“A godly man is very exact and careful about the worship of God.

The Greek word for ‘godly’ signifies a true worshipper of God. A godly man reverences divine institutions, and is more for the purity of worship than the pomp. Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine, which though it gives it colour, yet only adulterates it. The Lord wanted Moses to make the tabernacle ‘according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount’ (Exod. 25:40). If Moses had left out anything in the pattern, or added anything to it, it would have been very provocative. The Lord has always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his worship. Nadab and Abihu offered ‘strange fire’ (other than God had sanctified on the altar), ‘and fire went out from the Lord, and devoured them’ (Lev.10:1,2)….

​A godly man dare not vary from the pattern which God has shown him in the scripture. This is probably not the least reason why David was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’, because he kept the springs of God’s worship pure, and in matters sacred did not superinduce anything of his own devising.”

~Excerpts from The Godly Man’s Picture
By Thomas Watson (1620-1686)
 

[Contentment] is the quiet of the heart All is sedate and still there…. [Contentment is not opposed to] a due sense of affliction. God gives his people leave to be sensible of what they suffer. Christ does not say, ‘Do not count as a cross what is a cross’: he says, ‘Take up your cross daily’. It is like physical health: if you take medicine and cannot hold it, but immediately vomit it up, or if you feel nothing and it does not move you—in either case the medicine does no good, but suggests that you are greatly disordered and will hardly be cured. So it is with the spirits of men under afflictions: if they cannot bear God’s potions and bring them up again, or if they are insensitive to them and no more affected by them than the body is by a drought of small beer, it is a sad symptom that their souls are in a dangerous and almost incurable condition. So this inward quietness is not in opposition to a sense of afflictions, for, indeed, there would be no true contentment if you were not apprehensive and sensible of your afflictions, when God is angry.

​~Excerpts from The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
by Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646)
 

 Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.

​[Contentment] is the inward submission of the heart…. Not only must the tongue hold its peace; the soul must be silent. Many may sit silently, refraining from discontented expressions, yet inwardly they are bursting with discontent. This shows a complicated disorder and great perversity in their hearts. And notwithstanding their outward silence, God hears the peevish, fretful language of their souls. A shoe may be smooth and neat outside, while inside it pinches the flesh. Outwardly there may be great calmness and stillness, yet within amazing confusion, bitterness, disturbance and vexation….

​If the attainment of true contentment were as easy as keeping quiet outwardly, it would not need much learning.
~Excerpts from The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
By Jeremiah Burroughs

What does it mean to desire the office? Is it merely enough to wish or want the office?
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​Desire is marked by sacrifice. Someone who desires to be an athlete makes significant sacrifices to his diet and daily routine. There is no short cuts. The same is true for the one who desires the office of pastor. He must make significant sacrifices. He must study when others sit idle. He must pray when others daydream. He must care for others when his soul aches. If a man desires the office; the sacrifices will match the desire. Someone who is unwilling to sacrificially give himself to the study of the Word is unfit for the office.

​The one who desires the office will not be tempted with anything else. He will serve as a pastor because he can do nothing else. There is no other job that captures his attention. There is no greater calling that he could imagine. A great inheritance will not turn his attention away from the ministry. He serves because there is nothing he would rather do. He serves as a pastor because he desires the office.

​Paul warns Timothy not to ordain elders hastily.

"​As gold is the most precious among the metals, so is faith among the graces. Faith cuts us off from the wild olive of nature, and grafts us into Christ. Faith is the vital artery of the soul: ‘The just shall live by his faith’ (Hab. 2:4). Such as are destitute of faith may breath, but they lack life… When I believe God’s love to me, this makes me weep that I should sin against so good a God. Faith is the mother of hope; first we believe the promise, then we hope for it. Faith is the oil which feeds the lamp of hope. Faith and hope are two turtle-dove graces; take away one, and the other languishes…
And the life of a saint is nothing but a life of faith. His prayer is the breathing of faith (Jas. 5:15). His obedience is the result of faith (Rom. 16:26). A godly man by faith lives in Christ, as the beam lives in the sun: ‘I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me’ (Gal. 2:20). A Christian by the power of faith sees above reason, trades above the moon (2 Cor. 4:18). By faith his heart is finely quietened; he trusts himself and all his affairs to God (Psa. 112:7)."
~Excerpts from The Godly Man’s Picture
by Thomas Watson

I suspect we all need some good news today--unfortunately, I don't think the news outlets will provide any relief.
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​Psalm 2:1-12  Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,  "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 

"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."  I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."  

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.

​Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

A. Jesus is more faithful than Moses (3:1-6).
​1. Moses was faithful in the house (3:1-5).
​2. Jesus was faithful over the house (3:6).

​B. Therefore do not harden your heart like Israel did (3:7-12).

C. Instead, encourage each other to enter God's rest (3:13-4:11).
1. Because there is still time (3:13).
​2. Because we are partners with Christ (3:14).
3. Because God is angry towards sinners (3:16-4:11).

D. The Word of God is the key to entering God's rest (4:12-13).
1. The Word of God is alive (4:12).
​2. The Word of God is effective (4:12).
3. The Word of God is sharp (4:12).
4. The Word of God condemns the heart (4:12).
​5. God exposes the heart (4:13).

​What is the Word of God? Hebrews 4:12-13 gives us five descriptions of the Word of God.

• The Word of God is alive. This book is a living book. This book is breathed out by God. Because it is a living book, it also brings life. We were dead in our sins, but made alive through the power of the Word of God coupled with the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is alive.
• ​The Word is active or effective. The Word of God accomplishes something. Every time the Word of God is read it does something to the hearer. We cannot read God's Word without being transformed into His likeness. The Word of God is effective.
• The Word of God is sharp. It pierces with both precision and depth. The Word of God is able to divide soul and spirit; joints and marrow.
• ​The Word of God judges the thoughts of the heart. The word "judge" does not mean evaluate, but rather condemn. The Word of God condemns the heart. In God's sight, every person deserves God's judgment or condemnation. Everyone is in desperate need of a Savior. The Word of God rightfully judges all who have rejected the Savior.
• The Word of God exposes the heart. There is no one - man or beast - that can hide from God's sight. Everyone is completely exposed before God.

Has it ever occurred to you that God probably hates your public worship? Does this sound too strong to you? Well, truth be told, this language is probably not strong enough. Take a look at Isaiah 1:10-15 (NASB):

Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah.   "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.  "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?  "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.   "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.  "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

​Did you see that? God called the children of Israel Sodom. Yes, the same Sodom that He rained down fire from heaven. Why does God call the children of Israel Sodom? Because their public worship did not match their private worship. They were hypocritical. The answer is found in Isaiah 1:16-18:

"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,  Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.  "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

​To neglect your private worship is to neglect your public worship.

 Hebrews 1:1-2:4
Jesus is Greater

Jesus is greater than angels
    A. Because Jesus is God (1:1-4)
          i.      God has spoken
         ii.      God has spoken through a Son
 
   B.    Because Jesus is the Rightful King (1:5-6)
           i.      Jesus is the rightful Davidic King
          ii.      Angels will worship the rightful King
 
   C.     Because Jesus is the Righteous King (1:7-9)
            i.      Angels are merely agents of righteousness
           ii.      Jesus rules righteously
          iii.      Jesus loves righteousness
 
   D.    Because Jesus is the Eternal King (1:10-14)
           i.      Jesus was there at the foundation of the earth
          ii.      Jesus will outlast the earth
         iii.      Jesus will rule until His enemies submit
 
   E.     Response: Pay the greatest attention to the Message (2:1-4)
           i.       Because you may drift away
          ii.    Because there is no chance for escape
         iii.  Because the Message was confirmed.
 
   F.       Because all things will submit to Jesus (2:5-9)
             i.            Nothing can resist His rule
            ii.            One day all things will submit to Him
           iii.            All things will submit to Him because He tasted death for everyone.
 
   G.     Because God chose for Jesus to suffer (2:10-13)
            i.      God chose for Jesus to suffer because it is the only way.
           ii.      God chose for Jesus to suffer because we can relate to it.
 
   H.    Because Jesus has the power over death (2:14-18)
           i.      Through death Jesus won the victory
          ii.      Death enabled Jesus to be like His brothers