Monthly Archives: February 2012

John Wesley’s Holy Club Questions

Posted on February 28, 2012 by mcalmond

These are questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions.

  1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
  2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
  3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told me in confidence?
  4. Can I be trusted?
  5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
  6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
  7. Did the Bible live in me today?
  8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
  9. Am I enjoying prayer?
  10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
  11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
  12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
  13. Do I disobey God in anything?
  14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
  15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
  16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
  17. How do I spend my spare time?
  18. Am I proud?
  19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
  20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
  21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
  22. Is Christ real to me?
Categories: A Simple Reminder, Absolute Dependency, Arminianism, Authenticity, Believer, Boundaries, Character, Christian Maturity, Genuineness, Honesty, Humility, Self Examination | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Miracle and Mystery of Regeneration

Posted on February 25, 2012 by mcalmond

I want to write about something that near and dear to me and that’s the truth of the Lord’s miracle and mystery of regeneration. To understand this precious and most holy work of the Lord even a little bit is such a blessing beyond mere words. While in so many ways it is a mystery, it is also a miraculous reality without which no one can truly be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me try to tell you about this wonderful work of God’s awesome and sovereign grace.

It begins for each of us when we were chosen in the Lord Jesus Christ before the world’s foundation was even laid. That’s right, we were chosen (elected) in the Lord Jesus Christ clear back then (Eph 1:4). We were even then blessed of God.

Adam and Eve lived out their existence before the living God and before the fall, that is so very much different from ours. They were pure yet neither righteous nor unrighteous. They were given a single command, to not eat of the one tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

They were naïve and vulnerable, to sin, darkness, and the power of Satan to tempt and deceive them. They didn’t have to walk in faith regarding God, for God simply was and they simply were, because of Him. They walked with Him, talked with Him and fellowshipped with Him daily, in the cool of the evenings. There was no unbelief that had to be overcome, yet. There was no sin nature that had to be conquered, yet. There was nothing in them yet that was fallen and therefore dead. They only had the command of the Lord God Almighty to not eat of this one tree. This command was an opportunity for both faith, faith in God and His Word, and righteousness, the result of adherence or obedience to God’s direct command.

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Categories: Absolute Dependency, Adoption, Calling, Election, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, His Chosen, Hope, illumination, Imputation, Lies, Mercy, Obedience, Reformed Theology, Regeneration, Resurrection Life, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Saving Faith, The Power of God, Transformation, Work of God | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monergism

Posted on February 20, 2012 by mcalmond

{The following article was discovered in an older folder by itself within my computer. I am not sure if I wrote it originally but I don’t think so. However, I have honestly re-worked it quite a bit in order to post it here. I am not sure where I may have gotten it from. It may have been when I was originally doing my research on this topic of Monergism years ago. If anyone reads this and recognizes some its basic nuts and bolts and can identify who wrote them originally, I would gladly post an acknowledgment saying so.}

*****

“It is the Spirit who gives life [quickens]; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me [i.e. believe in me] unless it is granted him by the Father.” John 6:63-65 ESV [text added for clarity]

Definition
The Century Dictionary’s definition of monergism may be helpful:

“In theology, [monergism is] the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration [the new birth] – that the human will possesses no inclination to holiness until regenerated [born again], and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration.”

Etymology
The word “monergism” consists of two main parts. The Greek prefix “mono” signifies “one”, “single”, or “alone” while the suffix “ergon” means “to work”. Taken together it means “the work of one”.

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Categories: A Compilation of Sources, Authenticity, Belief System, Believer, Calling, Christian Maturity, Confidence, Dependency, Edification, Foundations, God Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Reformed Theology, Saving Faith, Teaching, Thankfulness, Theology, True Love, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

The Compelling Work of God’s Grace

Posted on February 14, 2012 by mcalmond

1 Cor 9:16-18 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. ESV (cf Acts 20:22; 2Cor 5:14)

Paul did not choose his life course, it was chosen for him. The Lord chose this course of life and ministry for him and as a result, Paul was compelled by the Lord to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not do this out of his own will, but rather he is constrained to do this, faithfully as the Lord’s servant, as a steward of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

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Categories: Abiding, Authenticity, Benefits, Calling, Confidence, Dying to Self Will, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, Grace, His Chosen, In Spirit and In Truth, Ministry Motivation, Prayer, Repentance, Selflessness, Simplicity | Tags: , | 2 Comments

Beyond The Loch Another Wonder

Posted on February 8, 2012 by mcalmond

Let us continue with a little more of this trip (A Dam, A Loch and His Victory) on this same day, across the highlands…

While still at the loch and after a time of prayer, celebration, declaration and worship, down on the shore of the loch, I knew it was time to move on. So, I headed up toward the dam, to cross over to the other side. As I approached the dam, I noticed angels running ahead of me, taking up positions all along the dam, from one side all the way to the other. Quite unexpectantly I found myself asking that they hold the dam until Richard and Susan crossed over. However, in all honesty, I do not know why, especially after all that had just taken place. However, it just seemed right to ask for this protection.

I went to the center of the crossing, upon the dam, and waited for them. As I did so, I found myself lost again, in the worship and praise of my Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. Richard and Susan soon came up behind me and we crossed over to the other side and onto the car. We then were quickly off to Lyon’s Glen. Lyon’s Glen, we had been told, is the longest, loneliest, loveliest glen in all of Scotland.

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Categories: Word | Leave a comment

The Good News of God’s Salvation

Posted on February 7, 2012 by mcalmond

A few thoughts: I find it so very interesting that I keep finding myself, over and over again, so very burdened regarding the vital truth of salvation and the multitude of misperceptions regarding it. We have made it all about man and his willful response, over and against the Lord and His alone miraculous work.

God alone saves! No one nothing else does. There is no other name or way to salvation but in, through, and by the Lord Jesus Christ! None! Nadda!

John 1:12-13 (ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed (in the very core of his being) in his name, he gave the right (power and authority) to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Note the word, “of”. It speaks of the origin and source of something. Our becoming born again has its origin in the Lord God Almighty and not ourselves or anyone else. He alone is the one who causes us to be and become born again (1 Pet 1:3). He alone is our hope, our source and our certainty, of salvation. It is by His grace that we receive His saving faith and not ourselves or anyone else.

Man cannot genuinely convert himself or anyone else. Man cannot regenerate himself or anyone else. Man cannot redeem and or sanctify himself or anyone else. Man cannot cause himself to genuinely come to saving faith. Only the Lord can accomplish these things by the power of His Holy Spirit and Living Word.

Genuine Salvation is truly the greatest miracle one can experience or be a part of this side of eternity! There is none greater. Nope, not one! When the miracle of salvation takes place, one is completely changed, from the inside out. One is transformed and made anew. They literally become a new creation, a new man or woman of God. Now that’s worth getting excited about!

Categories: Word | Leave a comment

A Dam, A Loch and His Victory

Posted on February 2, 2012 by mcalmond

While ministering in beautiful Scotland, there were a couple of days wherein an American couple (Richard and Susan) and I went to the Highlands. After spending the night in a B&B, we arose to a new a beautiful new day, setting ourselves to go forth and face the day that the Lord had prepared for us. As for myself, I was excited to get on with it and wondered what awesomeness of the Lord Jesus Christ I would be blessed and privileged to partake of. Finally, after breakfast and some pictures, we were off. We headed out to find a road, we were told would, take us further up into the Highlands.

We had, had an urging that we believed to be from the Lord Jesus. We felt Him setting our agenda. So, off we went. It wasn’t long before we found the side road we were looking for and immediately began our assent further up, ever up, into the Highlands of beautiful Scotland.

This terrain was simply awesome. I was so excited to see more of this nation that I had been coming to for so long now. After a brief stop at a park like area, we discerned that we were to continue along the road we had begun. So, we no sooner got out of the car than we were back into it headed along the road and across the Highlands.

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Categories: Abiding, Angels, Anointing, Celebration, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, Growing in Faith, His Praise, His Worship, Holy Spirit Seeing, Obedience, Open Eyes, Prayer Walks, Prophetic Revelation, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Training, Transcendence, Victory, Waiting on the Lord, Work of God | Leave a comment

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