Omniscient God

 God spoke everything into existence. He is everywhere and he is omniscient; He knows everything, he has all knowledge. He knows the past, present and future. He knows what our soul thinks is true and he knows what really is true. As a child I remembered the Christmas song that said that Santa knows if you have "been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake."  When we become an adult we put aside the kids story of Santa but we still are accountable to our Omniscient God. He knows our behavior and he offers to us the most awesome gift of all. He gave Jesus his son to save us from the punishment for our sins . He forgives our bad and leads us into a life full of blessings.

Psa 147:4  He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 

Psa 147:5  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 

Psa 147:6  The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 

Rom 11:33  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 

Mat 10:28  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 

Mat 10:30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Mat 10:31  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

God really does know all about you and what he wants for you to do,  He loves us and will correct us for our good.

Omnipresent God

On the cover of Time magazine in 1966 was the statement "Is God dead?"  One of the comments in the article was that people were too busy to seek him.  Hal Lindsey, evangelist and author shares that If anyone responds to this knowledge that God exists, God will move heaven and earth to meet with him. 

God is omnipresent. Omnipresence is God's characteristic of being present to all ranges of both time and space. Although God is present in all time and space, God is not locally limited to any time or space. God is everywhere and in every now. No molecule or atomic particle is so small that God is not fully present to it, and no galaxy so vast that God does not circumscribe it.

Jer 23:23  “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? 

Jer 23:24  Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. 

 When my oldest brother was president of a manufacturing plant. He usually stayed separate from the workers, staying in the office. On occasion he would put on a white lab coat and stroll through the production area. The workers were well aware of his presence.  God is near. Our sins cause us to hide from him, but he has invited us to be made clean and white through faith in his son Jesus, who has paid the price for our redemption.

Psa 139:7  Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

Psa 139:8  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

Psa 139:9  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

Psa 139:10  even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 

Psa 139:11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 

Psa 139:12  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 

Psa 139:13  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

Psa 139:14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

1Jn 4:12  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 

God is near and he loves us.

Omnipotent God

 If you have eyes to see you will see that there is great beauty and wonder in the design of the universe, down to the smallest cell as seen in the most powerful microscope.  Our God is omnipotent; omni meaning "all" and potent meaning "power."  He has all power over all things at all times and in all ways.  Our God is wonderful and he loves us. If a human born from Adam had all power, we would be in trouble. A wicked ruler makes the people to groan. Prov 29:2 Our God is a good God.

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

‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jer 32:17

 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.  Job 42:2

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Ps 33:6

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:22

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, Rev 19:21

The all powerful God has designed us to be greater than the angels and to have fellowship with God our creator.  In Christ Jesus we come to be made spiritually alive for all eternity. Our all powerful God cares for us and he keeps his promises. We are not self made, he made us. Give God the glory.

 

The Love of God

What is the greatest attribute of God towards humanity?  What is the greatest need of humanity? The answer is in a song that was number one in 1949.  The song title was "Nature Boy", sung by Nat King Cole. Here is that simple and great quote from the song:"The greatest thing you’ll ever learn Is just to love and be loved in return."

We love because God first loved us (1Jn 4:19)  Our sin has separated us from God and one another. God so loved us that he sent his son, Jesus, to be our payment for sins. (Jn 3:16) Because God has given to us love, we are to love others as well. (1Jn 4:21)  We should love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. (Mat 22:37) There is a whole chapter in the Bible about how we are to love. (1 Cor 13)  If love is important to you you should read this chapter.  

1Co 13:1  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

1Co 13:2  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

1Co 13:3  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

1Co 13:4  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 

1Co 13:5  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 

1Co 13:6  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 

1Co 13:7  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

1Co 13:8  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 

1Co 13:9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 

1Co 13:10  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 

1Co 13:13  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

The Mercy of God

Sometimes thoughts come into your mind that are not good. Thoughts that tear you down are not from God. God is a good and merciful God.

 Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

When thoughts condemn you then seek God , call upon him and seek him in the words in the Bible.  God loves you and is merciful. Mercy defined is goodness, kindness, faithfulness.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Mercy and grace are closely related. Mercy has to do with kindness and compassion and the withholding  of punishment for our sins.  Grace includes kindness and compassion, but also carries the idea of bestowing a gift of favor.  

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) 

By grace we are saved from the wrath of God and also we are given favor with God. Thank you God for giving me eternal life by believing in the salvation given through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Justice of God

 In our nation justice has given way to political power. The Supreme court justices have been selected by politicians who choose the judges often because of their political views. This ought not to be. They swore an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States. Some, however seek to upend the constitution.  A judge should uphold the laws. Unfortunately some think they are above the law and allow politically correct lawbreakers to escape justice.  The highest justice is from God. His laws and precepts are absolute and good and in the end all people will be judged by Jesus the Son of God,  who has been given all authority to judge by His Father. In our land we have justice of the peace judges " appointed to hear minor cases, perform marriages, grant licenses, etc., in a town, county, or other local district." There is another judge who is called the Prince of peace who will judge all people according to His word.

Pro 21:15  When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 

Mat 23:23  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 

The ultimate criteria to be free from the punishment of a holy God is to receive the forgiveness by believing in the salvation given by Jesus Christ.

Rom 2:16  on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you face the judge thinking you are a good person, that will not save you from separation from God and eternal punishment.    God cares about you and loves you and has given you a way to escape the judgement and wrath of a holy God.

 John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

I tell you the truth. Jesus in you satisfies the justice of God.

The Immutability of God

 The immutability of God is an attribute that "God is unchanging in his character, will and covenant promises." His word is truth and he keeps his promises. Great is his faithfulness and he loves us. A critic may find a verse that shows the LORD changing his mind. No, his character is to show mercy. If not so most of us would have perished in our sins long ago.

Mal 3:6  “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Isa 46:9  Remember what happened long ago. Remember, I am God and there is no other God. There is no other like me. 

Isa 46:10  "In the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not happened yet. When I plan something, it happens. I do whatever I want to do. 

2Ti 1:9  God saved us and chose us to be his holy people, but not because of anything we ourselves did. God saved us and made us his people because that was what he wanted and because of his grace. That grace was given to us through Christ Jesus before time began. 

2Ti 1:10  And now it has been shown to us in the coming of our Savior Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and showed us the way to have life. Yes, through the Good News Jesus showed us the way to have life that cannot be destroyed. 

The good news is that God sent his son to pay for our sins. Blood was required for sins. Jesus had no sin and was our just and perfect sacrifice.  He arose from the grave into eternal life and those who believe in him and have turned their minds and hearts to Jesus will be saved from sins punishment and inherit eternal life with God. He loves us so much to have done this. This is the promise of God.

Immanence of God

 God is actively involved in his creation.  This gives the believer rest in the knowledge that there is no place or situation that is too far to be under God's protective hand. We do not hug a tree, but love the one who made it. All good things he made and is involved with.

Psa 145:18  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 

Psa 145:19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 

Php 2:13  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

Php 2:14  Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

Php 2:15  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

Jesus is the Son of God and by him we receive the Holy Spirit.  God is with us and he hears our prayers and knows our needs. Be at peace, he cares for you. Call on the name of Jesus.

Holiness

I was going to do a lesson on the holiness of God, and then Google had changed my account name and I was unable to make the blog. After my efforts that made things worse, I called to my daughter for help. There was a new button added to the blog program that I needed to push to make a new blog enttry. By this time I am not feeling holy at all, but God remains holy and there is a lesson in that.  The only holiness we can have comes through our salvation in Jesus Christ. In him we are holy people, not as holy as God who is forever holy and so much above his creation. I grumble and complain and get frustrated.  He asks us to wait upon him, to listen to his inner voice. I called on my daughter for help.

Isa 6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 

Isa 6:2  Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 

Isa 6:3  And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 

Isa 6:4  And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 

Isa 6:5  And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 

1Sa 2:2  “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. 

1Pe 1:15  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

1Pe 1:16   since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

God is holy and righteous, unchangable in his glory. The only holiness we may have is in our connection to God by his spirit. Jesus was sent to be our. substitute sacrifice for sins. We are through his power to become more like him.

The Grace of God

 The human race had little chance to escape the separation from God because of our sins. Nothing we could do of good works would remove our sins and separation from a holy God. God knew that we were but dust and he himself gave grace to those who would be saved. Grace is unearned favor. God's grace is the favor and power of God given to a person by the will of God. Do you want to be free of sin and in the favor of God? Then he is drawing you to himself by his grace. The justice of God and the grace of God come from the finished work of Jesus. He had no sin and was our substitute sacrifice for sin. By faith in him we receive the grace of God.  All by God's power and not our own. This should humble us before the Almighty God.

Rom 3:23  All have sinned and are not good enough to share God's divine greatness. 

Rom 3:24  They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. 

Rom 3:25  God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people's sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins. God gave Jesus to show that he always does what is right and fair. He was right in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. And in our own time he still does what is right. God worked all this out in a way that allows him to judge people fairly and still make right any person who has faith in Jesus. 

Rom 3:27  So do we have any reason to boast about ourselves? No reason at all. And why not? Because we are depending on the way of faith, not on what we have done in following the law. 

Rom 3:28  I mean we are made right with God through faith, not through what we have done to follow the law. This is what we believe. 

2Pe 1:3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 

God gives us grace to have faith in Jesus Christ and through his Spirit we have grace to accomplish his will for us to do.

God is Good and evil is punished

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel is a good God . He is the standard of goodness and being good he cannot abide evil.  Christians often assume that God is good like a heavenly Santa Claus and that he winks at evil. Where is the fear of God? God knew that sinful people would be punished so he sent his Son Jesus Christ to shed his blood as payment for our sins.  Jesus is the only way to God. We cannot earn forgiveness by our good deeds. No one is good enough to be forgiven of sins. We should fear God and run to Jesus. In Jesus we receive His righteousness, the goodness of God. 

Psa 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. 

Psa 25:8  Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 

Removing the teaching of God from our schools and the nation results in a great increase of evil.

Psa 27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 

Psa 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 

Psa 33:5  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 

Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 

Psa 103:13  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 

Psa 103:14  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

Nah 1:7  The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. 

God knowing that we could not save ourselves, provided Jesus to be our substitute taking our punishment for sins upon himself.  This is the new covenant in his blood. All who believe in God and trust in Jesus will be under the goodness of God and receive eternal life with him. That is our good God who loves us that much.

Eternal God

 I am doing a study on the attributes of God.  He is eternal, so he can offer eternal life to us through Jesus his son. Jesus died to pay for our sins and is alive forever more.  He promises those who have turned from their sins and trusted in him that we too may have eternal life.

Joh 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Joh 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

...“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 

Joh 17:2  since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

Psa 102:11  My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 

Psa 102:12  But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 

Dust to dust goes our body, but our soul is made alive and lives forever.  We shall have new glorified bodies and see Jesus as he is. Thank you Lord God for you have chosen your people from everlasting to everlasting. Because you live, we shall live with you. 

Right and Wrong

 It seems that everyone is demanding their rights. The highest standard for rights seems to be human rights. Animal rights people may disagree with that. Is abortion a right? Many argue that it is. Listen now if you will. There are true rights and wrongs. Just as there is one God and the devil.  When we allow what the devil considers right to be a right, then we open up darkness and confusion. The devil seeks to kill and to destroy. He is a liar and the father of lies.  God is all good just and righteous. What God says is good in the Holy Bible is good. His right is right indeed. In the last days on earth, what is evil is being being called good and what is good is being called evil. 

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

 A recent facebook post said the best of two 

worlds is to sin and to not feel it is wrong. When we lose our feelings for what is wrong, then how shall we know what is right?

David after being convicted of the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, he called out to God in Psalm 51.

Psa 51:1  To the director: A song of David written when Nathan the prophet came to him after David's sin with Bathsheba. God, be merciful to me because of your faithful love. Because of your great compassion, erase all the wrongs I have done. 

Psa 51:2  Scrub away my guilt. Wash me clean from my sin. 

Psa 51:3  I know I have done wrong. I remember that sin all the time. 

Psa 51:4  I did what you said is wrong. You are the one I have sinned against. I say this so that people will know that I am wrong and you are right. What you decided is fair. 

Hear this now. The devil does not care about you. He wants you to sin and be in hell. God loves you. He cares about your soul. He even gave his son to die in your place for the sins that you are sorry for.The right way is to the cross where God offers you a new life in him. The wrong way is to follow the devil into eternal remorse. God will forgive you if you are truly sorry for wrongs. Do what is right and allow God to receive you and to change your heart.

Count Your Blessings

Our human nature tends to grumble when things go wrong. We may be suffering in a sickness or are experiencing an emptiness in our soul. Take a step back and consider all that you have in Christ Jesus. If you are not sure then turn towards Jesus, repent of your sins and walk in his blessings. We are a most blessed people.. 

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

Eph 1:4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

Eph 1:5  he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 

Eph 1:6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

Eph 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 

Eph 1:8  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 

Eph 1:9  making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 

Eph 1:10  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

The Holy One

John 1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

No one has seen God, the Father or the Holy Spirit. They are spirit. The Son of God has made himself visible to us. He took on the form of a man; and now He exists in heaven in a glorified body.  The Bible says that he existed with God before the foundations of the world. there are times in the old testament when a visable man is shown who is of God. One incident was when Joshua was about to war with Jericho. 

 Jos 5:13  When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man had a sword in his hand. Joshua went to the man and asked, "Are you a friend to our people or are you one of our enemies?" 

Jos 5:14  The man answered, "I am not an enemy. I am the commander of the LORD'S army. I have just now come to you." Then Joshua bowed his face to the ground to show respect and said, "I am your servant. Does my master have a command for me?" 

Jos 5:15  The commander of the LORD'S army answered, "Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy." So Joshua obeyed him. 

The commander of angel armies was the Lord of Lords. An appearance before his coming to die for our sins as the Lamb of God. Was this the same person who appeared to Moses in the burning bush?

Exo 3:4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 

Exo 3:5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 

The Son of God is commander of the LORD'S armies.

Absolute Authority

Jesus, the Son of God came as a man to gather a people unto the Father and to remove evil and even death. He was given all authority by the Father who has all authority.

1Co 15:45  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 

 1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 

1Co 15:24  Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 

1Co 15:25  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 

1Co 15:27  For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 

1Co 15:28  When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

We are to share the gospel to all nations, being under the authority of Christ Jesus, who will return all authority to God, His Father.

Greater and still greater

Great men are men who obeyed God. God working in and through you is your greatest purpose.

 Deu 34:10  And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 

Deu 34:11  none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 

2Sa 5:10  And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. 

1Ki 1:37  As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” 

Mat 11:11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

1Jn 5:9  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 

1Jn 5:10  Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 

1Jn 5:11  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

1Jn 5:12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

1Jn 4:2  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 

1Jn 4:3  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 

1Jn 4:4  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

There is no one greater among men then the Lord Jesus Christ. He was God in a man.  He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.Those who are received by him have eternal life.  He gave his life for us and is alive forever more.

Seek His Face

We sometimes grumble and complain about the goings on in our world.  What we must do is to seek the face of God. Then we may do the will of God.

Psa 143:7  Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 

Psa 143:8  Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 

2Ch 7:14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

Psa 27:8  You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” 

Psa 27:9  Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 

Psa 27:10  For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 

Psa 27:11  Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

Exo 33:11  Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. ..

Num 6:22  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

Num 6:23  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 

Num 6:24  The LORD bless you and keep you; 

Num 6:25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

Num 6:26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Num 6:27  “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” 

Hymn:  Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

1. O soul are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness to see?

There's light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,  

In the light of His glory and grace,

Seek the face of the Lord and live.

Excuse me

In Israel in Deuteronomy  there were reasons given by which a man may be excused from military service.  The end result is that those who were not committed to service, would be excused. God was able to defeat the enemy without those who were double minded and not fully committed to service. 

 Deu 20:5  Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Is there any man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. 

Deu 20:6  And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit. 

Deu 20:7  And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.’ 

Deu 20:8  And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ 

These scriptures reminded me of scriptures in the New Testament where people were making excuse for not coming to a banquet. The banquet was about the chosen having fellowship with God. Jesus came unto his chosen people, the Jews first. Many were making excuses for not coming to the feast which was a parable about those missing their salvation provided by God through his son, Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 

Luk 14:17  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 

Luk 14:18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 

Luk 14:21  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Luk 14:24  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” 

The Jews were too distracted by things to come and receive of their God.

Luke 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 

The Son of Man

Luk 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

Jesus came to save the lost. Why does he refer to himself as the Son of Man? This was a title given to the Jewish Messiah as described in Daniel. 

 Dan 7:13  “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 

Dan 7:14  And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 

Jesus spoke that he came from heaven and not earth as was Adam.

Joh 6:38  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 

Jesus was sent from heaven by God the Father, the Ancient of Days. " and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mat 3:17)

Jesus, the Son of Man is King of kings and Lord of Lords. (Rev 19:16) The title gives to Jesus absolute power and dominion.

The Son of Man is the Son of the Most High God.

Try To Understand

Some things God reveals to us and some things remain hidden. At the least we should seek to know what God has revealed to us so that we not be full of unbelief.

Deu 29:29  “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. 

Lord open the eyes of our understanding. Jesus told his disciples that he would be killed and that he would be raised from death on the third day. They did not understand him.

 Luk 18:31  And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 

Luk 18:32  For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 

Luk 18:33  And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 

Luk 18:34  But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. 

Open our eyes of understanding LORD so that we be not blinded by our own stubborn hearts.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world (the devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 

The Church is a mystery revealed.

Eph 3:4  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 

Eph 3:5  which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 

Eph 3:6  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 

People of all nations are able to come to God through the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah. This mystery understood is the saving of your soul. This life is soon over and eternal life with the saints of God are made available through the atonement for our sins in Jesus Christ. Do you understand this mystery now? In Jesus Christ is eternal life.  Come and receive of him, being truly sorry for your sins.

Morally Right

We are not to think too highly of ourselves while finding fault in others. We all need forgiveness that comes from Jesus. 

 Luke 18:10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

Luke 18:11  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 

Luke 18:12  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 

Luke 18:13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 

Luke 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

If we do not forgive others then we will not be forgiven. It is best that we get our own lives in order. All will answer to God for their life.  In Christ Jesus we have forgiveness and so we should be forgiving of others.

1Pe 2:21  This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did: 

1Pe 2:22  "He never sinned, and he never told a lie." 

1Pe 2:23  People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly. 

1Pe 2:24  Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. 

Cheating

We see unfair justice. The picture of lady justice blind folded with a balance scale represents justice, however often the scales are weighted to favor a political party. The news is slanted. false witnesses are brought against one party and truth is ignored for the other. A president is elected by a wrong measure of votes. God sees this and does not like it.

Deu 25:15  A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 

Deu 25:16  For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God. 

Yesterday I met a lady from our Bible study group in the libraty to practice for the DMV car test on the computer. She had taken the tests three times and each time had failed by missing seven questions. Taking the practice test, she again missed seven questions. A man who was on another computer came over to us and said that if we take the drivers test on the computer, that there is a way to find the answers. We listened to him and then responded," but that is cheating." How many people gain by cheating? They say, the end justifies the means. Well fellow American, God sees and you will not be in his favor. When we cheat, we are following the devil. Is it worth it? If we want God to bless our nation then we will need to repent from cheating in all of it's forms. Lord God help us to be honest people. We need for you to help us as we submit to you. Come to Jesus, repent of your sins and start a new life in his way.

The Humble will be Restored

1Pe 5:5  In a similar way, you young people must submit to the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: "God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble." 

1Pe 5:6  Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 

1Pe 5:7  Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you. 

1Pe 5:8  Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

1Pe 5:9  Resist him and be firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 

1Pe 5:10  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you by the Messiah Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, establish you, strengthen you, and support you. 

The Fulfilling of the Law

 Rom 13:8  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

Rom 13:9  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Rom 13:10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

We fail to keep the laws and we love imperfectly. Only Jesus fulfilled all the law and loved perfectly.

Mat 5:17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 

Mat 5:18  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 

We come to Jesus to fulfill all the law and to be forgiven our sins.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Love in Truth

 Rom 12:9  Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Our God loves us. We are to love God with all of our being . This love that we receive we are to give to others. The Bible says that if we truly love that we have met all the requirements of the law. This love from God is not fake love, nor pretend love. i Corinthians 13 speaks to us of  what love is. 

1Co 13:4  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 

1Co 13:5  Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 

1Co 13:6  Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 

1Co 13:7  Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 

We are to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Do not grab hold of evil things.  We are to love God and those things that are good.

 Philipians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Love is real and love is eternal with God. It is the truth of God, lkeeping us from evil.

Joh 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Jesus loved us so much that he died to remove evil from us. Believe in Jesus and walk in love. Do not let politics or any other spirit take the love of God from you. Do all things with truth and love, seeking the good things of God.

Transformed

Yesterday we saw a flowering plant with many butterflies swarming around it. These lovely Monarch butterflies were once creepy caterpillars. They were transformed from an egg to a larva and then a cocoon Finally there is the finished creation of a lovely butterfly. We call this metamorphis. 

The Bible uses this Greek word: metamorphoō, to illustrate a change of a person into another form. The word used for metamorphoo in Romans 12:2 is "transformed".

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

A Christian must learn to think the good things of God, the spirit of  truth. The old corrupt thinking is changed and the mind is transformed into the obedience of the will of God.

Another word used for matamorphoo is the word "transfigured" as on the mount of transfiguration where he showed his glorified self as the Son of God.

Mark 9:2  And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 

Mar 9:4  And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 

One more word used for metamorphoo is "changed."

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

Jesus is our example, we are to be his disciples. Our highest aim is to be like him and to glorify God.

1Jn 3:2  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. 

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

The Zamummites and Giants

The sons of God, perhaps fallen angels, mated with women in Genesis 6. Giants resulted from this. God saw that all was defiled and evil except Noah and his family. The flood came to destroy the offspring of the angels called the Nephilim.  Apparently after the flood there were still Nephilim, giants in the land of Canaan. This is probably why God commanded that all be killed when Israel entered the land of Canaan. There were giants called the Emites, Anakites,Rephaites and the Zamummites.

 Deu 2:9  "The LORD said to me, 'Don't bother the Moabites. Don't start a war against them. I will not give you any of their land. They are the descendants of Lot, and I gave them the city of Ar.'" 

Deu 2:10  (In the past, the Emites lived in Ar. They were strong people, and there were many of them. They were very tall, like the Anakites. 

Deu 2:11  The Anakites were part of the Rephaites. People thought the Emites were also Rephaites, but the people of Moab called them Emites. 

Deu 2:12  The Horites also lived in Seir in the past. Then Esau's people destroyed the Horites, took their land, and settled there, just as the Israelites did to the people in the land that the LORD gave them.) 

Deu 2:19  You will be just across from the Ammonites. Don't bother them or fight with them, because I will not give you their land. They are descendants of Lot, and I have given that land to them.'" 

Deu 2:20  (That country is also known as the Land of Rephaim. The Rephaites lived there in the past. The people of Ammon called them the Zamzummites. 

Deu 2:21  There were many Rephaites, and they were very strong and tall like the Anakites. But the LORD helped the Ammonites destroy them. The Ammonites took that land and live there now.   

Forty Years earlier, the people of Israel refused to enter the promise land because they saw the Nephilim giants there.  

Num 13:33  We saw the giant Nephilim people there! (The descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim.) We felt like little grasshoppers. Yes, we were like grasshoppers to them!" 

They feared the giants more than they trusted God to give them the victory over them. Do you trust God more than the giant problem you might have?