A christian blog with a decidedly biblical perspective on the world and events around us. Look around, read, enjoy and feel free to comment. Interesting story, send us the info via our contact page. Subscribe by clicking here.
Subscribe to RSS
John saw both God and the glorified Christ in the reception of Revelation [Rev. 4:2-11; 5:1-13; 6:16; 7:9-17; 8:3-5; 11:16; 12:5; 14:1-5; 19:1-10; 21:3-7; 22:1-5].
In Revelation 1:10-18 we read of an appearance of Christ, for in verse 11 John speaks of a voice saying, “I am the Alpha and Omega,” and in verse 12 and 13 he says, “I turned to see the voice that spake….. I saw 7 golden candlesticks. And in the midst…. One like unto the Son of man.”
Besides the above appearances [44 in total, see Dake page 63-64] the prophets saw God, His shape, His body [like that of a man], His hair, eyes, and other bodily parts. His clothing, and His chariot throne drawn by cherubim in visions.
Daniel saw Him [Dan. 7:9-14; 10:5-9]; Zechariah saw Him [Zech. 1:18-20; 2:1-13; 3:1-2; 4:1-5; 5:2-5, 10; 6:4-5].
We have reasons to believe that Enoch, Noah and others also saw God, for THEY WALKED WITH HIM and received specific instructions from Him [Gen. 5:22-24; 6:8-9; Heb.11:5-7; Jude 14-15].
Furthermore, on a number of occasions THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED to Moses and Israel and they saw it and heard God’s voice from it. This was more than an invisible presence [Num. 14:10-12; 16:19-30, 41-50; 20:6-13, etc].
In view of the above definite appearances of God to men, the often quoted passage “NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME” [Jn. 1:18] – can only be understood to mean that no man has seen Him face to face IN HIS GLORY and comprehended Him fully as “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,” and “hath declared Him”.
In 1 Tim. 6:16 we read of the Godhead “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto” but appearances which God chooses to make apart from the light, man can approach unto.
Humans have experienced this many times, both seeing and hearing God.
- Dake Annotated Reference Bible: page 64.
Genesis 43:14
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Hebrew: EL-SHADDAI, the ALL-BOUNTIFUL or SUPPLIER OF ALL NEEDS.
This name emphasizes the providence of God over all creation. Providence.
Providence means foresight and forethought; divine superintendence over all things. In providence God assumes responsibility for the eternal care of the universe.
It takes in the provision for and preservation of His creation in all eternity.
El-Shaddai manifested Himself as the All-Bountiful One when He planned and brought about the abundance of all things. In nature everything produces abundantly to supply the infinite needs of other things in due season [Gen. 1:20-31; 8:22; 49:24; Lev. 25:20; 26:4; Dt. 7:13-15; Job 38:27-41; Ps. 36:6-7; 65:9-13; 103:3-5; 104:10-30; 105:14-45; 107:1-43; 135:7; 136:25; 145:15; 146:7-9; 147:8-14; Mal. 3:10-12; Matt. 6:26-33; 10:29-31; Acts 14:17; 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Cor. 9:8-10].
THE ALL-BOUNTIFUL HAS PROMISED:
Salvation – To him that ordereth his conversation [manner of life] aright will I show the salvation of God [Ps. 50:23]; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [Rom. 10:9-10; 1:16; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 2 Th. 2:13; Tit. 2:11-14; Heb. 7:25]
Prosperity – The Lord…. maketh rich [1 Sam. 2:7-8]; Keep the charge of the Lord…to walk in His ways…that thou mayest prosper in all that thou does [1 Ki. 2:3-4]; Both riches and honor come of Thee [1Chron.29:12]; The hand is upon all them for good that seek Him: but His power and His wrath is against them that forsake Him [Ezra 8:22]; If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures [Job 36:11]; But in His law doth he mediate day and night…whatsoever he doeth shall prosper [Ps. 1:1-3]; I wish above all things that thou mayest proper [3 Jn. 2 Cp. Matt. 7:7-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mk. 11:22-24; Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26; 2 Cor. 9:6-8].
Healing and health – If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord thy God that healeth thee [Ex. 15;26]; He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…Surely He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence…A thousand shall fall a thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee…There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come night thy dwelling [Ps. 91; 103:3-5; Isa. 53:3-5; 58:8; Matt. 8:16-17; Mk. 16:15-20; Jas. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3 Jn. 2].
All wants and needs – I shall not want [Ps. 23:1]; they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing [Ps. 34:9-10]; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly [Ps. 84:11]; nothing shall be impossible unto you [Mt.17:20]; all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive [Matt. 21:22]; all things are possible to him that believeth [Mk. 9:23]; whosoever…shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them [Mk. 11:22-24]; whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do…If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it [Jn. 14:12-15]; ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you [Jn. 15:7]; whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you [Jn. 15:16]; whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you…ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full [Jn.16:23-26]; it shall be given him [Jas. 1:4-8]; whatsoever we ask we receive of Him [1 Jn. 3:21-22; 5:13-14; Heb. 11:6].
- Dake A.R. Bible: Page 43.
Ephesians 1:4
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. – Dake A.R. Bible
This is what God chose before the overthrow of Lucifer’s world – that all of the new race of Adam who accept Jesus Christ should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
It is this plan that is chosen for all believers, not the individual conformity of any one person to that plan.
The final choice is left up to the individual and not to God.
All are called and chosen to become holy before God in love if they want to accept this plan and choice of God, but only those who meet the conditions will be so blessed [Jn. 3:16-20; Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22;17].
This is the true meaning of election in Scripture [v 5; Rom.8:29, note], that is, the plan is predestined and foreknown, not the individual conformity to the plan.
- Dake A.R. Bible: page 213.
Ephesians 3:18-19
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. [Dake A.R. Bible].
God’s love is:
1. Boundless [breadth, v 18]
2. Endless [length, v 18]
3. Fathomless, exhaustless [depth v 18]
4. Measureless [heights v 18]
All that is included in the breadth, length, depth, and height is submerged in the immensity of the love of God which comprehends all that is above, below, and past, present, and future.
It compasses the universe, and time and eternity.
It reaches to the depth of sin and infamy, to the height of the infinite divinity.
It passes all knowledge and wisdom.
God’s gift to man is the measure of His love [Jn. 3:16]; the death of Christ is the measure of His love [Rom. 5:5-10]; and the condescension of the Holy Spirit to transform men and work in their lives is the measure of the love of the Spirit to man [Jn. 16:7-15].
- Dake Annotated Reference Bible: page 213
Higher Ways [Part Two] John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God’s way is to put away grudges and all bitterness – man’s is to hold them and seek revenge.
God’s way is not to take a matter [between brethren] to law – man’s is to do this.
God’s way is to lend, hoping nothing in return – man’s is not to lend without security and gain.
God’s way is to judge not – man’s is to judge.
God’s way is to do unto others as one would wish to be done unto – man’s is to take advantage of others regardless of the outcome.
God’s way is to rejoice and glory in persecution and trouble – man’s is to fight back, resent and take revenge.
God’s way is to be kind to enemies and feed them – man’s way is to repay them for their wrong-doing.
God’s way is to be friendly with the lowest and all other classes – man’s is to show respect of persons, preferring those who can return them personal gain.
God’s way is to forgive 490 times – man’s to forgive a few times, and only when necessary.
God’s way is not to boast or seek His own things – man’s way is to brag and seek things for self.
God’s way is to labour and give to others – man’s to labour for self only, and ignore others.
God’s ways, thoughts, purposes, and acts are, generally speaking, different from those of man. His plan of creation and redemption are different from what man’s would have been, as well as His way of government. - Dake A.R. Bible
TRULY, JUST AS THE HEAVENS ARE INFINITELY HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO GOD’S WAY AND THOUGHTS ARE ABOVE MAN’S.
If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink – He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water [John 7:37-38].
Out of the believer will flow unlimited power to do the works of Christ – as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God – even to them that believe on His Name; which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Therefore, on the ground of His Word, with the accessible flow of unlimited power, as the sons of God, we must strive to habitually practice His ways, until it becomes second nature to us.
Hebrew 10:38
Now the just live by faith; but if any man draw back, My Soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Examples of Higher Ways [Dake]
Living and acting on faith regarding what is not seen, even what seems impossible to be true – while man lives by what he sees and understands.
God plans on eternity – man for time.
God the spiritual – man the material.
God consecrates Himself to the highest good of all – man to self-gratification.
God works in miraculous and mysterious ways – man in the ordinary.
God’s ways are supernatural – man’s natural.
God’s ways are unlimited – man’s limited.
God exalts through humility – man through self- exaltation.
God’s way up is down – man’s is to climb up without going down [humbling self] first.
God controls by love – man by force.
God gives justice without reward – man gives it for reward and personal gain.
God wins respect by goodness – man by wealth and power.
God redeems by death – man by money.
God’s program is carried on without outward show – man’s by show and splendor.
God’s way is to take no thought for the morrow – man’s way is made up of constant worry, planning and fretting.
God’s way is to give alms, pray and fast in secret; not to be seen of men – man’s is by public demonstration.
God’s way is to bring peace on earth by man’s personal surrender – man’s way is by force of arms and conquest.
God’s way of social life is to make feasts for the poor, lame, maimed and outcasts – man’s way is to make them for friends who are well provided for, the rich and influential.
Our finite minds are incapable of comprehending the true Omnipotence and Omniscience of God, and the following words recorded in the book of Job 11:7 – 8 reflect the awesomeness of God:-
Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limit of the Almighty [explore His depths, ascend to His heights, extend to His breadths, and comprehend His infinite] perfection?
His wisdom is high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol [the place of the dead]! What can you know?
God’s Ways & Thoughts Isaiah 55:9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. As rain and snow water the earth, in making it fruitful, so God’s word will accomplish its purpose.
SIX ASPECTS – His ways and thoughts higher. [Dake]
IN PARDON:
Men never would have planned pardon for enemies, as God did for those who devote themselves to destroying their plans, works and purposes. Men seek revenge on all such and harbor malice and hatred, whereas God planned redemption an untold glories for His enemies. [John 3:16; Romans 5:8]
IN NUMBER OF OFFENCES:
Under favorable and special circumstances men forgive a few times, but they are prone not to forgive repeated offences. God forgives freely many times and as completely and lovingly the last time as the first. [Matt. 12:32; 18:21-22; Rev. 22:17]
IN NUMBER OF OFFENDERS:
Men may pardon one person or a few who injure them, but the greater the numbers the less they are inclined to forgive. God forgives all regardless of the number of offenders.
[John 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 22:17]
IN KINDS OF OFFENCES:
Men usually limit themselves as to what kind of offences they will forgive; but God has no qualifications on this point, except the offence of rejecting the only means of help He can offer. [Matthew 12:31-32]
IN DEGREE OF OFFENCES:
Men will forgive if an offence is small enough not to be of any great injury to them; but God will forgive the greatest and most aggravated offences against Him. [Isaiah 53: John 3:16]
IN MODE OF PARDON:
Men may be willing to forgive if it does not cost them much, and they can see such is to their advantage; but God gave the most precious gift of heaven that He might have a basis of forgiveness for His enemies. God redeems on the basis of personal suffering and having substituted Himself to be punished instead of His enemies. He forgives by the very one whom men sought to destroy, the one made to endure the most horrible sufferings ever laid upon a human being. He blesses by faith in the blood atonement of the death of an innocent person. Man would have punished the guilty and satisfied justice; but God punished the innocent to justify the guilty. In fact the whole program of reconciliation of enemies to God is of such a high level that men could never have planned it.
Command Me Isaiah 45:11
Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons and concerning the work of My Hands command ye Me.
Two Commands to Israel:
Ask Me to show you things to come concerning My sons;
Command Me concerning the work of My hands.
This literally means that men have the authority to pray in such faith that they can direct the Almighty to do for them those things which they want and need.
God would rather do things for His people than to withhold from them.
To command God is an expression of highest relationship, friendship, and co-operation to the same end in life.
It is a rare privilege to command Him, and if exercised properly in fervent respectful petition, there is nothing that will be impossible to the believer.
Proverbs 15:11
11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
This confirms what was said (v. 3) concerning God’s omnipresence, in order to his judging of evil and good.
1. God knows all things, even those things that are hidden from the eyes of all living: Hell and destruction are before the Lord, not only the centre of the earth, and its subterraneous caverns, but the grave, and all the dead bodies which are there buried out of our sight; they are all before the Lord, all under his eye, so that none of them can be lost or be to seek when they are to be raised again. He knows where every man lies buried, even Moses, even those that are buried in the greatest obscurity; nor needs he any monument with a Hic jacet–Here he lies, to direct him. The place of the damned in particular, and all their torments, which are inexpressible, the state of separate souls in general, and all their circumstances, are under God’s eye. The word here used for destruction is Abaddon, which is one of the devil’s names, Rev. 9:11. That destroyer, though he deceives us, cannot evade or elude the divine cognizance. God examines him whence he comes (Job 1:7), and sees through all his disguises though he is sly, and subtle, and swift, Job 26:6.
2. He knows particularly the hearts of the children of men. If he sees through the depths and wiles of Satan himself, much more can he search men’s hearts, though they be deceitful, since they learned all their fraudulent arts of Satan. God is greater than our hearts, and knows them better than we know them ourselves, and therefore is an infallible Judge of every man’s character, Heb. 4:13.
- Matthew Henry Commentary
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” - Psalm 16:11
Worship is of key importance to our lives, and we know we need to do more of it. We can express the worth of God in many ways - in the way we live our lives, in loving people, in obeying Him in adoration, or in singing or dancing. There is a very special kind of worship, though, in which we have a divine encounter with God Himself. It’s coming into His presence, bowing down, falling down and showing Him our complete reverence.
Worship is the place that God promises to “meet with us,” because worship is something that is done on the inside - i.e., in our spirit. As Jesus tells us in John 4:23-24, “the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Worshiping the Lord, then, means coming into His presence, adoring, praising and loving Him in the same nature as He - in the spirit.
Most believers know that they have a responsibility to worship, but when asked to define what true worship means or how it’s done, they are unable to offer any answers. This is what we want to explore over the next few months. What is true worship? How and when are we to do it? And, what makes worship so important?
Whom Do We Worship?
Man, in general, has an inbuilt need to express his love and gratitude to some deity and that “someone” is who determines his worship.
Believers can worship the Lord with all their heart and soul because they have already invited Him into their lives - their spirits have already been united with and quickened by His Spirit. In other words, believers in Christ can “internally” communicate their love of the Father through the spirit. John 6:63 validates this: “It is the spirit that quickeneth [or makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing….”
Nonbelievers, on the other hand, cannot really worship the Lord in this way because their spirits are not yet united with or quickened by God’s Spirit. In other words, they cannot “internally” communicate or fellowship directly with the Father. They can only have an external form of worship. Therefore, they cannot personally or intimately know the Father. Listen to John 3:5-6:
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
We often read about being created with a “God-shaped hole” in our hearts. And, it’s so true: without an intimate, internal relationship with Christ, nothing on earth will ever fill us.
Though God does not need our worship, He is seeking those who are worshipers. (John 4:23-24) Thus, one of the reasons we worship is to minister and to bless Him. Worship is the time we forget about ourselves, concentrate on Christ and experience His presence.
What Makes Worship so Important?
Worship is important because, as Tozer once said, “…it’s the reason Christ came, the reason He was crucified and the reason He rose again.” Furthermore, the entire book of Revelation concerns the importance of worship and what God thinks of worship. Listen to Revelation 4:8-11 as an example:
“The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Other pertinent Scriptures are Revelation 11:16 and 19:4, and there are many other Scriptures in the Word that tell us God is seeking true worshipers. Scriptures like Psalm 95:6-7: “Oh, come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand…” And Psalm 99:5, “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy.”
Worship is critical because it’s the key to God’s presence. It’s what brings us intimacy with the Father. In other words, worship is a two-way communication. We come into His presence by loving, adoring and exalting Him. He then makes Himself known by communicating His Love and His inspiration (and revelation) back to us. This, of course, results in inexpressible joy for us.
This daily communion is what allows us to endure difficult circumstances. If we are hearing from the Lord and keeping our eyes only on Him, we can withstand anything. Worship, then, is not only the key to intimacy, it’s also the key to withstanding trials and problems and restoring the joy of our salvation.
[This article has been excerpted from Nancy Missler's book Private Worship: The Key to Joy.]
viagra and hearing loss Ed Treatment Natural Female use of viagra female version of viagra 761.
erectile dysfunction vacuums Cialis Dysfunction Erectile Levitra how to get viagra
herbal remedy for erectile dysfunction; Erectile Dysfunction Psychological Zocor erectile dysfunction zoloft erectile dysfunction 147.
robin williams viagra Viagra Spray "explore advances in male impotence treatments"
viagra perscription online Natural Remedy Erectile Dysfunction male hormone dhea impotence levels
will ferrell erectile dysfunction Viagra Perscription Online ed treatment with ginko
erectile dysfunction pills evaluated; On Viagra "non prescription viagra"
cialis viagra How To Buy Viagramale impotence age
Cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction cigarette smoking causing male impotence 395. Impotence Viagra The latest treatment for ed topical ed treatment 237.
most effective ed treatment! Viagra 50 Mg actos erectile dysfunction
l dopa for male impotence! Buy Cheap Viagra erectile dysfunction and pravastatin;
male impotence pumps vacu Holistic Ed Treatment cost of viagra
female forcing male sexual impotence; Male Impotence Brochure actos erectile dysfunction
accounting treatment for sr ed Water Ed Treatment Male impotence due to surgery male impotence enema 629.
lamictal erectile dysfunction! Accounting Treatment Sr Ed Ias "buy viagra online"
problems with viagra, Viagra Cheap erectile dysfunction link suggest
"non prescription viagra" Viagra Uk viagra times;
viagra soft tabs? Ed Treatments erectile dysfunction ed treatment
u 3312 viagra cialis Male Impotence Advice yohimbie bark and male impotence
facts male impotence psychological effects
lexapro erectile dysfunction,
erectile dysfunction paypal, Zetia And Erectile Dysfunction straighttalk net erectile dysfunction review
male impotence and solutions? Make Your Own Viagra newest transdermal treatment for ed
tricor erectile dysfunction Hebal Ed Treatmenterectile dysfunction exercise
Viagra and alternatives viagra and blood pressure 767. How To Make Viagra how to take viagra
cialis medication erectile dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction Pills accupril and erectile dysfunction
Subscribe to RSS
