In His Word I Hope

Psalm 130

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What is Biblical Counseling - Image of God in Man (Part 3)

Association of Certified Biblical Counselors Beliefs

Part 1 What is Biblical Counseling?

Part 2 What is Biblical Counseling - Sin and Secular Psychology

“Imago Dei” is a Latin word which translated means “image of God”.  It is a beautiful word directed distinctly and uniquely to humankind and our beautiful and orderly connection to God as the creator.  God stated in Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.  And it was as God stated. God created man win His own image- both male and female (Genesis 1:27).  Verse 28 goes on to charge mankind with the command to take dominion, be fruitful, and multiply.  God blessed them and declared again in Genesis 9:6, mankind was made in the image of God. Original righteousness (true knowledge and holiness) was given to mankind when God declared man “very good”.  God is Creator and the original in which man was created. 1 When it speaks of image, it means mankind was made to reflect the image of God in His moral and spiritual essence.  We are to mirror the original and reflect the divine wonder of God.  Men are image-bearers.

Jesus Christ, the Son, is also the image of God (Colossians 1:15).  The Apostle Paul claims some are blinded by the evil one and do not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ- who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:5).  Because of Jesus Christ, the original righteousness given to mankind at Creation is now available to us.

How does this view of being made in the image of God translate for Believers?  

The Word of God gives a beautiful systematic look at the love, mercy, and care for his creation.  Those whom He foreknew, He predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Mankind can think, feel, and use our minds to discern and reason.  Therefore, as image-bearers, we must reflect God in our words (speech). We must reflect on God in our deeds (actions).

We must hold fast to the truth that the Holy Spirit also plays a part in our sanctification as we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).  We must be renewed in the spirit of our minds and throw off the old self.  We must put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:23-24).  This truth is everything as we counsel others as the enemy tends to distort this truth. Mankind was made in the physical form to reflect God’s goodness, but also the spiritual side as well. 2 

The image of God defines both male and female (Genesis 1:27).  Just as the divine order of the Trinity, God also divinely designed both male and female to complement one another.  Just as Christ is the head of the Church, so is man the head over his wife.  Each person is gifted differently yet together we are bearing the image of our Creator in all our ways.  Therefore, God sends us out to be salt to the earth and light to the world.  As image-bearers, we reflect His goodness in all we do as we joyfully honor Him in all we do.

The beauty of what God has created “very good” changed the moment the crafty serpent tempted Eve and caused her to doubt God’s goodness. Adam should have led and protected Eve, but both ate the fruit from the tree which God specifically told them not to eat.  The consequences of this action led to the fall.  Their eyes opened and they knew they were naked (Genesis 3:7).  As God walked in the garden, Adam and Eve hid because of their shame.  The image of God in man now became distorted and created a chasm between man’s fellowship with God.  Praise God for Jesus Christ who many years later would be born of a virgin. Fully God and fully man.  The Word became flesh and the propitiation for our sins.  Man is redeemed and fellowship is restored because of Christ’s finished work on the cross.  Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) and in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). Believers now can walk with assurance of salvation.  Christ will return one day for his bride and transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21).  In the present, we continue to pursue holiness and sanctification to be conformed to the image of Christ.   Glorification will be the final removal of sin as all who believe will be made perfect.

1 Berkoff, L. (2022). Systematic Theology. Glh Publishing. 2 Lambert, Heath. A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry. Zondervan Academic, 2016. 

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What is Biblical Counseling - Sin and Secular Psychology (Part 2)

Part 1 What is Biblical Counseling?

An article published February 20, 2004 from Ligonier Ministries states, “Romans 1 is one of the most important texts that deals with general revelation. General revelation is the revelation that God gives to all people, sinner or saint, in creation. The created order clearly and loudly tells all men about God’s power and divine nature (1:20). But though all men clearly know there is a God, they do not honor or give thanks to Him (1:21). The fall into sin has caused mankind to ignore and deny their Creator. Sin has affected our minds and causes our thinking to become futile apart from Christ. This effect of sin upon our minds is known in theology as the “noetic effects of sin.”

Sin is defined as missing the mark and a transgression against the law of God.  More importantly, missing the mark in terms of conformity to moral law and perfection expected by God.  Nous is a Greek noun that means mind. Noetic refers to the action of thinking.  Sin is defined as missing the mark.  Therefore, the definition of the noetic effect of sin is how sin effects and distorts humankind’s intellect and ability to reason.  Because of the sinful nature of humankind, we have a foggy and distorted view of all things.  We also do not have a clear-cut capacity to reason due to the futility of the mind and hardness of heart (Romans 1:21).  Sin effects and weaken the mind which in turn draws upon useless facts and manmade ideologies which breed disbelief, distrust, and unbelief.  The heart is deceitful above all things and who can understand it (Jeremiah 17:9).  The noetic effects of sin have distorted our understanding of all truths. Our hearts are deceived in our thinking and motivations.  Humankind does not do the good they want to do even though man desires the will to do good to please God and follow the law of God.  Sin indwells and is also at work in humankind waging war against the law of the mind to the law of sin (Romans 7:21-23). Humankind tries to rationalize the good things we do, but unto a holy God, all the good man does is considered filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).        

Scripture is sufficient and should be the only lens through which we view the world.  The Scriptures reveal to us that man is created in the image of God with purpose.  Man is created with a material (physical) side and an immaterial (spiritual) side.  Man has a conscience, heart, will, and mind which can reason, think, and discern.  These innate abilities were gifts instilled by Creator God to perceive and answer the effectual and irresistible call of the Holy Spirit.  The Word of God must be the lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105).

Scripture

Secular psychology does not have a high view of Scripture.  They do not have a clear view of anthropology.  They seek to define man apart from a high view of God.  They even view self differently and therefore sees the desires and will of man from another lens.  They see man for himself and not man in relation to a Holy God. The soft sciences such as sociology and psychology observe humankind based on theories and principles, which do not analyze or examine man with the correct lens.  Secular psychology is a worldview which should be ignored when compared to the Scriptures and a correct view of the doctrine of man.  In comparison to the noetic effects of sin, secular psychology only sees an outer man and do not see the inner man. Secular Psychologists do not see sin has corrupted humankind, infected, and polluted the minds of all.  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).  Integrationists who hold to “The Flea Market” understanding believe man needs more love.  They state a lack of self love leads to sin and distress.  Secular psychology again, fails to see the effects of sin on humankind.  This distorted view of humankind does not see sin having any effect on the mind. 

Anthropology

Secular psychologists do not see the human condition in the same light.  They only see man as a physical body.  Biology is the authority and using natural science and reasoning of man is the sole theory on which they base their assumptions.  Their understanding is manmade and does not come from a truly biblical and anthropological view of doctrine. Secular Psychologists fail to correctly define the human condition.  Freud claims man is driven by an unconscious mind and is not responsible for what he does.  He believes man is influenced by what the people around him have befallen on him.  Therefore, humans are victims, and one must dig into the past to overcome.  Skinner states humans are animals and unaware of his actions, therefore we must control and reward man. There is much fallacy in the views of these men.  As stated, they do not see sin as the barrier to which we can be reconciled with a Holy God. This view will only lead man to view their environment and circumstances as the reason for their pain. 

As biblical counselors, we must see the noetic sins and counsel others to take thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:35).  Those called unto the Lord are to die to self and transform of minds and not conform to the world (Romans 12:2).

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What is Biblical Counseling? (Part 1)

The inspiration of Scripture is defined as the supernatural and divine work of the Holy Spirit in the writers of the Scriptures (Word of God). The word inspired means “breathed out of God” and, therefore, it is God speaking to humanity.  The writers of the Scriptures were carried by the power of the Holy Spirit in their recordings and writings which are the very breath of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:20-21).  The Holy Spirit used gifted human authors and led each of them to communicate exactly what He intended from the very mouth of God.  The Holy Scriptures is God speaking and therefore God-breathed.  Since the Scriptures are the very breath of God, it is useful in teaching, training in righteousness, and equipping all Believers (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The inerrancy of Scripture states the Holy Scriptures is without error and truthful in all of its teachings.  God’s Word is truth because of the doctrine of inspiration.  Every word of God is perfect and pure (Proverbs 30:5a).  The Scriptures speak accurately and clearly in all that is written. Charles Rylie states “God is true (Romans 3:4); the Scriptures were breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16); therefore, the Scriptures are true (since they came from the breath of God who is true).  As the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy states, the complete work of the Scriptures is inerrant, being free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit.  Most importantly, it is true because of the doctrine of inspiration coming from the very breath of God.

The authority of Scripture means that the Word of God has the supreme rule in what I think, believe, and live.  The Scriptures reveal the attributes of God and created man in His image. Authority is defined as one who is master, one in power, and able to give orders or commands for others to follow and obey.  It is written in Romans 13:1 that even governing authorities are established by God.  With this understanding, God’s Word is the rule that humankind must follow and obey.  The works of men in false ideologies fade, but I am confident even if the grass fades withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

What is Biblical Counseling?

Biblical counseling is interpersonal one-on-one discipleship within the context of the local church. It is not based on the wisdom of men, therapy, or psychology, but it is based on God’s Word as the ultimate source of truth and restoration for the believer in Christ.

Faith Biblical Counseling defines biblical counseling as "the process where the Bible, God’s Word, is related individually to a person or persons who are struggling under the weight of personal sin and/or the difficulties with suffering, so that he or she might genuinely change in the inner person to be pleasing to God".

1. The Bible is sufficient for life in that, when properly interpreted, it reveals to the believer all things necessary for one to understand his need for Christ. 2. The Bible is the authoritative source with which all truth claims—including claims made by science and history—must be evaluated. As a result, we must reject all counseling theories that use presuppositions, principles, and/or methodologies that are inconsistent with the proper interpretation of the biblical text.  3. Third, genuine heart change is totally dependent on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  

Sufficiency of Scripture and Biblical Counseling

The relationship of the inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture together is God speaking, therefore, there is no error, and the Scriptures has complete authority over my life.  As the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy states, the confession of the full authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture is vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith and this confession should lead to increasing conformity to the image of Christ. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe (1 Thes. 2:13). The relationship of all three is critical in understanding theological truths.

The sufficiency of scripture states the Holy Bible (Word of God) has everything we need to live life honoring to God. The Word of God is true and we can be encouraged to live in the blessed hope of Christ Jesus- by the power of the Holy Spirit when we put our trust in God.  God gifts all believers with the Holy Spirit which indwells the believer and empowers all believers to live God-fearing lives, know Him, and serve Him (1 Peter 1:3).  The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.  The Word of God, therefore, able to divide, judge the thoughts, and discern the attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).  It is true wisdom to turn to the God of the Scriptures in all matters of life.

The sufficiency of Scripture plays a vital role in biblical counseling. As Christ followers, the Word of God is the firm and sole authority we must turn to in our lives.  As a biblical counselor, my role is to exhort and encourage others to live according to Scriptures.  The same Spirit which lives in me indwells other believers. I am confident the Spirit of truth will teach other believers about Jesus Christ as Christ promised in John 16:12-13.  The Word of God is truth and it will do the work of sanctifying believers by the truth (John 17:17).  

Integrationists or Christian Psychologists do not believe the Scriptures are enough, therefore, they will integrate the Scriptures with secular psychology.  Eric Johnson is a Christian Psychologist who believes the Scriptures only address doctrine and is only able to bring people to salvation. He coined the term salvific doctrinal sufficiency. He did not believe the Scriptures could help believers in day-to-day life.

All mankind is made in the image of God and the Scriptures is the authoritative source that we draw upon in all matters.  It also has a methodology and practice of how to help mankind through all issues of life. The precepts of the Lord are right, and commands of the Lord are radiant in giving light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8).  The illumination of the Scriptures is how we should look at life.  This is the lens that we must use to view the world. It can diagnose sin issues by the power of the Holy Spirit in sanctification.  As a biblical counselor, I can support and walk with counselees in one-on-one discipleship. Just like any secular or integrated system, we have a complete counseling system (the Word of God) to help others walk in the spirit and live lives glorifying God.

For more information: ACBC

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Biblical Womanhood

LINK to the power point: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak6xztF5M1Rxw0p9qp5ykPLU4mN3

We live in an age characterized by error and confusion on sexuality, gender identity, and feminist ideologies. The Holy Scriptures provide the true and biblical defense of the necessity of male and female distinctions which are determined biologically in the womb and at birth.

As Christ followers, we believe the Holy Scriptures is inspired and God’s revelation of Himself to man, therefore, it is trustworthy and is all we need for life and godliness. We will take a systematic view beginning in Genesis 1-3 and study the characteristics of what God defines as a biblical woman. We will see the beautiful order and divine design intended in His purposes and His Glory.

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Humbled to share 4 days with my Sisters at Standing Stones Youth Camp. Ladies only workshop focused on our divine design. Many workshops I also wanted to learn from as well. But when asked to teach, there is NO GREATER threat to the design God instituted then the error of the feminist movement. From the Babylonian, Assyrian, and the Greco-Roman world- to our generation. It was heavily pushed in the 1800s and now entered our denominations with the compromises of feminism and has now distorted our view of woman pastors (which I REJECT), male headship, and submission. Most cringe at these words, but as a Woman, Wife, and Mother- being a Helper (ezer), being subject to my Rich (hupotasso), and a worker at home (oikourgos) is a blessing.

This was my cry this whole week with my Sisters....

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.

Jude 3

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Your Will Be Done

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the many years, it is my desperate need for prayer. In times where I found myself- whether in joy of affliction- it was prayer which I sought. But my question is why seek prayer and why be devoted to prayer if one does not understand our deep need for prayer? Its pointless to see a doctor if one does not realize the physical body in which one needs healing for? And it’s also pointless to hope in something if we desire for our own will. Why then do we seek answers apart from the one works all things in accordance with the plan of His will?

My Rich has been preaching verse by verse through the Book of Acts all year and we’ve made it to Acts 8. As we were on a study date together one day at a coffee shop, I thought about prayer and the writer of Acts- Luke. Luke was not a disciple or apostle. Apostle Paul records in Colossians 4:14, Luke was a beloved physician and groups Luke with the Gentiles in the context of his letter. Its safe to assume Luke was a Gentile Christian. Luke provides a narrative account of the life of Jesus Christ with some not seen in the other Gospels. Specifically, the opening chapters of Luke 1 and parts of 2 with the history of Zacharias and Elizabeth, Angel appearing to Mary, and the Shepherds in the fields. One of my favorite portions only recorded in Luke where Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth and stood to read the scroll. He confirms the good news of Isaiah 61 fulfilled that day (Luke 4:14-22).

Yet, throughout Luke’s account, he record multiple times our Savior prayed and these are just a few of them.

Luke records Jesus praying at his baptism (Luke 3:21).

Luke records how Jesus Himself would often withdraw to the wilderness and pray (Luke 5:16).

Luke records how Jesus spent whole night praying before the choosing of the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12).

Luke records Jesus praying that his transfiguration (Luke 9:28).

Luke records Jesus teaching the disciples to pray (Luke 11:1).

Luke records Jesus praying Peter’s faith would not fail (Luke 22:32).

Luke records Jesus praying fervently in the garden (Luke 22:44).

After the resurrection, Christ’s followers were in the upper room and all were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer (Acts 1:14a). I rejoice in the truth Luke provides of the Son of Man whom gave us a example of prayer to imitate in the Early Church. And this echoes throughout the New Testament and even to this day. Each morning, I devote myself to pray for my family, my Church, and for His will to be done.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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CHRIST

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas day. If there is anything worth pondering on, today, it is not merely just another holiday. I’ve enjoyed this quiet day with my family. And extremely grateful for another Christmas season to reflect on the best gift of all- Jesus Christ.

“The chief and leading theme of all the prophets is their aim to keep the people in eager anticipation of the coming Christ.”  Martin Luther

There are many Christological texts in Isaiah which affirm and give us a comprehensive prophetic view of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. He will judge the nations (2:4), Immanuel (Isaiah 11:1), foretelling of His coming (Isaiah 40:3-5), virgin birth (7:14), His sacrificial death (52:13-53:12), and His return (60:2-3). Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (40:11), suffering servant (50:6), and light to the Gentiles (49:6).

Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet, whose name means “YHWH (the LORD) is salvation.” He was a prophet and messenger of God. Salvation found 26 times in the Book of Isaiah. More than any Old Testament Prophet, he served and prophesied to all classes of people (kings to common folk) in Judah. He served 50 years during the reigns of last 4 kings of Judah in the capital city of Jerusalem.

God’s people, the Israelites once was united. Saul, the first King from the tribe of Benjamin. The second king was David, son of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. David was followed by his son Solomon. King Solomon was the last of the kings of the United Kingdom. His sins were the reason for the division of the United Kingdom.

In came one of the great “turning points” in the history of Israel. One that is crucial to our understanding our history as Christ followers. The division of the United Kingdom is a very significant turning point in the history of the nation Israel. The two kingdoms at war with each other and unwilling to make alliances. The kingdom divided into two nations with two kings. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne, ten tribes rejected him and instead made Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam their king. They became the northern kingdom with Samaria as its capital. The southern kingdom (comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) became Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. David’s descendants, Rehoboam, became their king and Judah remained faithful to the throne in Jerusalem.

The two nations were in conflict with one another and greatly weakened by division. This great division made both kingdoms vulnerable to foreign powers and enemies. Both would look to other nations even other Gentile gods to align with. Both turned away from the God to other pagan gods. After a long succession of wicked kings in both kingdoms, Assyria attacked Israel (northern kingdom) and eventually carried off its people into exile.

Isaiah's ministry occurred at a critical time in Judah's history. Judah in rebellion and idolatry and led away from the true God by the corrupt kings in power. Assyria now had their eyes on Judah. Judah had to decide whether it would submit to Assyria or resist the empire. Isaiah called Judah to the latter option and rebuked the people for their sin and called them to repentance (1:18–20; 7–8). He prohibited human alliances and pleaded with the nation to trust in the Lord. He rebuked them for their sins and spoke boldly about God’s judgement. The prophet’s message though during this troubled time was not about preserving an earthly kingdom or nation, but pointed the people to a different kind of salvation - a spiritual deliverance. Though the God saved Judah from the Assyrians, they would later fall to the Babylonians and be carried off as exiles. Yes, it was God whom brought the Assyrians against the North. He will bring the Babylonians against the Assyrians. He will send the Southern Kingdom into exile in Babylon (2 Kings 23-24; 2 Chron. 36).  He will bring the Persians against the Babylonians.

Comfort

If we didn’t know the story, we would probably conclude it was all over for the nation of Israel. The covenant blessings God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob now void. The promised Messiah was supposed to sit on the throne of David. What now? What hope was there?

The Messiah, directly spoken of in more than half of the chapters between Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 61. Undoubtedly, the most important chapter pertaining to mankind’s salvation is found in Isaiah 53.

This prophecy explains how much He would suffer during His sacrifice for man’s sins. Despised and rejected, but by His stripes, we are healed. This pivotal chapter tells us that He would come to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Politically, Israel and Judah were wiped out, but the spiritual Israel and Judah - those who believe in the Messiah would endure and gain the victory over all the world.

CHRIST

As Isaiah points to the destruction of the surrounding nations, we are reminded that salvation can only come from the Lord and will not come about due to the efforts of any political leader, regardless of how great or how strong that leader is. Isaiah points us to something more important than political or social deliverance. He points all of us to the deliverance that lasts forever - the salvation of our souls.

With this in mind, it makes sense that the New Testament writers quote from the Book of Isaiah so often. Though even the people in the New Testament living during the time of Jesus were still looking for physical deliverance and political victories over their enemies. They had such a hard time believing that Jesus could be the Messiah because He didn’t have the characteristics of a political deliverer. He came as a son of a carpenter whose own siblings didn’t believe who he said is was. They failed to see Jesus as the Messiah who was born this day over two millennia ago to fulfill the prophecy to deliver His elect from sin, death, and Satan.

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

I can honestly say my mind has been overwhelmed with much this year. A lot has happened in 2020. I don’t know if you all see it as well. Our Nation and even our churches are divided just as the United Kingdom was divided in the Old Testament. We disagree and are at war with many things the world throws our way. In turn, we also seek to idols, leaders, and try to find common alliances with others in hopes that they would save us. We forget our common foe- satan and the power and principalities in the heavenly realm. The father of lies who seeks to destroy all humankind. Oh, how we desperately in need of the Holy Spirit and discernment. I pray God would grant us all repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and may come to our senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). There is one body and one Spirit. My heart has been heavy this year, but it ends today with the Gospel of hope and comfort in Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Praise God! He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He would be called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

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Expectantly

Psalm 130. If there were one particular psalm which speaks louder than others for me, it is these 8 verses found in Psalm 130. It is one of the 15 Songs of Ascent found in Psalm 120-134. Sung by Jewish men/families on pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year for the three sacred feasts/festivals set aside by the Lord for His people. They were sung on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city of Jerusalem. They were meant to fill the people’s hearts with great joy, anticipation, and wonder for all God had done for them. The Songs of Ascent also played a key role of remembrance, prayer, and worship. The hope of these verses focused on the deliverance the Messiah would bring, rescuing his people from their captivity, and restoring Jerusalem to glory and peace.

Psalm 130 paints a vivid image to express the anticipation and expectation in waiting on the LORD. The city of Jerusalem had thick high walls around the entire city to protect them against enemies. And watchmen were wise men who were on watch with skill in discerning the enemy and protecting the city.

The Hebrew word for watchman is tsaphah meaning to lean forward, to peer into the distance; by implication means to observe, behold, spy out, wait for, keep the watch’.

The Psalmist speaks of the depths of despair, awareness, and guilt of sin. The Psalmist had a deep place of affliction and heart troubled of sin referring to both LORD (Yhwh, Eternal One) and Lord (Master) throughout these 8 verses. The awareness of sin created a deep chasm between him and longs for the LORD to turn His ear toward him and show mercy. Truly, if the LORD were to mark iniquities, who would be able to stand? The answer is none of us- for all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the ultimate penalty of sin is death (6:23).

Now the Psalmist moves into the proclamation of expectant waiting in verse 5. In the original Hebrew, the words ‘wait’ and ‘hope’ overlap meaning and are often times synonymous. To ‘wait’ and to ‘hope’ seem to go together in Hebrew thought.

Yachal meaning to wait, await, hope

This word is used 48 times in Hebrew bible. Yachal almost always requires an object to be waited for and it is usually God, God’s Word, God’s law, or actions of God.

Qavah meaning to wait actively with anticipation. To look for, hope, and expect

The last four verses of this psalm mention hoping or waiting five times- making this a major theme. The waiting was not passive or inactive. Two times in verse five the psalmist indicated that he waits. The first time it says, “I wait” while the second time indicates “my soul waits”. This verse is a beautiful confession of the Psalmist's faith in expectation. The psalmist's patient and anticipatory waiting for the Lord is compared to the watchman's patient and anticipatory waiting for the break of dawn.

The Psalmist exhorts the nation to the same confident hope: "O Israel, hope in the Lord” and answers the question from verse 3. The subject (repeated twice in 130:7b, then 130:8) looped back to the petition of 130:4; just as the petitioner asked for forgiveness, so the nation will be pardoned. The Psalmist declares that God himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin and wickedness. This is the confident conclusion to the Psalm: trusting that God will indeed bring the redemption and rescue which we know now as the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Expectantly

This is the word that most defines me in my 40s. I write this with tears in my eyes. I am still a suffering sinful sojourner. One thing is certain, had it not been for Jesus Christ and the hope found in the Gospel, I would be lost, blinded by love and care of the world, and on the wide path that leads to death and destruction. I have weathered many storms, cried many tears, and endured the LORD’s chastisement because of my own disobedience and rebellion. There is not one good thing in me- no, not one. I believe it is the Lord and His grace bestowed on me as His child and through the Holy Spirit which held me and continues to this very millisecond. The Holy Spirit continues to teach me, give me deep affection, and love/fear for the Word of God. For the inerrancy of scripture and the sufficiency of scripture. For the Glory of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6). And those for hunger and thirst for righteousness, will be filled.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Had the Lord not redeemed me and drawn me to Himself, I don’t know where I would be in my loneliness and anxiousness. Do I still wrestle with my flesh? Yes, and on those days, I earnestly pray. I see my own depravity and sinfulness and beat my chest. And Christ also sufferedonce for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18). For truly, who could stand before a Holy God. I wait in expectantly on the Lord with the confident expectation of the blessed hope in Christ. To wait on the Lord is to rest in the confident assurance that regardless of difficulties we face in this life, He is sovereign. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits. And in His Word, I hope.

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Lonely, Anxiously...

Lonely

If there was one word to describe myself growing up. Lonely- this would be it. Introverted. Quiet. Awkward. Fifth grade was the first time I realized I didn’t fit in. I had clothes which didn’t fit, big pink glasses, and frizzy wavy hair. I always felt like an outsider. Never quite in fit in anywhere. In Junior High at the age of 14, I vowed to myself that I would be “different”. I forced myself to be more outgoing, joined Choir, made more friends, became a Captain of the football cheerleading squad, and participated in many school activities. I didn’t want to be lonely anymore. But along came high school, and for some reason, I defaulted back to being my lonely self. There’s something about being surrounded by many friends yet still feel lonely. And this was me. My circle of friends at school went from every face circled in my Junior High yearbook to just a small group of friends who sat around a square table in Park Center High School’s cafeteria. I sat by myself in homeroom all 3 years and though it was lonely, lonely was my friend. College was no different as I travelled 2 hours away and lived on campus. Making friends wasn’t something high on my priority list. And I was ok rooming and dining on my own.

Anxiously

I entered into my 20s, got married, had children, and a new word defined me. Anxious. The word anxious is defined as experiencing worry, unease, and nervousness- typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Translated from the Greek word merimna which means “worry of the world” or “cares of the world”. The verb form of this word is merimnao which means “to be anxious, to care for” or “to be divided or distracted” (commonly used in the NT). 

I was anxious about being a good wife and Mother. I was anxious about how I looked and dressed. Anxious about my job. I wanted to “fit in” with the rest of the world. So, whatever the world told me I needed, I chased. And in 2007, none of what I thought or was told would make me happy worked. None of the “cares of the world” or “worries of the world” meant anything to me. But one comfort I found along the way was music and song lyrics. I can think back on my life and pick a Christian song to define that time. And though I did not truly know God despite growing up in the church, I knew He heard my prayers. The Holy Spirit led me to the Word of God in my brokenness. I opened up my Bible that year and read it front to back for the first time. After many years of prayers, the Lord answered me. And instead of being anxious for the cares of the world, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to help me care for what honored the Lord. I didn’t desire to be divided or distracted no longer.

10 years pass and I’m in my 30s. Songs used to be markers in my life now turned to psalms. Christ became my joy. The book of Psalms in the Old Testament has always been a deep encouragement to me. One of the most frequently quoted Old Testament book in the New Testaments. Psalm spans from 1410 B.C. to the early fifth century B.C. post- exilic periods. Spans over 900 years. 150 chapters. The Psalms can be seen as Israel’s hymnbook of more than 7 authors. Spanning from 1410 BC to 450 B.C. postexilic period (900 years of Jewish history). The many themes of Psalms range from just law of God to the sinfulness man. Wisdom of holy living to the effects of sin in disobedience (penitential psalm). Lament and fears of the unknown to the comforts found in the Lord and his sovereignty. Psalms always pointed back to the proper praise and worship of our God. God is glorious, eternal kind, and merciful. God is immutable, just, omnipresent, true, and sovereign. Psalms most importantly point to the coming Messiah through the line of David. Before the ascension of Jesus in Luke 24, he said to his disciples, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 

In winter of 2017, I was on my way to work. I notice chest pain and numbness all down my left arm so I head straight to the ER. I was admitted to the Heart Hospital where I laid in bed all day while multiple tests were ran. My blood tests, EKG, and MRI all come back normal. I walked away that day being told it was just “anxiety” which to me just wasn’t suffice. But all the while, Psalms was where I read and where I prayed. In the summer of 2018, I faint in my bathroom. Again, I’m rushed to the ER and go through the same cycle of tests which come back normal again.

Facebook post:

August 16, 2018 - Psalm has been on my heart and mind for the past couple of months. The Spirit led me there and I have since stayed. Psalm, the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament. Jesus himself quoted from the book of Psalm. Even on the cross before he breathed his last breath he said, "Father to you I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46, Psalm 31:5). Songs of praise continue to be on my mouth despite the unknown. And even in times where I am anxious, I remember the goodness of my Father and praise Him! Even though outwardly my body may not be well, I know inwardly my God is renewing my spirit. And I fix my eyes on the knowledge of my God expressed in His Word. He is so good!

My appointment with my Cardiologist is on Monday! Please pray for me that I would continue to lean on my LORD. I am content in whatever circumstances I am in and pray that God would help me in my weakness. Thank you so much!

"I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1

Expectantly…… 

[inhiswordihope]

Self

We live in a current world saturated with words such as self-care, self-worth, self-affirmation, and self-love. The Self Love Movement founded by Alana Arvanitis facilitates events, workshops and programs to inspire and empower people with the devotion to Self-Love. She quotes, “I hit rock bottom, in the darkness of sadness and grief, pushing my body to the extreme just in order to survive. Then, I collapsed; I had nothing, nothing to give myself or anyone around me. My only choice was – me. And I chose the path of Self-Love, self-enquiry, sovereignty and happiness.” Another self-love movement is The Real Self-Love Movement founded by Dr. Andrea Pennington with the moto “I love you, Me! 100% Love. 100% Focus. 100% Yourself”. Her self-designed Movement Manifesto has topics such as “Real self-love is my birthright”, “I am the architect of my life”, and “Now is my time to Rise”.

The statements and movements above assume a person’s negative thinking of self is cured by loving one’s self and mediating on positive thoughts on self.  But, if we really think about it, there is no lack of self-love in the world. Every person by nature loves himself. We desire to feed, cloth, and work to better self. We exercise, eat better, and get more sleep to better self. The heart of the matter is that everyone innately seeks to better self.

The Greatest Commandment is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:19, Gal. 5:14, James 2:8). The Word does not say “love your neighbor as you love yourself” so we can’t misinterpret these verses to mean “if you don’t love yourself, how can you love others?” or “love yourself first”.

A self-love that exalts my needs, my desires, and my hopes over God, His Sovereign will is fallacious.

A self-love that diminishes my own sins and willfully chooses for grace to abound is erroneous.

A self-love that looks inward in hopes that in loving myself first would then allow me to love others is flawed.

So then why do we look inward and think for a fraction of a second that self-love has the ability to correct anything? It’s clear from 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “there will be difficulty and godlessness in the last days. People will be lovers of self, money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people”.

Self-Denial

In Mark 8, Jesus calls the crowd to him with his disciples and says to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”

Self-denial, a willingness to deny oneself possessions or status in order to grow in holiness and commitment to God. Self-denial was a common thread in Christ’s teachings to his disciples and aside from the command “follow me”, this is repeated more times in the Gospels by Jesus Christ (Matt 10:39; 16:25, Mark 8:35, Like 17:33, John 12:25).

In actuality, as a Believer, there isn’t anything to love about self apart from the person and work of Christ. “Self” is corrupt, fallen, and totally depraved because sin affects all of self including self’s mind, self’s will and self’s emotions. There is none who does good, no not one (Romans 3:12)

Job: “therefore I hate myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6)

Isaiah: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5)

Tax Collector: "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a   sinner!” (Luke 18:13)

Peter: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8)

Paul: “It is a trustworthy statement, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost of all” (1 Tim. 1:15)

These penitent men turned away from self and loathed self because they truly saw who they were in the presence of a perfect and Holy God. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness. As a Christ follower, this is far worth more than anything a self-love culture can give. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for you and I, we no longer are bound to self or to our own self-interest, but we take to heart the call to die to self, deny self, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ. We now in turn look to the interest of others as the Spirit within us reveals our daily need to deny self each day.

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

Does it come with a cost? Yes

This penitent heart of mine reflects on this each day. And I pray my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ would not look inward to self, but up in awe of our Heavenly Father who lavishes mercy and grace to those He calls His own.

May we be as confident as the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2 when he recalls that whatever he gained, he counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, he counted everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake Paul suffered the loss of all things and count them all as rubbish, in order that he may gain Christ.

In Christ my Hope,

Becky

[inhiswordihope]

World - Witness - Word

What is the source of your witness to this world? Media? News? Worldviews? Or is it the Word of God?

World

‘World’ (Greek kosmos) appears 233 times in the ESV. 49 times in the Old Testament to include 17 times in Psalm and 11 times in Isaiah. ‘World’ appears 184 times in the New Testament. Interestingly enough, Apostle John uses the word 61 times in the Gospel of John and 18 times in his short letter of 1 John.

World can be defined as-

1. Planet earth (Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 24:4; Jeremiah 10:12)

2. Inhabitants or mankind (Isaiah 18:3; John 1:10; 3:16; Romans 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:32)

3. Ordered systems, affairs, and activities of men (Romans 12:2; Galatians 4:3; 1 John 2:15; 3:17, 1 Cor. 1;20; 2:6; 3:19)

Old Testament points to the LORD as creator of the world and affirms multiple times the heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them (Psalm 89:11). The LORD established the world (Psalm 93:1; 96:10), all it contains (Psalm 50:12), and those who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Importantly enough, it is before the LORD for He is coming to judge the earth. And the LORD will judge the world with righteousness and the people in his faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 9:8, 96:13, 98:9).

As we enter into the New Testament, Matthew 13:38 tells us the field is the world (Matthew 13:38). And specifically in the Gospel of John, we learn that light has come into the world to testify the world was evil (John 7:7), but the people (world) loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil (John 3:19).

On the night Jesus Christ was arrested, he tells his disciples “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you (John 15:19). Further echoing his same Gospel, in 1 John 2:15-17, Apostle John defines the character of the world as desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride of life. He tells us to not love the world or the things in the world. 

Witness

As Apostle John pens his letter, he reminds us several times that he was an eye witness of Jesus Christ (both in the Gospel of John and Letters of John). A witness is one who has personal knowledge of an event or a fact. A witness is also one who gives testimony or evidence of facts. Witnesses is the plural form of martus from which the English word martyr derives.

In the Old testament, the evidence of at least two witnesses was required for convicting the accused (Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Num. 35:30; I Kings 21:10, 13).

Jesus Christ declares in one of his I AM statements, he is the light of world (John 8:12, 8:46). The Pharisees deny his claim telling Jesus Christ his testimony was not true since he was bearing witness about himself. Jesus Christ answered them by saying “I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me” (John 8:18).

In one of my very favorite passages in John 15, Jesus Christ tells his disciples a Helper will come, one whom he will send from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father. He (the Helper) will bear witness about me and we too will bear witness (John 15:26-27). And because the Spirit bears witness to the truth, everyone who is of the truth listens to Jesus’ voice (John 18:37).

Before Jesus ascension, he tells his disciples on the Mount of Olives they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they would be “my witnesses” (emphasis added) in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

WORD

The Holy Spirit, Our Helper- Spirit of Truth- which teaches us all things. Believer, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you and I know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:17).

From there, with their words, they bore witness to the Word and continued to exhort all who heard to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The early church was filled the Spirit and boldly spoke the Word of God. The rest is history as the Apostles built the Church from the foundation Jesus Christ set for them. The Word of God, word of the Lord, word of his grace increased and multiplied. Word of the gospel as penned to us in the Book of Acts.

What then? Why is our witness in the world so important? What is it that you and I are witnessing to daily? What does our walk and words bear witness about our desires? And why does the Apostle John spend much of his writing so we would know? Know what?

Christian, we were once dead in our transgressions in habitual sin and walked according to the course of this world (Ephesians 2:2). We were children of wrath and sons of disobedience. We were just like the world and loving the desires of the world. We spoke as the world did. Walked as the world told us to walk. Believed what the world wanted us to believe. Held captive to the understanding and systems of satan encouraged by fallen, lawless, and carnal men.

Thus, under the wrath of God whom said “I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless” (Isaiah 13:11).

Why then can we not see the world ruled by the cosmic powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places?

Christian, at the heart of it all and as much as you and I desire to love the world and the understanding of what the world says, the world is alienated from God, hostile to Christ. Hater of all things good and true. The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God (1 Cor. 3:19). Therefore, loving the world means being devoted to the world’s treasures, philosophies, and priorities. And if anyone of us loves the world, the love of the Father is not in us (1 John 2:15).

On the night Jesus was to be betrayed, Apostle John (as an eye witness) records Jesus finally evening with is trusted disciples. He reminds them that in this world you will have tribulation, but take heart because ‘I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).

Jesus’ high priestly prayer is written in John 17. Please take a moment to read and reread and reread this part of Scripture where the Beloved Disciple records. Where our perfect Savior before his arrest and death, prays for his disciples. Those with him and those who are yet to come from hearing the Gospel.

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:14-19).

Three testify in heaven of Jesus Christ- the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7)

Three testify on earth of Jesus Christ- the Spirit, the water, and the blood (1 John 5:8)

Christian, what then? What is the source of our witness to this world?

Because even if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater (1 John 5:9). The Word of God is our measuring rod. The Word of God is Truth.

Each day as I follow the news, I can see world is passing away along with its desires under the evil one. Therefore, my conscience is clear in whom I love and fear. The Word of God. Word of the Lord. Word of grace. I pray the power of the Holy Spirit (our witness indwelling us) boldly leads you and I as we confidently proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that may hate what we have to say. Take comfort in knowing whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Be at peace, Jesus Christ already overcame the world. Go now and be a witness.

[inhiswordihope]

H O P E

First off, I want to start off by saying that I am not a writer. In fact, many times I find myself searching for words and getting tongue-tied and brain-tied (if there is such a thing) because what I write isn’t anywhere near what I had intended to say. Please bear with me as I sort out my thoughts and in some way convey them in writing. 

15 years ago I began to chronicle my life. Those many years may not seem long, but it was right around a time of many changes in my life. I was a newlywed and a new Mom. And for some reason (unknown to me at that time), I was led to journal and blog my entries. I still to this day have a record of every single entry I made. Over the many years, I would go back to read through my past entries and I noticed one striking similarity--- I was looking and searching for hope. Something to believe in, live for, and declare important in my life. I can honestly say that the journey has been long though I am not to my resting place yet. The trials have been unbearable at times and I know I am not free from suffering. But despite my sinful nature and fallen flesh, I have found true HOPE. Where is this hope you may say? My HOPE is in His WORD.  I’m thankful that you have somehow found yourself here on this screen. Please stay with me as I wait on the LORD and share this HOPE with you. For God’s glory alone, not mine. Jesus Christ, my hope,  Becky

Aug 13th, 2018 1:13 pm