Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]

Tag: II Corinthians
Preparing for Worship

Preparing for Worship

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9:30 am Worship Service

10900 Huron Street

Northglenn, CO

Scripture:  II Corinthians 4:1-13

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” a we also believe and therefore speak.

Sermon:  Christ’s Entrusted People

  1. What is this Treasure which God has entrusted to us?
  2. What are the earthen vessels in which this Treasure lies?
  3. What is the reason for this extraordinary arrangement?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #11

What are God’s works of providence?

God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

1 Psalm 145:17. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
2 Psalm 104:24. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
3 Hebrews 1:3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high
4 Nehemiah 9:6. Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
5 Ephesians 1:19-22. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church
6 Psalm 36:6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. Proverbs 16:33. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. Matthew 10:30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Worship

Come Thout Fount

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

O Church Arise
The Great Appointment

The Great Appointment

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The Great Appointment

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…

II Corinthians 5:10a

We have a great Appointment which we all must keep. Our text for today declares it in simple terms, ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.’ We preach Christ as the Savior, but to be true to all that He is, we must also present Him as, ‘the Judge of all the earth.’ We embrace a whole Bible, and a Whole Christ. We must give attention to all of the various elements of His Person and His Work. If we fail to do so, we present only a portion of Who and What He is. What we find in Scripture is a consistent presentation of Christ, not just as Savior, but also as Judge. Abraham recognized Him as ‘the Judge of all the earth.’ Daniel received direct revelation from the Mouth of Christ Himself that Judgment Day was coming. Christ Himself declares it on more than one occasion in His public ministry; even going so far as to describe it in Matthew 25. John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, describes it in Revelation 20. This is an appointment which we all will keep. We will keep it, robed in the Righteousness of Christ or clad in the filthy rags of our own self-righteousness. ‘Now is the accepted time…now is the day of salvation.’ How will you, Dear Reader, prepare for this inevitable meeting? ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’ Heed the Gospel invitation and meet this appointment unafraid.

O, Wise and Wonderful Savior,
we look forward to the day when we see You Face to face.
We rejoice that Your Blood and Righteousness are the Guarantee
that we shall meet You, unafraid and unashamed.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning.
‘Your Servants For Jesus Sake’

‘Your Servants For Jesus Sake’

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‘Your Servants For Jesus Sake’

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

II Corinthians 4:5

Christ is the quintessential Servant of Jehovah. Throughout the Old Testament we find instance after instance where Christ demonstrated Himself to be that Servant. Isaiah expounds upon the Ministry of the Servant of Jehovah. In the New Testament, Mark dedicates his Gospel to presenting Christ as the Servant of the Lord. Paul understood this very clearly. In fact, he understood it so clearly that it became the hallmark of his ministry. Paul was patterning himself after Christ. Hence, in our text he declares, ‘For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.’ To expand this thought in practical terms, this is the pattern for all truly spiritual leadership in ministry. The Christlike leader is the Servant leader. When we examine spiritual leadership, it is legitimate for us to ask, ‘How much does this leader resemble Christ?’ Paul led by Christlike example. He followed Christ; proclaimed Christ; and imitated Christ. Hence he could say, ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.’ This is immensely useful to us as we seek to effectively communicate Christ on a personal level. As Christ enables us, by His Holy Spirit, to imitate Christ, we can, as servants, show Christ to those who are around us. Today, let us look to Christ to conform us to His Image, that others will see us as ‘your servants for Jesus’ sake.’

O, Christ, our Shepherd-King,
we rejoice that You are our Servant-Leader.
We praise You, that by Your Holy example,
You show us how we may serve others.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
Christ’s Glorious Purpose

Christ’s Glorious Purpose

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Christ’s Glorious Purpose

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

II Corinthians 8:9

It is most satisfying for us to accomplish some long desired goal. When we have labored long and hard, sweated, bled, hoped and prayed, the realization of the dream fills us with joy and utter delight. Our text today sets forth the purpose of Christ’s self-impoverishment. It is to the end that ‘you, through, His poverty, might be rich.’ Christ became poor with the purpose of enriching all of His Blood-bought people. In the accomplishment of this purpose He has been, is and shall yet be gloriously successful. Christ is the Great Benefactor of His people. Because He, ‘for your sakes, became poor,’ He has elevated us to unimaginable heights. Because of Christ we are, ‘the redeemed of the Lord.’ Because of Christ we are ‘kings and priests.’ Because of Christ, ‘we shall reign with Him.’ Because of Christ, ‘where I am, there you may be also.’ There is no end to the bounty to which we have become heirs because Christ has become poor, ‘that you, through His poverty, might be rich.’ We claim no merit of our own. ‘All glory, laud, and honor, to Thee, Redeemer, King.’ It is glorious for us, to see Christ succeed. It centers all our focus upon Him. It fills our souls, elevates our spirits, and gives purpose to our lives. We are, because of Christ, rich and that beyond all measure.

Our Grand and Glorious King,
Your Wealth is beyond measure, Your Grace is boundless,
By You, through the Hands of our Blessed Savior,
We are enriched in every way.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
Embracing Poverty

Embracing Poverty

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Embracing Poverty

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

II Corinthians 8:9

It is one thing to be born into poverty. It is something else entirely to descend into poverty because of adverse circumstances over which you have no control. It is something else again, to intentionally embrace poverty; that is, to voluntarily renounce great wealth, and to become intentionally poor. This was what Christ did. Our text today declares that Christ ‘became poor.’ This was no mere happenstance. This did not just occur because He had no control over it. Christ’s renunciation of His fabulous wealth; of the adoration of angels; of His unutterably high estate, was in no way an effect of blind fate, or random chance. Our text declares that, ‘though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.’ This voluntary embracing of poverty ought to impress us very deeply. What magnitude of Character Christ shows us. Consider, please, how high He was, and that He was utterly willing to so thoroughly humble Himself, as to assume such poverty. This must, of necessity, deepen and intensify our love and devotion to Him. This must, by its very example lead us to a voluntary imitation of Him in the infinitely smaller circumstances which we encounter. Our contemplation of Christ, will surely lead us to the imitation of Him Who, ‘for your sake, became poor.’

Our Most Loving and Gracious God,
we praise You for the evidence of Your Holy Character,
that You would descend to meet us,
poor, wretched creatures, at our point of deepest need.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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