Beyond Sunday

Hey Anonymous, thanks for the feedback. I think y...

2009-03-28T22:20:00.000-04:00

Hey Anonymous, thanks for the feedback. I think you might be misunderstanding the context of the question. The question is not whether or not taking the name of the Lord in vain is a sin...this is clear in Scripture (although what we believe to be taking the Lord's name in vain and what is actually meant in Scripture may be two different things). The question is what should be the response of a Christian when someone at work or some other place is using the Lord's name in vain. My response is that this person's law breaking is an opportunity to preach the Gospel. This is an opportunity to share with them the good news of Jesus and the offender's desperate need of saving.

Many Christians today tend to and with addressing the sin rather than the depravity of their fellow man and the remedy for that depravity. Think about it...so what if we can convince somebody to quit breaking this one commandment in our presence? As you alluded to--what about ALL the other sins they commit? What good is that to them? What if they actually listen? Just filthy rags! However, what if we are able to use the same opportunity to shed light on our and their sinful condition and ultimately point them to the very one that they use as an expletive?

As to a matter of conscience I think that we are far too free in our use of "freedom" in Christ. It was not my intention to go in that direction. What I am challenging the Christian to do is to get past their own holiness (which is nothing without Christ's finished work) and introduce the world to Christ's holiness. What I meant by a matter of conscience is that we might have to wait for an appropriate time to address something at work that is offensive to us. Hope this is a little clearer.

As for the simplicity of the video--it is only a few minutes long! We could write papers on this subject!

You are misusing the term "conscience." A matter o...

2009-03-28T19:58:00.000-04:00

You are misusing the term "conscience."
A matter of conscience is not a sin, but rather something that we are convinced that disobeys the spirit of the law. Taking the Lord's name in vain is a sin, period. If it offends a Christian, this is not a matter of conscience.
What is more important is that they understand why taking the Lord's name in vain is so offensive. Not because we don't do it. It's because of who God is. It's because of God's holiness. Realizing God's holiness will make every one of us - Christian or not - fall on our faces and say woe is me, for I am undone. I am unraveled. Completely shattered. For every time I didn't take the Lord's name in vain but judged my brother or sister or circumstance in my heart, I am standing as a judge of God's Royal Law, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Your video is not bad, it is just oversimplified, misuses the the idea of a matter of conscience and misses the mark about the Holiness of God and our own depravity.

That does clear up what you were saying in the vid...

2009-02-25T19:24:00.000-05:00

That does clear up what you were saying in the video. It is certainly a difficult thing to wrap your head around and I don't know that I necessarily understand it any better now, but at least I know what you were trying to communicate.

Thanks!

Hey Andy,I would be lying if I said I wasn't a lit...

2009-02-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

Hey Andy,

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little confused as well. This is one of those subjects in which the Bible makes two statements that seem to oppose each other. So what we have to do is interpret the harder passages within the context of passages that are easier to understand. There are clear passages that say that God does not change. Then there are passages that say God has "repented" about something which would seem to indicate change. The passages in which God seems to repent do not signify a change but describe God in action. God is alive and yet does not change. I admit, the video is a little confusing but so is the subject. What I mean to get across is that God is immutable in his traits--his essence if you will. For instance, the Son of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. However, God is not static. He is always moving. So this does not mean that God never changes his mind. Somehow, his "change of mind" is always within his sovereign decree. I hope this helps a bit. It may contradict some of the words I used in the video but is more along the intent of the video. Thanks brother!

Hey Dan, I guess I'm a little confused by this on...

2009-02-20T23:15:00.000-05:00

Hey Dan, I guess I'm a little confused by this one. You start out by saying that God repents or changes his mind towards something (ie: creating man). You then ended by saying that God doesn't change his mind (ie: He was always going to give Hezekiah the extra 15 years). Can you shed a little more light on this topic or point me to a good write up on it? Thanks!

Thanks Deb. Great questions. I don't have a lot ...

2009-02-11T12:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks Deb. Great questions. I don't have a lot of time to get into an involved answer in that there is so much packed into your comment (soteriology etc). How much time passes between regeneration and conversion? There is a lot of argument on both sides of the coin and in theological circles. I am not sure I could answer that. I will save soteriology for another day.

As for prayer, Jesus' teachings on prayer and our approach to the Father pretty much conclude that God does not "hear" the prayer of the non-believer. He doesn't leave any room for argument. In fact in speaking of the unregenerate he calls them "sons of iniquity" or that their father is indeed the devil. He even speaks of these unregenerate people approaching God and being turned away. So no, I believe the Scriptures are very clear that prayer is only for the regenerate.

As to WHEN God begins to hear prayers and when regeneration takes place etc...I cannot answer that in any persons case. In your prayer before Christ you have to ask yourself, "In who's name was I praying?" Jesus demands that we come to the Father in prayer in his name along and also states that he is indeed the only way to the Father--no one comes to him except by him. So without Christ making intercession how can we approach a holy God with anything?

An unregenerates "answer" to prayer I believe is the product of common grace. The sun rises on the wicked and the righteous. But only a child of God can call God Father in a redemptive way. I hope this helps a bit.

Hi Dan! I wasn't the one who asked this question, ...

2009-02-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

Hi Dan! I wasn't the one who asked this question, but now that I've read the answer, I do have questions. I'm thinking, if God doesn't hear the prayer of a person who has never prayed to receive Christ, isn't that a bit of a contradiction? Or if the hitch is that God answers the prayers of the "regenerate" vs. the "converted," just how much time lapses between the point of regeneration and conversion? Is it days, hours, minutes, years? How can we be sure that God doesn't answer the prayers of those who have received the "inward call?"

I'm asking because my experience (yes, I know experience doesn't trump theology) was that many, many years before I ever knew anything about Christ or spiritual things, God definitely heard my prayers. In fact, that is one of the chief ways that He used to continue to draw me to Himself.

What would you think about a more nuanced approach to the prayer of the unbeliever? Thanks! Deb W.

Well said. I was very emotionally moved watching ...

2008-11-06T19:31:00.000-05:00

Well said. I was very emotionally moved watching this man give his first speech as President-Elect. It was an intensely powerful moment. While I do not hold to the view that this is "God's Country" in a covenantal sense, our nation has indeed demonstrated a dramatic display of justice, which we know our God loves. A black man has just been elected to the most powerful position in the country, if not the world, and policies aside, you have to be completely dishonest intellectually to not celebrate the signifigance of that.

What a great video of your precious baby girl Sidd...

2008-11-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

What a great video of your precious baby girl Siddhi, Dan and Laura!!! What a blessing!! Congratulations, too, on the great news of Samuel!!! Now you have a "handful", too, just like the Horskys!! You are in our prayers!! Your sister in Christ, Corlien for all 7 Horskys

I can't wait either brother!!

2008-08-27T11:19:00.000-04:00

I can't wait either brother!!

Dan,In my quiet time this past week I was in Matth...

2008-08-09T21:21:00.000-04:00

Dan,
In my quiet time this past week I was in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 35 made me think of Siddhi again. The meaning of her name will feed her for a life time and eternity.

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

She's in our prayers.

Peace
Bill & Michelle

Dan,In my quiet time this past week I was in Matth...

2008-08-09T21:18:00.000-04:00

Dan,
In my quiet time this past week I was in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 35 made me think of Siddhi again. The meaning of her name will feed her for a life time and eternity...

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

She's in our prayers.

Peace
Bill & Michelle

Its simple. We are created in God our fathers imag...

2008-07-30T15:26:00.000-04:00

Its simple. We are created in God our fathers image. The motivation of the world is to do whatever it takes to distort & undo that image.

God DOES still move--I am convinced! Look at the ...

2008-06-21T20:25:00.000-04:00

God DOES still move--I am convinced! Look at the missionary movements in Africa, IndoChina and South America; miracles are performed in those locations all the time. I think one of the biggest differences is that, in many of those countries, the power of God needs to be demonstrated to the nationals that have been consistently held under the thumb of the demonic influence of witch doctors and other tribal influences.

In America (and the west in general) we are too self-sufficient to need God in miraculous ways. If you are sick, go to the doctor; if you need financial help, get a loan or credit card; if you have personal problems of other kinds, simply move to a new location. Because we, even as Christians, base our answers on the physical (rather than on the spiritual) we won't see the power of regularly displayed--we won't wait on Him and we don't give Him the room to move.

I believe Acts 2 is as much for today as for back then. Why would God give this great promise to only a few, when, according to how Peter quotes Joel 2, the promises are for all? Maybe this is another reason we don't see more happen. If we don't seek the Holy Spirit's involvement in anything other than salvation and sanctification, why should we see Him move?

Pastor Betters, I love your messages-I hear them on the radio here in Wyoming and am consistently challenged and encouraged by how God uses you and the Word he gives you--thank you.

Thank you for raising this question. This question...

2008-06-07T21:31:00.000-04:00

Thank you for raising this question. This question of the place of the miraculous in the church, especially the church in the US, is one I seem to come back to often in my musings on the church. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wrestles with this question.

Love the pictures and the message!

2008-05-16T14:54:00.000-04:00

Love the pictures and the message!

I had seen this video when presented by our Presid...

2008-03-17T16:49:00.000-04:00

I had seen this video when presented by our President, Mark P. Fisher. YOur sermon provoked lots of thought and drew me to my Reformation Bible that had similar wording. Thanks for drawing attention to the fact of how we have been before being enlightened...mostly I think of keeping short accounts with the Lord, now. Though I thankfully praise the Lord for my salvation, I forget those who don't know them are still in darkness and don't realize the raging within their spirit will never go away unless the Spirit enables them and someone shares Christ with them. How precious is our gift of eternal life...how urgent is the need to share Christ with those who don't know Him. May I eagerly share with one who will listen...
Bev Lum

Dan - Just wanted to say thank you for putting thi...

2008-03-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Dan - Just wanted to say thank you for putting this video together. As someone who was not born and raised at GRPC, it's like watching old family videos of your in-laws, getting to know the people who have shaped and impacted the lives of those you care about. Still good even all these months later... soemthing I think few who have seen it will ever forget.

A HUGE sigh of relief! Thanks Bill.

2008-02-27T16:33:00.000-05:00

A HUGE sigh of relief! Thanks Bill.

Congrats! A great achievement and probably a great...

2008-02-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

Congrats! A great achievement and probably a great sigh of relief.

Peace!
Bill

Dan, Thank you for your support and prayers. I kno...

2008-02-17T16:06:00.000-05:00

Dan,

Thank you for your support and prayers. I know you know what our family is going through right now.

By the way, my sister, Nikki, really did enjoyed your preaching.

Andrea,I am happy to hear that you have tuned in a...

2008-02-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

Andrea,

I am happy to hear that you have tuned in and I hope that you are blessed and encouraged. I will pray that the Lord would bring an English speaking fellowship into your life. Until then, tune in and join us. We are also live on Sunday mornings at 9:15am and 11am EST at www.grpc.org if you would like to take part in live worship. May the Lord bless you overseas.

PD

This was my first time listening to the podcast. ...

2008-02-04T04:02:00.000-05:00

This was my first time listening to the podcast. My son attended GCA breifly before we moved overseas. I am glad that I found your blog and podcasts since there is no english speaking church here.

God Bless,
Andrea

Dan, Glory to God for the leader he is making in y...

2008-01-23T21:02:00.000-05:00

Dan, Glory to God for the leader he is making in you. Stay strong in Christ for our batlle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces. Onward & Upward!

Thanks Dan. These sermons are great. I attend th...

2008-01-03T06:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks Dan. These sermons are great. I attend the 11am service and sometimes have trouble finding the time to watch the streaming session of your sermon. From this post, I was able to download the mp3 files and add them to my Ipod. God Bless!