“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” -Psalm 16:11
“Joy: deep, durable delight in the splendor of God that ruins you for anything else.”
–Sam Storms from one of his sermons at the 2010 Desiring God Pastor’s Conference (Going on now…watch live!)
[via Noel Piper’s Twitter]
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” -Colossians 2:8-10
“Any idea or system of thought that would suggest He is not supreme and sovereign or that He is not infinitely and exclusively worthy of our absolute devotion and adoration is demonic at its core. Beware, says the apostle, of any such philosophy. Identify it. Denounce it. Deliver others from its destructive clutches.”
[From “The Hope of Glory” by Sam Storms pg. 164]
“For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.” -Colossians 1:29
No “summary” today. This is what your Pastor has titled a “Supplemental Sermon.”
“So, how might we know when God is energetically and powerfully working in us? If, when you are slandered, you respond by entreating (I Corinthians 4:13), you can rest assured that divine energy is working mightily in you. If, when you are reviled, you bless instead of curse (I Corinthians 4:12), you can rest assured that divine energy is working mightily in you. If, when you are persecuted, you endure (I Corinthians 4:12), you can rest assured that divine energy is working mightily in you. If, when you are afflicted but not crushed, are perplexed but do not yield to despair, are struck down but not destroyed, you may rest assured that divine energy is working mightily in you (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). If, when you are sorrowful and still rejoice, possess nothing yet are rich, you may rest assured that divine energy is working mightily in you (2 Corinthians 6:10). If, when you are in poverty and give generously and joyfully (2 Corinthians 8:1ff), you may rest assrued that divine energy is working mightily in you.
You probably won’t feel anything. There’s no guarantee that your body will vibrate or your appearance will change. But if you find yourself responding and thinking as Jesus would, if you find yourself acting and choosing contrary to every fleshly and sinful impulse, you may rest assured that divine energy is mightily at work in you. Only in this way can we, like Paul, continue to serve and love and minister and not lose heart.”
[From “The Hope of Glory” by Sam Storms pg. 138-139]
New Life Baptist Church 