Pastor David Platt preaching on Paul’s reevaluation in Philippians 3
If we want our lives to count we must treasure Christ above everything else this world has to offer.
The many treasures of a wasted life (these are all good things, but, these good things were the ones keeping Paul from Jesus. Paul said it is possible to be and do all these things and yet come to the end of your life and to be written above it “wasted”)
Family heritage
Social status
Biblical knowledge
Religious activity (zeal)
A moral lifestyle
but there is one thing i life that counts and that is the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. The only treasure of the life that counts is Christ.
sermon starts at the 6:00 minute.
You have one life and you have one shot to make your life count for His glory on the landscape of human history.
We trust in Christ to provide everything we need
What do we gain by gaining Christ?
His righteousness covers our sin
His power guarantees our resurrection
His satisfaction transcends our suffering
God delights in showing His greatness through those who radically trust in Him
The Life that Counts:
They treasure Christ
They trust Christ
They pursue Christ with obsessive passion
The question we ask, “Is why follow hard after Christ?”
A holy dissatisfaction with comfortable christianity which is dangerous. Paul, the planter of most of the New Testament churches states that he has so much more to do in pursuit of God and that is where our own christianity should stand today.
We need a fresh understanding of the degree to which Christ has followed hard after us.
This video almost sounds like the “lone” voice in the wilderness of our generation:
FEW WILL BE SAVED. Really? Says who? A (prone to sin) preacher? An obscure prophet in the Bible ( does the Old Testament really apply to us today)? I am being ironic, here.
It was actually Jesus who said:
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:14
So, if you don’t believe it, you don’t believe Jesus, and why do you think you are still a Christian then, if you don’t even believe what Jesus (the founder of Christianity) has to say?
See the transcript from this sermon compilation below the video. It is worth reading it, as reading makes an indelible impression on the memory. See especially the words of John Piper and Leonard Ravenhill.
Lots of people in that day say “Lord,Lord”.
He says “I never knew you!”
Leonard Ravenhill-
What I wanna tell you tonight…I believe the same thing is happening in our churches every Sunday night.People are choking and we are trying to pour the words of life into them, it pours over them- so damned and lost- they can’t take it! They listen to the same preacher year after year, who says the same thing in the same way. He hasn’t shed a tear since he left his mother’s womb. He went to the seminary and he got a big fat head and a shrunken soul. So there’s no hope. This generation will fill hell quicker than any other generation, we are so corrupt, UNLESS in His mercy, God FILLS us.
CLICK below (the word “More” to read the rest of the transcript and to watch 2 more short videos by Paul Washer titled – What is Salvation (in 2 minutes) and Come to Christ. He is mighty to save.
Anii trec ca norii, perii-ncărunţesc,
vremurile-s altfel, totul e-n schimbare,
zilnic se preface tot ce-i pământesc
— numai Adevărul este-acelaşi soare.
Iarba se usucă, frunza cade iar
apa-şi face vaduri, altele într-una,
peste toate-n lume plânge-un “în zadar”
— numai în iubire cânt-un “totdeauna”.
Vara arzi în soare, iarna arzi în ger
ce te-ncântă astăzi, mâine ţi-e povară,
toate-apasă duhul, toate-l strâng ca-n fier
— numai conştiinţa sfântă e uşoară.
Toţi sunt ca şi tine: slabi şi schimbători
cei aproape astăzi, ţi-s departe mâne
oamenii, ca anii-s aburi trecători
— numai Domnul singur neschimbat rămâne.
…Nu-ţi lega de nimeni inima acum
ca să nu ţi-o smulgă ruperea ce vine,
leagă-ţi-o de Domnul — lumea-i vis şi fum
singur El rămâne veşnic lângă tine.
Daca doriti sa vizualizati marturia extraordinara (cum s-a pocait) a acestui tinar faceti click aici. Pe aceiasi pagina gasiti trei ccintari video de la Alex Tascu si Hope band. Alex are un website www.hopeband.ro si http://www.alextascu.blogspot.com/ unde puteti asculta albumul intreg “Alege sa traiesti”. Toate cintarile sunt exceptionale. De notat este melodia #1 Alege sa traiesti #2 – Inima mea # 8 – Romania: Ridica-ti privirea si #9 – cinta fostul gimnast national Alin Jivan si Florina cu Alex Tascu. Instrumentatia este exceptionala, si cintarile sunt scrise de la suflet. Alex a fost diagnosticat cu cancer dar am inteles dintr-o predica a Pastorului Florin Ianovici ca dupa un an de zile a fost vindecat. Dumnezeu sa il binecuvinteze si sa il foloseasca ca marturie ca Dumnezeu mintuie oameni si ii transforma in copii ai Lui!
Acum, tu stai si te gindesti la zilele ce le traiesti
La timpul care ti s-a dat; l-ai risipit neincetat.
Ai vrea sa dai timpu-napoi, sa scapi de griji si de nevoi
Poate a-i vrea chiar sa-l opresti, dar nu uita darul ceresc
S-a dus, a mai trecut un an
S-a scurs de parca nici n-a fost
Si ce-a ramas, ce-a ramas in urma lui
Poate impliniri sau poate amagiri
Acum, cind poti sa stai sa te gindesti
Daca mai lasi sa treaca inc-un an
In care viata s-o traiesti
Departe de Isus, de Dumnezeu.
Anii vin, trec, se duc si tu ramii pe gind pierdut
Stii exact ce-i de facut, dar amii, mereu amii
Sta un an in fata ta; sa-l cistigi tu ai putea
Sa nu stai nepasator; sa nu crezi fara Hristos.
Sunt ocazii in viata… in care, asemenea pasarilor calatoare care traverseaza marea spre tarmul linistii si care, din cand in cand , se opresc pe cate un catarg de vas pentru a se odihni, si noi ne adunam “aripile” sufletului pentru a aduna puteri noi in lunga si obositoarea calatorie pe care o avem de facut spre “tarmul celalalt”. Si acesta pentru ca, fie ca vrem sau nu, fie ca recunoastem sau nu, cu totii suntem niste calatori prin viata si prin timp… spre o destinatie inca necunoscuta pentru cei mai multi dintre noi. Cunosti aceasta Destinatie …si vrei sa te pregatesti pentru acea intalnire cu Isus ?…
Alvin Toffler, autorul cartii “Socul viitorului”, vorbeste despre “instinctul reintoarcerii acasa”, pe care il are orice fiinta. Tarmul acesta, de pe care pornim in calatoria vieti…, nu e casa noastra. Nici marea agitata nu e casa noastra. Adevarata noastra casa e… “tarmul celalalt”- Canaanul ceresc. Nici mormantul nu e casa noastra, desi unii il numesc “loc de veci”. Exista o lume la fel de reala ca cea prin care calatorim acum si aceea va fi caminul linistii si al odihnei vesnice.
Nu doresc altceva decat sa putem arunca cat mai curand ancora… in portul Noului Pamant. Pentru totdeauna !. Iisus ne asteapta . Din nou te intreb …ti-ai incheiat socotelile cu Dumnezeu ??? Daca nu …ai timp , ACUM !!!. Gby.
For More Christmas or Bible themed classical music click on the following playlists. If you are not familiar with how playlists work, you only have to click the play button on the first video. Once that (and all other videos) come to an end, the following video in the playlist will start automatically.
Messiah (HWV 56)[1] is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.[n 1]
Handel’s reputation in England, where he had lived since 1713, had been established through his compositions of Italian opera. He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s, in response to changes in public taste; Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles that of conventional opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and very little direct speech. Instead, Jennens’s text is an extended reflection on Jesus Christ as Messiah, moving from the prophetic phrases of Isaiah and others, through the Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection of Christ to his ultimate glorification in heaven.
Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with optional settings for many of the individual numbers. In the years after his death the work was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and choirs. In other efforts to update it, its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others) Mozart. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the trend has been towards authenticity; most contemporary performances show a greater fidelity towards Handel’s original intentions, although “big Messiah” productions continue to be mounted. Since a near-complete version was issued on 78 rpm discs in 1928, the work has been recorded many times.
From www.ChristianityToday.com – “He [Handel] would frequently declare the pleasure he felt in setting the Scriptures to music, and how contemplating the many sublime passages in the Psalms had contributed to his edification.”
—Sir John Hawkins
By 1741 George Frideric Handel was a failure. Bankrupted, in great physical pain, and the victim of plots to sabotage his career, the once-great opera composer scheduled a “farewell” appearance in London in April. To the London elite, it looked like this “German nincompoop,” as he was once called, was through. That summer, however, he composed Messiah, which not only brought him back into the spotlight, but is still deemed by some to be “an epitome of Christian faith.”
Nabucco (short for Nabucodonosor, English Nebuchadnezzar) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the Biblical story and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornue. It is Verdi’s third opera and the one which is considered to have permanently established his reputation as a composer.
Nabucco follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered, and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (in English, Nebuchadnezzar). The historical events are used as background for a romantic and political plot. (source Wikipedia)
J S Bach – Psalm 51 (BWV 1083) Documentary and performance. Skip forward to just before 17 minutes for the start of the (marvellous) performance. The documentary is in Italian with French subtitles.
“At a reverent performance of music, God is always at hand with his gracious presence.”
When he was 48, Johann Sebastian Bach acquired a copy of Luther’s three-volume translation of the Bible. He pored over it as if it were a long-lost treasure. He underlined passages, corrected errors in the text and commentary, inserted missing words, and made notes in the margins. Near 1 Chronicles 25 (a listing of Davidic musicians) he wrote, “This chapter is the true foundation of all God-pleasing music.” At 2 Chronicles 5:13 (which speaks of temple musicians praising God), he noted, “At a reverent performance of music, God is always at hand with his gracious presence.” (source www.ChristianityToday.com)
Handel began its composition immediately after completing Messiah on 14 September 1741. It uses a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, who based it on Milton’s Samson Agonistes, which in turn was based on the figure Samson in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. Handel completed the first act on 20 September 1741, the second act on 11 October that year and the whole work on 29 October. Shortly after that he travelled to Dublin to put on the premiere of Messiah, returning to London at the end of August 1742 and thoroughly revising Samson.The premiere was given at Covent Garden in London on 18 February 1743, with the incidental organ music probably the recently-completed concerto in A major (HWV 307).)
via A Puritan’s Mind.Scroll down to the bottom of article for a 19 minute audio (in video form) of this list
A list of the resolutions that Edwards read once every week to keep his mind on his duty before God.
Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions
(written at 19 years of age)
In an effort to be helped spiritually by Edward’s idea in inscribing his resolutions and then reading them each week, I also made a list of my own Maxims, which may also be of help to you – even if they simply spark you to make a list of your own (See my Maxims in the list on The Christian Walk page). Some are very similar to Edwards, some are exactly the same, and some are completely different. In any case, enjoy these Resolutions and Maxims in your daily walk.
Resolutions 1 through 21 were written by in one sitting in New Haven in 1722.
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723) Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is
perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.
44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ’3′ 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.
Trace Jesus Passion Week Google Maps Isus- Saptamina Patimilor cu harta Google
Filmul Isus (vizionati in limba Romana / choose any language to watch the ‘Jesus’ film)
RICHARD WURMBRAND – English/Romanian
Global Persecution Watch
Christian movies & Beautiful nature shots – Filme crestine si Filmari din natura pe Youtube Channel
PREDICI – Florin Ianovici
PREDICI – Vladimir Pustan
PREDICI – Nelu Brie
Cristian Barbosu Arad – PREDICI
Biserica Gloria Arad Bujac Transmisie Live
Pagina – Predici
Faceti click pe poza pt. site – Administrat In Romania
PREDICI de la A 44-a Conventie USA/CANADA la Seattle, Washington 2012
Predici de la Congresul Bisericilor Baptiste USA si Canada 2012 Cleveland Ohio
Biserica Baptista Speranta Oradea
Vasile Oprea Interviu, Cintari – Nou: Serviciul de Florii 2012
NEW PAGE – All family related articles and videos – on being single, marriage, intimate relations, on raising kids…
Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26. Isus a zis: “Si ce ar folosi unui om sa cistige toata lumea daca si-ar pierde sufletul?”
Pastor David Platt preaching on Paul’s reevaluation in Philippians 3
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