''The Way of Life'' That God Approves - Page 16 - Theology Online

Gill White · 12:51 AM

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The Created World
By Richie Temple

One of the most well known and important verses of the Bible is set forth in the very first Book of the Old Testament:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1, NIV).

Though this verse is often thought to be out of date by today’s modern secular world, in actuality it sets forth the foundation for understanding life and for understanding mankind’s relationship to his creator, God. In short, the central and foundational truth for both understanding the Bible and for living life successfully is to know that there is a personal and sovereign God who created the heavens and earth, along with all its inhabitants, with a godly and loving purpose in mind.

To ignore this central truth of life is to doom oneself and one’s society to a meaningless existence with all the consequences that inevitably result from such a point of view. In fact, the Books of Psalms and Proverbs are clear in their characterization of those who reject this central truth set forth in Genesis 1:1:

The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.” NIV (Psalms 14:1)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Prov. 1:7)

According to the Bible, all true life is built on belief in the one true God of the Bible and all meaning in life is derived from a reverence for that God. In short, apart from a knowledge and reverence for the one God of the Bible a person is destined for a life of confusion, discontentment, and ultimate destruction. It would, therefore, be the height of foolishness to choose any other path than to live one’s life in a proper faith relationship with God.

Since the created world itself testifies to God’s “eternal power and divine nature” (Rom. 1:19-20), the most “rational” of all thinking is to build and frame one’s life on faith in God and to seek to know and live for him. The apostle Paul set forth this plain and simple truth in his testimony to the “very religious” - yet skeptical – citizens of ancient Athens in Acts 17.

“Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an Unknown God.’ Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:22-31

There are several interesting points in Paul’s argument to the ancient Athenians that are still very relevant for us today. As Christian believers we live in the midst of a world dominated by pagan religious belief on the one hand, or by evolutionary and scientific naturalistic philosophy – i.e., modernism - on the other. Anyone who has had to deal with the politically and religiously “correct” idea that “all religions of the world are good and equal”; or on the other hand, the so-called rationalistic idea that “there is no God, and the world evolved out of nothing,” should take note of what Paul had to say on these subjects.

First, from Paul’s perspective all religions of the world not built on the knowledge and reverence for the one true God are perversions of the truth and lead to a downward spiral of idolatry, spiritual blindness, sin, and finally, destruction. These truths are not only plainly evident in the history of the world they all stare us the face at the beginning of the 21st century. This understanding of the spiritual roots of the problems of the world – beginning with a refusal to acknowledge and live for the one true God – are repeated over and over in the Bible and are crystal clear from Paul’s teaching as set forth in Romans chapter one:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and 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. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” (Rom. 1:18-25)

Scriptures a truly rational person should realize from God’s created order that there must be a God and then, logically, he would seek to know that God in a personal way. Paul says that God has made this knowledge “plain” to mankind and failure to acknowledge this is willful “ignorance.” Those who go down any other path are simply “fools” – self-deluded and deceived - and are on the road to idolatry of self, of nature, of possessions, or, of other gods.

It is almost startling to see the simplicity with which Paul views this subject. He cuts right to the heart of the matter and allows for “no excuse” on the part of mankind. The knowledge of God is available for those who choose to acknowledge the “plain” truth that all of God’s creation testifies to. God’s creation demands that we “seek him” and, as Christ himself stated, “those who seek will find.” The Book of Ecclesiastes sums up these truths:

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)

Gill White · April 12th, 2012, 11:03 AM

Jesus, God's Chosen One

Jesus, God's Foreknow, God's Elect:

Foreknown
Father... You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24).

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been manifested in these last times for your sake. (1 Peter 1:20; see 1 Peter 2:4).

Chosen / Elect
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4.

Behold, My servant whom I have Chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. (Matthew 12:18

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35 NASB) some manuscripts read "My Beloved".

And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" (Luke 23:35).

"I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Chosen One of God. (John 1:34; some manuscripts read "Son" others read "Chosen One." The earliest, Sinaiticus, reads "Chosen One.").

Coming to him, the Living Stone, rejected by men but by God Chosen and Precious and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a corner, Chosen and Precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame." (1 Peter 2:4-6; see 1 Peter 1:20).

Predestined
It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has established by His own authority. Acts 1:7.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2).

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. (Genesis 1:14).

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. (Galatians 4:4).

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).

For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" (Luke 22:22).

Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, this Man, delivered over by the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. (Acts 2:22-23; cf. Eph 1:9-11).

But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Acts 3:18,19. see v. 19

And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who did make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who by the mouth of our father David, Your servant, did say by the Holy Spirit, "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-for truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to happen. And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:24-30).

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15).

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10).

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus before the times of the ages but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. (2 Timothy 1:8-11).

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, proclaimed before the times of the ages but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior. (Titus 1:1-3).

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

Gill White · April 13th, 2012, 12:03 AM

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God will Make a Way!
Who can love a child more than the ones who gave him life? Even if they would not, it is God who restores and brings healing to every heart. May He comfort yours through His words that are sweeter then honey and far more precious than jewelry.

Are you down and don't see any way out of your situation? We all go through similar periods and in such moments, the verses of the following song comfort my soul like a sweet and holy embrace, I hope they will have the same effect with you:

"God will make a way when there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way He will make a way..."

Who can mend a sad, weary or broken heart better than God? I'll let Him do that with yours while reading what He says about people who suffer:

"For this is what the high and lofty One says - He who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 54

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you..." Isaiah 43:1b-5a

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45: 2-3

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:15-16

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.

In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23

Jesus said: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 20:29-31

Eph 1:2-3 GW
(2) Good will and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!
(3) Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.

Gill White · April 17th, 2012, 11:22 AM

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God Our Father

Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

When we confesses with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and we believe in our heart that God raised the Lord Jesus up from the dead [Romans 10:9-10], that person receives holy spirit within. We are born again. With God's holy spirit as seed within us, we are the the sons and daughters of God. We are God's children and God is Our Father.

1 Peter 1:22-23
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth [Romans 10:9-10] though the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and aideth for ever.

The first time we were born we were born a son or daughter of our natural father because his seed is in you. When you obey the truth as presented in Romans 10:9-10, God has placed His incorruptible seed in you and we are born again - this time it is with a spiritual seed which is from God. This makes God your Father. The truth regarding our sonship and the Father/son relationship we have with Him today can be found in the epistles written to the church after the day of Pentecost. It is in these seven church epistles that you see God referred to as Our Father.

Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:3-4
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Ephesians 1:2
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sons of God

Romans 8:15-17
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but the ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [sonship]. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

We are born again sons with holy spirit in us. We are able to have a Father/son relationship with God. We can approach Him and call Him our Father.

1 Corinthians 2:9-12
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Today, we can walk and talk with God our Father.

Ephesians 1:4-5
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [sonship] by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

The words "adoption of children" are the Greek word huiothesia from huios meaning "son" and tithemi meaning "to place." God made us His sons not by "adoption" but by placing His holy spirit in us. God is our Father and we are His children. Now, we can truly fellowship via spirit with our loving heavenly Father.

Philippians 2:13-15
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

This is the real greatness of our Father/son relationship. It is God at work in you to will and do His good pleasure. When we walk in light of God in us we shine as lights in this dark world. We let the world see "the sons of God!"

1 John 3:1-2
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Our sonship is not a future thing. Beloved NOW are we the sons of God!

''....but the ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..

Gill White · April 18th, 2012, 11:52 AM

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By the Word of God

The Word of God works when you receive it as God's Word and you believe it. God's Word has the authority and power of God in it. The more of it you hear, the more of it you believe. And the more you believe, the more effectually it works.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

2 Peter 3:5
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.

Psalm 33:6,9
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. . . .For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

The Word of God gives us an understanding and faith or confidence in God. By believing God's Word we understand that the heavens and the earth were fashioned by God speaking forth His Word.

Genesis 1:3 - And God said Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:6-7 - And God said, Let there be a firmament . . . and it was so.
Genesis 1:9 - And God said, . . . let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Genesis 1:11 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree . . . and it was so.
Genesis 1:14-15 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament . . . and it was so.
Genesis 1:20 - And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl . . .
Genesis 1:24 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image. . .

If God's Word spoken by God is so powerful that it caused light, the heavens, the earth, the plants, the stars, sea creatures, every living thing on earth, and man - it is worth our time to read it, meditate, study and believe it.

God Made the Heavens and the Earth, through His word. God said it and it happened:

''Let there be light''
''Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree . . . and it was so''
''Let there be lights in the firmament . . . and it was so''
''Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl . . .

Nehemiah 9:6
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven and the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou perservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

God made the heaven and the earth by the power of His Word. This is then the standard of the power of His Word by which we believe.

Psa 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Gill White · April 26th, 2012, 01:57 AM

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CHAPTER 1
Knowing the Scoop
Chuck LaMattina

A number of years ago a college professor began to notice that his freshman students were lacking in some very basic general knowledge. So he put together a test to see exactly what his students knew. The results were later published in Newsweek magazine. Here is a little of what the professor discovered. Many of the students were confident that Ralph Nader is a famous baseball player. And the students were just as confident that Charles Darwin invented gravity. Socrates was most likely an American Indian Chief. And Jefferson Davis played guitar for the Rock band Jefferson Airplane.

The students didn’t have a very good knowledge of geography either. Belfast they believed to be located somewhere in Egypt. Cape Town was somewhere in the United States, and Leningrad was once the main city of Jamaica. Since the college professor’s test things haven’t gotten any better. On the Tonight Show with Jay Leno there is a segment called “Jay Walking.” In this segment Jay walks around on the street and asks people some general knowledge questions. Some people were asked, “What year did the War of 1812 occur?” Several people responded, “I don’t know.” When asked to name two states on the US Pacific coast the people he asked couldn’t even name one, even though the show is taped in Los Angeles, California!

This is all funny until you realize that as a society we no longer share a common sense of general knowledge. And what many people take as cold, hard fact really isn’t. Every day we are bombarded by tons of information from radio, TV, newspapers, the internet, and a lot of it is slanted, full of spin and lacking in detail. As a result we could say what one comedian has said, “It’s better not to know so much than to know so many things that ain’t so.” I might rephrase that to “What you know ought to be so.”

Sadly this lack of knowledge is even worse in the area of biblical knowledge—our knowledge of God. In the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries one candidate said that his favorite New Testament book was Job! A recent survey of incoming seminary students revealed that almost 80% didn’t know the names of the books of the Bible. And a lot of what the Bible students did know just wasn’t so. There is a tragic famine in our world today and it is not a famine of food and water. It is a famine of the true knowledge of God and it is destroying us. A similar famine occurred in ancient Israel. Here’s how God through the prophet Hosea described it.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me. Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. (Hosea 4:6)

The destruction faced by the people of Israel was not due to their lack of knowledge of arts, entertainment, business, sports or politics. It was from a lack of knowledge about God. And because these people not only lacked knowledge about God but also rejected it, their society was filled with lying, stealing, adultery and bloodshed. There was no truth or mercy in the land. This sounds very much like our world today doesn’t it?

There is a different picture given to us in Psalm 1 concerning the person who does know about God and who applies this knowledge in his life.

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not whither. And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. (Psalm 1:1-4)

Verse 1 declares, “Blessed is the man” and the Hebrew word translated “Blessed” can also mean truly, supremely and abundantly happy. People who lack or reject a true knowledge of God are destroyed but those who learn about God and apply that knowledge are supremely blessed. In which category would you like to be? Psalm 19 also tells us about the benefits of knowing what the Bible, the Word of God, is all about.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much find gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping then there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)

In verses 7 and 8 we have four parallel lines which contain a synonym for God’s Word. Each describes what God’s Word is and what effect it produces. The Hebrew word for “law” in verse 7 might be better translated as the “teaching” or “instruction” of the Lord. And the instruction we get is perfect. All that we need to know about God, and about life is revealed to us in the Scriptures. As a result of this instruction our soul is converted or more accurately, restored. And isn’t this what so many people long for—a sense of revival and restoration of their lives? This is what knowledge, an applied knowledge of God’s Word can give us. Life can be reinvigorated, restored, refreshed.

The “testimony” of the Lord is sure or trustworthy. When we follow God’s commands and believe His promises, we will find salvation, contentment, joy and peace. The word translated “testimony” comes from a root word that means to bear witness. The Bible is God’s self-revelation, His witness to the world of His person and character and will. What He says can be trusted. The “statutes” of the Lord are right. So much of what people and even church leaders say about God just isn’t so. But the knowledge we gain from the Bible we can take to the bank. What we read in the Bible is right on the money. When we understand the Scriptures we know the score! An accurate understanding of the Word of God gives us a sure foundation for our faith. Romans 10:17 states,

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith, our trust in God, our confidence in God, our beliefs, convictions and expectations come from hearing the Word of God. If our faith is fragmented, feeble and unsure, if life’s trials weigh too heavily on our hearts, if we are uncertain about who God is and what He will do, it is due to the fact that we have not heard and understood the words of the Bible. But in hearing God’s Word we are warned of life’s dangers and in keeping His commands we gain great reward. In the midst of his great trial and suffering Job had this to say about God’s Word,

My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.(Job 23:11, 12)

Food, good food is essential for a healthy physical life. Good spiritual food is just as essential. The Lord Jesus Christ understood this necessity for spiritual food. Look at what he had to say after his great trial in the wilderness.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “if You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)

We are told that after forty days and nights without food Jesus Christ was hungry. I’ll bet he was ravenous. But instead of giving in to the temptation to turn the stones into bread, to meet a genuine need, Jesus quotes the Word of God from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. In the face of temptation, in the midst of a real and pressing need Christ proclaims our crucial need for the Word of God above all else. And in doing this he lifts our vision from the purely material side of life to the more important spiritual perspective.

We are to live, not merely exist, but live life to the fullest measure by taking heed to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Sadly though too many times we have fed on the opinions, philosophies, psychologies and man-made religions of our world that never really seem to satisfy. And often what many Christians think they know about God is in error not being based on Scriptural insight. In gaining a knowledge of God we need to know the truth. As the old newspaper reporters used to say, we need to get the scoop!

The Chicago Tribune newspaper ran an article about people having religious altars in their homes. The article featured one woman who performs her daily devotions at a bedroom table filled with statues. She has one of the Virgin Mary and then also a collection of other female gods and deities from various other religions. She also has a bowl of sand from Hawaii blessed by an American Indian, and a collection of ten dimes given to her by fate which she has found over the years. Her religion is a kind of smorgasbord spirituality where she has borrowed from here and there according to her religious tastes. Is this woman sincere and earnest in what she believes? Most likely. But is sincerity any guarantee of the truth? The answer is no. Is knowing the truth important when it comes to one’s religion and faith? Yes! The truth is crucial in all of life and in our knowledge of God. What we believe is important. Sincerely thinking that a bottle of poison is really medicine is deadly. You need to know the truth. You need to know the scoop!

The very first commandment in the Ten Commandments is, “I am the LORD [Yahweh] your God . . . You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2,3).” Therefore we need to know the scoop on who Yahweh is. Jesus said,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).”

We need to get the scoop on who Jesus is and how he brings us to God. What we understand and believe about God makes a big difference in life. It certainly made a difference for Adam and Eve who believed Satan’s lie rather than God’s own word. Let me give you several benefits of an accurate and applied knowledge of the Bible.

It plants the feet of our faith on solid ground:

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. (Matthew 7:24, 27)

If we aren’t learning and applying the truths of the Bible then we are just making it all up as we go along, and this puts us on shaky ground.

It gives us strength, hope and joy for the trials of life:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Colossians 1:9-11)

Knowing the scoop, the truth, will allow us to live pleasing lives before the Lord and to have His strength and power for all the needs of life.

It helps us to sniff out and confront error:

. . . that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. (Ephesians 4:14, 15)

If we are not grounded in the truth we can fall victim to false teachings. But when we know the truth and live it we are kept safe and grow to be more and more like Christ.

It gives us joy and peace in believing:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Knowing the scoop on the one true God, who He is, what He is like, and what He can do gives us hope, joy and peace as we trust in Him for all of life. And finally,

It will bring you a full salvation:

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

The cartoonist, Charles Shultz, in one of his “Peanuts” comic strips, shows Lucy and Linus looking out a window, watching a very heavy rain.

Lucy begins the conversation and says:

“Boy, look at it rain. What if it never stops? What if it floods the whole world?”

Linus responds:

“It will never do that. In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that this would never happen again, and the sign of that promise is the rainbow.”

Lucy then says:

“You’ve taken a great load off my mind.”

Linus concludes:

“Sound theology has a way of doing that.”

I say, “Amen!” to Linus. Sound theology, an accurate knowledge of God, is crucial for a firm foundation for our faith. My prayer is that the chapters in this book will help you gain that foundation for your good and the glory of God.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Gill White · April 27th, 2012, 12:32 AM

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CHAPTER 2
God’s Word

Chuck LaMattina

In the first chapter, I wrote about the importance of knowing the truth getting the scoop. Every day we are bombarded with tons of information and much of what we take to be cold, hard fact really isn’t. As I mentioned much of what people know just ain’t so. Sadly, this is true when it comes to a knowledge of God. Most people don’t know much about the Bible. For example, here are some statements from an article titled “Kids Explain the Bible.”

“Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.”

“The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterward Moses went up on Mt. Cyanide to get the ten amendments.”

“Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day but she was a ball of fire by night.”

“David was a Hebrew King skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins.”

And finally,

“Jesus said the Golden Rule, which is to do one to others before they do one to you.”

Now that is all cute and funny coming from children. But when it comes to a true knowledge of God, when it comes to knowing the truth about salvation, when it comes to having the scoop on the meaning and purpose of life, we don’t want jokes, we want answers. We want solid, accurate information that we can take to the bank. And there is no more reliable source of information on all the important issues of life than the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God. It reveals to us the will of God. It is the timeless, trustworthy source of all truth. It is truth unchanged and unchanging.

But how do we know that the Bible really is the Word of God? There are other sacred books in other religions. What makes the Bible stand above them all? Here are three important reasons why you can trust the Bible to be the true Word and will of God.

The claims of the Bible itself. It claims to be the infallible, inerrant, complete and effective Word of God.
The Bible’s historical authenticity. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are unquestionably the most reliable and authentic documents of the ancient world.
The witness of biblical prophecy. The fulfilment of predictions made in the Bible, testify to the fact that the Bible is true.

The Bible claims to be the Word of God

Writing to encourage his young associate Timothy, the apostle Paul had this to say about the Scriptures,

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

All Scripture from the first book of Genesis to the last book of Revelation is given by inspiration of God. In the Greek manuscripts the phrase “given by inspiration of God” is theo pneustos which is literally translated as “God breathed.” Every Scripture is God breathed and this is a figure of speech that places the emphasis on the source of the words in the Bible. They all come from God. Do you recall Christ’s statement in Matthew 4:4? He said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The words we have in the Bible are the inspired, revealed Word of God.

It is true that there were various human writers but each and every one of them had the Spirit of God at work in their hearts and minds. Therefore the will of God came through the words they wrote. So we know that the Bible is the true Word of God because it says that it is.

Now this may sound like circular logic. We say that the Bible is the Word of God and someone asks, “Well, how do you know that for sure? And we respond, “The Bible says so.” But let me point something out to you. Almost none of the other religious books make this claim! The Koran claims to be the Word of God but where it does it is in light of things already revealed many years before in the Bible. And where Mohammed makes a divine claim for what he speaks his statements are often contradicted elsewhere in the Koran. But the Bible makes no contradictory statements and it claims all the way through to be the Word and will of God. And this is significant because if it did not make this claim the critics would argue that Christians are making a claim about Scripture that it never makes on its own.

The Bible tells us that it is indeed the Word of God and that it is infallible. It is incapable of error, incapable of deception. What we read in both the Old and New Testaments is without error in the truth it conveys.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. (Psalm 119:142)

You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth. (Psalm 119:151)

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)

The laws, wisdom and promises that we read in the Bible are true and trustworthy. When everything and everyone around you proves false, the Bible stands sure. Its wisdom, principles and promises will work for you, your children and your grandchildren. What a comforting thought. Though the Scriptures were written centuries ago there is a perennial freshness to them. The Bible’s wisdom is never out of date. Its power to change lives for the better is never diminished.

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of fire, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. (Psalm 12:6, 7)

Like silver that has been refined.

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (Proverbs 30:5)

The Hebrew word for “pure” means to be tested, refined, to be found flawless and without error. God knows exactly what He wants to say and when and where and how to say it. There is a divine design in what He makes known to us. The Bible is also a complete communication from God to us.

Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:6)

Nothing needs to be added to the Bible to make it more useful. Nothing needs to be added with respect to our opinions or political preferences. We don’t need to add the latest trends in society or the findings of psychology. The apostle Peter wrote,

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:2, 3)

All that we need for life and for our most important relationship with God is given to us in the knowledge we gain from the Bible. And finally, the Bible claims that it is effective. It works. It does what it says that it will do.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Bible works effectively in those who believe. It saves us, it teaches us, it counsels us, it revives us, it judges us and it makes us free. And the word of God works even in spite of our unbelief. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah it says,

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10, 11)

These are the claims of the Bible itself. Now let’s move on to the historical authenticity of the Bible.

The Old and New Testaments are historically reliable

Let’s begin with the Old Testament. Where critics once scoffed at the mention of certain people, places and events recorded in the Old Testament believing they never existed or happened, archaeology has now turned the tables. No archaeological discovery has ever disproved an Old Testament statement. In fact the discoveries have only confirmed what the Bible has said. Scholars used to say that places like Jericho and Nineveh never existed but now they know that they did. It was thought that many of the Assyrian kings mentioned in the Scriptures never lived but now through archaeology they know that they did. Archaeologists have even discovered chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea validating the claim that Pharaoh’s army was destroyed as they pursued after Moses and the people of Israel.

What about the Old Testament manuscripts themselves, are they reliable? The Old Testament copies were made with such fine precision to detail that if even one mistake was found the whole scroll was thrown out. Each copy had to be transcribed in a specific number of columns of thirty letters each. And there had to be a certain number of lines to each column. Not even the tiniest letter could be copied from memory. The scribe had to look at each and every letter of every word. Every letter on every page was counted and compared against the original, making sure that there was a complete and accurate copy made.

And the copies of the Old Testament manuscripts are of a far superior quality than any other equivalent document. The oldest books of the Old Testament date from around the same time as some of the oldest Egyptian works. And where scholars find significant differences between Egyptian documents relating to the same events, they find almost no differences in Old Testament documents that cover the same material. And where there are differences they are minor ones like spelling and make no changes in the actual material covered. For instance the British spell theatre with an “re” at the end but Americans spell it with an “er” (theater).

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1950’s confirms the historical reliability of these ancient documents. The Dead Sea Scrolls contained hundreds of copies and fragments of copies of biblical material that were hundreds of years older than any previously known Old Testament manuscript. When the scrolls were compared to what had been available there were virtually no errors found between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the documents already in hand. Over thousands of years copies were handed down flawlessly.

What about the New Testament? From an historical point of view the New Testament is unquestionably the most reliable ancient document in the world. Two factors are crucial in determining the reliability of an historical document. These are the number of copies in existence and the time between when the document was first written and the oldest copies. Take for example the writings of Julius Caesar. His works were written between 100-44 B.C. The oldest copies of his works come from one thousand years after the fact and there are ten copies. With the writings of Plato there is a span of twelve hundred years between when he first wrote and the date of the oldest copies of which there are seven. And with Aristotle there are five copies of his works and the oldest manuscripts date from fourteen hundred years after he wrote.

Now let’s compare the New Testament to these other works. Whereas we have ten copies of Caesar’s works and seven copies of Plato’s, and five copies of Aristotle’s, there are over twenty four thousand ancient copies of the New Testament! And the oldest copies date not from one thousand years after the fact, nor even five hundred years but from twenty-five years after the originals were written. No other ancient document even comes close to meeting the test for historical authenticity and reliability as does the New Testament. Finally we come to the third factor in testing the authenticity of the Bible being the very Word of God to us.

The witness of biblical prophecy

In Deuteronomy 18, we have an answer to the question, “How do we know if a prophet is sent by God?” Here is the answer.

And if you say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which the LORD has spoken?”—when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18: 21, 22)

If a prophet says something and it does not come to pass then he is just flappin’ his gums! But if it does occur, what was spoken was the will of the Lord. This is an important point to mention because prophecies predicting people, places and events are amazingly absent from most other religious writing except for the Koran. And in the case of the Koran there are only self-fulfilling prophecies made by Mohammed. For instance he predicted that he would go to the city of Mecca and then he did. This is very different from the predictive prophecies of the Bible.

The prophecies of the Bible were written hundreds of years before many of them were fulfilled. And they were fulfilled in exact detail. We’ll examine a few. Our first prophecy is from Ezekiel 26 and concerns the city of Tyre. The ancient city of Tyre was the capital of the middle eastern world for over two thousand years. But then Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of the city.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. (Ezekiel 26:3, 4)

They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water. I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be heard no more. I will make you like the top of the rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,’ says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 26: 12-14)

There is the prophecy. So what happened to the city of Tyre? King Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city of Tyre for thirteen years before he finally breached the city’s defensive walls. Some of the walls were destroyed and the city was set on fire. But the prophecy was not fully fulfilled. There were still walls and stones and timbers on the land. Two hundred and fifty years later much of the old city still stood. And Tyre was rebuilt on an island just off shore in the Mediterranean.

But then along came Alexander the Great who waged war against Tyre. But he could not prevail against the island city so he conceived one of the most ambitious plans in ancient battle. Alexander took all of the stones and timbers of the old city and cast them into the sea to make a bridge to the island. His army then marched on Tyre, destroyed it completely, reducing it to dust and he scraped it all into the depth of the sea! The island city was laid bare and even to this day it is only a place for fisherman to spread their nets. The prophecy was fulfilled.

Other prophecies like this abound in Scripture but let me give you one more concerning the greatest city of the ancient world. Babylon far surpassed in grandeur and beauty any city of its day or ours. But a prophecy of its destruction was made by the prophet Jeremiah.

“They shall not take from you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for a foundation, but you shall be desolate forever,” says the LORD Thus says the LORD of hosts: “The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; the people will labor in vain, and the nations because of the fire, and they shall be weary.” (Jeremiah 51:26, 58)

The specifics of this prophecy are that the walls of Babylon would be utterly broken. And the city would be desolate, empty and void. This is but one of a hundred prophecies about Babylon. So what happened to this glorious city? The destruction of the city took hundreds of years as both the Medes and the Persians fought against it. But parts of the city still stood firm. Then along came Alexander the Great. He had conquered most of the known world. And after winning in battle near Babylon he decided to rebuild the city and to make it his capital. The very day, however, that he made that decree he died. And so the remaining walls and populace of Babylon stood in place all the way up to the time of Christ and beyond.

But in the fourth century the Roman Emperor Julian waged war with the Persians and completely destroyed the remaining walls of the city. He burned the city to the ground and the place is desolate to this very day. Besides these two dramatic examples there are over three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. And every one of them has been fulfilled in the New Testament except for the predictions of his return. But if the prophecies of his birth, person, ministry and death and resurrection have all been fulfilled, so too will be the prophecies of his glorious return, the resurrection of believers, the judgment of the wicked and the kingdom of God. In closing let us read the Word of God as given to us in Isaiah 46.

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’ (Isaiah 46:9, 10)

The Bible and no other book tells us the future without error. The Bible and no other book gives us the true wisdom for daily living. The Bible and no other book shows to us the way of salvation. The Bible and no other book is the sure and certain Word and will of God.

Having shown to you the importance of knowing the scoop and that we get the truth in the Bible, I have now shown you that the Bible can be trusted. It is the Word of God. Now we must go to the Scriptures to see what it tells us of God, Jesus, salvation and so much more. I’ll end this chapter with the words from an old hymn.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

Gill White · 01:18 AM

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CHAPTER 3
The Attributes of God—Part 1

Chuck LaMattina

A kindergarten teacher told her students to draw a picture of something that was important to them. One little boy named Johnny began to work hard at his drawing. When the other students had finished and turned in their pictures, Johnny was still hard at work. So the teacher walked over to the boy, put her hand on his shoulder and asked, “Johnny, what are you drawing?” The young artist didn’t look up, he just kept working with great determination and said, “God.” “But Johnny,” said the teacher, “no one knows what God looks like.” Johnny answered, “They will when I finish this picture!”

This cute story brings up a good question. What is God really like? Agnostics and skeptics tell us that we cannot know if God exists, let alone what He is like. According to them if God exists He has hidden Himself from our sight and therefore we must remain in the dark about who He is and what He is like. The Bible on the other hand boldly states that God is, He exists. And we can know a great deal about Him.

In the gospel of Mark, chapter 12, Jesus Christ is asked a question about the first and greatest commandment. Let’s listen in.

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together . . . asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is; “Here, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:28-30)

This command is a life consuming command! We are to love God totally, completely, with all that we are. But how can you truly love God like this unless you know who He is and what He does. Thankfully we are not left in the dark about God. The light of Scripture tells us that God has revealed Himself to us in three ways:

God has made Himself known in a general way through creation.
He has revealed His nature and character to us in the Bible.
God has given us a special revelation of Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.

Creation makes known God

We will begin to examine the fact that creation makes known the existence of God by looking at Psalm 19.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

The witness of the universe comes forth clearly and consistently, there is a Creator, there is a God. When you look up into the starry night sky or when you look at a sunrise over the ocean or the beauty of a forest, a question comes to mind, “Where did all of this come from?” Psalm 19 tells us that every day and every night all over the world creation proclaims the glory of God, its Creator. One of the great early scientists, Sir Isaac Newton, had this to say about creation,

''The most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and domain of an intelligent and powerful being.”

Newton was correct! In fact modern science began as a result of seeing order in creation and realizing that this complex order could not happen by chance. There had to be a Creator. And since there was a divine design and order to creation it could be studied and understood. The New Testament reveals the same truth as Psalm 19, creation makes known a Creator.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being seen by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, And their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:18-21)

Verse 20 tells us that creation makes known two invisible attributes of God, His eternal power and His Godhead. To those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a humble heart, creation proclaims there is a Creator and He is awesome in intelligence and power. But these verses from Romans also tell us that there are people who just cannot see this or who refuse to see it. They suppress the truth. They are fools who say in their hearts that there is no God (Psalm 14:1). And they teach that all of creation, even human life, came into existence by mere chance and progressed through the process of evolution.

And yet when push comes to shove many scientists who want to deny the existence of God readily admit the absurdity of their position. In fact two famous scientists of recent years, Francis Crick, who discovered DNA and Carl Sagan the famous cosmologist, have estimated that the difficulty of humans evolving by chance alone is 1 in 10 to the negative 2 billionth power. Now I can’t wrap my mind around that statement but I get the next one easily. Sir Fred Hoyle, the founder of the Cambridge Institute for Theoretical Astronomy, said,

''The chance that higher life might have emerged [through evolution] is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junkyard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the material therein''

Therefore, in reality, it takes a bigger leap of blind faith to believe that creation began by chance than it does to believe in the Creator! Everyday the wonder and beauty of creation declares that there is a God and that He is powerful and glorious.

The Bible reveals God’s nature and character

Besides nature, the Bible reveals God to us, specifically His nature and character. The Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah proclaims something wonderful about God to us.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)

The first thing that we learn about God from this verse is that He is everlasting. He is eternal. He has existed before all time and He will exist forever. When life is shaky, when changes come like a whirlwind, our all powerful, all knowing God is the same. He never loses heart. He never wearies. His understanding is infinite and unsearchable. But He does not stay above the fray of life. He is involved and strengthens His people.

He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

What a glorious truth we learn here about God. The everlasting God, the Creator, the Almighty gives His people power and strength. Those who wait on the Lord find their lives renewed and borne up like on eagle’s wings! God also has a perfect knowledge of us.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light upon me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. (Psalm 139:1-12)

God knows our every thought. He understands the deep motives, fears, concerns and hurts of our hearts. There also is no place where God is not. If I fear that I am left all alone I am not for God is with me. If I am surrounded by people God is still there by my side. If I am in outer space or in the depth of the earth the Almighty is near. There is never, ever a time when God cannot hold me and lead me. What a comforting truth to hold in our hearts.

I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. I will mediate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked he will destroy. (Psalm 145:1-20)

This Psalm is a song praising God’s great majesty and love. Here we learn that God is not just good but full of goodness. His blessings to His people are never given with a restrained hand. God is righteous, always doing the right thing at the right time. His generosity towards us is never skimpy, it is super sized. The Lord is full of compassion. He understands our frailties and our needs. God is slow to anger leaving us room to repent. The Lord God is good to all and His tender mercy, His loving kindness, is over all His works. Our God is a great King and His dominion endures throughout every generation. He cares enough to uphold and lift up all who fall. He is near to all who call upon Him in truth. And He will utterly destroy all the wicked.

This knowledge of God’s awesome majesty and goodness is lacking in many people who call themselves Christians. This is one reason why our faith is often so feeble, our worship weak and our impact on the world so diminished. Our knowledge of what God is like is too small, too limited. But those who believe in a big, gracious, righteous and loving God live big, love big, they serve without reserve, they give generously, and they are bold in their witness for Christ. The prophet Daniel said, “the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32).”

We also learn from the Bible that God is holy.

Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

In this song of Moses’ we learn that God is glorious in holiness. Did you know that God is called holy more often than He is referred to as good, powerful, loving or anything else? God’s holiness refers to His moral perfection. He is the sum total of all that is morally good and pure and beautiful. The core of His character is spotless and flawless. There is no microscopic trace of evil in Him at all. Here is how the apostle John portrays God’s holiness.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

There is no error or falsehood in God. His agenda is not hidden. His promise of salvation is not deceptive. His love is not hypocritical. And His judgments on the wicked will be absolute and full of justice. The apostle James wrote,

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:16, 17)

God is holy and pure and this never changes. He is never fickle or unsure. He never says one thing but means another. His blessings are always good and perfect and given at the right time. And because God is holy, full of light and unchanging, His moral laws are pure and righteous and in force yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The Bible also informs us that God is sovereign.

Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’ (Isaiah 46:9, 10)

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Daniel 4:34, 35)

God’s sovereignty can be defined as the free exercise of His will. God is supreme over all and is Lord Almighty in fact as well as in name. When God declares His purposes and His plans He carries them out. When He makes a promise He fulfills it. In the gospel of John we have a promise made by Christ concerning the believer being secure in the hand of God.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. (John 10:27-30)

Here is a comforting promise that all who believe in Christ for salvation are secure in that salvation, safe in the Father’s hand. But how do we know that this promise is true? What gives us the assurance that no one will be able to snatch us out of God’s hand? The answer is our solid knowledge of the power and sovereignty of God!

Some people think that our world is like a great stage play produced by God. As the curtain goes up all is lovely to behold. The characters are wonderful and beautiful. The set design is fantastic. And all goes well until the leading man steps on the leading lady’s dress. She then trips over a chair and knocks over a lamp. He falls into a table which crashes into the stage set which brings the whole thing falling down. And all the while God is running around back stage frantically trying to get the show back on track. But nothing is further from the truth, God has not lost control. And there should be no truth more encouraging and comforting to us then the fact of God’s sovereignty. It means that God rules and overrules in the affairs of our world. He is Master over creation. His plan of salvation will be fulfilled. He will make good on His Word!

We have a special revelation of God in Jesus Christ

Finally, besides creation and the Scriptures, we have a special revelation of God given to us in and through His Son Jesus Christ.

No one has seen God at anytime. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18)

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:8-10)

All that Jesus said and all that he did unveiled to us the heart of God. In his sinless life Jesus portrayed God’s holiness. In his teachings and his miracles Christ displayed the wisdom and power of God. And in his sacrificial death on the cross the Lord proved that God loves us individually, passionately and infinitely. When we see Jesus Christ we see into the heart of God, the one and only true God. God is someone that you can know. And in knowing Him we find life, everlasting life.

Gill White · May 3rd, 2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Walk in
Cortright

The Word of God talks about the believer walking in many things. Most of the time in the New Testament the Greek word used for "walk" is the word peripateo which means "to trample around."

A person can literally "walk around in the dirt" or "walk around in the water" or "walk around in the leaves." Important points in God's Word are emphasized by God in figures of speech. When the Word of God talks about "walking around in truth" it is a figure of speech and is thus emphasized by the Father. The believer is to walk in the spirit; walk in good works; walk in love; walk in wisdom; walk in light; walk in truth; walk in believing; and walk in the Lord Christ Jesus. These are all figures of speech using the example of "walking or treading around."

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about [peripateo], seeking whom he may devour:

A lion will roar to scare its prey into freezing up just before the lion jumps on and devours its victim. The figure of speech puts emphasis on the picture of a lion trampling about looking for its prey. We are to be watchful and alert to these attacks of the devil.

In the Old Testament administration of law the Word of God in statues and commandments was given to Moses. The believers were commanded to walk in the ways of the Lord and keep his commandments so that God could bless them.

Deuteronomy 30:16
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Joshua 22:5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

In the Gospels the promised Christ was walking about on the earth fulfilling the promises of the Father. Believers during the Christ administration were to follow Christ who was personally present to lead them.

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in [peripateo] darkness, but shall have the light of life.

In our day and time the work of Christ to reconcile us to God is an accomplished reality. We have been given holy spirit and are now sons and daughters of God. The charge to us is to walk in light of that which we have received.

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in [peripateo] the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in [stoicheo] the Spirit.

In Galatians 5:25 a different Greek word is used. Stoicheo means "to march in line with." We are to walk in line with that which we have been given on the inside. We line up our thinking and action and renew our minds to that which we have spiritually. Then we walk around in the spirit and do not spend time trampling around in the flesh. Flesh is a figure for the five senses and the course of life that we used to follow before we were born again of God's spirit.

Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked [peripateo] according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in [peripateo] them.

Now, we are God's workmanship. We have holy spirit in us and God has before ordained that we should walk in light of that which is created on the inside. We are spiritual men and women created in Christ Jesus to carry out the spiritual work that God has given us to reconcile the world back to Him.

2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [emperipateo] them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Emperipateo means to rest in one place and walk around there. God dwells in the believers in our day and time. He is at rest in us and spends His time walking around in us. What a fantastic truth! God in Christ in YOU!

Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in [peripateo] newness of life.

We are born again of God's spirit. Our old man was crucified with Christ. We have a new life: a spiritual life. We no longer walk according to the course of this world. We walk according to the spirit given us. We renew our minds and walk around in the newness of life we have in Christ seated at the right hand of God.

2 Corinthians 4:2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in [peripateo] craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

We are no longer following the course of this world. We have renounced the shame of walking according to the course of this world. We do not walk in craftiness or trickery. We do not handle the Word of God deceitfully. We walk in truth.

2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk [peripateo] by faith, not by sight

To walk by sight is to walk by one of the five senses. It is to walk according to the course of this world. To walk by faith is to walk by believing God's Word. When God's Word contradicts the evidence of our senses we go by the Word. That is walking by believing, not by sight.

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in [peripateo] love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

When we got born again and received holy spirit we received the love God had to give His only son. We received the love Christ had to offer himself a sacrifice to God for us. We have the love of God. Now we put that love into our minds and walk in it.

Ephesians 5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk [peripateo] as children of light:

When we walked according to the course of this world we walked in darkness. God is light. His gift of holy spirit in us makes us light in the Lord. Now we put that light into our minds and walk in light.

Ephesians 5:15
See then that ye walk [peripateo] circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

We have been given wisdom in Christ Jesus. Wisdom is knowing what to do. We have spiritual wisdom. Now we must put that wisdom into action by renewing our minds and walking circumspectly. To walk circumspectly is to walk with precision and wisdom according to the accuracy of God's Word.

Colossians 4:3-6
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in [peripateo] wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Paul asked that the believers pray for him that he would have opportunities to make known the mystery of Christ. That which we received (the gift of holy spirit) is available to everyone who believes. It was a mystery kept secret by God until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul. Now, we have been given knowledge of that mystery and the wisdom to make it known. Making known the mystery is what we ought to speak. We have been given wisdom to speak to those who have not yet believed. We can season our words with grace and salt and know exactly how to answer every man as we walk in wisdom toward those who are without (outside of the body of Christ).

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in [peripateo] darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in [peripateo] the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We have been given holy spirit which puts us into God's category because God is Holy and God is Spirit. Now, we can fellowship (share fully) with God. When we walk according to the course of this world, we are walking in darkness. But, when we walk in light as God is light we have fellowship with Him and with one another.

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in [peripateo] truth.

The greatest joy to a believer in the body of Christ is to hear that those to whom he has taught the Word are walking in truth. This is even more true of God. God has no greater joy than to hear that His children are walking according to the truth of His Word.

Walk in the works ordained by God: Eph 2:10
Walk in newness of life: Rom 6:4
Walk in the spirit: Gal 5:25
Walk by believing/faith: 2Co 5:7
Walk circumspectly: Eph 5:15
Walk in wisdom: Col 4:5
Walk in love: Eph 5:2
Walk in light: 1 John 1:7
Walk in truth: 3 John 1:4

1Pe 1:16 KJV
(16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Gill White · May 5th, 2012, 09:42 AM

Quote:

To Know the Author
May 5, 2012
Read time: 4 minutes
Yvonne McChesney

Communication - whether written, verbal, or in gestures, allows us to know who and what kind of person we are dealing with. Over time we can gather what their intent is and their level of integrity. We know people that wear their heart on the sleeve, are calloused and hard-hearted, are giving and benevolent, or are reserved and untrusting. Their character has been molded by many factors and continues to be influenced by outside sources.

I have been reading George Müller's auto-biography and biographies about him and by this I get to know him. Even though he was a liar, a thief, and a con artist, God stirred within his soul a compassion for people and longing for a relationship with Himself the Father. Only God can take a person who would lie and steal without reservation or regret and turn their hearts 180°.

We have a Heavenly Father, an Almighty God, that knows us and who we are. He longs for fellowship, for communication. In this communication we will get to know Him. He is not distant but closer than our very breath. How are we going to know Him? We have access to Him, Jesus Christ redeemed us and rent the veil that separated us from the holy of holies, the innermost sanctuary. We can now come before the throne of grace with boldness. To truly know our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, we need to come to His Holy Scriptures. The most intimate knowledge of God is laid there like treasure. God's heart for His man is laid bare in the pages of His Book. When we come to His Word prayerfully and habitually we are rewarded with His love and care.

One question that I have about George Müller is how was he able to walk with God and be so completely trusting? In the biography "George Müller of Bristol, His Life of Prayer and Faith" by A. T. Pierson, Mr. Pierson quotes "Of the Kings Treasuries" by Ruskin in saying:

...[H]ow few, even among believers, appreciate the privilege of access to the great Author of the universe through His word! Poor and rich, high and low, ignorant and learned, young and old, all alike are welcomed to the audience-chamber of the King of Kings. The most intimate knowledge of God is possible on one condition--that we search His Holy Scriptures, prayerfully and habitually, and translate what we there find, into obedience. Of him who thus meditates on God's law day and night, who looks and continues looking into this perfect law of liberty the promise is unique, and found in both Testaments: "Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper"; "that man shall be blessed in his deed." (Comp. Psalm 1:3; Joshua 1:8; James 1:25.)

So soon as George Müller found this well-spring of delight and success, he drank habitually at this fountain of living waters. In later life he lamented that, owing to his early neglect of this source of divine wisdom and strength, he remained so long in spiritual infancy, with its ignorance and impotence. So long and so far as his growth in knowledge of God was thus arrested his growth in grace was likewise hindered. His close walk with God began at the point where he learned that such walk is always in the light of that inspired word which is divinely declared to be to the obedient soul "a lamp unto the feet and light unto the path." He who would keep up intimate converse with the Lord must habitually find in the Scriptures the highway of such companionship...

Blessed are they who have thus learned to use the key which gives free access, not only to the King's Treasuries, but to the King Himself! (50, 51)

The scripture that Pierson is referring to are as follows:

Psalm 1:3
:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Joshua 1:11
:11 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

James 1:25
:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

God is the fountain if living waters (Song of Solomon 4:15; Jeremiah 2:13) and a light unto our path:

Psalm 119:105
:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Only God can change the heart of a man. He is our great miracle-working God. Come to Him with open palms in reverence and respect and immerse yourself in His Word. You will then find a loving Heavenly Father that is willing to help, guide and take care of you all the days of your life and for eternity.

Gill White · May 5th, 2012, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Courage
Read time: 5 minutes
Yvonne McChesney

In times of adversity we hear about people with great courage. We may also be faced with situations in which we must be courageous. A phrase in God's Word comes to mind, "be strong of a good courage." Moses, the man of God, first told that to the Children of Israel and then specifically to Joshua when he announced that he would not pass over Jordan into the promised land but that Joshua would. How can he be strong of a good courage? It wouldn't be by his own strength, natural ability or the strength of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:1-8
:1 And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
:2 And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
:4 And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.
:5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.
:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
:7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

God told them five times that He was going to go with them and He was going to cause them to take back the land that He had given to Abraham.

Joshua has some BIG shoes to fill; God chose him to lead this people against some intimidating foes. Joshua was one of the 12 that was selected to spy out the promised land. When Joshua returned to report on the land he was strong in his conviction that God would help them take back the land (Numbers 14). Joshua also served as a strong and capable leader in battle; God told Moses and Joshua to go up against the Amalekites and they (God and the Isrealites) defeated them (written in Exodus 17 as a reminder to Joshua). He was Moses minister (Exodus 24). Joshua chose to pursue leadership qualities, he was allowed into the tabernacle with Moses (Exodus 33:11). He was by Moses side for the great majority of the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness.

Consider Israel's situation. God had given Israel a great man and prophet to lead them out of bondage. He was always there for them for 40 years; a great leader. He interceded for them with their Almighty God and lead them through some very extreme circumstances, gave them the commandments from God, he taught the people and, by God, stayed the adversary from destroying them all. These children have grown up knowing only Moses as their leader. Now Moses is dead. This was a tremendous shock and their grieving was great.

Israel needs to get over their mourning and move on. They must believe to receive and they need to believe their leader can handle it. God had Joshua picked out along time ago and the mantel was transferred to him before Moses' death. This is not something new to Joshua, he knew it was coming and accepted the responsibility.

Joshua 1:1-3
:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
:2 Moses my servant is dead; [hardest radical in Aramaic... scream it out with all the emotion indicative of the situation] now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

What an exhortation to walk with God. Five senses wise it doesn't seem feasible. The children of Israel have to go in and take back a land they haven't been in for 400 years. They needed to rise up to the level of the Word. As long as they do the Word of God, it works. This same promise that God had made to every generation He makes to Joshua. If people walk faithfully God will prosper them. God is still refreshing this promise in Joshua's ears.

Joshua 1:4-7
:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of they life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Only be thou strong and very courageous. Joshua really needed to hear these words. There is a lot of logistics and administering etc., but God says do His Word.

Joshua 1:8
:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

We can learn from Joshua. His personal experiences are different than ours will ever be but he is an example of a man who took God at His Word and trusted Him. What about our day and time?

God will never allow us to have anything that we cannot overcome.

1 Corinthians 10:11
:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [regarding the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness until the idolatrous and unbelieving generation was gone]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1 Corinthians 10:13
:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

How? Because greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4
:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

God never leaves us (Hebrews 13:5). He is our strength (Philippians 4:13). With God, all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26
:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 9:23
:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

God told Joshua to meditate on the Word. It is our exhortation as well. That is how you are going to have confidence, courage, and strength that only God can provide.

2 Timothy 1:13
:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou has heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:9
:9 Those things, which yea have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

As we hold fast the Word of God in our hearts God works in our lives to strengthen and encourage us. The more you put on the mind of Christ, hold fast the faithful Word the more confidence you have in God's willingness and ability to take care of you.

How can we be strong of a good courage? We are strong in the Lord and the power of His might!

Ephesians 6:10
:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might.

Gill White · 04:44 AM

Quote:

HARDENING OF THE HEART

One of the leading causes of death in the world today is heart disease.

In an effort to curb this problem a great deal of information and education is given us through every possible means. Great amounts of money are raised for research to learn how to prevent and cure heart problems. It is a serious concern, and so it should be.

Many people live daily with heart disease problems and are undergoing various types of medical treatments. They would be the first to tell us to listen and follow the good medical advice/instructions concerning heart disease.

But,

There is another heart malady that the world will never speak. It is of eternal significance and therefore is of the utmost importance. Scripture refers to it has "hardening of the heart."

Heb 3:6-9 KJV
(6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
(7) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
(8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
(9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Heb 3:13-15 KJV
(13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
(14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
(15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

The heart spoken of here is not the physical heart. It is much greater important than the physical organ. This heart has to do with eternity.

Recognizing the symptoms is one step in prevention.

The writer of the Hebrews points them out in Hebrews chapter 3 verses 7 to 19.

The first thing to note that hardening of the heart occurs at a slow pace. It begins with neglecting today. We live for the moment and forget to do the important. We leave the things of God and the nurturing of our relationship with Him until tomorrow.

Tomorrow never comes and before we realized it our ears have grown dull to His voice.

We become apathetic to godly holy things and busy ourselves more and more with worldly concerns.

The things of the world take on a new look. We rationalize and compromise using wise and logical arguments to convince ourselves that what we are doing is not that bad and won't really hurt.

Besides, we can spend time with God tomorrow.

We become easily "deceived by sin's deceitfulness."

Soon our heart has become so hardened that we no longer believe. We may continue to go through the motions, turning away from GOD our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Frightening? Yes. Do not despair.

Through these same verses God reveals the prevention and cure for this insidious disease. We must not take this prescription lightly. Though it is simple, it is not easy.

It all begins Today. Today we must listen for His voice. We must quiet ourselves before God and be attentive to Him. We must open His Word and immerse ourselves in it. We must talk with God and spend time in His presence.

Tomorrow never arrives, yesterday is gone. We only have Today, and Today is the day we must be sure we have an appointment to meet with the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to "hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." That confidence is confidence of the promises GOD made to us through Christ.

The word used in the original language for "hold firmly" is a nautical term which denotes "maintaining a steady course."

We must not be diverted from our course in the "Way Of Holiness."

Isa 35:8 GW
(8) A highway will be there, a roadway. It will be called the Holy Road. Sinners won't travel on it. It will be for those who walk on it. Godless fools won't wander onto it.

We fix our eyes on Jesus Christ and head directly to GOD. No one comes to the Father but through His Son.

Joh 14:6 GW
(6) Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.

Anything that would divert my attention from HIM must be put aside.

Our course is set and our destination fixed.

We must hold steady by keeping our relationship with the Father and with Jesus up to date.

Our faith and salvation is in HIM (the Father) which HE works through His Son, the Messiah. Hold steady!

Rev 12:10 GW
(10) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, power, kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah have come. The one accusing our brothers and sisters, the one accusing them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out.

The third part of this prescription is to seek and give encouragement.

Heb 3:13 KJV
(13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to change.

The instruction is that we do this "daily as long as it is called Today."

The today spoken of here is twofold in nature.

It speaks to the physical day, for it is the day we are living. Today also refers to the time between when Christ ascended into heaven and when He returns. It is our day.

We desperately need encouragement for our fellow believers. GOD never intended for us to live this life in isolation. We are eternally connected to HIM through Christ Jesus, and we need each other.
Mutual encouragement is essential for us to maintain course and prevent hardening of the heart. We must not neglect the community!

We have all seen warning labels that are put on products and foods that are dangerous. This passage is a warning label for us. Let us not be like the millions of people who ignore the warning labels.

Let us heed the warning and begin Today doing what has God has prescribed, so that we will not suffer from "hardening of the heart,." but have lives in Christ Jesus that are vibrant, alive, and joyous!

Children of GOD:

1Jn 3:1-2 GW
(1) Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God's dear children. And that's what we are. For this reason the world doesn't recognize us, and it didn't recognize him either.
(2) Dear friends, now we are God's children. What we will be isn't completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

2 Peter 1:3 GW
(3) God's divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity.

WE PRAISE AND THANK GOD IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

Gill White · May 8th, 2012, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Recognizing the symptoms is one step in prevention.

The writer of the Hebrews points them out in Hebrews chapter 3 verses 7 to 19.

Heb 3:7-19 GW
(7) As the Holy Spirit says, "If you hear God speak today, don't be stubborn.
(8) Don't be stubborn like those who rebelled and tested me in the desert.
(9) That is where your ancestors tested me,
(10) although they had seen what I had done for 40 years. That is why I was angry with those people. So I said, 'Their hearts continue to stray, and they have not learned my ways.'
(11) So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest."
(12) Be careful, brothers and sisters, that none of you ever develop a wicked, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
(13) Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn.
(14) After all, we will remain Christ's partners only if we continue to hold on to our original confidence until the end.
(15) Scripture says, "If you hear God speak today, don't be stubborn. Don't be stubborn like those who rebelled."
(16) Who heard God and rebelled? All those whom Moses led out of Egypt rebelled.
(17) With whom was God angry for 40 years? He was angry with those who sinned and died in the desert.
(18) Who did God swear would never enter his place of rest? He was talking about those who didn't obey him.
(19) So we see that they couldn't enter his place of rest because they didn't believe.

1Pe 1:14-16 GW
(14) Because you are children who obey God, don't live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn't know any better.
(15) But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.
(16) Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy."

But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.

Gill White · May 11th, 2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Contentment
M. Cortright

1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

The key to living a joyful, blessed life is contentment. Godliness is a spiritual relationship with God. Contentment is a state of mind. It is what you think in your mind. It is not based on what is happening around you. It is not based on the circumstances in your life.

Are you content with your life? Are you content with your spouse? Are you content with your children? Are you content with your home? Are you content with your job? Are you content with your income? Are you content with your health? Are you content with your "stuff?" Are you content?

1 Timothy 6:6 gives you the key to contentment. The key to contentment is godliness. Without a true and vital spiritual relationship with God you cannot be content. I do not see how people in the world without a relationship with God can ever be content. In fact, if you have talked to people living in the world without God you know that they are not content.

Contentment comes from God and God can fill your life with contentment. No matter what circumstance or situation you are in right now in your life - with your health, with your relationships, with employment - God can fill your heart with contentment.

1 Timothy 6:7-8
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Life is simple. We had nothing when we started. We take nothing with us when we leave. All the "stuff" in between is what we deal with in life. It is important to keep that perspective of the simplicity of what life is all about and how our life is precious and our time to live is short. The key to success in living an abundant life is contentment; and the key to contentment is godliness.

Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

The word "conversation" means "manner of life." Contentment in our life is a great guard against a life of covetousness. Covetousness is an over desire for things. It is wanting beyond what you need. People covet cars, houses, money, etc. Covetousness is when you always want more and can never get enough. The tenth commandment in the old testament is "thou shalt not covet." The way we live a life without covetousness is by living with contentment.

We can live a life of contentment because God is our helper. God will never leave us and He will never forsake us. It is our true, vital, spiritual relationship with God (godliness) that makes it possible for us to be content with such things as we have knowing that what we have (a relationship with God) is far greater than any of the "things" of this life.

Luke 12:13-15
And one of the company said unto him [Jesus Christ], Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

One of the company asked Jesus Christ to mediate in a family inheritance situation. These situations are many times some of the most greedy and covetous situations in life. Jesus Christ answered him: "who made me a divider over you?" In other words - "That is not my job." I am not here to decide who gets what "things."

A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things he possesseth. Life is all about godliness. It is not about "things." The things that we have and hold so dear . . . our possessions, our relationships, our income . . . these things are not what life is all about. Our true, vital, spiritual relationship with God is the substance of our life - not the things.

Luke 12:16-21
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Do you think that there is anything in this life other than God Almighty that will bring you contentment?
Do you think a certain job, or a different job, or a job that has security or a certain salary is going to bring you contentment?
Do you think that having a lot of money in the bank is going to bring you contentment?
Do you think that having a new car is going to bring you contentment?
Do you think that having children will bring you contentment?
Do you think that having the right mate is going to bring you contentment?

or

Do you think that having a different spouse is going to bring you contentment?

People sometimes think that their current mate is their problem and that if they just had a different spouse then their life would be full. It is so crazy. People that are married wish that they were single. People that are single wish that they were married. People that don't have children wish they had children and people that have kids wish they had none. We are so into NOT living life in the NOW. We get discontented by focusing our life on that which we do not have. We should just enjoy that which God has given us and enjoy who we are now. Don't look at someone else and say, "I wish I was like him." Look at how great God has made you and what He has given you NOW!

Do you think that owning your own home will make you content? People get their own home and then complain about all the work it takes to maintain it: mow the lawn, shovel the snow, make repairs. Once they have the house then they wish they did not have it. Or people think that getting a new car will make them content; then they worry and complain about maintaining the car and making loan payments.

Contentment is NOT in the things of life. If you think that any of the things of life are going to make you content then you are deceived. Contentment only comes from God! We need to be thankful for that which God has provided and live joyfully with God's help in whatever situation in life we are in right now. Satan's attack on the believer is to get him or her to look at that which they do not have.

The Devil has worked to get believers to focus on what they do not have and be discontent from the beginning when he tempted Eve. And this is the same temptation he uses every day of our lives to get us to take our eyes off of God.

Contentment is not determined by the situations in life. Eve was in Paradise yet she was tempted to be discontent with her life. Being content or being discontent is a state of mind. It is not dependent upon the circumstances which surround you. Contentment comes from living a life that is God centered rather than a life that is conditions centered. Contentment is a state of mind.

Philippians 4:8-13
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again: wherein ye were also careful; but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how both to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Godliness with contentment is very great gain. If we keep our mind focused on God in Christ in us and think about the benefits of His Word we will live a joyful life of contentment no matter what the situations in our life.

2Co 5:19 KJV
(19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Livelystone · May 11th, 2012, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill White

But we can be in His Image and He has given us help, it's journey & an adventure, to learn His Ways, and it's exciting. We ask and He will listen:

2Pe 1:3-8
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
(6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have been given a choice. He will help us and His voice will tell us which way to go, which way to take: To steal or not to steal, listen to His voice. To commit adultery or not to commit adultery, listen to His voice. To lie or not to lie, listen to His voice. To kill or not to kill, listen to His voice.

He will teach us, guide us and help us.

When we love, we will not steal, we will listen to His voice. When we love, we will not lie, we will listen to His voice. When we love, we will not cheat on our spouse, we will listen to His voice. When we love, we will not kill, we will listen to His voice.

Love covers a multitude of sins, it's an adventure and a journey.

God bless

I agree 100%

God is a spirit that is the seed planted in us as the Holy Spirit.

This seed in us has every possibility to growing up in the image and likeness of the tree of life that it came from.

Whether it does or whether does not depends on whether that seed is fed with heavenly truths that will cause it to grow changing our appearance day by day to appear more like Him

Or we can feed it with earthly dung as has been done for the last 2000 years since the last of the apostles were taken out of the way. The result of that is the majority of what you see today in the church. Some people that mean well but have been led astray and are no longer worshiping God in spirit and in truth.

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Blessings

Doug