You can see Isaiah's first baby photo's at Hannibal Regional Hospital. Feel free to visit and leave some comments!

This would be more appropriately titled, "What I missed in the last couple of days in Blogworld". But that's long. And compared to seeing our first child born, I missed nothing! Thanks to everyone for all of their prayers and support!

One of my favorite genres (at least I think it's a genre) is Biography. Michael Haykin gives us his Top 9 Biographies. To my dismay I have read only one! (HT: JT)

Challies, even while busy on his blog tour, gives us an answer to the question of whether or not there are errors in the Bible. If you want to follow Challies blog tour you can check out Day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Jonathan Leeman is blogging through Bill Hybel's REVEAL. In what looks to be a 6 part series Leeman has already posted Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4. I particularly like the Excursus listed as #3; in that post he asks, "do externals count for anything"? You are also encouraged to check out Greg Hawkin's response to Willow Creek's "repentance".

John Piper has made a statement that is gripping me: "Sometimes the best mark of holiness is not griping that sin abounds but groaning and grieving. " See the context here. The staff at DG has also posted a very helpful Favorite 2007 Reading list.

Founders points us to John Owen's comments on pastoral fervency. Owen admonishes pastors to consider the importance of these 3 things: (1.) Zeal for the glory of God in Christ; (2.) Real compassion for the souls of men; (3.) An especial conscientious regard unto our duty and office, with respect unto its nature, trust, end, and reward.

Thabiti posts his 2008 Evangelism Reading List. I was a little sad that Will Metzger's Tell the Truth was not on the list, but it's a great list and he will be blessed in his 2008 reading.

More controversy from Mars Hill. Steve Camp weighs in on Mars Hill's New Year's Bash--complete with a champagne bar. As Frank Turk began discussing the issue, as always it turned towards the issue of total abstinence (See also, here). Today, Phil Johnson attempts to recenter the discussion on whether or not it is acceptable to turn the church into a discotheque.

Michael Horton has written a great article on Christless Christianity.

There has been quite a bit I have missed, but this has been a decent summary. I will hopefully get back to normal posting next week. I hope to catch up on the McCheyne Reading Plan, and at some point I hope to write an article on this whole "alcohol issue".

Josh Harris gives us the New Attitude promo. I would love to attend this event in May:

Tim Challies begins his blog tour promoting his new book. Today's stop is the Evangelical Outpost. Challies will be attempting an answer on discernment in each of his blog stops. Today's question by Joe Carter is, "What does discernment mean from a biblical perspective"? See Challies answer here.

Timmy Brister again encourages us with the 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge. My Puritan Reading will be a little different in 2008 but I am still on board with this idea. It looks like Reformation Heritage Books is helping out as well, they will be selling the Puritan Paperbacks at an additionally discounted rate. Timmy will also be providing some historical and background information for each of these books. He will also be doing monthly giveaways. And lastly he has added a blog button for us to put on our websites. (You can see mine on the sidebar).

Jesse Johnson from Pulpit magazine gives us practical steps for personal evangelism.

Phil Johnson at Pyromaniacs has given us a mystery quotation. I know that I have heard it, especially the last line. Go there and take a shot at it. I was thinking Finney, but one of the commenters has said it's not so. It's definitely a well-meaning "liberal" of the past.

Tony Kummer gives us 16 reasons Al Mohler should be the SBC's next president.

Strong Bad E-mail returns today with sbemail #186.

Disclaimer: In posting these thoughts, questions, and ramblings I feel it wise to give a disclaimer. There are many people that are far more knowledgeable and gifted in expositing the Word of God than I. These thoughts are not intended to be in-depth analysis of the text. They are thoughts. They are questions. They are ramblings. It will be a display of what God is teaching me through His Word. In depth study will be done at a different time. It is also good to know the author's goal. 1) To be accountable in reading through Scripture. 2) To share these thoughts with others. Possibly for someone else's edification; possibly for my own. 3) To glorify God through His Word. 4) To spur one another on in taking up Scripture and reading! So without further ado, here are today's readings:

Genesis 7:

One thing I found significant in this narrative is not what IS there but what is not. Perhaps I am missing another place in Scripture, but in this account I see nothing of Noah preaching to people. Usually when I have heard the story told it involves Noah telling people what God is going to do and them laughing. Therefore, it seems more just that God gave them a chance to repent and they did not.

The truth of the matter is that God would be completely just in blotting out the whole earth again. Now certainly we know that He promises to not do that. But if it were not for the promise and His mercy He would certainly be just to blot out everything once again.

Verse 21 is another example that "all" doesn't always mean every single one.

Matthew 7:

Why does my prayer life so often struggle? Do I not believe the beautiful promises in verse 7-11? Lord, help me to trust that you delight in giving good gifts to your children. I pray Lord for a passion to earnestly pray for others and for your glory. As John Piper encouraged us a couple of days ago, help me to pray globally as well.

There is much to be said to our contemporary mass evangelism strategies in v. 13-14. What is the broad gate? We know it is wide and easy. And we know it leads to destruction. And it seems to be where the majority are going through. Are we foolish for telling sinners that salvation is "easy"? Are we leading them through the broad gate? Jesus said that his yoke was "easy" and his burden "light", did he not? What then is this broad gate? The narrow gate we know is hard, but it leads to life, and few find it. Is it possible that the "difficulty" of finding the narrow gate is the same "impossibility" of salvation? Is it possible that finding the narrow gate only comes from a regenerate heart?

Verse 23. It is more significant that Jesus knows me than that I know Jesus.

I want to build my house on the rock.

Ezra 7:

Can verse 10 be said of me? Do I set my heart to study the Law of the LORD? (Certainly that would be more than the Law now, and would include the whole counsel of God). Do I do it? Do I teach it?

Artaxerxes fears the wrath of God. But certainly this is not the trembling at the word that Isaiah 66:2 speaks of. It is not accompanied with repentance. It is trembling at God as if he were but another "god". It seems to me as if he is making sure all of his bases are covered. Nonetheless, the Lord uses him to lavish grace upon the people of Israel.

I wonder, do we still see the mighty God moving the hearts of kings? Do we often thank the man or thank the God that moves the man? What is this steadfast love of which Ezra speaks? Is it none other than the call to preach and teach His Word? Do I see my calling as such?

Acts 7:

I wonder if the Jewish people were bored with this history lesson? Certainly it would have been very little new information. Is Stephen trying to gain common ground?

What a sharp turn in verse 51. "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." Ouch! Stephen does not mince any words. A man before the people that hold his life in their hands ought not talk this way. Yet Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.

They accuse Stephen of blasphemy but are doing so themselves by their rejection of Jesus.

It seems that being full of the Holy Spirit means being full of mercy and grace that is accompanied with boldness. What powerful effect this must have had on "a young man named Saul".

Recently there has been a debate in the blogosphere concerning Tim Challies new book. The debate is not about the book itself, but rather the qualifications of its author. I have no intent to enter the debate itself. My only intent is to attempt an answer to the core question that has been raised; "what qualifies someone to speak for God and His Word?" If you want more information on this discussion then you can see where it originated at JT's blog, or see Challies response on his blog.

Before we can go any further I believe we must change one word in the question to reach the central question. "What" should be changed to "Who". It is not a "what" that qualifies men to speak for God but a "Who". If we spend our time on the periphery "what", then I believe we will miss the biblical answer. First, we must discover "Who" qualifies men to speak for God and His Word, then we can begin asking questions about the "what".

As I set out to answer this question what I found was one prominent thing; God alone qualifies men to speak for Him and His Word. Who qualified Moses to speak for God? (Exodus 3-4) Who qualified Samuel to speak God's Word? (1 Samuel 3) How does Nathan have the authority to rebuke King David? Who qualifies Him to speak? (2 Samuel 12:1) Who qualifies such prophets as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel? (Jeremiah 1, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 2) Who qualifies every other prophet to speak? The answer to all of the above questions is God Himself.

This is not only found in the Old Testament but also the New. We see this clearly in 2 Corinthians 3. Paul is asking the Corinthians, "do we need letters of recommendation?" Then it is as if he says, "you know our ministry, you have experienced what God has done, it speaks for itself, you know that we are qualified." But just to make it clear he lets them know where their authority comes from. He answers our question: Paul, "who has qualified you to speak for God and His Word?" His answer: "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Much of the dialogue in John 5-10 is in response to this very question. What makes Jesus think that he has the right to speak for God and His Word? What qualifies you to say and do such things, Jesus? Jesus continues to point to the Father as His source of authority: "I have come in my Father's name...My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me...I have not come of my own accord..." Now certainly Jesus is God so his situation and authority is different than ours. We do not have inherent authority, Jesus did. But, it is significant that He still points to the Father as the one that "qualifies Him" to speak for God and His Word.

This does not fully answer the question asked though. Very few people would say that our authority does not come from God. The question before us then is this: "How do we know whether or not God has qualified someone to speak for Him and His Word"?

Do we look at the qualifications for an elder and say, "only men with these qualities can speak for God"? Do we consult the local church, and say, "those set apart by the local church, they alone can speak for God"? Do we test the fruits of that which is said, and by the fruit discern whether it is from God? Or is it possible that it is a combination of these?

I can understand the concerned motivation behind this question. American Christianity is a breeding grounds for "thus-saith-the Lord" heresy. Just a few days ago I linked to Pat Robertson's New Year's predictions. Is Pat Robertson qualified to make such a statement? He is an ordained minister. At some point a local church has set him apart as a messenger of God. He has degrees. He has qualifications. But do we see fruit? Do his predictions come true?

Can we say that Joel Osteen preaches the word of God? How do we know John MacArthur preaches God's Word? What about John Piper? What about myself on a Wednesday night? How do we know whether or not God has sovereignly chosen to speak through someone or not? That is a profound question. It may just take a 208 page book to even begin discovering how to be more discerning in these matters. In brief I want to offer two suggestions on how we can discern whether the message is from God or not.

The first comes from 1 John. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error"

It would take an entire sermon (and much more) to fully exposit this text. For now I want to show three things that help us to see whether it is from God or not. How do you know if God has sovereignly decided to speak through someone?

1) If they have an accurate Christology as clearly revealed in Scripture then perhaps it is from God.
2) If their teaching sounds like the world, then it is not from God. (This is where the Osteen's and prosperity teachers fall off). If their teaching matches up to what is revealed in Scripture then it should be received.
3) What do trusted believers say concerning the matter? Since the Holy Spirit dwells in believers and he confirms truth, what is the consensus of godly men. Since this one is the most subjective it is the most unreliable, but still should be strongly considered. Ultimately our trust in discerning these matters should be in the Lord.

The second suggestion comes from Jeremiah Burroughs. A recent reprint of some of Burroughs' sermons entitled Gospel Fear might give us an answer. After discussing our need to tremble at God's Word (and Burroughs includes in that the preaching of that Word) he pauses to address an objection. "...we will fear the Word of God; but is everything that a minister speaks the Word of God? If we were sure that it was God's Word, then we would yield unto it. But we know that one man is of one opinion and another is of another opinion." In other words, how do we know whether it is God's Word? Burroughs answer is beautiful and very fitting for our current discussion:

When anything comes in God's name, do not slightly cast it off, but try it and examine it...So do not lightly cast off that which comes in the name of God, but yield so far unto it as to examine it. Search the Scriptures; test whether it is according to the divine rule or not. I know a gentleman who, when he came home once from a sermon, said, 'Well, if it is true what this minister says, we are in an ill case'. Now woe to that man whose chief comfort lies upon this false ground, that he hopes that which he hears out of the Word is not the Word. Oh, that man is in a miserable case who has no other ground for his comfort" Gospel Fear, p23

Burroughs then offers two suggestions for those that are poor and ignorant. First of all be willing to yield to what you know. Secondly, get alone and cry to God, and ask the Lord that he would make His Word known to you.

In sum, what (or rather who) qualifies someone to speak for God and His Word? It is God alone. But, how can we know whether or not God has sovereignly chosen to speak through someone? We should not slightly cast it off if it comes in God's name but we should test it. There is something to be said for the local church standing behind a man. But they can be wrong (either positively or negatively). There is something to be said for elders being the primary teachers. But certainly God can speak through laity (He even chose to speak through a donkey). But ultimately, we must rely upon the Lord and His Spirit to help us discern whether or not it is God's Word. God is sovereign and the Spirit inside us will help us discern His truth.

Perhaps this adds little to the conversation, but may God be glorified.

Disclaimer: In posting these thoughts, questions, and ramblings I feel it wise to give a disclaimer. There are many people that are far more knowledgeable and gifted in expositing the Word of God than I. These thoughts are not intended to be in-depth analysis of the text. They are thoughts. They are questions. They are ramblings. It will be a display of what God is teaching me through His Word. In depth study will be done at a different time. It is also good to know the author's goal. 1) To be accountable in reading through Scripture. 2) To share these thoughts with others. Possibly for someone else's edification; possibly for my own. 3) To glorify God through His Word. 4) To spur one another on in taking up Scripture and reading! So without further ado, here are today's readings:

Genesis 6:

This chapter is a wonderful synopsis of Scripture. Man is exceedingly messed up and God is exceedingly merciful. He should have (if that's okay to say) blotted man out after he sinned in the Garden. Yet he shows mercy. Fast forward quiet a few years and we get the same story. Man has gotten worse. "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Oh, painfully true is this of my heart and flesh apart from Christ! God does decide to execute justice as everything will die except those he saves.

We are not told how Noah found favor with the Lord, but he did. Thankfully for us, he did.

Where Shem, Ham, and Japheth triplets?

I am extremely thankful for the Lord's mercy in not only saving Noah, but also saving me.

Matthew 6:

I think of McCheyne in verse 1. "Perish my honor." I know that sometimes I do my acts of righteousness in order to be seen by men. Lord, forgive me. I want your reward and not the reward of man.

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors". So....what happens if you refuse to forgive your debtors? May God grant us a forgiving heart. This is a very serious matter. It seems as if our own forgiveness is pending on following this. How can a wicked heart do such? Indeed he cannot. We must have a regenerate heart. The Lord must work it.

How many treasures do I have on earth compared to those in heaven?

Is my only Master the Lord?

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you". I have seen the truth of this verse displayed numerous times in my own life. God certainly is good and gives us everything we need.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble". Why do I think it an anomaly if I experience tough days?

Ezra 6:

How amazing that even though others meant ill, God used this to speed the building of the temple. The Lord is certainly passionate about His glory, His name, and worship. He controls the hearts of men to do just this. Even when they intend evil, God turns it for His glory and our good.

Again we see them celebrate with joy. I pray that we might have this great joy. God has done far greater things than the rebuilding of his temple. (See Haggai 2:9).

Acts 6:

What should a minister of the gospel be about? "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word". It is so sad that often ministers have to spend so much time doing such work as "waiting on tables" to the neglect of administering the word. I pray that the Lord might bring about in my life a steadfastness in prayer and ministry of the word.

"Full of grace and power." Could that be said of me? Certainly, not my own fleshly power--but the power of the Spirit flowing through my life. I'm not sure it could. Lord, for your name sake, fill me with grace and your power.

We need more men like Stephen!