminary buildings. As a result, I had to move to Craver Building where Boyce College - the undergrad wing of Southern Seminary is. Though it is inconvenient and disruptive, I am thankful for the warm room, comfortable bed and free meals. Many homes in Kentucky are in worse conditions. In addition, I am able to make new friends, and share lives, and in the process pray for salvation for Derrick's family and spend time in prayer together with Jonathan. God is still Sovereign and Good in the midst of this cold and adversity.

Icicles forming on walls

This morning, I managed to catch a ride from Brian to Third Avenue Baptist Church where Kurt Heath preached from Psalm 55:21. His meditations on David's betrayal by his close companion was distinctly Gospel centred. His elaborations on where to look when we ourselves are betrayed by friends are:

1. Look Backwards:
Look to the cross. The truth of Christ work on the cross would enable you to forgive as He has forgiven you.

2. Look Inwards:
Examine you own heart for sin and unfaithfulness. This would drive us to humility as we realise too the depths of our sins.

3. Look Upwards:
Trust in a faithful God who gives us hope in the midst of this betrayal by friends. Trust in a God who bears our griefs and sorrows and to look forward to the day when God will make all things right.

After the sermon, we had lunch in the fellowship hall with Donald, Robert and Xiao Hua. We had a good time of conversations and interaction. I would visit two more churches - Sojourn and Clifton Baptist Church, but at this point I'm inclined towards Third Ave Baptist Church. I am in the USA to learn and serve and in the process be equipped for service back in my home church - Grace Baptist Church, in Singapore. I've much to learn! I resolved to redeem my time wisely - keep me in prayer my friends.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009