Thessalonians and Work

I Thessalonians 4:10-12
Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.(NIV)

The Sinful Woman and Work

Here is an observation on Luke 7:36-50. Notice that the sinful woman broke open an alabaster flask of ointment. According to Brooks who may have gotten it from Tim Keller(?), this flask was worn around her neck and was a tool of her trade (prostitution). She gave up her sinful life work in one beautiful act of repentance.

Acts and the building of the Church (Hall of Tyrannus)

I've been reading through Acts and thinking about Church growth. Here are some key passages. Notice the amount of time Paul spends training people. Notice how he changes tactics.

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.(Acts 5:40-42 (ESV))

"You know that I [Paul] have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house." (Acts 20:20)

But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.(Acts 19:9-10)

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11) (ESV))

Holiness and accomplishments -- Clarkson on John Owen

Select Works By David Clarkson, B. H. Cooper, J. Blackburn, Wycliffe Society, Wycliffe society:

"A great light is fallen; one of eminency for holiness, learning, parts, and abilities; a pastor, a scholar, a divine of the first magnitude; holiness gave a Divine lustre to his other accomplishments, it shined in his whole course, and was diffused through his whole conversation. I need not tell you of this that knew him, and observed that it was his great design to promote holiness in the power, life, and exercise of it among you. It was his great complaint that the power of it declined among professors. It was his care and endeavour to prevent or cure spiritual decays in his own flock."

This is from a funeral sermon by David Clarkson in memorium for John Owen.

Piper on Freedom of the Will

Most of these posts deal with work. What I have in mind here in quoting Piper commenting on Augustinian thought is that our enjoyment of work not only comes from God, but our enjoyment of work may depend on how our work brings us closer to God. In either case, we enjoy work because God gives us the ability to enjoy work and because we enjoy the utimate giver of our work, God. We need to enjoy work because God has given us work to enjoy because doing our work well glorifies God.

Piper quotes Augustine twice:

Who has it in his power to have such a motive present to his mind that his will shall be influenced to believe? Who can welcome in his mind something which does not give him delight? But who has it in his power to ensure that something that will delight him will turn up. Or that he will take delight in what turns up? If those things delight us which serve our advancement towards God, that is due not to our own whim or industry or meritorious works, but to the inspiration of God and to the grace which he bestows

He defines it clearly in On Christian Doctrine (III, x, 16). "I call 'charity' [i.e., love for God] the motion of the soul toward the enjoyment of God for His own sake, and the enjoyment of one's self and of one's neighbor for the sake of God." Loving God is always conceived of essentially as delighting in God and in anything else for his sake.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/

Psalm 111:2,3,4

Great are the works of the Lord; studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered,
the Lord is gracious and merciful. (ESV)

Work here refers the redemptive deeds of the Lord as in the Exodus. God's work and not just his attributes need to be praised. The current worship songs are great on repeating phrases on vague attributes, but many of these songs make scant reference to the redemptive acts God has performed for us. These redemptive acts, these works need to be studied, praised, and meditated upon.

see cross reference: 119:27

In His Name.

Baseball Terms

Can of Corn -- Easy fly for the outfielder to catch.
Duck snort -- A weak single that falls between the infielders and outfielders.
Dead Pull Hitter -- hits to the same side of the field as he hits. LHB hits to the left field most of the time.
Double-Play Ball - a ball that is hit in the infield that is "tailored made" for an easy double-play.
Dying Quail -- A ball that falls unexpectedly in front of the outfielder for a hit.
zeroes - a perfect game (0-0-0)

Those who delight to fear His name

Nehemiah 1:11

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

ESV

Isaiah 11:1-3

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

ESV

These verses are a good proof text of Christian Hedonism.

Jonathan and the Lord's Work

I need to study the phrase "Perhaps the Lord will work for us." It is not a whim of fancy, this is a step of faith and of the Holy Spirit's prompting. Also the armor bearer's response is really good.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

Oration, meditatio, tentatio

Luther asserted there were three practices necessary to become a biblical theologian:
Oration (prayer), meditatio (meditation), and tentatio (trials).

The passage that best demonstrates this in scripture in Psalm 119:

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces

Edwards on business II

Edwards writes about Christian service, which I translate as good works:

In order to men's being true Christians, it is necessary that they prosecute the business of religion and the service of God with great earnestness and diligence, as the work which they devote themselves to, and make the main business of their lives.

p. 310

Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: this is both good works and pursuing holiness.

Edwards on business

The principle Edwards is writing about is "Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice."

The second and third implications are

That he(the Christian man) makes a business of such a holy practice above all things; that it be a business which he is chiefly engaged in, and devoted to, and pursues with highest earnestness and diligence; so that he may be said to make this practice of religion (Christianity) religion eminently his work and business. And, 3. That he persists in it to the end of life; so that it may be said, not only to be his business at certain seasons, the business of Sabbath days, or certain extraordinary times, or the business of a month, or a year, or of seven years, or his business under certain circumstances; but the business of his life; it being that business which he perseveres in through all changes, and under all trials as long as he lives.

pp. 308-309. Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: Edwards further explains that Christian practice is obedience to the Word of God and holiness.

Christ as our co-worker

God as our Co-Worker

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

(2 Cor. 6:1)

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs”

Mark 16:20.

"For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building."

1 Cor. 3:9

Paul on Work in Acts

I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Acts 20:33-34

Paul's view of work interests me. His desire to provide for himself and others is in stark contrast to the ministries I know. However, Paul does collect money from the churches to help the poor. He also writes that we should not muzzle the ox. This topic definitely needs more meditation.

Edwards on the Works of God

The glorifying of God's moral perfections is the special end of all the works of God's hands.

p. 199 Religious Affections

Edwards on the Word

Jonathan writes about the excellency of the work in Religious Affections p. 200.

Take away all the moral beauty and sweetness in the Word, and the Bible is left wholly a dead letter, a dry, lifeless, tasteless thing.

A Benedictine Contradiction

Here is a St. Benedict quote from Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris p.17. The book is interesting, but Oprahish in its spirituality.

A monastery is never without guests.

From a Protestant point of view I find the attraction of monasteries to the unbelieving world around fascinating.

Christian Reading List

Here is a list of books of Christian authors that I have read that people have recommended. Obviously, these authors have authored other great books that are very much worth reading.
On the Incarnation by Athansius
Confessions by Augustine
City of God by Augustine
Bondage of the Will by Luther
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

Zechariah: Keep your hands strong

Here's a principle I considering: The prophecies of the Lord considering future blessing of His people, shall allow His people to stay strong on their current walk. I need to meditate more with the context of what "Let your hands be strong."

In Zechariah 8:9:

Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of host was laid, that the temple might be built.

In Zechariah 8:11-13

But now I will not deal with remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. for there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong

David Brainerd

I was listening to Piper's talk on David Brainerd. This is probably the best Branierd quote that describes best his own life.

"Oh, that I may never loiter on my heavenly journey!"

New Creation and Animals

R. C. Sproul writing on Romans 8:21, makes the observation about pets:

Little children, for example, who lose pets often ask me the question, Will their dog or their cat be in heaven? Most theologians answer that question by saying, 'No, of course not, because they don't have souls.' I don't know whether they have souls or don't have souls -- I know they are not created in the image of God in the sense that we are--but I have every reason to expect a new earth that is populated by glorified dogs and cats and canaries and redeemed snakes, if you will!

p. 141 The Gospel of God: Romans

Pretty cool idea.

Scripture and Ephrem the Syrian

From Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.

Scripture brought me to the gate of paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered.

p. xxi.

Psalm 111

Psalm 111:4 reads:

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Psalm 78:4

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

God's work and Man's rule

In Psalms 8:6-8

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

(NASB)

This just re-iterates what it says in Gen. 1:26

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

(NASB)

Animals are under our dominion and they our responsibility. They are for our use, but they are also under our care. We should not place them equal to us, but neither should we treat them cruelly. Animals are the work of God and thus, should be treated with respect.