San Antonio Reformed Church

16.23

I did miss blogging a session due to interviews.  However they were certainly worth it!  Hopefully they will be published on the Reformed Forum before long.

11.12

The gospel can save swindlers, thieves, gossips, and every other demonstration of sin in our hearts – Derek Thomas

11.11

1 Cor. 6:9-10 repeats the sins from Romans 1.  Our hope is seen in v.11 “and such were some of you….”  - Derek Thomas

11.10

the sins we see in Romans 1 are in themselves the wrath of God – Derek Thomas

11.07

I don’t hate homosexuals, but their activity is a contradiction to the law of God. – Derek Thomas

11.06

In 2012 we worship a god called Eros, who demands total loyalty.  - Derek Thomas

11.02

The most terrifying words you can ever hear is when God says “thy will be done” – CS Lewis

11.02

Man says “this is what I want” and God says “ok you can have it, and all the consequences that come with it” – Derek Thomas

11.00

God’s God-ness is plain to them.  They actually get it, and they suppress it.  - Derek Thomas

10.58

The natural man knows far more than he’s willing to admit . He knows God.  - Derek Thomas

10.56

If there is a god how can I bare not to be that God?  - Nietzsche  /  Man’s heart is an idol factory – John Calvin

10.51

The sinner suppresses the truth like holding your thumb over a soda bottle while shaking it up as the pressure builds – Derek Thomas

10.49

On the cross the Father cannot give the Son a divine hug.  He has been identified with sin, and he must be cast out – Derek Thomas

10.48

The wrath of God is not something impersonal.  - Derek Thomas

10.47

Do you want to see the revelation of the wrath of God?  Just look at Calvary.  - Derek Thomas

10.46

Do you know what it costs for you to receive a benediction?  Christ got the curse and we get the blessings – Derek Thomas

10.46

One of the greatest moments in the worship service is the benediction – Derek Thomas

10.45

When the face of god turns away what have you got?  You’ve got darkness – Derek Thomas

10.44

On the cross, the Father treats Christ as an unholy thing and drives Him from His presence – Derek Thomas

10.42

The greatest moral question you could ever ask is “why did Jesus die?” – Derek Thomas

10.42

We see the wrath of God in the cross of Jesus Christ – Derek Thomas

10.42

We see the wrath of God in the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah, and Nadab and Abihu.  However, we see this also in the account of Ananias and Sapphira.  The world asks, how could God do such things?

10.38

God’s wrath is His final judgment and assessment of all human sin, all human rejection of God – Derek Thomas

10.37

The wrath of God is the reflex of the holiness of God toward all that is unholy – Derek Thomas

10.34

The gospel is good news because we lack the righteousness of God.  It provides the righteousness that we lack. – Derek Thomas

10.33

Luther called Romans the clearest gospel of all – Derek Thomas

10.32

Romans is about the righteousness of God, and the moral wholesome integrity of God. – Derek Thomas

10.32

I am going to speak on the “roth” of God this morning, even though I might occasionally speak of the “wrath” of God. – Derek Thomas

10.29

Dr. Derek Thomas recommends the booklet “Enough” - http://tinyurl.com/85q99ct

10.25

Dr. Thomas is thanking Cumberland Valley Book Service for setting up the conference bookstore.

10.23

You can stream the conference by setting up a free account at http://www.reformedresources.org/alliance-live/

10.20

Reading Romans 1:18-32 in preparation of Dr. Thomas’s talk on the Wrath of God.

10.19

The morning is opening with the singing of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”.  The singing and accompaniment (organ, piano, and trumpet)  is excellent.

10.13

Mr. Robert Brady, the Executive Vice President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is giving some information about the ACE.

10.12

Good morning!  It is nice and cool in South Texas.  Excited to continue the conference this morning.

22.31

Session 2 has concluded.  We will continue at 9AM in the morning.  I hope this is of some value to you who cannot be here.  Please feel free to comment below, and share this link with others.  Soli Deo Gloria ~Andrew Moody

22.30

“Without the sovereignty of God I cannot guarantee heaven.” – Derek Thomas

22.29

“God is sovereign, but He is good.”  - Derek Thomas

22.25

Dr. Thomas is telling a touching story of early in his ministry, 25 years old, when he visited a woman whose child was born with multiple brain tumors and she asked him “why?”.  When a child is born and it shatters all your dreams for your future, your family, and all the things you were going to do is all changed, and she said “why?’  Remember Job had 3 counselors.  Calvin said they only had one song and they sang it to death.  The song went something like this, ” the reason why suffering comes into our lives is because of sin: big sin, small sin, invisible sin.”  If that’s your understanding of the book of Job, I don’t want you to come anywhere near me.  God says that’s not the right answer.  How can God be sovereign and there be sin in the world?  Why did God not create a world in which there would be no sin?    Augustine was asked what God was doing before he created the world, and he replied “He was creating hell for those who would ask that question.”  At the end of the book of Job, Job introduces leviathan and behemoth (chp 40-41).  Let’s say leviathan is an alligator and behemoth a hippopotamus.  God is saying, “so Job, you’ve lost your children, have you ever wondered why I created the hippopotamus?”    Why did God create these things?  For His own glory.  Why sin?  Why suffering?  Why pain?  The only answer Job gets is, for His own glory, for a purpose that is known only to God.

22.17

22.13

“Who killed the Lord Jesus?  The Father did, from a heart full of love for me.” – Derek Thomas

22.13

“Jesus was killed by the Jewish people, but it was all by the determined fore-knowledge of God.” – Derek Thomas

22.10

If you think dead people have perfect liberty, you need to visit the morgue, or watch some more CSI – Derek Thomas

22.10

Dr. Thomas asks candidates for the ministry, “which comes first, faith or regeneration?”  Think hard but don’t think long, if you get it wrong it’s Walmart for you.  :)  The answer is that regeneration comes first.

22.08

“If we say that we have absolute human liberty to believe in and of ourselves, that faith becomes something that is meritorious in itself.” – Derek Thomas

22.07

“the reason tonight we can stand with assurance in the presence of God…and know the warmth of His fatherly embrace…is that Christ has died for us.” – Derek Thomas

22.05

“Until we come to that point of confession that we are unworthy sinners, there will always be within us a suspicion that the sovereignty of God operates in a way that isn’t fair.”  - Derek Thomas

22.04

“Deep down within us lies the belief that God owes it to us that we would hear the gospel and be in a position to understand the gospel.  The degree to which you accept that is the degree to which you are not yet compliant with the prophet’s assertion, ‘I am a man of unclean lips.’” – Derek Thomas

22.02

“Who is the one who is sovereign?  The one who is sovereign is the Lord Jesus.  At the heart of sovereignty lies the person of Jesus Christ.” – Derek Thomas

22.01

Do you believe a God who can say “I will accomplish all my purpose”? – Derek Thomas

22.00

“The response of the Adamic heart is, ‘that’s not fair’” – Derek Thomas

21.59

when you bring providence down to individuals it looks like this, “Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated.” – Derek Thomas

21.57

“open theism says for our liberty to be real and genuine, providence, the big picture has to be risky.” – Derek Thomas

21.56

“You may quarrel with Is. 6, you may tear it out, but all Is. 6 is saying is in the end God is king, He is sovereign, He sits upon a throne.  He is sovereign first of all in the big picture of predestination, predestination as it relates to everything.” – Derek Thomas

21.54

A picture of the conference goers.

21.50

Dr. Derek Thomas speaking at the Hill Country Bible Conference.

21.46

Dr. Thomas will focus on the theme “The Sovereignty of God” from Is 46:8-11

21.44

Dr. Derek is speaking.  The title of his section is “He is King!  The Sovereignty of God”

21.43

Pastor John Free read Isaiah 46:8-11

21.42

After a brief time of seeing friends from all over the state (Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, etc), we resumed with the singing of “Praise Ye the Lord.”

21.29

now a brief intermission before session 2 with Dr. Thomas.

21.24

“Let each one of us say tonight, here am I Lord, send me!” – Steve Lawson

21.23

“God takes polluted people and makes them His prophets.  He takes sinful people and makes them His spokesman…God took this man with an unclean mouth and gave him an uncommon calling.”  - Steve Lawson

21.21

“Just as quickly as the call came in v.8, Isaiah answered, Here I am send me!” – Steve Lawson

21.18

“Do you have unclean lips? Do you have unclean feet?  Jesus said to Peter, let me wash your feet.”  - Steve Lawson

21.15

“This burning coal symbolized the cleansing and forgiveness that comes exclusively through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Steve Lawson

21.13

“can you imagine the severity of pain as the coal touches Isaiah’s lips?  It is not a pain of judgment, but it is a pain of mercy.” – Steve Lawson

21.11

“There is a revival that will come to churches as Christians come to the Lord under the conviction of sin and say it’s me Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”  - Steve Lawson

21.10

“When is the last time you saw the holiness of God?  When is the last time you saw the king upon His throne?  When is the last time you said Woe is me for I am ruined for I am a man/woman of unclean lips?” – Steve Lawson

21.06

“Isaiah now sees himself and the people of God as unclean, because his eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.  One vision and his entire perception is changed, his entire world view is altered.” – Steve Lawson

21.04

“the best of what Isaiah has to offer to God is tainted by sin” – Steve Lawson

21.03

“Woe is me, I am ruined, I am disintegrated, I am shattered into pieces, I am devastated, shattered into pieces, I am broken, ruined, by my unholiness as a result of being in the presence of His holiness.”  - Steve Lawson

21.02

“The closer that Isaiah draws to God’s perfection, the more his own blemishes are being revealed in the face of a holy God.”  - Steve Lawson

21.01

” Notice Isaiah’s conviction in 6:5, this is the conviction that you and I should feel.” – Steve Lawson

21.00

Dr. Steve Lawson speaking on the Holiness of God!

20.54

“The primary meaning of holy is that God is separate, that God is set apart, that God is transcendent, that God is majestic, that he is high and lifted up above his creatures.  He is exalted, He is elevated, He is towering the heavens, He is robed in splendor with the dignity of a majestic king upon His throne, He is totally distinct from us, He is in a category unto himself.” – Steve Lawson

20.52

“everything about God is perfectly holy.  His character his holy, his being is holy, his ways are holy, his son is holy, his spirit is holy, his word is holy, his  judgments are holy, his love is holy.  Everything about God is infinitely and absolutely holy. The alpha and omega of God is his infinite holiness.” – Steve Lawson

20.51

“the Seraphim magnify the holiness of God to the superlative degree” – Steve Lawson

20.50

“this word holy represents the totality of all God is.” – Steve Lawson

20.48

Servants would cover their feet when they came into the house of their master.  Moses removed his sandals at the burning bush because he was on holy ground.  So also these Seraphim cover their feet to show their unworthiness to be in the presence of a holy God.  - Steve Lawson

20.46

May we be those who are truly on fire for the glory of our sovereign God in heaven – Steve Lawson

20.44

In v.2 we see the Seraphim, literally “the burning ones” they are consumed with passion and intense energy to serve God, to worship God – Steve Lawson

20.39

As Isaiah comes into the temple, he sees not the king (Uzziah) but rather the king of kings and the lord of lords.

20.38

As we look at Isaiah 6 may we as the people of God see what Isaiah saw and experience what Isaiah experienced.

20.37

“Isaiah saw God higher than he had ever seen before….Isaiah was given a vision of God that literally overpowered his inner being as he came face to face with the living God” – Steve Lawson

20.36

The death of Uzziah brought a time of uncertainty to the nation (Isaiah 6:1).

20.34

A view from the balcony, by my friend Wade Scrogham.

20.32

The angels are not crying out “love, love, love” or “wrath, wrath, wrath”, but they surround the throne and cry out “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!”

20.29

“It is the knowledge of God that defines ultimately how we worship, how we live, how we respond to trials in our lives, how we serve the Lord, and even how we die.”

20.27

Your knowledge of God, who you understand God to be is the principle defining characteristic of your life.

20.25

Correction:  Session 1 is Dr. Steve Lawson.  Dr. Thomas read Isaiah 6.

20.24

We opened with the reading of Isaiah 6, an awesome passage that pulls back the veil to reveal a portion of God’s awesome holiness.  Now we are singing the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Your Name!”

20.16

The theme for the conference is The Greatness and the Grandeur of God.  Dr. Derek Thomas is opening the conference with his session titled “Wholly, Wholly, Holy!  The Holiness of God”

20.14

20.12

After some internet connection issues, I am finally online and excited to be here in Boerne, Texas to live blog the Hill Country Bible Conference.