Category: Theology

God’s Sovereignty is the Answer to Perception of Unanswered Prayer

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, Reformed Theology, TheologyLeave a comment

In sports, we cheer athletes on to inspire them to achieve.
We do not cheer on God. He will perform His will with or without us.
He does not need us; we need Him.

That is why we must recognize the Sovereignty of God amid our bold, faith-filled prayers.

What is the Sovereignty of God? After meditating on a few definitions, I have settled with this:

The Sovereignty of God is his absolute right to do all things according to his will.

So my conclusion, I will pray as hard as I can, as long as I can.
When the situation is over, I will trust God’s Sovereignty. This answer is not always satisfying, but this perspective holds true to Scripture.

Read the New Testament this Year – You can do it!

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, Education, TheologyLeave a comment

I have noticed some great posts with Bible reading plans for 2022. Which one is best? The plan that works for you!

After working with new converts, seasoned pastors, and observing myself, I am convinced that reading the New Testament in a calendar year is a realistic plan. 

I have used for years the 5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading plan designed by Navigators.   This plan only takes 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. 

A link to the PDF is here

Also there is a digital link on You Version.

https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/232-discipleship-journals-5x5x5-reading-plan

It’s helpful to use both the printout and Your Version. 

You can do it!

Deconstruction – a new term for an ageless issue

On By Aaron AllisonIn Theology, United States of AmericaLeave a comment

If you have not heard the term deconstruction yet, you probably will soon. Relevant magazine states, “deconstruction is a popular term that refers to the practice of revisiting and rethinking long-held beliefs, specifically in the Christian faith.” It appears pervasive among younger Americans who have grown up in church, and it is a sad development when it ruins people’s love for the Lord. Deconstruction is not new, but its currents form is based on present sociological realities. It is a new term for an ageless reality.

Since the beginning of Christianity, apparent believers have fallen from their faith. Scripture prophesies that people will turn away from the faith. With the digital social connections available, we have a clearer view of the spiritual struggles so many individuals experience. We see it a lot more, but falling away from the Lord has always been part of humanity’s spiritual struggle.

It is natural and good to question, and I have seen that seeking truth leads to Jesus Christ. Jesus is not an option or a coping mechanism. He is the truth. If you are in the process of deconstruction, I believe that the authentic Jesus is on the other side of your questions. Keep seeking truth.

Give the book of Romans a read

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, TheologyLeave a comment

Recently I read the book of Romans and was reminded that this Scripture’s impact on the Christian faith is paramount. In 2007 I attempted verse-by-verse teaching through Romans but realized a few chapters in that its depth would take more time than a Sunday series could provide. I called that series “God Did It!” – and I still think that is a great title to summarize Romans.

While I typically preach from the CSB version of Scripture and use the NRSV version for personal devotions, I love reading Romans in the NLT. The NLT makes Romans flow smoothly, and when the NLT launched in the late 1990s, I thought then that the work on Romans was beautiful and helpful. The NLT doesn’t use some important theological words in its translation, but the fluidity of the writing makes the overall theme come alive.

Give Romans a read sometime. You’ll discover what the apostle Paul so persuasively explained about salvation – God did it!

Parable Church by Mike Burnette

On By Aaron AllisonIn Books, Charismatic / Spirit-Filled, Leadership, Ministry Development, TheologyLeave a comment

I am so excited about Mike Burnette’s new book, Parable Church.

Mike is an incredible leader, pastor, and scholar. Mike is one of my best friends, and I can assure you he lives what he teaches. The concepts from this book will help you love Jesus and the church better. Experience a fresh perspective through Parable Church.

#ParableChurch

https://www.zondervan.com/9780310113010/parable-church/

Let “The Culture of God” come!

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, TheologyLeave a comment
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Let “The Culture of God” come!
 
Jesus often used the phrase the “Kingdom of God,” which is still an important, Biblical phrase to our faith. What is it? The Kingdom of God is the reign of God.
 
Still, I think these words had more of an impact in a monarchy, with an actual king. The people who heard these words first socially bonded around a king. In our society, culture is our cohesion. We feel connected to each other through cultural elements like music, sports, style, and political identification.
 
So, it may help us to add a parallel phrase to The Kingdom of God, which is the phrase “The Culture of God.”
 
Let “The Culture of God” come!

If you appreciate the Bible, you’ll read it

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, History, TheologyLeave a comment

William Tyndale
Why do Christians love the Bible so much?  There are many answers, but let’s not forget this crucial reason:  individual Christians have not always had the Scripture!

For centuries only spiritual leaders could access the Bible. This arrangement made God’s people vulnerable when leadership did not follow God’s heart. The courage and sacrifices of John Wycliffe (1328-1384), William Tyndale (1494-1536) and their ministry partners left us an incomparable gift – the Scripture in English.  Read their stories some time.

As you pick your Bible to read in 2019, remember that the ability to read Scripture in your native language was very costly.  Whatever we appreciate becomes valuable to us.  Let us approach Scripture reading with deep appreciation.

We get to do this!

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The New Testament Bible Reading plan can be found by clicking here.

Reading the book of Revelation

On By Aaron AllisonIn Devotional, TheologyLeave a comment
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Almost every Bible reading plan ends with Revelation, which makes sense chronologically. But, it always feels odd to read these apocalyptic prophecies during such a festive season. This paradox is a reminder that good and bad are always traveling together through our lifetime.
 
I personally believe that most “end time scholars” have made a complete mess of interpreting Revelation. (I have some sermons and teachings on this subject from years past that I pray get lost into eternity. :-))
 
So, when I receive the blessing this divine writing promises (Rev. 1:3), I focus on the characteristics revealed about our great God. When the self-proclaimed experts on Revelation fade away, our incomparable God is the stable force of judgnment and love we continue to follow.
 
Maranatha!

The Trinity protects us

On By Aaron AllisonIn CIL News, Devotional, TheologyLeave a comment

Trinity

I am so glad to be preaching at CIL on Trinity Sunday – May 27. We have such a wonderful faith passed down to us, but it is more than a tradition, culture, or preference. We worship a God with a distinct, unique personality. We worship a God that is personally close to us, and still sometimes hard to understand.

What a mystery.
What a challenge.
What a need for spiritual revelation.

Christians have wrestled with who God is from the beginning, and for centuries have agreed that the term Trinity encapsulates the answer to the many debates, councils and consensus of interpretation. The understanding of the Trinity has protected our faith.

As we celebrate, declare, and worship the Trinity this Sunday …

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14

The “Already, Not Yet” Kingdom of God

On By Aaron AllisonIn CIL News, TheologyLeave a comment

CIL-PROCESS-EXPERIENCE-Logo

I preached on Sunday an important theological message called The “Already, Not Yet” Kingdom of God. The points of my sermon are as follows:

            The kingdom of God is the reign of God
             Matthew 24:13-14, Acts 8:12, 19:8, 28:23

            The kingdom is “not yet” fully here
             Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

            The kingdom is “already” here when the future reign of God breaks into the present
             Matthew 12:28, 10:5-8, 16:18-19, Romans 14:17

Presence of the FutureThis is not a concept I made up, as many evangelicals today hold to this perspective.   George Ladd of Fuller Seminary introduced this concept in a 1964 book now called The Presence of the Future. John Wimber popularized this when leading the Vineyard movement, and the Vineyard churches still hold to this statement as a theological beacon. I discovered this concept in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology text, which is one of the more influential theology books among evangelicals in the last twenty-five years.

Let me give a short, practical application of “already, not yet” concept. God still moves experientially through salvation, deliverance, healing, a manifestation of His presence, and reviving the church (among other things!). When those types of experiences happen, the future reign of God breaks into the present. These experiences are not anything we can control, but as we are faithful to God He “breaks in” by His sovereign will.

Therefore, we will pray and believe for the miraculous. However, we will not try to control God (as if we could) through demands, special phrases or projecting our expectations upon His will. Instead, we need to submit our expectations to His will.

To hear the sermon, take a listen here:

http://indianlake.sermon.net/main/main/20419847