Pastor Paul's Blog

Praying Fervently

2009-02-24T13:38:00.003+09:00

Read Acts 12.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

Today's reading was a very familiar story. Of the many things that I could have noticed (persecution, angels, Peter's astonishment, Rhoda, etc.), the part that stands out to me today was verse 5 and 12. The church was gathered to pray. When was the last time you gathered with the church to pray, let alone pray fervently. Was it when the church was without a pastor? Or, was it when the church was in a financial crisis? Maybe it was when the pastor asked us to pray for the mission team?

I am guessing that my own self was seen in this passage. I am not always in prayer. And I like the church gathered on that occasion don't always believe that God answered the prayer. I think it is that doubt that causes me to value prayer less and less. I have excuses (God's will is going to happen any way. So why pray?)

I wonder if our prayer meetings always had a crisis to pray for would there be more people. Since becoming a pastor, I have had more requests from people to just cancel Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. I wonder if the guilt of this service being on the schedule and people's inability to attend drives this request, or is it simply we don't have room for prayer so why have a meeting. It is by far the least attended meeting of the church, but does that make it the least important.

I remember prayer meetings as a child. I remember listening to people like Mr. Elliot, my dad, Mr. Cooley, and other men pray from the depths of their souls. I bring my kids to prayer meetings hoping they will hear men and women praying and seeking God's face and will. I wonder if the people that night prayed silently or aloud? Did everyone pray or just those who felt led? Whatever was going on God heard the prayers of those saints. He responded in a way they expected the least. I am guessing they prayed for a fair judge, or Peter's defense of the gospel. I am certain they prayed for his release, but they did not expect it to come this way. I wonder if prayer meetings have become stale because we pray the same things, expecting the same results. What if we are missing God's answer because it isn't our dream.

Pray fervently for your pastor. Pray fervently for your teachers. Pray fervently for your church. Pray fervently for your family. Pray fervently for the lost.

Jesus Standing at the Right Hand of God

2009-02-19T09:37:00.003+09:00

Read Acts 7.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

As I read today's passage I was overwhelmed with the sense of God's care and intervention in the lives of His people. Stephen shares, with men who know the Bible, the stories of the nation of Israel. How God guided them, protected them, stopped them, allowed them, and overall was in complete control. I think Stephen, full of the Spirit, got it. He wasn't worried about what to say, or how others might perceive what he said, or even whether he hurt people's "feelings". He truly believed God to be in control, and that whatever happened was part of God's plan.

This is not a free license for Christians to say whatever they want. Remember, Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we sin with our words because they are spoken in the flesh and not from the Spirit. I think the best question we can ask is if I say this will I find Christ standing? Or, will He be turning in shame?

Obviously, Stephen spoke nothing that opposed Scripture. He did not beat them, but simply reminded them what they already knew God's word to be saying. I believe they were cut to the quick for the same reason people in sin are cut to the quick when the pastor talks about their particular sin. There are typically two reactions to someone confronting sin. They either turn and repent, or they turn and destroy.

It is my prayer today that God will give me boldness to say the truth. And I pray that God will grant me the strength to stand firm in His word. I need to learn to follow Him and not man. Will you stand for Jesus? He stands for you before the throne of God.

Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit

2009-02-18T13:20:00.003+09:00

Read Acts 6.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

In today's passage we see the beginning of the deacons (servants, busboys, waiters) of the church. But in light of the questions, one phrase stands out. And it clearly stood out to the writer of Acts because he highlights Stephen. The phrase the stands out is, "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,". We then see another phrase describing the same man again in verse 8, "And Stephen, full of grace and power,". This man Stephen was full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power.

Obviously all of these come from being full of the Holy Spirit. No one could debate him. He appeared like an angel to the Council. He was brought up on false charges based on jealousy and hatred. What I learn about God and life in this passage, is that apart from God there is nothing. The filling of the Spirit in my life, fills it with grace and power. It is a full faith in the Spirit of God.

I know that often I attempt to do more in this like on my own than I ought. In this article I believe Francis Schaeffer gets the problem right. It is often us working in the flesh and not the Spirit. Let us learn to be full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, I pray not so much for graces as for the Spirit himself, because I feel His absence, and act by own spirit in everything. Give me not weak desires but the power of His presence, for this is the surest way to have all His graces, and when I have the seal I have the impression also; He can heal, help, quicken, humble suddenly and easily, can work grace and life effectually, and being eternal He can give grace eternally.

Save me from great hindrances, from being content with a little measure of the Spirit, from thinking Thou wilt not give me more. When I feel my lack of Him, light up life and faith, for when I lose Thee I am either in the dark and cannot see Thee, or Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light, so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life.

Teach me then what to do. Should I merely humble myself and not stir up my heart? Should I meditate and use all means to bring Him near, not being contented by one means, but rust Him to give me a blessing by the use of all, depending only upon, and waiting always for, Thy light, by use of means? Is it a duty or an error to pray and look for the fullness of the Spirit in me? Am I mistaken in feeling I am empty of the Spirit because I do not sense His presence within, when all the time I am most empty and could be more full by faith in Christ? Was the fullness of the Spirit in the apostles chiefly a power, giving them subsistence outside themselves in Christ, in whom was their life and joy?

Teach me to find and know fullness of the Spirit only in Jesus.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
(The Valley of Vision "God the Spirit", pg 29)

Putting God to the Test

2009-02-17T13:48:00.002+09:00

Read Acts 5.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

In this passage we see how God responds to those who challenge Him. In the first section of Acts 5. We note that Ananias and Sapphira felt that they could challenge God with their words. They claimed one thing when the reality was quite different. How many times have we fooled man with our words, but we knew the truth was quite different. We so badly want to impress people that we forget that God sees the heart and knows the truth. Obviously the result of Ananias and Sapphira's challenge to God ended in their death.

But as Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." We see that brought awe and wonder to the church. If only we learned to fear God like that early church did, maybe we wouldn't challenge God with our behavior.

In the next section, we once again see the religious leaders of the day challenge God's new covenant. They are still not comfortable with these people who speak of Jesus, whom they killed. They want to silence them like they thought they had Jesus. And once again, we see God perform the miraculous. God cannot be stopped. And the people who truly love God cannot be stopped. These men, even after imprisonment, are back in public preaching about Christ. We should learn that we cannot remain silent, but we must stand and speak God's truth.

In the final section of Chapter 5, we see that Gamaliel recognizes that God should not be challenged. If these men are truly of God, they can't be stopped. But if they are not of God, God alone will bring an end to their message. As Christians, we need to stop trying to speak from our wisdom and let God and His word stand in front.

Almighty God in Heaven,
Today, let us seek your face. Let us stop challenging you and your divine nature at every turn. May we look to you to be our defender. May we stand for the truth of your word and not let others tell us how to stand. God where we have sinned in our selfish ways forgive us. When we assert our weakness (thinking it to be greater than you) forgive us. Lord, when we say we are giving our whole selves to you, may it not be for public approval, but a total giving of ourselves. May we not hold anything back, and when we do please forgive us. "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Please forgive us as we seek your face.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Unwilling to Come

2009-02-06T12:05:00.002+09:00

Read Matthew 22.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

I remember all the "chaos" that seemed to surround Cara and her mom while they were preparing for our wedding day. The invitations were sent out, RSVP's came in, and we were shocked at some who came and others who stayed away. We understood many could not come because of distance, but it was still a special day. I can't even imagine what it would have been like if those we invited refused to come. I can only imagine how devastated both Cara and I would have been. Yet, clearly there are those who will reject Christ's invitation.

From the context, we know that Jesus is talking to the Jews who would reject Him to fulfill the prophecy (the stone the builders rejected). We are joyous benefactors of this rejection of Christ. You see we are the ones that Christ now summons to His banquet. He calls us from our filth to join Him for eternity.

One thing that does stand out to me from this particular passage is that some will come in the wrong clothes. It is, no doubt, those who think they belong (i.e. said a prayer, walked an aisle, emotionally moved, performed miracles, etc.) but have never truly followed Christ. They want the party without the costume.

We must, as Paul said in Philippians, "work out your salvation in fear and trembling." Is your faith in God or a prayer? Is your faith in Christ or in a deed? Is your faith in the precious blood or in a story?

Oh God in heaven, Hear our prayers and take heed to show us where we have fallen from you. Lord, search our hearts and see if there be any unclean way in them. My heart is full of sin and disease, areas where I have trusted self or love for you, areas that keep me from seeking your face. God help me to know that you are my Savior. Keep me in your word and focused on your face.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Worship the Lamb

2009-02-05T12:00:00.003+09:00

Read Matthew 21.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

As I read today's passage, I wondered how many of us have truly worshiped God as we ought. Would we stand and shout and sing praises to our Lord, or would we be more worried about a building and the profit i can bring in? We see clearly that God is not to be mocked or confused with the world's system.

The contrast in this passage is very apparent. One group, possibly some of the same people, sing praises and welcome Christ (the Messiah) to the city like a King. The other group is shouting (not to the King) and drawing attention to themselves and their goods. What a great comparison of church worship today. I have sat in churches that clearly pointed to the cross and Jesus (the King of Kings), and I have sat in churches where the clear emphasis was the band.

I think the thing we learn about Jesus (the Son of God) is that He is a jealous God. He does not share His glory or praise or house of worship with anyone. The lesson and sin we must be wary of is once again too much focus on self. I think Jesus makes it quite clear that we come to worship not sell our wares. We come to worship Him not a worship team (or pastor). We come to pray not gossip. We come to build up the body of Christ not destroy it. Why do you come to church?

The verse that stands out to me today is verse 13, "And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a robber's den." Again, my question for myself today is, "What am I doing when I come to the house of God?"

Glorious God, It is the flame of my life to worship thee, the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee, heavenly pleasure to approach thee. Give me power by thy Spirit to help me worship now, that I may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, blessed. Give me knowledge of thy goodness that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness; give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, that I might not be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness. He is my mediator, brother, interpreter, branch, daysman, Lamb; Him I glorify, in Him I am set on high.

Crowns to give I have none, but what thou hast given I return, content to feel that everything is mine when it is thine, and the more fully mine when I have yielded it to thee. Let me live wholly to my Saviour, free from distractions, from carking care, from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way. I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus, give me a new sense of it, continue to pardon me by it, may I come every day to the fountain, and every day be washed anew, that I may worship thee always in spirit and truth.

In Jesus name, Amen.
(The Valley of Vision "Worship", pg 196)

The Last Shall be First

2009-02-04T10:34:00.002+09:00

Read Matthew 20

Have you ever thought something good (receive an award, be recognized, etc.) was going to happen to you and it didn't? Do you remember how you felt? You probably felt a lot like the workers in this story. You were mad or upset. You had your own little pity party. As I read this passage today, I was reminded that God is a good God. His offer is the same to all, and all receive it the same way by following Him.

This sin that I think we so over and over in this passage is pride and self-centeredness. From the workers in the vineyard to the disciples arguing, and the people quieting the blind men, everyone wanted what they thought they deserved. The workers who had worked all day figured they would receive more. And being a parable I could see how in heaven there will be some who will think they have a bigger and better spot than others. Clearly, this was what James and John thought. "We have followed Christ from the beginning, so we deserve the best seat in the house." The people didn't want to share the Messiah (miracle worker) with two blind beggars, they wanted the attention to themselves.

The lesson to learn today is that pride only stands in the way of my relationship with Christ. Let us all confess our sin of pride, and stop trying to be the greatest by the world's standards. "And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, to be a ransom for us. Without His shed blood we have no chance for eternal life. Help me to set aside my petty differences with my fellow man. Help me not to elevate myself, but remain humbly before your throne. Lord, help me to serve others and not myself. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Daily Thought From God's Word

2009-02-03T10:28:00.002+09:00

Using the following format, I plan to use the rest of this year to help us get into a daily habit of reading and meditating on God's word. We will read a passage, answer some questions and then pray. I hope that you will take the time to answer the questions for yourself. I will post my answers and write out my prayer for that day.

Read Matthew 19.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

Today, as I have read this passage, I have learned that God has a plan for life. But man, being so focused on himself, does not see how good this plan is for him. God has allowed us to be consumed with our selfishness. He allows divorce (not His plan), He allows people to turn and reject Him.

In our self-centered lives we want what makes us comfortable. Looking at the culture, we know that divorce was easy to obtain. And clearly, the rich young ruler figured salvation would be easy, also. With man marriage is difficult and salvation is impossible.

Unless we are willing to forsake our lives, our possessions, our families, our self, we cannot truly follow God. This is a difficult statement today as it was then. The disciples were concerned about their own eternal life. How much more should we?

I believe the sin that dominates this passage is self (pride). We want divorces to make us happy. We want to brag that we can keep the commandment, but not follow Christ. We want the easy road, that I (self) can accomplish. I want to provide for myself, so that I might brag about how I accomplished salvation.

The clear point is that we cannot do this for it is impossible for man. It is only possible through faith in Christ.

The phrase I intend to reflect on today is Matthew 19:26.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for obtaining salvation through the shed blood of Christ. It is through this blood that salvation was made possible. It is nothing I have done, and for that I am most thankful. Help me today, to be content with Your plan for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed Lord Jesus,
Before thy cross I kneel and see the heinousness of my sin, my iniquity that caused thee to be 'made a curse', the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath. Show me the enormity of my guilt by the crown of thorns, the pierced hands and feet, the bruised body, the dying cries. Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God, its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt that demands such a price. Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper, born in my birth, alive in my life, strong in my character, dominating my faculties, following me as a shadow, intermingling with my every thought, my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul. Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light, the air supply breath, the earth bear my tread, its fruits nourish me, its creatures subserve my ends?

Yet thy compassions yearn over me, thy heart hastens to my rescue, thy love endured my curse, thy mercy bore my deserved stripes. Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation, bathed in thy blood, tender of conscience, triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.
(The Valley of Vision, "The Precious Blood", pg. 41)

God Rested

2008-07-05T11:59:00.002+09:00

It has been a while since I have posted here at this site. I would say that in light of the sermon a couple of weeks ago that I have been following the wisdom given by God through the sermon, but I have not rested.

In fact, I am certain, that like many of you, that my week only increased in speed as God tested my understanding and commitment to resting in God. I am praying for each of you to learn like I am learning to rest more in the nature of God and rest less in my own strength.

What have you done this week to rest?

Exchanging the truth of God for a lie

2008-06-16T16:01:00.002+09:00

I was reading some articles on the site Japan Today, when I came across this article, "In 2050, your lover may be a robot". I was troubled by the title, but was more troubled by the content of the article. At one point the expert, David Levy, says,

“There will always be many millions of people who cannot make normal satisfactory relationships with humans, and for them the choice is not: ‘would I prefer a relationship with a human or would I prefer a relationship with a robot?‘—the choice is no relationship at all or a relationship with a robot.”

This is disturbing on many fronts. I want to focus on Sunday's sermon and the fact that we, human beings, were created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." God did not create us in His image to create an artificial love, but to experience love between male and female, both created in the image of God. We are forsaking God's intent, for our own pleasure.

I guess that like the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:21-25,

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

May we as believers in Christ not forsake the image of God nor relationships with those created in the image of God for something that looks like the creation of God.

We will cover in just a few weeks the marriage relationship. We will see then that God does not want us to forsake the truth for a lie. This is clearly a lie from the father of all lies to keep men and women from enjoying the truth of who God created them to be.

Any input you have on this subject would be great to hear.

The Waters Above from the Waters Below

2008-06-09T14:57:00.003+09:00

I was asked recently, "Were the waters that went above like a canopy over the earth until the days of the Flood or were the waters above simply our "sky" as we now know it?

This was an interesting question for me. While attending a Christian school, in middle school physical science, my teacher taught that this canopy surrounded the earth and helped create an environment that helped plants and animals thrive, but God used this water to bring about the Flood. Until this question was directly proposed to me, I had never questioned my 8th grade science teacher.

As I look into this matter bear in mind that I am not the expert, simply an individual looking at God's Word and speculating. The Bible does not specifically tell us. We, also must remember that each of us will look at this text and still be left wondering was it some special canopy, or is it simply referring to the clouds and atmosphere of our planet called earth?

The text seems to indicate something within the everyday experience of the natural world, in a general way, a place where the birds can fly and where God has placed the lights of the heaven. So the likely reference of the "waters above" is to clouds. This is the view that many of the early church fathers held. John Calvin writes,

"We see that the clouds suspended in the air, which threaten to fall upon our heads, yet leave us space to breathe. . . . We know, indeed, that the rain is naturally produced; but the deluge sufficiently shows us how speedily we might be overwhelmed by the bursting of the clouds, unless the cataracts of heaven were closed by the hand of God."

I am not sure the Bible nor science is as clear as my 8th grade teacher led us to believe about the canopy that may or may not have existed. "Answers in Genesis", a web-site devoted to creation doctrine, has this article dealing with the idea of a "dome" or "canopy" over the earth. Check it out at your convenience.

Can't wait to hear your theories.

Genesis: The Beginning

2008-05-31T09:43:00.004+09:00

As we begin our series on the book of Genesis, I wanted to provide a place where I can give you extra quotes that didn't make the message for the sake of time; a place where you can pose questions for discussion; and where I can offer more material and resources to help us in our journey through the book of Genesis.

From the sermon Sunday as a reminder. Genesis says that there was a beginning to history, which means there will be an end. Genesis says that creation comes from God, which means it belongs to God. Genesis says that people come from God, which means that people will stand before God in the end.

Please understand that Genesis was not written as a scientific textbook. It is a theological story revealing the God of creation, which means it emphasizes God, not creation. As one example, Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Borrowing from a message I heard recently, "The Bible in general, and the opening pages of Genesis in particular, are far more concerned with the questions of who made creation, how he made creation, and why he made creation than when he did. Therefore, as Galileo said, “the Holy Ghost intended to teach us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”

I recently listened to a sermon on Creation by Mark Driscoll. In that sermon I heard put into words a belief I have held since Bible College. He explained how as a church they operated from two hands: one open and one closed. In the closed hand are all the doctrines and beliefs to which they will cling and divide with others over. And in the open hand are the items that they will discuss and debate, but not divide. All that to say, as a church we will cling to and unite around the belief that God created the heavens and the earth. This fact is not debatable for us. And we will engage in loving discussion with our brothers and sisters in Christ as to the how and when, but we will not divide with our fellow believers over these issues.

In seminary, I learned that among Bible-believing, Jesus-loving Christians, there are at least six primary interpretations of the creation account in Genesis 1–2. I find the first two positions to be the most persuasive biblically. During seminary, I think I began to prefer the first view. I want to remind you though that Christian brothers and sisters who hold other views are welcome as members of our church. Our only request is that the Christians in our church would not become divisive over this matter or seek to make their view the litmus test for Christian orthodoxy. As Paul says, we now see only in part and one day in Jesus’ presence we will know in full and be in complete agreement on this and all other matters.

Here is a brief summary of each position. These summaries are not exhaustive, but simply a place for you to begin to see the different positions that are out there in regard to Creation among Christians.

Historic Creationism
In this view, Genesis 1:1 records the making of all creation by God out of nothing, or “ex nihilo.” The merism “heavens and earth” means the sky above and land below, or the totality of creation. Since the word used for “beginning” in Genesis 1:1 is "bereshit" in Hebrew, which means an indefinite period of time, it is likely that all of creation was completed over an extended period of time (anywhere from days to billions of years). Genesis 1:2 begins the description of God preparing the uninhabitable land for the creation of mankind. The preparation of the uncultivated land and the creation of Adam and Eve occurred in six literal twenty-four-hour days, as echoed in Exodus 20:11. This view leaves open the possibility of both an old earth and six literal days of creation.

Young Earth Creationism
In this view, God created the entire universe, including Adam and Eve, in six literal twenty-four-hour days. This view is almost always accompanied with a belief in a young earth as it seeks to be faithful to the biblical text while not giving much credence to the scientific claims of such things as an old earth.

Gap Theory
In this view, Genesis 1:1 explains a first creation that happened perhaps billions of years ago. Then, a catastrophic event, likely the fall of Satan from heaven, left the earth in the destroyed condition of Genesis 1:2. God responded to this disaster by re-creating the earth again a few thousand years ago in six literal days and re-populating the earth in Genesis 1:3–27. According to this view the earth is old from the first creation and mankind is young because of the recent creation. The problems with this view include the fact that nothing in the Bible speaks of two creations. Also, at the end of the six days of creation, God declared all that he had made “very good,” which does not compare with the claim that the earth had been destroyed and made “very bad.”

Literary Framework View
In this view, Genesis 1–2 is intended to be read as a figurative framework explaining creation in a topical, not sequential, order. The six days of creation listed in Genesis 1 are also to be interpreted metaphorically and not as literal twenty-four-hour days. The Literary Framework View is outlined here:
Forming
Day 1 - light and darkness separated
Day 2 - sky and waters separated
Day 3 - dry land and waters separated; plants and trees
Day 4 - sun, moon, stars
Day 5 - fish and birds
Day 6 - animals and man
Filling
However, there are some problems with this view. Most obviously, Exodus 20:11
clearly states that the six days of creation are literal; it ties our seven-day week with
one day of Sabbath to the six days of God’s work in creation and his one day of rest.

Day-Age View
In this view, God created the universe, including Adam and Eve, in six sequential periods of time that are not literal twenty-four-hour days. The problem with this view is that the six days of creation seem to clearly be literal days. Also, as we saw above, Exodus 20:11 clearly states that the six days are literal.

Theistic Evolution
In this view, God essentially began creation and then pulled back from working directly in creation to instead work through the process of evolution. The only exception would be God involving himself directly again in the making of human life. For the most part, this view accepts the hypothesis of evolution but seeks to insert God as the creator of matter and overseer of the evolutionary process. This view also believes that species evolved over a long period of time, which requires an old earth.

The biblical problems with theistic evolution are many. First, Genesis 1 repeatedly states that creation and its species came into existence because “God said,” and not because of the evolutionary process. Also, Genesis 1 continually states that after God commanded creation to come into existence, “it was so”; so, God’s commands brought about the immediate response of creation rather than a long evolutionary process detached from God. Second, evolution teaches that one species evolves into other species while Genesis 1 says that each species had offspring “according to its kind” (e.g., 1:21, 1:24, 1:25) and not another kind as evolution asserts. Third, the rest of Scripture portrays God as continually involved in the details of creation, including making the grass grow (Ps. 104:14; Matt. 6:30), feeding the birds (Matt. 6:26), and feeding other creatures (Ps. 104:21, 25–30). Scripture clearly does not paint God as remote or only indirectly involved in creation.

Some good on-line articles for you to reference:
"Are Humans Unique? -- The Question Secular Science Can't Answer" by Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Seminary is a great read to the wonderful creation of God.

"Is Evolution Compatible with Christianity" by John MacArthur

"Genesis 1 and Biblical Authority" by John MacArthur

Websites devoted to fighting for the Christian doctrines of Creation

Answers in Genesis

The Creation Research Society

The Institute for Creation Research