Lessons From Reformed Guys

As stated in my last blog post, I am not reformed in theology. I am Arminian and not Calvinist. I am more specifically apostolic and believe Calvinist doctrine is false doctrine and error however in recent times I have been listening to quite a bit of reformed guys. The top of the list would be John Piper who some guy jokingly said must be a distant cousin of Jesus but it also includes people like CJ Mahaney, Mark Driscoll, and John MacArthur. While I do have major doctrinal differences with these men I must admit that I have learnt a few things from them thus far from them.

1. Stay In The Bible

One thing I've noticed is that these guys take the words "Preach the word" literally. This really hits home when you see guys like Mark Driscoll who is a young pastor not following the trend to preach on some popular theme in today's culture but doing a biblical exposition of a scriptural passage. This especially re-enforces the fact that biblical is still relevant. It re-enforces the fact that the bible must be our final answer for all of our doctrine.

I remember hearing Mark Driscoll saying that when he asked his pastor what books he thought were good for him to read and his pastor took up the bible and asked if he had read it. His response was that he had read a bit of it but he wanted to know if there were any other books he should read. His pastor's response was that he should not think of reading anything until he had really gotten acquainted with his bible. Old school? Maybe but it will surely keep you on course.

I also remembering Dr. Piper in a Q & A session saying that he did not have a TV. He did not condemn those who did but said he did not have time for one and his most striking reason was that he would not have enough time to read his bible. He claims that even without him he still doesn't seem to have enough time to read. It must be noted that this man puts much emphasis on the word of God; reading it, studying it and memorizing it. This is a must for Christian living because the word of God is the sword of the spirit.

2. Doctrine Does Matter

Many in today's world argue for the ecumenicalism of the Christian Community. It is said that doctrine divides and God really wants unity and we should lay aside doctrinal preaching in favor of stuff that tells us how to handle our problems better. Reformed guys stand opposed to this and are committed to doctrinal preaching. What is even more interesting is that there churches are growing even with their emphasis on their doctrine which is supposed to divide and be irrelevant.


I believe apostolics can learn something from this. Our doctrine is important and must be proclaimed, we cannot run the risk of blurring lines and not being distinctive in our doctrine. In our ranks Bishop Paul D. Mooney, Assistant General Superintendent of the UPCI is famous for the statement: "You can't have a revival without doctrine." While we do not have to be mean or offensive in our presentation we must remain focussed on the truth of God's word and contend for doctrinal purity.


3. Focus On Jesus

It is really amazing that a trinitarian. Mark Driscoll has caused me, a Oneness Apostolic to love and appreciate Jesus more and more. One thing I must note about this pastor is the number of times he says Jesus in his preaching, not God ( Which is so abstract and non-specific) but the name Jesus. There is something so Christian about focusing on Jesus. It is something I notice they try to do and it has challenged me to do the same. It just seems that all their preaching is somehow focussed on Jesus. In reflection I have to admit that it seems allot of my preaching does not do that - I preach about living right, getting a blessing and other stuff but I am not sure how Christ centered it all is.

In one of his messages Driscoll also made public his anger over a group of Christian Churches having a rabbi speak and reveal to them the "secrets of the Old Testament". His anger was because the secret of the Old Testament is Jesus and this rabbi does not believe that Jesus is the Christ. Hebrews 12 tells us that we are not only to lay aside the weight and sin that besets us but we are also to run with patience, looking onto Jesus. It is interesting that when I read the book of Acts every time I see anyone preaching they were preaching only one thing : Jesus. It may be that is a reason for many of the miracles performed for them, when Jesus is preached in his glory and power everything we need will follow. In his name is authority and power and everything we need is gained through that name.

4. Preach The Gospel

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 makes clear what the Gospel is: Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. It is interesting that most ever preacher claims to be a preacher of the Gospel but few ever really preach the Gospel outside of the Easter season. I believe that the Gospel message of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection must be central to our Christian message because it is the only reason why we are saved.

Reformed preachers are becoming allot more palletable for me than allot of charismatic preaching which focuses mainly on prosperity and money. At the 2008 General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church, Bishop James Kilgore preached on the cross and challenged young preachers to preach on the cross, the name and the cross and he would guarantee a revival. I have taken up that challenge and since then allot of my preaching has been more Gospel centered and I definately have seen the effects, if not just on the live of those I preach too but mainly upon myself.

One of the major distinctive doctrines of pentecostal theology is divine healing which is so clearly tied to the Gospel in Isiah's prophecy of the suffering savior. It therefore can not be separated from the the message of the cross. It is also a liberating thing to know the great truth that Jesus Paid it all.

These 4 lessons have helped me, I believe to be a better Christian and a better preacher and I pray that they bless you:

1. Stay In the Bible
2. Doctrine Does Matter
3. Focus on Jesus
4. Preach The Gospel

D.C. Lake

Things I Don't Understand

This blog post is a collection of thoughts I have had lately. I have a feeling that I will be preaching on them soon, if I feel the spirit's leading. I will think of posting that as well if people are interested.

I have heard Bishop T.F. Tenney often speak of things we don't understand. He uses quite a few funny points to illustrate this:

• They say nothing sticks to Teflon...How does Teflon stick to the pan?
  
• Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
• Why do we drive in parkways and park in driveways?

These are quite trivial and to most of us unimportant but in our lives we find what seem to be more relevant whys. Why do we go through bad things? Why do we loose family members and loved ones? Why does sickness paralyze us and why do we have to battle opposition on every side?

There is of course a basic theological answer to these questions. The truth is bad things do not happen to good people. The bible establishes the fact that there is in reality none good, none that does good, no not one (Romans 3:10 -12). God's righteous judgment against our sin means we will go through these things. Good answer? Maybe but it still leaves many questions to be asked.

What about the justified? Doesn't the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross make them free from sin and "just as if they never did it"? Why do so many of the way of righteous suffer? Why isn't life easier or better for them? Why does it seems at times that the righteous struggle while the sinner is in ease, comfort and prosperity?

David seems to look so strong but in reading the Psalms I realize he often struggled with many of these questions. I dare say that David was blessed to live when he did because had he released some of his songs in this present world many would be in opposition to them because of his transparency.

Ps 73:2-5
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Job in much the same way questioned:

Job 3:11-12
11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Are not all of our whys as David put it?

Ps 73:16

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

I have come to realize that God just has his way of doing things. I will never understand all of the ways of God and anyone who claims to is greatly mistaken. God allows what he wills and prevents what he wills and it is this fact that gives me comfort.

On my Youtube channel I have uploaded a sermon preached last month at The Pentecostals of Alexandria by Evangelist Morton Bustard. I would advise every reader to check it out. It really spoke to me. In that message a point was made that has just stuck with me - "Why did God train Joseph in the pit for a palace and turn around and train Moses in the palace for the wilderness? I don't know but the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Pro 37:23). " Sounds somewhat unfair but still it gives me comfort because I know with God ordering my steps things are going to work out. I would also advise readers to check out Dr. Daniel Seagraves' series on suffering on Hope University at www.thereishopefortoday.com .

David's question has an answer which puts everything into focus:

Ps 73:17-20
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

David does not speak of receiving some great blessing or being prospered. It even appears that he is the same man that we read of earlier in the passage, but it is the same man who has had his focus readjusted. He may not have received all the physical benefits of the here and now but he was assured of the fact that he had an eternal benefit - The wicked would be cut off but those who trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion (Ps 125:1). David had to learn as we all need to learn our response to all of the questions is having faith in God. We may not receive all the physical blessings we desire in this life but we can die in faith, not receiving the promises but seeing them afar off (Heb 11:13) choosing the better resurrection of Heaven (Heb 11:35)

I close with a contrast point to all of this which happens to be another thing I don't understand. May it be a word of hope to you:

Ps 8:3-9
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

D.C. Lake

Where Are The Bereans?

Acts 17:10-12 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

In case nobody told you...Let me be first to do so - Preachers make mistakes. This is somewhat hard to admit, considering the fact that I am a preacher and know full well that there are those who take pride in highlighting this fact and using it to justify their ways of rebellion and rejection of the word of God. The truth however is inescapable and I must admit I have made mistakes in the past and may very well continue to do so - I am not perfect.

Paul gave a very fitting command to his son in the Gospel, Timothy:

2 Tim 2:15 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If I am to be honest and transparent, I will have to admit the fact that there are times I have not rightly divided the word of truth and thus am an ashamed workman. One particular incident comes to mind. It was on a Thursday night when my father and pastor was not able to be at church and gave me, the young budding preacher the opportunity to preach. He had been doing a series on "The Chemistry of Emotions" and I felt led to go along and talk about the emotion of excitement. In an attempt to illustrate the fact that familiarity and lack of excitement for the things of God leads us down the road of instruction I told the story of David bringing the Ark of God to Jerusalem. Anyone who has studied the story will know that Uzzah the man who touched the Ark and died was not unfamiliar with he Ark; it rested in his fathers house. However in my description of his familiarity I stated That he was used to touching the Ark. Not bad for a slip of the tongue but was was worse is that I had placed that very line in my notes. I had felt so good an right about it but I was dead wrong. When my father finally heard the sermon he questioned me and corrected my error.

As I write this I am remeinded of the many times during my bible reading or just life that a thought comes to my mind. A powerful thought - One that will just preach, One that I at the moment was convinced came from the Holy Spirt. Somewhere during the progress of getting that thought into a sermon (Prayer, Meditation and thought and study) I come to the place where the whole message is useless because I realease how non-biblical the thought is. I could still preach it from the bible but in reality it would be taking things out of context and more of isegesis (using scripture to prove your veiw) than exergesis (Going to scripture to get your veiws). Preaching my veiw would again be another mistake.

I say all of this because it really scares me that my mistakes are recieved by well meaning sincere people as the truth. And its not me alone around the world many people sit in churches and under annointed, God called (I stress these words) men of God and take their words for fact because they are annointed, led by the spirit and have peached truth. Many people will leave church remembering a message but never actually checking it out in scripture. That scares me. I know I am prone to mistakes and this can happen in my ministry.

I am a minister. I know what the spirit of rebellion is - This is not what I am talking about. I am talking about each person working out their own salvation and not taking the preachers word for it. I'm talking about the words I have grown up hearing my dad say when he would teach things like the oneness of God, baptism in Jesus name, The Holy Spirit and holiness. He would say "Don't believe this because Pastor Lake said it - Read your bible and know it for yourself."

As I have matured in wisdom and ministry I can easily identify those in the church who like the Bereans searched the scriptures for themselves. Firstly, they have questions. Their reading the scripture sometimes makes them see things which are not clear - It confuses them. They sometimes have read things which are not quite what the preacher is saying. A perfect example
of this come to my mind: Many years ago my father preached a message in our bible study. But late that night one of the most faithful saints came nocking on our door with his bible under his arm. He had heard a message but could not just recieve it he needed clarification. It was immportant for him to clearly see that it was in fact what the scriptures said. He was not rebellious - He was very close to the pastor and this was just an indication of how hungry for truth he was. My father always points to this incident and says he wishes he had more people like that.

Secondly Bereans have revelations. You may teach it one way but they will look through the scriptures and find what you are saying in places you never saw. It hurts my heart to say this but many people in apostolic churches have a knowledge of doctrine by catechism not revelation. They know only what the preacher told them. This is sad. Joy filled my soul when I went through the study notebook of one of my "trinitarian" minister friends. The word trinitarian is in inverted commas because although he attends a trinity church he has a sure revelation of the oneness and baptism in Jesus name. He had many note about these doctrines in his notebook yet they were scriptures I had never heard preached. He had studied and gotten a revelation for himself. Nobody could take away what he had seen plainly in scripture.

Nothing beats a Berean. The bible calls them noble. They didn't believe in Jesus because the greatest apostle - Paul himself, whose preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in the demonstration of the spirit in power, had told them but rather because they had searched the scriptures and found Jesus - the source of eternal life.

John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

I pray that these words are recieved in the right spirit

D.C. Lake