Monthly Archives: April 2010

The Groanings of the Spirit

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” —Romans 8:26-27

In the shadow of the holiness of God, not only do we realize our weakness in worship, but we also recognize our ignorance in prayer. He is the sovereign God, ruling and reigning over all. He is omniscient, knowing all things. How can we possibly pray in situations and circumstances that are not specifically written in scripture? Oh, what a blessed comfort it is to each one of us to know that the Holy Spirit groans without utterance to intercede for us!
Continue reading →

Posted in Expositional Article | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Please Pray for My Friends

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

This is not an exhaustive list; however, if the Lord should bring these names to mind, please join with me in praying for some of my friends listed below. The primary prayer is that they would continue to seek God’s face, desire Christ’s presence, and rejoice in all that Christ is. Other specific requests accompany the names of these men listed. Thank you so much. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Purpose Driven Fife

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

What if Rick Warren had written THIS book instead of the other? Would Obama have asked Warren to give the invocation at the presidential inauguration in January 2009? Would John Piper have invited him to be a keynote speaker for the Desiring God Conference 2010? Would Rick have met Larry King? What do YOU think? Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quotes, Resources Link | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sent and Signified

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” —Revelation 1:1

This message of the revealed Christ, the unveiled Christ, the disclosure of Christ, was not only sent by the Lord’s messenger to John, but it was set it signs; that it, it was significantly symbolized. How is this revelation of Christ symbolized? I suggest that it is symbolized in two significant ways: (1) who Jesus Christ is; and (2) what Jesus Christ has done; specifically and more importantly, His atoning death upon Calvary’s cross.
Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thought, Expositional Article | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Groanings of the Christian

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” —Romans 8:23-25 Continue reading →

Posted in Expositional Article | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus Manifesto – a book review

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” —1 Corinthians 1:18, 23

When the word manifesto is used these days, one can either think of Francis Schaeffer (A Christian Manifesto), or perhaps Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones (An Emergent Manifesto of Hope), or even Karl Marx (Manifesto of the Communist Party). Coming to you from Thomas Nelson publishers on June 1, 2010 is the collaborative writing effort of Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Stupidity of Unbelief – 1

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

Let’s look for a moment at the real meaning of unbelief.

In relation to the gospel unbelief has two main ingredients, (1) a high opinion of self, and (2) a low opinion of God. It’s that simple! So long as these two things exist, it is impossible for us to rest in the good news. Our high opinion of ourselves makes us think that it is within the realm of possibility to win God’s favor by our religious performances. On the other hand, our low opinion of God makes us unwilling and even afraid to put ourselves entirely into His hands. Until our unbelief is removed we cannot grasp the free and generous character of the unearned grace of God. Continue reading →

Posted in The Wednesday Word | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Groanings of Creation

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” —Romans 8:19-22

Here, the apostle presents a rather poetic expression of how great the glory to come is; this glory that can in no way be compared or diminished by the sufferings mentioned in the Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Continue reading →

Posted in Expositional Article | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Am Feeble: a Devotional Thought for Bedtime

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.” —Psalm 38:10

It’s good to laugh with a light heart when our situations seem dim, bleak, or even dark. Tonight, during our family devotional, even while reading Psalm 38 as a family, we laughed during the reading of the passage; although many familiar with it might think we had lost all reverence and dignity for a psalm that clearly speaks of sorrow, repentance, and a desire for God through one’s personal weakness. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thought | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Changed Heart Necessary

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” —Jeremiah 13:23

How many times has the wife heard her party-loving unfaithful husband promise “I’m going to do better”? How many times has a pastor or Christian counselor heard the words “I am going to stop this sin or that sin” from a counselee? The problem is not with the probable good intentions of the person making the promise. The problem is the ability of the person to do what was promised. A person deceives themselves when they think that within their own strength and ability they can do any good; and, remember, we must define “good” as God defines “good”. The above passage from Jeremiah clearly refutes those perceived abilities. Continue reading →

Posted in Think Scripturally | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment