Sam Storms Talk 1 @ Clarus 09

Sam Storms’s 1st talk at Clarus 09 was basically a brief summary of Jonathan Edwards Religious Affections.

Storms who is a Edwards scholar and admitted that few if any of us have seen a revival like the one that Edwards went through. He said this is good and bad. Bad cause we do long to experience this. Good because of the theological messiness that this type of revial comes with.

Storms then asked, What is true Religion, what is essential to the Christian life?

The answer is found in 1 Peter 1:8

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

An inexpressible joy, devoted to Christ is the quintessential thing to mark true Christianity. One of the best determining factors of the presence of such religion is when suffering is present. Suffering like nothing else truly exposes the state of our soul. It is hard to be a hypocrite when you are in pain.

When faith passes through the furnace of suffering what is left?

True faith that Peter talks about in vs. 8 has three characteristics:

1. Loving Jesus
2. Trusting Jesus
3. Enjoying Jesus

You cannot have one of these without the others. This is an all for nothing deal.

Storms then shared that what Peter ultimately invisions is a joy that human words cannot do justice or find the capacity to articulate.

This is more than just emotions that can be awakened by everything and anything. This is affections that are tied directly to the heart and one’s response to Biblical Truth.

Storms then asked a great question.

Does the reality of the intensity of these affections frighten us? If so, how do we think about heaven then?

Finally Storms pointed to the most passionate and affectionate person, Jesus. His affections were intense and full of fire and passion.

This is why we sing, “singing Truth ignites a forest fire of love, of hatred of sin, of affection for truth, of acknowledgement of power and mercy”

And every bit of it all is revolving around, Jesus!

Ray Ortlund Jr. Talk 1 @ Clarus 09

The first talk of Clarus 09 was given by Ray Ortlund Jr.. Ortlund went over Psalm 1 and helped to identify what makes up True Spirituality.

Ortlund started off asking the questions: Delighting in Truth, is it Biblical? Does it matter?

Ortlund then proceeded to go on to tell how indeed it does matter. How delighting in God cannot be separated from the gospel. By going through Psalm 1 Ortlund showed that the righteous man was the one who delighted in the law of the Lord. He emphasized 3 keywords in the Psalm.

1. Blessed. This is a congratulatory view, it is a Biblical High Five. This man in Psalm 1 has had his spiritual vision purified. Even in the face of scoffers and sinners he stands firm and delights in God and nothing else. This man is saying no to a lot, so he can say yes to God. That is why the Psalm calls him Blessed.
2. Delight. This raises the bar and lowers it. I raises it by showing there is no such thing as half-hearted Christianity. God wants our full delight, our full devotion, not just a moderate acknowledgement. God made the Bible clear on this point. God made the Bible in simple language so we would delight in Him as He has revealed Himself to us.
3. Therefore. Before the word “therefore” in vs. 5 the psalmist is speaking in present tense. Following “therefore” the psalmist now looks toward eternity future. This is where the Psalm turns to show where the wicked and righteous will end up. Delight determines destiny. What we enjoy, matters now, it will matter forever. What we enjoy reveals the deepest reality in us that has been wrought in us by the Holy Spirit and will matter forever. When dark things about God enter our mind we need to talk about them.

Ortlund then asked us. Can we identify with this righteous man and his delight. His delight not in the law, but in the law of the Lord. In other words is there an aliveness in us that will never die. Will we desire this taste of delight, that in reality, ultimate reality is just a foretaste of heaven?

The Meaning of Life According to Jonathan Edwards

During the DSC Clarus luncheon Ray Ortlund Jr. shared this quote from George Mardsen’s biography of Jonathan Edwards aptly titled “Jonathan Edwards: A Life” as one that has stuck with him in profound ways.

“In the Edwardses’ world, the meaning of life was found in intense loves, including earthly loves.” (pg. 497)

The next line says:

“Yet as overwhelming as earthly affections might be, they were supposed to have their true value only when subordinated to heavenly and eternal loves.” (pg. 497)

You mean old, dead theologians understood emotion and love, in intense ways??

Who would’ve thought?

For more on this, check out Clarus' other speaker Sam Storm's book "Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards's 'Religious Affections'"

Ray Ortlund Jr and Sam Storms on Missional Living on the Campus

I got the privilege along with the rest of Desert Springs’ staff and other pastors from local churches in Albuquerque to have lunch with Ray Ortlund Jr. and Sam Storms. today.

During this time we had a Q and A session in which we could ask them a question. So below I posted my question along with the answers from these 2 awesome men!

Q: Being a director of a college ministry I interact with many young adult christians who go to UNM and CNM. These campuses are not very friendly to Christianity and those that would share the gospel. How can I encourage those that come to The Well in how they engage the campuses?

(Answers)

1. (Ray Ortlund Jr.) Be prepared to suffer. It is like a quote from “Braveheart” where it is before a battle and someone asks William Wallace “Where are you going?” and he replies “I’m going to pick a fight.” We must have the same mindset. We will suffer. Darkness hates light. We cannot be afraid to pierce the darkness, even in the face of persecution and rejection. Christ was crucified and told us that we should not expect any different treatment, the servant is no greater than the master. Suffering is what brings about revival, not comfort, not safety, suffering!

1. (Sam Storms) Have a good understanding of the sovereignty of God. Understanding that doctrine will not mean that suffering will not happen, but makes it bearable. Knowing that God will grow the seed, that God changes hearts and that nothing, not even persecution is out of His hands will change how we approach it all. It should free us up to evangelize and suffer well.

Clarus 09 Starts Today

My church, Desert Springs' conference called "Clarus" kicks off today. The topic this year is the convergence of doctrine and delight in the christian life.

If you are in the Albuquerque area I encourage you to come on by. If you are a young adult student, the tickets for the entire weekend is only $5! Wolverine will be there Sunday night, don't miss this chance to hear from these great speakers.

The featured speakers are Ray Ortlund Jr. and Sam Storms.

Click Here to go to the Official Clarus Website for schedule of events, and ticket information.