West Park Baptist Church

Knoxville TN

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Life Interrupted: Personal Stories

Yesterday I preached a message on the theme “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37), even when life seems impossible to live. There are two great testimonies that I’d like to share with you to keep reinforcing that truth. Both beautifully glorify the Lord Jesus.

Joni Eareckson Tada – 50 Years Later

To parallel the story of Mary, mother of Jesus, I shared the story of Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni’s testimony is so rich and bolstered by 50 years of faithful ministry. Here’s the article that I quoted from yesterday: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of My Diving Accident.

Sarah Walton – Life with Chronic Pain

Sarah writes: “If you find yourself on an unwanted path — one that tempts you to wonder if following Christ is worth it — take heart. By God’s grace, you can be confident that you are not here by some cruel twist of fate…” Read more of her article The Road I Would Never Choose.

Finally, do you have a story to tell of God’s grace in your impossible circumstance? Please share in the comments section below or let us know how we can pray for you.

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A Christmas Card from John the Baptist

I loved visiting my great-grandparents’ home when I was a little boy, especially at this time of year when they taped their Christmas cards all over the door frame in their living room. So many Christmas cards! S0 many colors! And way too much glitter!

Growing up I started to receive Christmas cards too, and once I shook them to see if any money or checks would fall out, I followed my grandparents’ model and used them for decorations. 🙂

But I didn’t read too deeply into the messages on the cards. Honestly, I hardly read what they said, for they were pretty predictable: a generic “Season’s Greetings!”, a Christianized “Blessed Christmas!” or some goofy photos of elves and reindeer.

This week I’ve been wondering… what would a Christmas card from John the Baptist say?

If you got one in your mailbox, you’d tear the envelope open and pull out a card with a scene of the Judean wilderness on the front. A short poem would start out like this:

“Christmas has come once again to our land

And I’m sending a message you must understand”

Then you’d open it up. There would be no check or cash, but something much more important:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”

Okay, so that could arguably cross the border of sacred and goofy, but I’m sure John the Baptist would settle for nothing less than that in a Christmas greeting.

Matthew 3:1-12 introduces the adult John the Baptist, who we read about last when he was a baby in Luke 1. John was prophesied about in Malachi 4:5-6, and we’ve seen that God fulfilled His promise to send John ahead of His Son Jesus to prepare people for His arrival.

What does John preach? The same thing he’d likely put in his Christmas cards (Matthew 3:1-3):

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is He who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

We’re right in the middle of the time to prepare, friends. That first advent of Jesus was preceded by John the Baptist and his proclamation of the necessity of repentance from sin. As we prepare for Christ’s second advent, we need to heed and obey that command to repent.

“Repent” is a command with force. You must hear it as from a drill sergeant: “Re-PENT!” You would stop in your tracks from such a command. You would turn around to see who was issuing that call. And that’s what repentance is: turning from your sin and turning to Jesus Christ. Repentance is decidedly agreeing with God that you are going your own cursed way and then turning toward Him to yield to Him in humble faith.

Repentance is humbling, for we must admit we are not right. So hard for each of us! Yet that is the command.

But the command leads to life: “the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

In that day, this expression meant that the fulness of God’s plan to rescue sinners and glorify Himself was taking place as His Son Jesus arrived to walk the earth. To heal the sick. To show His rule over all nature. To raise the dead. To die Himself for sinners and come back to life.

In our day, this expression is a gracious warning and announcement of Jesus Christ’s second coming as King of all.

Will you respond with humility to John the Baptist’s Christmas card? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

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Week 1-Day 2: the Silence of God

“It’s enough to drive a man crazy, it’ll break a man’s faith
It’s enough to make him wonder, if he’s ever been sane
When he’s bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the Heaven’s only answer is the silence of God”

So sings Andrew Peterson in his song “the Silence of God.”

I’ve listened to that song many times over the years, mostly on repeat on one of Andrew’s albums. I’ve pondered on how times of silence from God can cause any one of us to wonder if we’ve ever been sane. So much can happen in that silence that serves to break us, things from seasons of job loss to the death of loved ones. In those times it seems like God is not there. Or worse, that He doesn’t care.

But I was reminded this past Sunday at church from our lead pastor that “God’s silence is not God’s absence.”

Consider how God broke his silence in Luke 1:5-25 and how that passage informs us about what God does in the silence.

Zechariah was a man who was used to the silence of God:

He served as a priest, ministering in the temple and upholding the law in spite of 400 years of silence with no legitimate prophet speaking from God.

He was also an old man who for years had prayed for a child, but his wife remained barren. Again, he was used to the silence of God.

But God confronted Zechariah that day in the temple with the truth: even though he was silent, he was always present and active.

What did God at last say to break the silence?

In one announcement God spoke into both of Zechariah’s longings:

“…your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son” (Luke 1:13), and “[your son] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared” (Luke 1:16-17).

How amazing! God once again reveals Himself. And He reveals that in the silence He was setting things in motion. The word we looked at in Malachi earlier in the week as a promise is here fulfilled in the gift of the the baby to Zechariah and Elizabeth. What an amazing, faithful, promise-fulfilling God!

Time escapes here to dwell more on  Zechariah’s silence that ensued due to his unbelief. Please do go to our sermon page and catch Sam Polson’s message and the teaching about how we can respond to God in repentance over our own unbelief.

For now, I hope two things can encourage you:

  1. God often seems silent in our lives, but He is, in truth, actively working in us. He wills to grow us in times when He’s silent, for it is in those times that He tests our faith in what He has already said. Read those promises in the Bible and place your faith in the God who spoke them and will bring them to pass.
  2. Ultimately, God has spoken definitively in His Son. The ultimate news God willed to break the silence is that He would share His dearly-beloved Son. He was coming! John would prepare the way for Him. And oh, what a Savior! Jesus Christ came once, lived a sinless life, died for the sake of sinners, and now lives eternally to intercede for His beloved people: those who have repented and believed in Him but still at times here feel the silence of God.

I’m pretty sure that’s why Andrew Peterson ends his song the way he does:

“And the man of all sorrows, he never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain but the breaking does not
The aching may remain but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God”

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Week 1-Day 1: Family Tensions Around the Table

The holidays usher in a time of family connection and renewal of our closest relationships. Our hope is for a Norman Rockwell-style perfect family gathering.

But what if the reality is closer to WWIII for you and your parents?

What if your adult children won’t even send you a Christmas card let alone come visit you for the holidays?

Maybe a prophet like Elijah could help you.

As the Old Testament draws to a close, God says these final words through Malachi to a people at war with him and with one another:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6).

God will win in the end.

That’s a great source of hope for all who put their trust in Him and a source of terror for those who tragically do not.

But before the end, God shows mercy again and again. He calls us to Himself in special ways. One such way was a prophet who was to come before the final day: Elijah. Ultimately I believe this coming of Elijah will be in two stages: First in John the Baptist (see Luke 1:17) and much later second at the end of history (see Matt 17:11).

What does the ministry of Elijah or John the Baptist or any other prophet have to do with your family tensions and mine?

God aims to capture the hearts of fathers and children.

In Malachi’s day parents were estranged from children. Children, younger and older, were not respecting or honoring their parents. In our day not much has changed, and you may either be feeling that estrangement or perhaps even the cause of it.

Please pause today and pray to God once again. Seek Him humbly.

Every prophet truly sent from God calls the parents, the children and everyone else to repent before Him, to humbly fear Him (Mal. 3:16). When John the Baptist came, he called on people to look to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who came to die for those who had rejected Him and rebelled against Him. He is the hope the prophets point us to. Jesus Christ is the answer to our family tensions and troubles.

So, friends, I don’t have any practical tips for how to manage your family tensions around the table. But I know the one who can transform the hearts of all in your family. Will you yield to Him this December? Will you seek Him for the heart transformation that will unite you and your estranged family members around the worship of the King?

Through Christ, God has proven that He’s already turned His merciful heart toward you.

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Helpful Resources for Advent

Tomorrow begins the 25 day countdown to Christmas day! I know, because our oldest boy and countdown maker has been reminding me and my wife that Christmas is coming for at least a month now 🙂 We’ve also reached the 25 days of Advent.

Each year at West Park, and something we try to do in our family, we do our best to slow down and see the 25th in light of Christ’s Advent, or “coming.” I’ve done my best to collect some of the best Advent resources for sale and for free on the web for you and your family to benefit from this season.

Advent Books and Calendars

The Littlest Watchman – This book and accompanying calendar help families with young kids to learn the importance of waiting (who doesn’t need that lesson?!) and of the importance of Jesus’ coming. Our family plans to use these resources this year starting tomorrow.

Prepare Him Room – Two years ago our church went through this resource as our pastors preached on the themes of being a prepared people for Christ. Many of you likely have this book from that time, and if not, it’s a wonderful resource to teach you about Advent and what to do as a family during the days leading up to Christmas.

Come Let Us Adore Him – Biblical counselor Paul Tripp has released a new book for the Advent season with daily devotional readings and tips for parents to talk about the season with their kids.

Free Advent Resources online

Good News of Great Joy – This is John Piper’s 2017 Advent daily devotional. You can visit Desiring God and sign up for a free daily email with Piper’s advent meditations.

Why Celebrate Advent? – That’s a great question, while we’re thinking about it, and the author of this article provides a helpful answer.

Lives Interrupted – Finally, check back often on this blog for devotions and thoughts from the scripture passages we’re reading as a part of our Christmas Reformation series.