The Law and the Gospel

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room; the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue.

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure this is to shew thee, that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit.

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

To the Christian

Then, said Good Will, Alas, poor man, is the celestial glory of so small esteem with him that he counteth it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it ?
- Good Will speaking to Christian concerning his neighbor Pliable

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Peeping the Mindset

When I first got to Philly, I found myself getting irritated and annoyed by some of the actions and attitudes of the residents. Even now, I get irritated by some of the things I see. During my first couple of weeks, I remember sitting at the Gallery with my sis Tiffany and she gave me some advice that has been surfacing a lot lately — When you see these types of behaviors, think about why they do it.

I would say that the residents of Philadelphia feel as though they have nothing to live for. They’re not afraid to die, afraid to kill (obviously, with a 320 murder count)… I can’t begin to count how many times I have swerved to avoid hitting someone defiantly slowly walking across a busy street, looking at oncoming cars as if to say, “I wish you would”… 15 year old looking females with tight and revealing clothes, strutting on self visualized runways, hoping to attract male attention… parents letting their 4 and 5 year old children play outside at night while they’re inside doing whatever. When I see this, Tiff’s words come back to me and I just have to remind myself to peep the mindset. Why do they kill ? Why do they walk in front of speeding cars ? Why do they want male attention ? Why do they let their children do what they want ? Why do they ride bikes in lanes of oncoming traffic at night time wearing all black ?

The answer that I have been meditating on a lot concerning these citizens ? Hope and rebellion. They have lost hope in various things… life and self respect being 2 of those things… and because of this lost hope, they rebel against their Creator, thinking they’re, in a sense, avenging themselves when they are only storing up more and more wrath.

I’ve been praying for Philly, praying that the Lord would win this city to Himself, that He would save them from and to Himself. It’d be so awesome to see it… especially in light of my reading of Romans 1 lately. Just looking at verses 18 – 32 especially… I was talking to some sisters about what the Lord had shown me during my study time.

The Greek word for the ‘gave them up’ is paradidomi, an extremely intense word, and when used in the Bible usually refers to a severe judgment, punishment, or imprisonment. God gives those people up to their sins 3 times. All through the book of Matthew, it’s used such as in 4:12 and 5:25

Because they exchanged God’s incorruptible glory for man’s corruptible image, God gives them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, then to dishonorable passions, then to a a debased mind … I look at these people and think, wow you just don’t know what you’re doing! Stop! C.S. Lewis has this quote where he says:

The lost enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded and are therefore self enslaved.

I get nervous for the residents and reading Romans has given me a)a new perspective on Philadelphia dwellers and b)given me an urgency to get God’s gospel out.

I’ve been peeping the mindset and it’s a dangerous one.

Send Me ?

[audio:SendMe.mp3]

In ‘Send Me’ by Lecrae, he says, ‘Missions exists because worship doesn’t’. Proper worship of God does not exist in the nations so we, as ambassadors of Christ, were commissioned to go and make disciples and teach people to observe all that He’s commanded us. Many people forget the latter part of the Great Commission…

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

As I drove to work this morning, I listened to 116 Clique’s newest CD – Amped. I had ‘Send Me/Represent’ on repeat. Listening to the song, as amped up (no pun intended) as it is, I focused on what Lecrae was saying and started to realize that the Lord is really giving me a heart that is highly focused on missions. This started developing so much more since I have been in Philly. The things I see and hear tear me up! And this song ? I have listened to it so many times, blasted it in my car, but today was different. I thought, wow… What am I doing ? In Shai Linne’s song, ‘More Random Thoughts’, he says:

I used to doubt Him / Now I see I can’t live without Him / Now what I look like not tellin’ everybody about Him

So I am here in Philly… saved… I know the good news of Jesus Christ… have His Word… have this blessed hope as an anchor for my soul (Hebrews 6:19)… and what am I doing with it ? While I watch people living hellbound lives… while I watch young men and women hang out on the corner… while I listen to and read the news about yet another senseless murder… while I watch people DIE, what am I doing ? What am I doing with what He’s given me ? What am I doing with what the Lord has blessed me to know ? What am I doing with my life ?

Ahh, this is breaking me lately. It’s tearing me up. Lord, have mercy on me for being timid and fearful. Make me bold for Your namesake, for Your glory.

People are dying and going to hell. We’re alive in Christ and look forward to spending eternity with Him… only by the grace of God. We’re not in an elite club… We’re not better than others… He saved us; He can save them too. No, God doesn’t need us, but are we being obedient to the great commission that the Lord Jesus set before us ? I know I’m not, and my heart is feeling it… May the Lord grant us purpose, boldness, and grace in proclaiming His Word. May we breathe out what we breathe in…