Providence Community Church

Jonah's message to Nineveh is not exactly an ideal example of a well balanced gospel presentation we might hold up as a model for seminary students. The ideal mix of 'law & gospel' does not appear to be a concern for him. His 8 word sermon is heavy on the judgement side of things as he calls out in the streets of this pagan city: “yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah in fact was not at all interested in mercy for this city. He would later resent the fact that God was gracious to them, relenting of His threatened destruction upon their repentance. Even the verbiage of Jonah's pronouncement recalled former devastating judgements of God. The term “overthrown” was used in former days to describe the coming doom of Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet in spite of all this, repentance swept city-wide like a wildfire of revival and proved this moment one of the singular events of evangelism in all recorded history! Who deserves the glory for this response? Certainly not Jonah or his pagan hearers. No; Yahweh H

Imagine driving home from a family outing one day only to return to a pile of smoldering ashes with an occasional metal object standing here and there like charred witnesses to the merciless power of flames. Every thing you worked for, treasured, and lived in... gone. Furthermore, imagine you have no insurance policy, no savings, and no supportive family or friends. This is just a taste of the devastating loss the temple destruction presented to the faithful few at the time of the Babylon invasion of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. - likely the occasion for Psalm 74. The sanctuary was far more than just a home for the people of God, it was God's home among them. It was not a collection of sentimental memories or mere refuge from physical elements, it was the every instrument of their communion with almighty God. Without it they weren't just homeless, they were lost, abandoned, hopeless, condemned, save for God's mercy... and so the Psalmist cries. Can we relate to Psalm 74? It would seem if we set our hope and joy excl

In light of his race analogy opening chapter 12, it seems appropriate that the author of Hebrews would extend his athletic metaphor to illustrate rigorous, behind the scenes training required to finish the course with honors. In doing so, he underscores a recurring theme of Paul's epistles. Perhaps the most recognizable and beautiful summary of this aspect of the Christian life is featured in II Cor 4:16-18. The apostle declares we do not loose heart (16) as we realize “...this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” this he stresses, is possible as we look to things unseen, learning to live in light of eternal realities. – In 1552, five young students wrote to encourage the church in Calvin's Geneva. Their letter can be found in The Register of the Company of Pastors of Geneva in the Time of Calvin. They declared while awaiting martyrdom in prison: “We testify that this is the true school of the children of God in which they learn more than the discip

Our title today reflects the prominence of the Word of God in this section of our text, not to mention the entire account of Jonah. The Word of God comes to Jonah, mercifully, a second time – word for word – reiterating his missionary call. The Word of God is then featured in Jonah's ministry to the Ninevites declaring – word for word – the revelation he had received. Jonah’s opportunity to do so was secured by the Word of the Lord giving specific instructions to His creature – a giant fish – who had dutifully swallowed and vomited Jonah up on command from its creator. The Word of the Lord so affects the inhabitants of the pagan city where Jonah is sent that they immediately repent in sackcloth, fasting in response to the authority featured in the Word of the Lord spoken by His prophet. I Peter 1:24-25 reminds us should we ever doubt the power and centrality of God's Word these days: “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers, the flower falls, but the Word of the L

The apostle Paul takes the time to unveil the significance of our salvation pictured and proclaimed in baptism for several reasons. He knows these truths will equip them to walk as Christians in a pagan society (6). He knows these realities will cause them to flourish in their spiritual growth (7). Finally he is confident in the power of gospel understanding to fortify the church against arguments and wold-views to the contrary (8). Next Paul reminds the church of the object of their faith, again with reference to 'Christ Jesus the Lord' in verse 9 and 10. Paul calls attention to the essence of Christ (9), our access to Christ (10a), and the sovereignty of Christ (10b). In Jesus, the second person of the trinity, the fullness of God dwells in man (incarnation, hypostatic union). God is not watered down in Jesus but fully revealed. More than this, by virtue of the believer's absolutely unique relationship with Jesus, we have been filled, indwelt, and transformed by the very Spirit of God. The effect of this sa

Similar themes to this psalm are featured in other Old Testament passages, Psalm 37, 49 and the book of Job among them. The author wrestles with the perennial question: “How could a good God allow me to suffer while His enemies prosper?” This question would have proved especially difficult at this time in covenant history. The progressively unfolding nature of special revelation had not fully revealed the degree of emphasis on the spiritual and eternal nature of covenant blessing and sanctions such as we understand with the benefit of the gospel and proclamation of New Covenant fulfillment. The patriarchs of Old would have been far more likely to associate temporal blessing with covenant obedience and conversely, temporal punishments for unfaithfulness. It would be a great step of faith indeed to wrestle with the apparent opposite scenarios playing out in one's experience. The Spirit of God is therefore vividly evident in the soul of the psalmist as He leads him to the sanctuary and to greater understanding o

Much like the 12th chapter of the book of Romans, the author of Hebrews introduces the major application section of his book having laid the groundwork with painstaking precision. He answers the question: 'how then shall we live...' in light of the testimony of former professors of faith – not to mention the unparalleled exploits of its author and finisher – Jesus Christ Himself. To assist his readers in assimilating this information in a practical way, he employs a competitive race metaphor. He compares the Christian life of obedience and faith to an olympic event before a stadium packed with former champions whose exploits serve to cheer on the latest generation of contestants. The analogy assumes not just their cries of encouragement as they look on, but also the benefit of their training, as their own efforts are recorded and employed in the instruction of the modern church, This “cloud” or multitude of heroes, has preceded us in attaining the glories of the next life as they beckon us to join them. They

Little did Solomon know the extreme conditions under which his prayerful request would be answered as he dedicated the temple in I Kings 8:29 saying: “..That your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said: “My name shall be there, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.” Nor could David have known how literally useful his songs would show themselves to be as when he sang: (Ps 69:1-2) “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters and the flood sweeps over me. Or (Ps 18:4-5) “The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me, the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me.” Neither could the sons of Korah have realized how fitting their words would be in years to come as they cried: “Deep calls to deep, at the roar of your waterfalls, all your breakers and your waves have gone cover me (PS 42:7). Yet f

Let us notice first of all a surprising twist in the context of our passage today. The storm was threatening to destroy this vessel on account of Jonah's unfaithfulness, not the flagrant idolatry of his shipmates! Consider this circumstance and principle applied in our day. Jonah’s experience leads us to ask: how much of the tumult of judgement we experience as a people is the direct result of the unfaithfulness of the people of God running from their call to proclaim the Word of God to the unbelieving/pagan culture? This could be the case indeed – rather than what we may be more likely to assume, namely, that calamities around us are due consequences of the idolatry of our unbelieving neighbors. I Peter 4:16-19 reiterates this principle calling us to suffer as Christians reminding us that judgement often begins at the household of God. Abiding in His presence involves presenting ourselves as living sacrifices embracing the faithful obedience worthy of His name. If we have been guilty of fleeing from kingdom

Psalm 72 closes the second book of the Psalter. The collection is arranged in 5 parts echoing the Pentateuch (5 books of Moses). Book 1: 1-41, book 2: 42-72, book 3: 73-89, book 4: 90-106, book 5: 107-150. Each book closes doxologically extolling the Lord, blessing Him with worship and praise and calling for the participation of the congregant and bidding his hearty “Amen!”. These notes of emphatic conclusion proclaim and bid the mutual affirmation of the singers to proclaim the glories of the Lordship of the one ultimate and true King of Kings. He is the final subject of the Psalms including ours today. As is often the case, the author utilizes the occasion of the royal calling of the throne of David to extol the virtues of the ideal king. These qualifications are a mandate and prayer for David and His sons to live up to in part, but they are much more. In commemorating the character of the ideal king, the song transcends the capacity of a merely earthly ruler. Psalm 72 points forward to the truly ideal King

With a persuasive flourish, the author of Hebrews concludes his section on the faith of former saints with a rhetorical question, a cumulative case, and an argument from lesser to greater. Hebrews 11 opens the blinds on windows overlooking the legacy of promise through redemptive history. The perspective is remarkable indeed. We keep the blinds closed at our own peril risking discouragement and apostasy. As finite creatures beleaguered with our own self interests, we can easily lament our condition and languish in our faith by assessing our trials and fears through the narrow and insufficient lens of our experience. Hebrews exhorts us to broaden our perspective looking back upon the faithfulness of God and the faith of the saints who precede us, remembering that, for all of the Old Testament examples, their testimony of belief in action according to the power and promises of God, was demonstrated before their Messiah had come. Our author closes his case by categorizing his summary references. This subtle orga

Jonah's Old Testament book is cataloged with the 'minor prophets'. His is an account of condensed and dramatic proportions full of surprising twists and foreshadowing Gospel realities. The theme central to these four chapters may well be the final phrase uttered by Jonah himself upon divine intervention and rescue from the waters of judgement. His psalm of praise concludes with the immortal words: “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah was called to bring this message to the capital of Assyria: Nineveh. He would bring it initially with a proclamation of deserved judgement for sin. Jonah despised and rejected this mission and consequently learned a thing or two himself. Nineveh was about 550 miles North East of Jonah's home country near the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. As a prophet to the Northern Kingdom before the Assyrian invasion, Jonah would have been familiar with this imposing kingdom, rumors of which boasted a capital city 60 miles in circuit, 100' tall walls of 33 yard breadth accommodating 3 w

Many have argued for the thematic continuity of the entire Bible appealing to the 'kingdom' theme. I don't think the author of Matthew would disagree. In fact on close analysis of his gospel, we find this central idea and organizing concept absolutely pervasive. By my count, documenting instances where David's lineage, the kingdom of heaven, and Christ as ultimate King are featured, we have 50 plus texts emphasizing this theme. Other distinctive features of Matthew include: five defined discourses or sermons throughout the book, literary devices such as parable, narrative/imperative continuity (where the events recorded alongside the words of Christ mutually reinforce one another), and multiple significant citations of Old Testament prophecy which foreshadow the author's documentation. Matthew truly is the trained scribe Jesus identified in 13:52, as one who serves the Kingdom of Heaven by bringing out of his treasure what is new and what is old. One specific 'old treasure' well serves as a framework for Matt

The escalating ministry of Christ builds to a crescendo of glorious power and reach as Matthew's gospel closes. Paul has summarized the triumphant thrust of the ongoing influence of the incarnation in several places. A classic instance can be found in Ephesians 1:19-23. Here he illuminates the greatness of the power of God realized by those who believe by pointing to Christ in whom the same power was evident. “...When He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Other cross references reinforce the importance of this occasion as well. Even the setting proves significant as we note patterns of revelation in Matthew's account. This was not the first event to take place on a mountain. We

Fred and Cindy Cressman – Malawi Update

Psalm 71 provides us the rarest of treasures: a perfectly preserved, Spirit inspired, song and prayer of an elderly and godly man. The value of this Psalm is further appreciated as we consider the context of the author's appeal. He finds himself at the weakest stage of life in need of intense help. This is something of a classic example of prayer, given these extremes. As the Psalmist is aging, he finds his needs are greater than ever and his ability to address them has never been so lacking. Only a vibrant, growing faith can bridge this widening chasm. Our author, evidencing the sovereign grace of God, demonstrates a faith sufficient for the aged. Here we behold the ripening fruit of a mature prayer life. We are listening to the heart cry of a life- long expert in bending the ear of God. To illustrate the effects of Ps 71, both to the positive by the presence of its principles and the negative in the absence of its principles, consider this song alongside the life of David (who many think is its likely autho

As the author of Hebrews continues to multiply examples of faith, he presents several instances which feature foreboding obstacles and shared experiences. These references feature the power of God intervening in the most challenging circumstances thus demonstrating His superior power. They also remind us that all believers share in the experience of salvation and its attending promises. We can relate to these accounts, if not in their spectacular scope, certainly in their principle theme. Note these three examples of faith tested and proven occur in spite of apparent inherent disqualifications. At her exodus, Israel is plagued by inferior cultural experience, oppression, and slavery – Israel in conquest remains ill equipped for war boasting no training, equipment proper to the task, or tactical advantage, and Rahab's vocation as a prostitute was black mark enough, not to mention her status as a pagan citizen among Gentile Canaanites! None of these disadvantages could derail the decrees of God nor the faith ma

As the gospel arc of revelatory fulness comes to fruition in Matthew's account, we see the ministry of Christ gloriously showcased in manifold ways. One example in the bigger picture of the book is apparent in angelic visitations which introduce and reprise the earthly ministry of Christ. In Mat 1:18-25 an angel of the Lord enlightens and consoles Joseph as to his role in the life of the Messiah. “Do not fear” he reassures, “to take Mary as your wife for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:26-38) The angel Gabriel is deployed to Mary revealing to her the significance of her role in the birth of our Lord. In our text today angels are prominently featured again to enlighten and console...”do not be afraid” he says to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.” Upon Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:6-11) men in white robes appear reassuring the first wave of eyewitness disciples: “This Jesus... will come in the same way you see Him go into heaven.”

As circumstances and conflicts come to a head in the final days of Christ, three illegitimate authorities conspire against Christ to dismiss Him as the imposter. Priests, Pharisees, and Pilate scheme to ensure their influence and authority at the expense of Jesus Christ; His person, His work, and His message. We are reminded of a showdown that foreshadowed these events in Elijah's prophetic ministry. One man faces 450 prophets of Baal in a cosmic challenge (I Kings 18:31-40). Elijah does everything in his power to diminish the probability of this event taking place by water logging the sacrifice and altar. These circumstances only served to magnify the greatness of God when heavenly fire fell and consumed everything, water and all. In the case of the last ditch efforts of Christ's enemies at His death and burial, they take it on themselves to do the same. Taking every conceivable action to stand in the way of God's plan for His messiah, yet their wicked efforts only magnify His glory.

Psalm 70 is a refrain from Psalm 40. A virtually verbatim echo of verses 13-17 of the prior song. Psalm 40 contains direct Messianic fulfillment as Hebrews 10 recognizes its foretelling of the incarnation. The messianic allusions extend to the rest of Psalm 40 and Ps 70 as well as we recognize the attitude of the unbeliever mirrored in its hatred of Jesus, not to mention His physical lineage (David) and spiritual lineage (all united to Him by faith). Ps 40 and 70 stand as counter-examples to the all-to-common tendency in our modern day of seeking common ground with the world and the enemies of Christ. While common ground of a certain type certainly exists (Original sin, Adam's federal headship, image of God, all are without excuse, all have suppressed the Law of God written on their conscience), these points of contact are not the popular emphasis, instead, we often seek to minimize our peculiarity in a world of self-worshipping unbelief. We do this through compromise, false ecumenism, and syncretism etc.. Th