In the Midst of Our Sufferings

clipped from www.reformationtheology.com “What the Lord expects from us at such seasons is not to abandon ourselves to unreasoning sorrow, but trustingly to look sorrow in the face, to scan its features, to search for the help and hope, which, as surely as God is our Father, must be there. In such trials there can be no comfort for us so long as we stand outside weeping. If only we will take the courage to fix our gaze deliberately upon the stern countenance of grief, and enter unafraid into the darkest recesses of our trouble, we shall find the terror gone, because the Lord has been there before us, and, coming out again, has left the place transfigured, making of it by the grace of his resurrection a house of life, the very gate of heaven.” - Geerhardus Vos

The Crazy Idea of Fasting in 2009

John Piper

clipped from www.desiringgod.org Jesus did not say, “If you fast..” but “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16). This will be new (even over the top) for some of you. So do a crazy thing in 2009. It might change your relationship with God. And your life. Pick a day of the week or a day of the month and plan to fast in 2009. Plan which meal or meals to skip. Skip them entirely, or do it with only juice or only water. There are not rules. There is only spiritual hunger being spoken and stoked with physical hunger. Why Fast? Here are six biblical aims for fasting. 1. For Jesus to come back Matthew 9:14-15 2. For help in a new venture in ministry Matthew 4:1-2 Acts 13:3 3. To avert some danger or threat Ezra 8:21 2 Samuel 12:16 4. To express sorrow and loss 2 Samuel 1:12 1 Chronicles 10:12 5. To express repentance and grief for sin Joel 2:12-13 6. Not for the praise of men Matthew 6:16-18 (For more instruction and inspiration in fasting see A Hunger for God, Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer.)

John Piper on Evil

clipped from youtube.com

Inherent righteousness / Imputed Righteousness

clipped from www.geocities.com C. It helps us to understand this better if we see the difference between imputed righteousness and inherent righteousness. inherent righteousness is: Good moral deeds you do for God. Good transformations God brings about in your character. It is a goodness that resides in you. It is internal to you. Imputed righteousness is: A righteousness that is external to you. A righteousness that was achieved by somebody else and given to you. This righteousness consists in Christ’s perfect obedience (Romans 5:15-19). D. Again, in justification God declares us righteous not on the basis of inherent righteousness, but on the basis of imputed righteousness. Your righteousness in justification does not consist of any transformation that God has brought about in your character, or any good works that you do. Rather, it consists of what Christ did in your behalf.