Thank you once again so much for all of your prayers! Below are the links to our latest prayer update.

Spring 2012 Update

After concluding our studies on 1 Corinthians and Let the Nations Be Glad in our Koinonia young adult Sunday school group, our attention is now set on Colossians. Two main notes of application are on my mind lately.

1. The need for
passionate lay leadership.

There Paul, a Jew who gave his life for the Gentiles’ redemption, finds himself in Roman imprisonment. Along with the other various peoples and churches on his mind is the church at Colossae. It’s interesting that Paul apparently never had previous dealings with this church. Although he likely traveled through Colossae, the church plant seems to be rooted in the Gospel growth from Paul’s ministry in nearby Ephesus (likely from Epaphras in Col. 1:7). May God give us more guys like Epaphras who realize the awesome brevity of their salvation and passionately herald it in their own area of influence! It continues to be our prayer that God would direct us to these people whom He is already preparing for such passionate outreach. May we all recognize that God delights in using the ordinary things of this world. May we all recognize that God delights building His church not just through full-time ministry leaders, but often (and really primarily) through the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). May God gift His church with more people like Epaphras!

2. The need for praying hearts like the
apostle Paul.

As Paul opens his epistle to this church, wracked with confusion and Christological error due to a contemporary false, but attractive teaching of that day, his earnest and passionate prayer is exposed. He prays similarly regarding the Ephesus church in the opening chapter of Ephesians as well. Paul’s prayer is not for safety, comfort, physical healing, or even numerical growth. Rather, his focus is their authentic growth in their redemptive lives. He prays that they would grow in their passionate knowledge of God’s wisdom (vs. 9). He prays that their passion for God’s Word would reap in submissive transformation that would bear fruit and be pleasing to their Redeemer God (vs. 10). He prays that they would submit to God’s strengthening mighty power in all of life’s circumstances, thereby enduring and persevering through all of life with patience and joy (vs. 11). Finally, he prays that they would worshipfully recognize the monumental gravity of their redemption (vs. 12-14).

Do these themes we read in Colossians 1:9-14 really reflect the spirit of our prayers? If we ever wonder how or what we should pray, we have a great model here in Paul’s prayers. May God help me… may God help us all… to pray more like Paul’s prayer here in Colossians! God, please increase our passion in praying and deepen the content of our prayers!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

I pray God uses this Easter to refresh our minds of the awesome reality of redemption we have through the cross and the resurrection!

Delighting in the Risen Lamb,
Derek

Interestingly I read as Piper explained how prayer can often be too elevated above its intended role. Now, if you’re like me and thinking, you may say, huh? Let me further explain. He continued to explain that prayer is often elevated in our emphasis on it over the Word of God. His basic point was that the Scriptures clearly elevate the Word as the supreme active agent in missions, with prayer as a necessary supportive tool. His point was simply that we can often emphasize prayer in a misinforming way that misdirects our prayers. The end result is a prayer focus that centers on peripheral things, and misses what is really to be at the core of our passion for God.

Let me give you a few examples in Piper’s own words:

Speaking of the Ephesians 6 life is war context, John Piper writes, “Until you believe that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission. It is as though the field commander (Jesus) called in the troops, gave them a crucial mission (‘Go and bear fruit’), handed each of them a personal transmitter coded to the frequency of the general’s headquarters, and said, ‘Comrades, the general has a mission for you. He aims to see it accomplished. And to that end he has authorized me to give each of you personal access to him through these transmitters. If you stay true to his mission and seek his victory first, he will always be as close as your transmitter, to give tactical advice and to send in air cover when you or your comrades need it.’ But what have millions of Christians done? They have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity. And what did they do with the walkie-talkie? They tried to rig it up as an intercom in their cushy houses and cabins and boats and cars–not to call in firepower for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask the maid to bring another pillow to the den.” (John Piper, “Prayer,” an online sermon at www.DesiringGod.org.)

Much of Piper’s point centers on our misguided use of prayer. Do we approach prayer in a way that elevates our own selfish desires? Or, do we recognize the greater heart and mission of God (and therefore our mission), and then allow that to shape the way we pray?

Furthermore, the Scriptures are packed with references upholding Scripture as the active agent, the sword of the Spirit in the offensive effort to live for God’s purposes on this sin-racked earth (Acts 19:20; Romans 1:16, 10:17; Ephesians 6:17-18; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
The Word of God and prayer go together; one exalted as the means to do God’s work and the other upheld as a way of supporting the work of the Word. In John 17 and Acts 4:29 we read of the precedence of calling on God for boldness to speak His Word boldly. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1 we read of the prayer for God to amplify the working of the Word. In Colossians 4:3 Paul’s prayer is for a door of open opportunity for the Word to work. In 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7 we see life depicted as a fight or a war. Finally, in Ephesians 6 Paul speaks of this life-wartime context. He writes that we wrestle not against mere flesh and blood, but against cosmic powers of darkness. The offensive weapon Paul then lists in verse 17 for this war is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Then in the very next verse (18) we read the participle translated “so,” directly connecting verse 18 on prayer to verse 17 regarding the Word’s offensive work. Thus, prayers are seen as a supportive catalyst to the offensive weapon of the Word.

Do we pray in this way? Do we even view life in this New Testament depicted way? We do truly have so much to be thankful for, and a life lived with Jesus is indeed joyful. However, while we are promised God’s faithful presence and joy lived in Him, we also see the Scriptures depict a life lived in Him as a struggle against the cosmic powers of darkness. No, I’m not getting all Star Wars on us. Seriously, the powers of Satan, sin, and our own flesh are a very real thing. It is these struggles that we wage war against while walking through life. Do we view Scripture as paramount in this life-battle? Do we view prayer as necessary to commune with our Commander for strength and victory from His Word in the battle?

Here’s my last thought… Are our prayers then shaped by this mentality? Think about it. How many times do I catch myself praying in a misguided way? How many times do I pray for someone to get better from some sickness or bad thing in their lives rather than pray for Jesus to do His work of refining in their lives. Regarding missions, how often do we pray just for safety and vague concerns for well-being? Oh, we can and should pray for healing and safety, but do we pray for spiritual growth as well? How often do we pray for God’s Word to do it’s intended offensive work in people’s lives?

These truths are surely convicting. It is my prayer to simply offer them here for you to likewise consider.

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

The study itself finds it’s roots in a principle inseparably connected to the Scriptures as a whole. However, Psalm 67 rings clear on the study’s central premise.
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him!”
- Psalm 67

The totality of the Scriptures are resoundingly clear that our fundamental existence on planet earth is for the spread of our God’s fame/glory. From the Old Testament way of dwelling amidst God’s presence through the promised land and the sacrificial system to the New Testament’s focus on Jesus’ redemption, the centerpiece is the exaltation of God’s great fame. The centerpiece of the Scriptures, really then, is worship. We are created for worship. Sin corrupts this. The Old Testament shows our gracious God’s dealing with His people to point them back to His holiness through their faith in His redemptive provision through His law and sacrificial system. The New Testament (that which the entire Old Testament pointed toward) shows our gracious God’s sovereignty and mind-boggling work of redeeming His own to Himself through faith in His provision in the form of Jesus.

Missions therefore exists because worship does not. Missions must exist therefore, to beckon fallen humanity back to worship. This, of course, is a provision and work that only God can accomplish. We post-New-Testament humanity have the incredible privilege (along with people like the Ephesians in Eph. 1:10) of heralding the truly, infinitely good news of Jesus and the redemption His work offers.

From texts like Ephesians 1:5-6, Romans 3:25, and 1 Peter 3:18, we see that Jesus’ purpose was consumed with His zeal for the spread of the Father’s glory. In John 11:1-6 we see a clear example of God’s love and the exaltation of His glory. After hearing of Lazarus’ imminent death, the text says that because of Jesus’ love for His friends, He remained for the purpose of glorifying God. Do you see the connection to God’s loving plan and the exalting of His glory?

Oh, this all carries such profound implications for us today! Do we recognize that our God is truly worthy of worship? Do we truly realize that our God is on mission to spread His worship throughout the nations? Do we truly realize that our fundamental existence on planet earth is inseparably connected to this purpose? Are we truly enamored in worship of our great God? It is then precisely that enamored worship that should be the flame in our missiological outlook, passion, involvement, and prayer!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

Thank you once again so much for all of your prayers! Below are the links to our latest prayer update.

Winter 2012 Update

What would our response be? I think I am often so quick to criticize Israel for their lack of belief and grumbling before God. However, I often find myself succumbing to the same attitude. Even after countless testaments to God’s work of deliverance in my own life, it’s so easy to immediately doubt and question God amidst a trial. Can you relate?

Of course, we read Moses’ response (which ultimately is God’s response to the people) in verse 13, “But Moses answered, ‘Don’t be afraid! Stand still and you will see the LORD save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again after today. You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you.’”

The rest of the story is quite familiar to us. Imagine then as we all watch in the dark that night as God commands Moses to spread his staff out over this massive body of water. Imagine then as the east wind blows in and the waters part. There lying right in front of us is dry ground! Now, with the massive amount of people maybe you’re camped with your family near the back of the group. Imagine as the massive encampment of Israelites begin to erupt in wonder at God’s parting of the waters. Well, all night long we all cross the sea bed on dry ground, and watch as God thwarts Egypt’s attempt to overtake us.

What would be our response to such deliverance? Exodus 15 is testament to their response… worship. Moses leads the people in resounding praise at God’s clear act of deliverance. Yet, as the Biblical story unfolds, Israel continually wrestled with trusting in God’s leading.

Question, why do we so often doubt God’s leading in our lives? I ask myself even as I write this, why I so often doubt God’s leading and ability to deliver and give me strength to persevere? So, can you relate to Israel’s struggle? Can you relate to my struggle? I’m sure we all can at various points in our lives.

May we, the redeemed in Jesus, recall (along with Israel) God’s wondrous acts of deliverance and leading in our own lives. May we bolster our confidence in Him! And, may we along with Israel in Exodus 15, respond to our God’s leading and persevering strength with resounding worship!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

Laura is doing pretty good and on her way to recovery.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

In His Grace,
Derek, Laura, Elias, & Jathan

Consider this quote that packs the punch of God’s plan for the ages and our involvement in it:

“The New Testament does not present a come-see religion, but a go-tell religion… (Matt. 18:18-20)… The implications of this are huge for the way we live and the way we think about money and lifestyle. One of the main implications is that we are ‘sojourners and exiles’ (1 Peter 2:11) on the earth. We do not use this world as though it were our primary home. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Phil. 3:20). This leads to a wartime lifestyle. That means we don’t amass a wealth to show the world how rich our God can make us. We work hard and seek a wartime austerity for the cause of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. We maximize giving to the war effort, not comforts at home. We raise our children with a view to helping them embrace the suffering that it will cost to finish the mission.” (Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper, p. 29)

Piper later writes, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory.” (Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper, p. 35)

The entire storyline of God’s Revealed Word calls His followers to this God-glorifying among the nations purpose… from Exodus where God rescued His people to display His glory to the nations, to the countless Psalms where God’s glory among the nations is extolled, to Isaiah where God created His people for His glory among the nations, to the Gospels in the New Testament where Jesus submitted to the Father’s will to bring His glory to the nations, to Paul’s epistles where the very plan of redemption serves to give God glory throughout the nations, to John’s Revelation where we see the culmination of God’s redeemed gathered from all nations for His glory.

As we peer into Scripture’s story, we see our great, majestic, Redeemer God full of truth and grace sovereignly reigning over the nations. We see this, our great God unfolding HIs plan for the nations. We see this, our great God redeeming a people from every tribe and tongue to Himself through Jesus. We see this, our great God actively setting things back to His original plan before sin. As we see this is fundamentally God’s activity and plan in His Word, we begin to clearly deduce that our existence is fundamentally connected to it as well.

Do you see it? This is so fundamental to our very existence! Think about it for a moment. Why to you exist on this earth? If it is true that we indeed exist for the sole purpose of worshiping our great God and spreading His fame and plan of redemption, how are living up to it? Are we passionate about or worship of God? Are we passionate about missions. I’m not talking about the missions that subdivides a certain aspect of the church to “missions.” While we as the church are to have a missions program, we more deeply drastically need to see our calling to be missional as fundamental to our very existence! This goes far deeper and carries drastically wider implications than just for full-time ministry workers and missionaries. Whatever our calling in life, we are inseparably called to redeemed worship of our great God and the spreading of this through living missionally in this world.

If you’re like me and tracking with all this up to this point, you’d respond with a resounding, “gulp” or “wow!” This is quite the calling! It is something that continues to deeply uproot previous missiological assumptions and those ever present seasons of apathy in my own life. How are we doing living up to our fundamental purpose on this earth?

How are you engaging the nations as part of this calling?

This is the study that I am extremely amped to launch this Sunday in the Koinonia Sunday school. If you’re interested in getting a copy of Piper’s book for yourself, check it out!

Note, I will probably occasionally blog and/or share related resources about it as we go through the study in the coming weeks. Look for more content on the blog and the church app!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

1 Corinthians… an awesome letter highly applicable in our modern church context!

Check out the basic chapter content of 1 Corinthians in this summary handout!

Grace,
Derek