I read through the first part of Jonathan Edwards’s “Pressing into the Kingdom of God” today. Excellent read. It will take me a few days to intellectually digest what he wrote, but I can feel an excitement deep within me already. There’s a stirring of my innermost man. Maybe you could call this sermon “soul food”; whatever terminology you choose, it is taking hold of me, and the Holy Spirit is transforming my mind and invading the parts of my heart and soul that were beforehand idle or directed toward vanities.
I won’t bother outlining the points of the sermon. If you’re at all interested in reading it, I found a free copy here and printed it off.
There’s one piece of the introduction that I find very interesting. Aside from its profound spiritual message, it’s also well-written prose. It describes what it is to be a forerunner, a term which God has spoken to me directly many times over the past two years. The ministry He has laid before me is that of a forerunner. Indeed, the ministry of the church as a whole is that of a forerunner, in preparation for the return of the King! Edwards, in his description of the kingdom of God, elaborates on the role of a forerunner with an example revolving around John the Baptist:
I can see, in retrospect and prospect, that God is using my words and actions at the College in this way. And not only me, of course; but this is the ministry he has laid before me with a specific application. I was very excited when I read that passage.
I’m having a nice weekend. I worked today and made enough money in tips to buy food for all of next week. Praise the Lord. Tomorrow I’m going to Bay Ridge and then the entire congregation is going to have a picnic. I also told my new friend Casey that I would work at the coffee shop later in the day. I usually try to keep one day off from all official work, for the simple reason of health and desire to unwind; but my conscience is clear with working on Sundays. When Paul described the various sorts of views on how people celebrate God’s rest, he described people who choose one day, those who choose another, and those who ascribe every day as being equally holy—ensuring the reader of the letter that no one person is more correct in his view of how to honor the Sabbath (ref. Romans 14). I am one of the latter: the rest which God has promised to me is eternal, and I am willing to live every day as God directs, with the joy of the Lord as a refreshment and strength for even my weary body.
I won’t bother outlining the points of the sermon. If you’re at all interested in reading it, I found a free copy here and printed it off.
There’s one piece of the introduction that I find very interesting. Aside from its profound spiritual message, it’s also well-written prose. It describes what it is to be a forerunner, a term which God has spoken to me directly many times over the past two years. The ministry He has laid before me is that of a forerunner. Indeed, the ministry of the church as a whole is that of a forerunner, in preparation for the return of the King! Edwards, in his description of the kingdom of God, elaborates on the role of a forerunner with an example revolving around John the Baptist:
It was not John the Baptist, but Christ, that fully brought in, and actually established, this kingdom of God; but he, as Christ’s forerunner to prepare his way before him, did the first thing that was done towards introducing it. The old dispensation was abolished, and the new brought in by degrees; as the night gradually ceases, and gives place to the increasing day which succeeds in its room. First the day-star arises; next follows the light of the sun itself, but dimly reflected, in the dawning of the day; but this light increases, and shines more and more, and the stars that served for light during the foregoing night gradually go out, and their light ceases, as being now needless, till at length the sun rises, and enlightens the world by his own direct light, which increases as he ascends higher above the horizon, till the day-star itself gradually disappears; agreeable to what John says of himself, John 3:30. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John was the forerunner of Christ, and harbinger of the gospel-day; much as the morning-star is the forerunner of the sun.
I can see, in retrospect and prospect, that God is using my words and actions at the College in this way. And not only me, of course; but this is the ministry he has laid before me with a specific application. I was very excited when I read that passage.
I’m having a nice weekend. I worked today and made enough money in tips to buy food for all of next week. Praise the Lord. Tomorrow I’m going to Bay Ridge and then the entire congregation is going to have a picnic. I also told my new friend Casey that I would work at the coffee shop later in the day. I usually try to keep one day off from all official work, for the simple reason of health and desire to unwind; but my conscience is clear with working on Sundays. When Paul described the various sorts of views on how people celebrate God’s rest, he described people who choose one day, those who choose another, and those who ascribe every day as being equally holy—ensuring the reader of the letter that no one person is more correct in his view of how to honor the Sabbath (ref. Romans 14). I am one of the latter: the rest which God has promised to me is eternal, and I am willing to live every day as God directs, with the joy of the Lord as a refreshment and strength for even my weary body.
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