(1) Please keep our evangelistic outreach to Kerala, India in your prayers. Update here.

(2) Its been well said, “If your pastor is struggling, and you are not praying for him, the failure is yours too. If your pastor is succeeding, and you are praying for him, the victory is yours together.” I want to remind you to pray for your Pastor and elders. They are God’s gift to you for the welfare of your soul.

Pastor Alistair Begg writes, “Brothers, our work is solemnly momentous, involving good or ill to thousands; we deal with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ’s army, we are the special target of the hostility of men and devils; they watch for our faltering and work to trip us at the heels.

Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt; above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many difficult cases, and our wits are at a quandary; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to encourage you by our preaching; we desire to be a blessing to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners.

Therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. We are miserable men if we miss the help of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the Gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you: “Brothers, pray for us.” (1 Thess 5:25)”

Here is a outline for prayer as the weekend approaches. Many have shared with me that it has been a very useful and practical guide.

(3) Earlier this week I wrote two posts called “Letter to a Charismatic” (1) and (2). In it I refered to the Church in Redding, California led by Bill Johnson. I am even further troubled after reading this review of Bill Johnson’s book “When Heaven Invades Earth.”

(4) Ligonier has some SUPER deals today in this week’s $5 Friday sale here. I would particularly recommend getting the book “Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow.”

“People need to maintain a diet of nutritious foods if their bodies are to grow and thrive. But what do the people of God need in order to grow and thrive in the Christian faith? In this book, noted theologian and pastor R.C. Sproul identifies five of the crucial “nutrients” that promote spiritual growth: Bible study, prayer, worship, service, and stewardship. With biblical insight and practical wisdom, Dr. Sproul teaches Christians how to maintain a balanced “diet” that will lead to growth and mature Christian living. This book is an important resource for new believers to learn these spiritual disciplines and become grounded in the Christian faith in a way that anyone can understand.”

Pastors – perhaps consider making this book a gift for each family in the church. Normally it is $12 per book so the $5 price today is certainly worth considering. Sale starts Friday at 8 a.m. EST and ends Saturday at 8 a.m. EST here. Remember, if you decide to purchase material, you can claim a further 10% discount on these and on ALL Ligonier products (as a reader of this blog) by using the coupon code EGRACE10.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins… 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

FIVE ITEMS:

(1) Please keep our evangelistic outreach to Kerala, India in your prayers. Update make choices, and do the hard work of seeing those choices through. Too often, he writes, God’s people tinker around with churches, jobs, and relationships, worrying that they haven’t found God’s perfect will for their lives. Or—even worse—they do absolutely nothing, stuck in a frustrated state of paralyzed indecision, waiting…waiting…waiting for clear, direct, unmistakable direction. But God doesn’t need to tell us what to do at each fork in the road. He’s already revealed his plan for our lives: to love him with our whole hearts, to obey His Word, and after that, to do what we like. No need for hocus-pocus. No reason to be directionally challenged. Just do something. Paperback; 128 pages.”

For the month of July, Alistair Begg is making this book available for any size gift into his “Truth for Life” ministry. Its full title is “JUST DO SOMETHING – A LIBERATING APPROACH TO FINDING GOD’S WILL or how to make decisions without dreams, vision, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random Bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc.” Available here.

(3) If you are interested in learning something about the field of textual criticism but don’t know where to start, this will be right up your street. The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM) is committed to helping others understand the reliability of our New Testaments, the history of translations, the study of the text, and significant figures who have made this possible. Beginning today, CSNTM is making a series of videos concerning New Testament manuscripts, textual criticism, history of the New Testament, and expert commentary on key verses available as a free download on iTunes U. Featured in the videos are interviews and footage shot around the world of important people involved in the work of the Center. Noted scholar, Dr. Daniel B. Wallace explains important aspects in the study of the text of the New Testament – found here.

Note: these short clip videos are free but only available through iTunes, yet I felt that the material is too good not to mention.

(4) Ligonier has some SUPER deals today in this week’s $5 Friday sale here. Remember, if you decide to purchase material, you can claim a further 10% discount on these and on ALL Ligonier products (as a reader of this blog) by using the coupon code EGRACE10.

(5) Last, but by no means least, please keep my dear friend Jim in your prayers (I mentioned his situation a few days ago on the blog here). The amazing news is that he has been removed from ICU and doctors are trying to ascertain whether or not his body might stand up to a heart transplant (if he qualifies for one). The journey has been amazing though – with his heart stopped for 15 minutes, there was a real fear he would simply be a vegetable mentally (that fear is well and truly dismissed as he is talking now). Just three days ago, his liver readings were so poor that the medical opinion was that he needed a very urgent liver transplant – but the readings are now so close to normal that doctors are not even worried about his liver anymore. We give great thanks to God as this is nothing short of miraculous, but lets keep praying. He is not completely out of the woods yet.

(1) God willing, this evening I will once again be hosting the Andrew Tallman show, continuing the theme of Divine election.

To repeat the details about how to listen in – the one hour show can be heard live across the Phoenix area on KXEG radio at 1360AM at 6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. EST) and also live on the internet (same time of course) at www.kpxq1360.com – (when you get there, click on the “Listen Live” button at the top of the page)…. I would very much value your prayers. – John

Dr. John Piper was asked, “I believe the doctrine of election but I don’t like it much. Is it sin for me not to like the doctrine of election?” I like his answer:

(2) One quote from C. H. Spuregon: “Faith which refuses to obey the commands of the Saviour is a mere pretense and will never save the soul.”

One quote from Augustine: “In some places God requires newness of heart [Ezek 18:31]. But elsewhere he testifies that it is given by him [Ezek. 11:19; 36:26]. But what God promises we ourselves do not do through choice or nature; but he himself does through grace.”

Two quotes from John Hendryx: “There is no blessing that ever comes to man from God without coming through the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Martyn Lloyd Jones) “Therefore if irresistible/effectual grace is granted only to the elect, then where did this grace come from? From Christ. Therefore, Christ died in a redemptive way for the elect (to purchase effectual grace) that he did not for the non-elect (whom he did not purchase effectual grace). Gospel grace is Christocentric.” – John Hendryx

“Where did you get the sound judgment or good sense to believe the gospel? (John 6:63-65, 37) Why do some NOT have the good sense to believe the gospel? (John 8:47; 10:26). Grace frees you from boasting in what isn’t your own, including ascribing your repenting and believing to your own sound judgment or good sense. Grace makes us glory in Christ alone, even for these blessings.” – John Hendryx

(3) This short video uses the words of Pastor Tim Keller to unveil the theme of the Bible, revealing the fact that it is not about you (or me) but about Him:

True & Better from Peter Artemenko on Vimeo.

(4) “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” – Jeremiah 15:16

There is nothing more precious than a true knowledge of God and His Word. Someone wrote to me asking what recommendations I had regarding materials for Bible study. Here’s four (including one for children):

1. Dust to Glory – I absolutely love this series and am using it with my teenage children. This series takes you through the Bible book-by-book, drawing out the major themes of each. It’s available in the NEW TESTAMENT and OLD TESTAMENT (or as a complete package). It’s a comprehensive series with 57 lectures.

Dr. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss. has said, ““Never before has there been a greater need for Christians to know their Bibles than now. And yet, we know them less well than we have at any time since the Reformation. That’s one reason that I am so delighted to commend R.C. Sproul’s Dust to Glory. It gives you the big picture — the major themes, events, and people of the Bible — the very thing we need to help us know our Bibles better. And it does so in a gripping, memorable way. Know your Bible better. Start here.”

(This is such a great series that it might also be something worthwhile to donate to your local church library).

2. Chosen by God – The doctrine of predestination remains a controversial subject and yet God has revealed this truth to us in His Word, not to divide us, but to show us the immensity of His grace and kindness to us.

In both the book and DVD series, Dr. Sproul “shows how election is entirely compatible with human freedom, dignity, and responsibility. One of Ligonier’s most significant and popular books, Chosen by God shows why all serious Christians cannot afford to ignore this important biblical doctrine, but instead should embrace God’s initiative in Salvation.” Buy R.C. Sproul’s “Chosen By God” for $10.40. Shop Today!

3. The Prince’s Poison Cup – (for children) Buy “The Prince’s Poison Cup” children novel by R.C. Sproul. Shop now!

4. In an earlier post I outlined why I particularly recommend The Reformation Study Bible: Simply superb!

(Remember, if you do decide to purchase any material from Ligonier, you can claim an exclusive 10% discount as a reader of this blog by using the coupon code: EGRACE10)