"I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." —Malachi 3:6

　

It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I

I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead.

The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

 

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity.

 

It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.

 

Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise."

 

But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing."

 

No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God. We shall be obliged to feel—

 

"Great God, how infinite art thou,
What worthless worms are we!"

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But while the subject humbles the mind it also expands it.

He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe.

 

He may be a naturalist, boasting of his ability to dissect a beetle, anatomize a fly, or arrange insects and animals in classes with well nigh unutterable names;

 

he may be a geologist, able to discourse of the megatherium and the plesiosaurus, and all kinds of extinct animals; he may imagine that his science, whatever it is, ennobles and enlarges his mind.

 

I dare say it does, but after all, the most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity.

 

Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.

 

And, while humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatory. a meeting place a place of a solemn assembly

Oh,

there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in thinging on the Father, there is a quietness for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a yielding source for every sore.

 

Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.

I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.

God Communication With Believers

There is no inteligent sentence, no sane explanation that really can completely explain this mysterious ways that our Saviour and Lord can communitate with the hearts of those who have become His by His salvation

These were some books that a preacher at the TG4 Conference bought.

God's Word Does Not Change, But Changes Us

Last night I drove over to Union Mills to pick up Charity after a 12 hour marathon. We are glad business is good. They were working on orders for Satursday. Well, the time was 9:30 p.m. Wendy was still open, so I ordered a Junior Cheeseburger. That was good.



I had just finished typing up the outline on Philippians 2 for Sunday night. I really like doing outlines of the sermons. While I had previous taught on Philippians when I was at First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas back in 1992, the manuscript was still good.


All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalms 12:6

Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Ecclesiastes 12

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31\

GOD'S WORD DOES NOT CHANGE, THE WORD CHANGES US.

I woke up this morning around 4 a.m. with that statement on my mind. I hoped I could remember the statement when I got up. God's Word is forever the same. God is One who can not change or change His Word.

God speaks to us directly by the Written Word. How Good Is That?

THE UNIVERSE AND BEYOND CREATED BY GOD

I have always loved to look at the different shapes of clouds.

Genesis 9:13 "set My bow in the clouds.

Exodus 13:21 "in a pillar of clouds.

Exodus 20:21 "So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was." God is in the clouds.

Psalms 105:39 "He spread a cloud for a covering..." Which seems to say, God can control the clouds for His purpose and will to accomplish His will.

God in His wisdom has made all things in the Universe to be and do at His pleasure. The Universe and all that is in it, was by design and plan.

The universe was spoken into being by the mind of God in a moment. Of course, with God there is no time involved. But as I believe in the six-day creation of earth so was the universe spoken into existence.

In the coming weeks I will attempt to study this matter of the creation of origin of the world, earth, universe and mankind. Why? Because God is and He is the creator of all things in the Universe and beyond. (Is there a beyond the universe?)

Of course I will be reading a lot and taking notes and looking into this matter. I will relate this matter to our adult Bible study group on Wednesday Night's in the month of April 2009.

SO WHY PRAY IF GOD IS GOD

God’s plan is so comprehensive that it not only includes the final destinies of things but also includes the secondary, creatively processes that work together to accomplish these ends. For instance, God does not simply ordain light to shine on the earth each day; He also employs the sun, the moon, the stars, and countless other things to accomplish that end. God does not merely determine that someone will recover from a disease; He uses doctors and medicine to accomplish the healing. As the playwright of history, God did not simply write an ending for the book of time. He wrote every word on every page so that all events lead to the grand finale (Pray With Your Eyes Open, 109-10).

In other words, the “all things” which God works out “according to the counsel of His will” (Eph 1:11) includes the means that He uses to bring about His ultimate ends. God uses the sun to bring light to the earth, He uses doctors to restore people to health, and He uses prayer to bring about many things He has purposed in eternity past.

GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS SON CHRIST

I BELIEVE GOD IS GOD WHO IS THE GOD OF ALL THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN IT. AND THE ENTIRE WORLD IS GOD'S.

THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IS GOD'S TO DO

WHAT HE WILL.

The Lord’s Chosen Servant

Isaiah 42:1-25

42:1 Behold my Servant, (Christ) whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon Him; (Christ)
He will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed He will not break,
and a faintly burning wick He will not quench;
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till He has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for His law.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens mand stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
Sing to the Lord a New Song
10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
His praise from the end of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it,
coastlands and their inhabitants.
11 Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice,
the villages that Kedar inhabits;
let the habitants of Sela sing for joy,
let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare His praise in the coastlands.
13 The Lord goes out like a mighty man,
like a man of war He stirs up His zeal;
He cries out, He shouts aloud,
He shows himself mighty against His foes.
14 For a long time I have held my peace;
I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor;
I will gasp and pant.
15 I will lay waste mountains and hills,
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn the rivers into islands,
and dry up the pools.
16 And I will lead the blind
in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them.
17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame,
who trust in carved idols,
who say to metal images,
“You are our gods.”
Israel’s Failure to Hear and See
18 Hear, you deaf,
and look, you blind, that you may see!
19 Who is blind but my servant,
or deaf as my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind as my dedicated one,
or blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 He sees many things, but does not observe them;
his ears are open, but he does not her.
21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake,
to magnify his law and make it glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted;
they are all of them trapped in holes
and hidden in prisons;
they have become plunder with none to rescue,
spoil with none to say, “Restore!”
23 Who among you will give ear to this,
will attend and listen for the time to come?
24 Who gave up Jacob to the looter,
and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,
in whose ways they would not walk,
and whose law they would not obey?
25 So he poured on him the heat of his anger
and the might of battle;
it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;
it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.

GOD AS OMNISCIENT, TRANSCENDENT, STRONG, PRESERVER

ELOHIM:

The very first name we have in the Bible of God is found in Genesis 1:1. It is rendered as ‘God’ in most English translations. This is a plural noun, meaning more than two. It is used with singular verbs; the dual form ‘Eloah’ is used in Job. The first part, “El” means God and is attached to His might, power, majesty, glory, and authority. The second part “Ohim” means His plurality nature, so we can clearly see in this first Scripture God is introduced as the Almighty Trinity. Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Genesis .

Elohim means several things:

1. God as Creator, Preserver, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. This name implies God’s control over all things, His stamp on every stray molecule, pure sovereignty over the universe. If not for this, everything in the universe would be the same, and there would be no diversity. Ecclesiastes, Daniel and Jonah used Elohim almost exclusively.

Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24;

1 Kings 8:23;

Jeremiah 31:33;

Isaiah 40:1)

2. Even though this name is a ‘plural’ meaning more than one, it may not in and of itself prove the Trinity (the Trinity is proven by several means and arguments; although it definitely testifies to it! This means there is unity in diversity, that without this name God would not be known to us as stable and unifying, and to our understanding He would be chaos to us.

3. Because of the nature of this name, Elohim, meaning unity in diversity, and again communicating to us His triune nature, has cause many theological debates over the millennia. Critics to the Trinity say this refers to God’s kingship, and ancient kings often referred to themselves in plural form (plural of majesty); however there are other words that can be used to say this. But as a title for God, this ‘‘plural of majesty’’ tells us of His total diverse, yet unifying, nature.

4. This name encompasses all of the God characteristics, all of the essence, all of the fullness. This name puts the emphasis on His ‘fullness’ meaning we are to fully realize His Godhood and sovereignty over the entire universe, including ourselves.

Thus for us today we must never think of God as one-dimensional, that we can control Him by a simple understanding or category. Nor can we fully understand Him in a simple slogan, such as God is just Love. We cannot reduce God down to our choosing or understanding, but we can know Him as He revealed Himself to us. God is complete and “full’!

GOD GIVES AND THEN WE KNOW

Man does not first come to God that he might be taught; but he is first taught that he may come to God.

"Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom." God gives and then we know. When He opens our eyes then we can see. When He loosens our tongues then we can speak. When He says come forth then we live. When He commands us to be of good comfort then we can rejoice.

• God is first in all the works of creation and providence. He is all in nature, all in grace, and all in glory. "Without me you can do nothing." Thus, if you would deny yourselves; pray; resolve; love; believe, or know more than others it can only be by the gracious revelation of God to your heart.
  
• All the difference which exists between man and man, is only from the Lord Almighty; who is wonderful in counsel. You may cast the net on any side of the ship of piety but God alone can enclose it with spiritual blessings. Only thus, may you be taught to acknowledge who He is, rest on what He does, and finally be with Him where He is. And though your journey is attended with bitterness yet He shall soon crown you with eternal blessedness!

We exist for the glory of God, we exist to give glory to God, God exist that we might give glory to God.

1. “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace” Ephesians 15-6.


2. God created the natural world to display his glory: “The heavens declare the glory of God” Psalms 9:1


3. You are my servant Israel in whom I will be glorified” Isaiah 49:3 “. . . that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory Jeremiah 13:11 .


4. “He saved them [at the Red Sea] for his name’s sake that he might make known his mighty power” Psalms 106:6-7


5. “I have raised you up for this very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” Romans 9:17
   
6. “I acted [in the wilderness] for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out Ezekiel 20:4 .
   
7. After asking for a king] “Fear not . . . For the Lord will not cast away his people for his great name’s sake 1 Samuel 12:20-22)
   
8. “Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act [in bringing you back from the exile], but for the sake of my holy name . . . . And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name . . . and the nations will know that I am the Lord” Ezekiel 36:22-23, 32 .


9. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another” Isaiah 48:11.


10. “Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” Romans 15:8-9 .


11. is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” John 12:27-28.


12. “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” 2 Corinthians 5:15

GOD AND PRAISE

WHY DO WE ASK SUCH QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD?

• "Why did He desire to and create a plan of salvation that would frustrate his desire for all to be saved? Why did he create a world that would become sinful and frustrate his desire for perfection? Why was it God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge to crucify Christ (Acts 2:23) which was accomplished through many acts of sin (which is against God’s will by definition)? God’s plan to crucify Christ can be seen in Isaiah 53:10, ”Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.” Why does God send Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let my people go.” Yet Exodus 4:21 God says, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” Was God commanding someone to do something that He was ensuring they wouldn’t do? Did God not frustrate His own desire to have Pharaoh release Israel? (Romans 9 explains more) One of the biggest questions is why did God create a world capable of evil? The mere existence of an evil world works in contrast to God’s will. There are many more examples." A quote from a reader this week.


• The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore. Indeed, even angels never tire of looking into it (1 Peter 1:12). Humans are by no means angels, however, so rather than contemplating it, we argue about it.


• A generation ago evangelicals agreed on "the simple gospel": (1) God made you and wants to have a relationship with you, (2) but your sin separates you from God. (3) Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved, (4) so if you repent from sins and trust in him for your salvation, you will be forgiven, justified, and accepted freely by grace, and indwelt with his Spirit until you die and go to heaven.


• One gospel, many forms. So yes, there must be one gospel, yet there are clearly different forms in which that one gospel can be expressed. I am teaching First Thessalonians and Paul said, "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance." The Gospel is the plan of salvation, but the gospel has a far reaching effect upon those who by God's grace receive it.

• There are other forms of the gospel. You will noticed that the kingdom language of the Synoptic Gospels is virtually missing in the Gospel of John, which usually talks instead about receiving eternal life. However, when we compare Mark 10:17, 23-34 , Matthew 25:34, 46, and John 3:5, 6 and 17, we see that "entering the kingdom of God" and "receiving eternal life" are virtually the same thing. Reading Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15 and John 3:3, 5 together reveal that conversion, the new birth, and receiving the kingdom of God "as a child" are the same move. The terms eternal life and salvation and the kingdom are speaking of the same gospel.

PRAISE TO GOD IS A LIFESTYLE

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RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST PRAISE CHOIR, SOUTHERN STYLE

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All too often, praise to God is something that many people leave at church, an event that happens only when they come together with other Christians. However, praise should be a part of a believers lifestyle, inter-mingled as a part of their daily prayer-life. At work, in the car, at home in bed, or anywhere; praise to the Lord brings the refreshing of the Lord’s presence, along with His power and anointing. “...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:1).

Praise is an expression of faith, and a declaration of victory! It declares that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances (Romans 8:28). Praise is a “sacrifice,” something that we offer to God sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and wish to please Him. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

LORDSHIP OF CHRIST IN ALL THINGS

THE CATTLE ON THE HILL.

Eric and I were going to the church, and I wanted this photo, I had been looking for a photo to take with cattle on a hill side, and this was perfect.

We often say, God owns the cattle on the hill and even the hill.

GOD CREATED EVERYTHING

In the beginning there was nothing, and God created (Genesis 1:1).

GOD OWNS EVERYTHING

• ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:8).
• “Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10).

• “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1). The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psa 24:1 New American Standard The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, English Standard Version

Flowing out of the fact that God created and owns everything is the logical conclusion that whatever we possess is not really ours, but belongs to God; we are simply entrusted with our possessions. Therefore, we are trustees, not owners.


WE ARE TRUSTEES

I Corinthians 4:1-2 (three translations of the text)

• “A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful”
• This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. English Standard
• Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. KJV

WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GOD:

• God is infinitely holy. God is perfect in thought, word and deed, and He is glorified by His perfection and sinlessness (see below for a definition of sin). God is also a perfect judge, and the Bible tells us that the "LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness" (Isaiah 5:16). God's holiness may seem like good news at first glance. You may be thinking about someone who has wronged you in the past, and are glad to hear that God will judge them. You are right if you think that because God will judge all people. All people will be judged by the perfect standard of God's holiness and righteousness.

GOD'S CREATION - ASTRONOMY

THE CELESTSIAL SPHERE

GENESIS 1:14-16

• "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years......"

DEUTERONOMY 4:19

• "And lest you lift up your eyes unto heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the starts, even all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them, and serve the, which the LORD your God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven."

In the field of astronomy, the sky is also called the celestial sphere. This is an imaginary dome where the sun, stars, planets, and the moon are seen to be travelling. The celestial sphere is divided into regions called constellations.

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THE SKY: GOD'S CREATION, OUTSIDE OUR HOME 2008

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The sky is the part of the atmosphere or of outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight the sky of Earth has the appearance of a deep blue surface, as the result of the air's scattering of sunlight.[1][2][3][4] The sky is sometimes defined as the denser gaseous zone of a planet's atmosphere. At night the sky has the appearance of a black surface or region scattered with stars.

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The light from the sky is a result of the scattering of sunlight, which results in a light blue color perceived by the human eye. On a sunny day Rayleigh Scattering gives the sky a blue gradient — dark in the zenith, light near the horizon. Light that comes in from overhead encounters an air mass 1/38th of the mass that of a sunbeam coming along a horizon paths. So, fewer particles scatter the zenith sunbeam, and, therefore the light remains a darker blue.[5]

The sky can turn a multitude of colors such as red, orange and yellow (especially near sunset or sunrise) and black at night. Scattering effects also partially polarize light from the sky.

Sky luminance distribution models have been recommended by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) for the design of daylighting schemes. Recent developments relate to “all sky models” for modelling sky luminance under weather conditions ranging from clear sky to overcast.[6] (Note THE SKY and click to resources for this article)

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Photo are from our backyard June 18th 2008

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The New Analytical Bible and Dictionary - 1973 - John A Dickson Publishing Co. Led to the verses I used. The Dickson Bible I have used since the days in Seminary.

TIME, JOHN STOTT, GOD: WHAT IS HE DOING? FAITH

John Stott








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READ THIS BLOG ON FEED READER, NOT BAD I WOULD SAY

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Everything by Faith

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Faith is never meant to be a one-time experience. In our circles, it is tempting to fall into that trap because we put so much emphasis on being saved by faith. We talk about accepting Christ, receiving Christ, trusting Christ, and giving your heart to Christ. We challenge people to respond in faith to the gospel invitation. This is well and good, but sometimes we leave the impression that having been saved by faith, the rest of life is up to us. Not so! The same faith that saves us is the faith that carries us from day to day as we make the journey from earth to heaven. That’s why the Bible says, “The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) and we are told that the gospel reveals a righteousness that is “by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:17). The whole Christian life is a life of faith. We are saved by faith, kept by faith, and we walk by faith, endure by faith, rejoice by faith, serve by faith, love by faith, sacrifice by faith, pray by faith, worship by faith, and we obey by faith. We get married by faith, and we have children by faith. All that we do, we do by faith.

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Why is faith so important? I jotted down this short list as a way to focus my own thinking. Faith is the . . .
1) Condition of justification (Romans 5:1).2) Way we receive everlasting life (John 6:47).3) Means of access to God (Ephesians 3:12).4) Only way to please God (Hebrews 11:6).5) Victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).6) Key to answered prayer (Matthew 21:22).7) Title deed to all that God has promised (Hebrews 11:1).
Because God himself is entirely faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9), he honors those who love him enough to trust him completely. The question before us in this sermon is both simple and profound: What is faith and how does it work? This is a crucial topic because I think we often don’t appreciate how precious and how precarious is the life of faith.

IN THE BEGINNING. . . . . GOD. . . . . .

All things began with God. NOTHING STARTED WITHOUT GOD. Genesis chapter one, two and three are historically and scientifically correct. Literal in every sense of the term. Simply, God and Genesis are true.

• The Bible is totally correct in every detail, historical and scientific.
• The origin of the universe began with God, as stated in Genesis..
• The creation of Planet Earth began with God.
• The first people on Planet Earth were Adam and Eve.
• Scripture supports a young earth, not more than 10,000 years old.

DO WE MISINTERPRETING GOD?

BY OUR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS
PART TWO

I would sent out résumés to churches about a staff position. When I was in Lexington, KY, I must have sent out fifty résumé. Once I had five churches that we were communicating with, and I thought surely one of them would work out for us. And you know not one worked out. And I wanted to say to the Lord, what is it about me that you don’t trust? Could all this be the Lord sending me a coded message?

After all the Lord called me to preach? (That is another post), so why wasn’t any church calling me to come a preach? That was the feelings, emotions, etc. I was having at the time.

Let’s reflect for a moment on the other side of this point, I have had some very good staff positions. There have been some very good results of ministry as a youth pastor and as a pastor. I would say to Charity, "The Lord sure is blessing the work here, isn’t He?" "The Lord must be pleased with us here!"

Does good results demonstrate God’s pleasure and bad result designate God’s displeasure?
Have we misread God here?

If we use the matrix surroundings or environement as the interpretive point, we will discover its not

What I have had to learn, in pastoral ministry or personal life, the interpretive, explanatory environment, is not and cannot be the experience itself. Where the ministry is good or bad or not doing so well, is not to be the interpretive of the Lord’s blessings or displeasure for us.
That is good to have learned. The experiences are not self - interpreting, as to where the Lord is happy or mad. They are not signs he uses.

So what is the interpretive grid for a Christian who is practicing the faith he affirms? The Bible provides the declarative grid.So again I ask the question: Is this how a Christian should respond to life's miseries or successes? Should he try to read them as encrypted messages from God, trying to discern His heart and directions from them?

It’s true that we should examine our lives. Every message I preached, I would examine my life in light of what I had preached. We should test ourselves (I Corin 11:32; 2 Corinthians 13:5). When I was preaching I Thessalonians I would say, Lord am I the kind of pastor/teacher I need to me. Is there some sin I need to confess daily? Yes, we should do that all the time for sure, not just when things are going badly?.

Every thing at first went wrong with Job but it was not a sign of God’s disapproval. Adversity or overabundance are not a sure indicator of God’s approval or disfavor.

"Read God’s stance towards you, and discern God’s will for you, in the perspicuous volume of Scripture - - - not in the opague codebook of Providence." Larry D. Pettegrow article "The Perspicuity of Scripture." Larry a professor of Theology. The clarity of Scripture.

We want to think the Lord is in what we might perceive "as a storm in our life." Is He of course. He does control the storm (Psalms 115:3, Ephesians 1:11)

• What we need to know, the ASSAULTS (STORMS) (events) is not what tells you whether God loves you or is pleased with you or what He holds you accountable for doing. We find that out in the Word. Those ministries experiences, those life’s experiences, good and bad, are going to be apart of God invincible purposes. (Romans 8:28)

We like to read into PROVIDENCE. Most of the time its in retrospect, Hebrews 12:11 "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I have learned that it is a dangerous thing to believe that our hearts and feelings are trustworthy guides to all of life. How many times have you heard "Go with your heart." "Well I feel it’s the Lord’s Will." That is a trap I have fallen in several times. Its dangerous. Rather we should but out dependance in the Scripture.

What often gets us in trouble with ourselves (emotional) is when we justify our desires by focusing our perceptions of what we want to feeling rather than what the Scripture teaches. We feel we should start this ministry, or get involve in this ministry.

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant 01 24 07 and Checked by Charity Whisnant

MISINTERPRETING GOD?
Hunches and Bad Feelings
"I have no feelings on that!"

part one of two

Most of my life I have tried (I think) to comprehend God’s will for my life, and for ministry, and for living my life as a husband, a father, and as a person in general. I believe I have misread God’s several times in my life.

One particular point of conventional spiritualist's wisdom is the idea that God's hand can be discerned by the feelings a situation creates. "I feel this is right for me to do today." is an often used comment we hear. While you should perhaps feel good doing the right things, and feel bad about doing the wrong things, your feelings or emotional state at the time doesn’t mean God is making a statement to you in come kind of code, mixed in with the situation that you are currently in.

God's hand, His presence in an event, is discovered (we're told) by the feelings of serene peace, joy, love, and/or closeness to God that we feel. If it makes us happy, if it makes us feel close to God, then it is of God. If it's frightening and repellent, God cannot be in it. (Dan Phillips)

Do we MISCONSTRUE, MISINTERPRET, MISREAD GOD?

"Reading providence is a fool's game, yet it never lacks players." Dan PhillipsDiscontented with Scripture, yearning for something God never promises, countless Christians read feelings, circumstances, events, hoping to discern God's personal coded messages in them. They may not use tea-leaves and chicken gizzards, but they no less are acting as psychics rather than divines. The results can be devastating and enslaving.

Most Christians have a genuine desire to know the will of God for their lives. Saul want to know God’s will in a matter. He was so discontented over this matter that he finally went to a soothsayer. He thought God might work through the soothsayer.

Its amazing how Christians see what God is doing in their lives by means of feeling and emotions and circumstances and events that come into their lives.

In my own life, there have been so many events that have been distasteful, bitter, painful reversals taken place in my life, and in ministry. My first natural reaction at times seem to be that of the disciples when they saw Jesus walking on the water. They knew it was Jesus, but they perceived Him as a ghost. (Mark 9)
It was Jesus the disciples saw; it was not Jesus they perceived. What they experienced did not mean what they thought it meant.More than we would like to admit we want to read into our experience something Christ is saying to us.

When I was asked to leave a staff position at a church, I perceived that this termination of ministry was a reflection of the Lord’s heart toward me. Okay Lord what is it that you are trying to tell me? Boy I really felt bad. While thinking the Lord wanted me to be on the church staff, and I really believed I was doing my best, and then I was asked to leave, or the work was not working out so well, etc. "God are you telling me that you are displeased with me." You know the feeling?

Then you go to another place, another job, or another ministry, and the experience might be the same. Then you really might begin to say, "Okay Lord, why are you disappointed in me?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant Proof Checked by Charity Whisnant

Footnote:

Today is my son Eric's lst Wedding Ann. He and Leslie are doing great.

Talked to my sister Ellen last week. She is taking care of my mother, who is 85 years old.