Urban Reformation

This is a picture of Abraham’s Faith, Abraham being a “doer” of the word & not a hearer only. I was sent these messages several weeks back by Joe Humphries (One of the Shepherding Group leaders at our church.) They have been so eye opening. C.J. Mahaney from Sovereign Grace Ministries helps start this series / conference off with a message of “Application.”

Application: Preserving Our Future
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He begins:

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

C.J. said things like, ” Expository preaching…..True knowledge is the prelude to action, and it is obedience to the word that counts in the end. The prelude cannot become the pinnacle. Truth must be both proclaimed and applied, preached and practiced, learned and obeyed. ”

He said, “… that we must be careful not to make the prelude the pinnacle…. He continued on to say that biblical knowledge apart from obedience puffs up.” (Paraphrased)

He also told a story of someone who came to him that was willing and ready to join the church and this was a profound moment…. it was how this man explained to C.J. that it was not simply the preaching that moved him to become a part of that Body of believers that was most impactful but it was the Godly character of 10 or more of the members that this person had interacted with which moved this man to be a part.

C.J. was drawing the line here that it was the Gospel in action. (My own interjection, I clearly understood it wasn’t the action only but it was the prelude of the preaching, and then the doing in the application where God’s word was brought to life for this man, and he “experienced” the Gospel in a true way.)

Some other points he made were for small group application. Specifically to be sure not to be too vague or general yet also don’t try to bury them with all the application of the gospel at once. He stated that we are simple people. He spoke about how much we forget, and how often. He said just as we’re not sanctified or changed all at once we can not always swallow the whole truth in one gulp.

All of these being sins I have committed at one time or another I’m sure but then…, he touched on my own pet sin. As some would put it he got into my kitchen.

I wrote to my wife stating here honey, “God has revealed to me finally for your sake I’m sure, the current resident idol in my life of impatience.” — C.J. talked how impatience proves the sin of pride in ones life. He pointed me to Christ in it, reminding me how patient God is with me.

When I was listening to the end of this message I realized that I had been pegged, that God was at that moment peering down in the window and looking deep into my heart, convicting me and giving me what I believe was a Godly sorrow unto repentance. I pray to continually be aware and repenting in this area of my life. C.J. talked about this in the context of small groups, yet I took it within that context, but also in the context of my home and with those who interact with me most.

C.J. then talked about a time with his son, in correcting him. He said if you had a transcript of the conversation that there would be no evidence of wrongness, that you could probably accuse him of, but it was the “tone” of his voice. This so powerfully convicted me. I have often even unaware, because hiding behind the excuse that God has filled me with a zeal and passion for the things of God, sit by and justify my “attitude” giving it the guise of “passionate” speaking. All the while reading the “Edwards” post from yesterday, I still so blind to my own sin.

Although by God’s grace I give thanks that it is true to some extent God has granted me a passion for Himself, I do not fool Him when I hide behind it universally with the impatience with my children, wife, family, and friends. I can not say with an impatient voice, “I have told you for the last time to clean your room!” and somehow justify that is a passionate attitude. What a wretch I am. It is rooted in pride, and unbelief that God is sufficient. It is void of Grace in which God has shown me.

God is forever dealing with me, and showing me and although this message intended for small groups and I will use to for that reason, it was truly something God used to prick my heart with the Gospel, and exposed my own indwelling ugliness. I thank God for Christ and for God revealing this, as painful as it is to bring the application of the Gospel to bear on this area of my life, as the Prelude of Expository Preaching and the Demands of its Application work together like pliers both ends tensioning together to bring the reality of of my sin, my salvation and my sanctification to bear on my life in such a real way, so that I do not deceive myself!

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