Soli Deo Gloria

(90) God's Sovereignty Over History

2010-10-12T01:29:00.001-04:00

Pick up the newspaper or turn on your favorite news channel on any given day and you’re sure to come across news of some international conflict, terrorist plot, or political unrest. You’ll see a world in upheaval.

You want to see change and so you vote for the candidates and policies you think will help bring about a better world. Sometimes you feel like your vote makes a difference, other times you wonder whether it’s worth voting at all. Everything just seems to be such a mess. Sometimes, if you know enough about what’s going on in the world, it seems like everything is totally out of control. It can be pretty depressing. And, it would be very depressing and truly hopeless if the events of history were in fact random events, the product of evil men in control, making decisions with evil intentions.

But history is not the succession of random events or the product of evil intentions. History is not out of control. God is in control. This is His-story. We live. We die. Governments come. Governments go. Nations rise and fall. God is behind it all.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:26 NIV)

God started with one man, Adam, and from him He has created every nation. He has determined when each nation would exist and where they would exist. Kings, dictators, and presidents think they rule the world. They are wrong.

Daniel was a prominent government official in the empire of Babylon. He was also a great prophet of Jehovah who understood what was really happening in the world. Carefully consider Daniel’s perspective on world events.

"Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21 NAU)

Bible scholar Gleason Archer explains what Daniel is saying in verse 21. “God determines when in history events are to take place (“times”) and how long each process or phase in history is to endure (“epochs”).” The New Living Translation of this verse also helps us get a better understanding of the significance of this verse. “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.”
History is not moving along haphazardly. The events of history take place exactly according to the timing of God and last only as long as God has determined they would.

I know this presents lots of questions for us when we see all the evil in the world, but our questions must not lead us to alter the clear teaching of scripture. God is in control of all the events of history. Though this is confusing, think of the alternative and you realize any other solution is impossible. How could God declare the certainty of future events as He does all through scripture if He is not in control of history? How could we rely on the promises of God if God is not in control of the events of this world?

God is in control. He is sovereign over all the events of history, past, present, and future. And, He is orchestrating all these events to fulfill His great plan, to fulfill His purpose for His pleasure.

We can find calm, peace, and rest in the midst of political upheaval and a world that is filled with evil because our God is still on the throne of creation. God is in control!

You can find calm, peace, and rest in the face of troubling events in your life. You can find calm, peace, and rest in the face events that threaten your stability and even your life as you acknowledge and embrace the sovereignty of God over all of your life circumstances. Choose to submit to His plan, and find peace in the truth that He is orchestrating every event in your life for your highest good and His greatest glory. God is in control!

SDG

Next: (91) God's Sovereignty Over Man

(89) God's Sovereignty Over Nature - 2

2010-10-06T21:38:00.001-04:00

This is an appropriate time to begin to consider the impact of these truths for you and me. Scripture emphasizes two very real and practical ways that our lives will be transformed when we fully appreciate the reality of God’s sovereign control over nature.

Realizing and embracing God’s wise control and direction of nature will build greater confidence when nature gets ugly & threatening. If I really believe that God’s all-wise, loving and benevolent hand is guiding all of nature, I will not be as quick to be controlled by fear and anxiety when nature seems to threaten life and well-being. This is the heart of the first few lines of Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalm 46:1-3 ESV)

How do I find peace and confidence when it looks to me like all nature’s fury is coming against me? I remind myself, no, I preach powerfully to myself, reminding myself that not one drop of rain, not one puff of wind, not one spark of lightning, not one minor tremor of the earth can occur except by God’s design. I remind myself that it is all according to His plan that is ultimately for my good and His glory. I take refuge in Him and His ever present help. I choose to trust God and entrust my life to His sovereign plan and care.

There is a second source of confidence found in God’s sovereignty over nature that also provides great comfort. We find it in Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. We’ve already taken a glimpse at what Jesus teaches here, now let’s look at the fuller context and the lesson He teaches.

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. (Matthew 6:26-30)

Jesus uses God’s sovereign care over some of the least significant aspects of the ebb and flow of nature to teach us a very important lesson. He moves from the insignificant of nature to the most significant in nature, humanity. He shows us that God meticulously cares for a single sparrow and the wild flowers. Then, He teaches us that God’s sovereign care in our lives far exceeds His sovereign care of nature in these small, insignificant details. He teaches us that God’s providential care for us extends even to a single hair on our heads!

What comfort! What cause for confidence! So, why worry? If God so perfectly and sovereignly cares for the rest of creation, don’t you think He will take care of you? Come on, think about it! Choose to embrace sovereignty. Choose to trust God.

God is in control . . . really, He is. And if God can perfectly sustain and orchestrate the grand symphony of the rest of creation, don’t you think He can take care of you and me?

Next: (90) God's Sovereignty Over History

(88) The Nature & Extent of God’s Sovereignty

2010-10-04T18:58:00.009-04:00

When we set out to define and describe the sovereignly of God, we noted that “there is nothing whether within Himself or in all of creation that is outside God’s control and direction. God exercises control and direction over all creation without qualification or exception.” Let’s look more closely now at what scripture specifically says about three key areas of God’s sovereignty. First, God is sovereign over Nature.

It’s an exceptionally beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly with a few puffy clouds in the sky. The temperature is just right and there’s a peaceful, gentle breeze blowing. You take a dep breath of fresh air, smile, look up at the sky and say, “Thank You Lord!” Why do you do that? Because you recognize that this beautiful day is a gift from God. You are affirming God’s sovereign control of the weather.

We delight in God’s grace and mercy in nature as we experience it in the sunshine and rain that cause the brilliantly colored and fragrant flowers to bud and the delicious fruits and vegetables to grow. We are thankful that nature moves along giving us joy, pleasure and provision, even when we don’t notice.

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

(Matthew 5:45 NAU)

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. . . . (28)See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29)Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

(Matthew 6:26-29)

Yes, God mercifully and graciously cares for His creation. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Himself is the one who upholds all of creation by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Aren’t you grateful to know that God is in control of nature and nature is under control because He is God over nature?

But, what about when nature becomes threatening and fierce? What about when it rains on our picnic, or our garden wedding? What about when the flowers and fruit aren’t growing because of drought? What about when they are destroyed by storm or flood? What about when a city is virtually wiped out by a natural disaster? Do we still affirm God’s sovereign control and care of nature? Does God just send the sunshine and not the storm? What does scripture say about this?

O fire and hail, snow and clouds,

O stormy wind that carries out his orders.

(Psalm 148:8 NET)

For to the snow he says, 'Fall to earth,'

and to the torrential rains, 'Pour down.'

(Job 37:6 NET)

He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth,

makes lightning bolts accompany the rain,

and brings the wind out of his storehouses.

(Psalm 135:7 NET)

When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

(Jeremiah 10:13 ESV)

He makes the winds his messengers,

and the flaming fire his attendant.

(Psalm 104:4 NET)

For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

which lifts up the waves of the sea.

(Psalm 107:25 NKJ)

God is not just sovereign over the pleasant weather that makes for a delightful picnic in the park or a day at the beach. He is also sovereign over the fierce storms of hail, snow, stormy winds, tumults of water, blinding lightning, and hurricane force winds. All of nature moves at God’s command, fulfilling His perfect plan, devised according to His perfect knowledge and wisdom, to advance His perfect purpose.

Next: (89) God's Sovereignty Over Nature - 2
SDG
Share

Abiding in God’s Shelter

2010-09-30T01:16:00.004-04:00

Eagles are symbols of strength, boldness, power, and majesty, and for very good reasons. They have powerful wings, some as wide as seven feet which thrust them into the air to soar high in the sky. They have incredible endurance, being able to stay in the air for up to two hours. They are simply amazing to watch in flight. And if you are their prey, they are actually quite frightening as they swoop down with precision to attack.

And don’t dare think about messing with the mother eagle’s babies. For along with the great power of flight comes the protection of her powerful wings for her chicks. She will fiercely defend her nest and her young, protecting them from danger and attack. Very few predators will come near the eagle's nest to attack the young because of the nest’s lofty position and those who do are in for the fight of their lives to get to those chicks. As long as they stay in the nest, close to their mother, they are safe.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

(Psalm 91:1-4 NLT)

Abiding in the presence of God provides safety and protection; it is a place of refuge. Like the eagle’s nest high in the rocky cliffs, the presence of God is a place of shelter. In fact, it is the shelter of “the Most High”. When we abide in His presence, we are safe because God is high and exalted in glory and authority above everything. In God’s presence we find rest because we abide in the shadow of a God who is all-powerful, stronger than any foe that might come against us.

Abiding in the presence of God means that I am looking for help and protection from God and God alone. “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety.” I don’t rely on my strength, thinking, or skills, or anyone else’s. In His presence, I know His perfect care and protection and I have no reason to look around for help anymore, for I trust in God alone. When I abide in the presence of His loving care and protection, I don’t even think about looking for another source of help. I am secure. I am at rest. I have peace.

Abiding in God’s sheltering presence does not mean that all the dangers and attacks cease. The hunters are still out there. The traps are still set. There are still other threats to life and vitality out there. But, in His presence, you know complete protection and rescue from whatever comes along to destroy. The threat of harm and death may be very real, but not as real as God’s presence. Not as real as His protection. Nothing, absolutely nothing can touch His beloved children except under His protection, except that He is allowing it for a very good reason. As the mother eagle will sometimes push the little eaglet out to stretch its wings or learn to face its foes, so God orchestrates challenges in our lives to strengthen us, to grow us up. But it is always under His care and protection. He will never let it get out of hand. He will never let us be destroyed. He is always there to cover us “with His feathers” and “shelter us with His wings”. The dangers and attacks may threaten, but they can never destroy.

How can we be so confident? How can we know that we are safe in His presence? Sometimes, it really looks and feels like we’re going down, we’re going to be defeated, we’re going to be wasted. How can I be so sure this is not going to end really, really bad?

“His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” God never broke a promise. Never. Never. Please let that sink in. God has never been unfaithful. God has never not kept His word. He is more faithful than the rising and setting of the sun each day. Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts. No, totally and forcefully reject your doubts. Believe, even preach to yourself the truth that God never breaks a promise!

OK, that’s all well and good, God never beaks a promise. But give me a promise that I can cling to! These thoughts come to our minds – to my mind, and I am immediately convicted. How could I say, “Give me a promise I can cling to”? I know so many promises. You know so many promises. But the truth is, we really only need one. It is one that most Christians have memorized. We know it so well, it is so familiar, that we ignore that it’s there. This is the one verse of scripture that I am convicted by more than any other in all of scripture.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

(Romans 8:28 NAU)

You may wonder why I am convicted by this verse. Isn’t this a verse of comfort and confidence? Yes, it is, but I see how often I don’t believe it. I see my failure to trust God and believe His promise so clearly and unmistakably made in this verse. I see my anxiety, worry, and fear. And I am deeply convicted.

One promise is enough to give me peace and rest and confidence in the face of the worst life can throw at me. One promise is enough to be my armor and protection. But, let me share with you another.

Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.

Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.

(Matthew 10:29-30 NET)

Here’s the point. Sparrows are virtually worthless. Yet, God’s sovereign care over His creation is so detailed and all-encompassing that not even one sparrow ever dies except by the will of God. God cares for the most minute events in His creation. And what about man, the glory of His creation? What about those specially created in the image of God? Those who are “crowned with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5)”? What about the objects of His divine love? Not one hair is outside of His providential care and protection. Not one hair!

This is huge! What a promise! Think about this. God’s providential care and protection extends even to every single hair on your head. If God’s care focuses on a single hair, don’t you think the huge challenges you think will overwhelm you are also under His care? Every hair is under His care. Certainly the big stuff is under His care too. Nothing, absolutely nothing can touch you except under the providential care of “your Father”. Your loving, merciful, gracious, faithful Father is orchestrating the events of your life – down to the loss of a single hair – according to His all-knowing, all-wise plan for your highest good and His highest glory!

This is what it means to abide in God’s presence. It is a place of calm, peace, shelter. I know I have come into God’s presence because I feel safe, I know rest, no matter what is going on around me. If I am still plagued with doubt, fear, and worry, I need to persist in concentrated meditation on the character of God particularly His sovereignty, knowledge, wisdom, power, goodness, and faithfulness. I need to concentrate my thoughts on the promises of God. I must not give up pursuing the intimate, personal presence of God until I am fully at the place of peace and rest, confident that all is well because He is my shelter, because He has promised that not a hair on my head is outside His providential care.

My Father, how sweet it is to abide in your presence. You are glorious, majestic, perfect, infinite. You are my rock, my refuge, my shelter, my sure defense. I know I am safe in your care. I know nothing can touch me either physically, emotionally, or spiritually as I abide here in your presence. In your presence, I gain perspective. I see that all is well, not because all is going according to my plan, but according to your plan. And, I confess, I embrace the truth that your plan is the perfect plan for my highest good and your highest glory no matter how it might look to me from my finite human perspective. I will choose to rest in your sovereign care and trust you. I love you, and I love the joy, the glory of fellowship with you in your presence.

SDG
Share

The Refuge of God’s Presence

2010-09-27T05:42:00.003-04:00

We all need a place where we feel safe and secure, a place where we actually are safe and secure. But in a world that’s falling apart and is filled with fallen people, where can you really find such a place? .

Most of us go through times when life is running smoothly and we feel like we’re on the mountaintop with God. But soon, we can easily find ourselves in the valley with a mountain of trouble surrounding us on every side. For some, there is far more time in the valley than on the mountaintop, trouble just comes in waves one after the other. Life can get so tough you feel like you’re drowning..

Where can you go when you feel like you are being overwhelmed by trouble? Many people will resort to denial, trying to ignore the problems. “Don’t think about them and maybe they’ll go away.” Others try escapism. They try to run away from their problems and only end up finding more problems wherever they run.

But, there is an amazing place of refuge, not in denial or escape, but right in the face of the biggest mountains and the fiercest waves of trouble. It is the presence of God.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalm 46:1-3 ESV)

These verses describe a calm, a peace, and a fearlessness in the face of life’s worst catastrophes. The whole world is falling apart all around, but there is no fear. How can this be? It comes from finding your refuge – your place of safety and protection, your shelter – in God. It comes from finding your strength in God. It comes from the very real presence of God.

"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

(2 Samuel 22:47 NIV)

When I enter into and abide in the presence of God, the overwhelming problems of life don’t go away, but they are no longer overwhelming. When I enter into the place of intimate fellowship with God and get even a small glimpse of His glorious greatness, I become overwhelmed with Him, and my problems begin to diminish in my eyes. It’s not that the mountains of problems get smaller, it’s just that now I am standing on an even bigger, more awesome and stable mountain. Now, I look at those mountains from the grand vista of God’s awesome glory.

In God’s presence, I gaze at and contemplate on the God who has perfect knowledge of all my problems. I see a God who is perfect in His wisdom and plan for my life and my problems. I see an all-powerful, merciful and gracious God who can and will turn these mountains into stepping stones on which I rise to new heights of character and growth. And I see a God who is sovereign and faithful in caring for me as I walk through the valleys.

When thoughts of my problems swirl around in my head like a hurricane, it can be very difficult to focus my thoughts on the glories of God’s character. It takes determined, focused effort to concentrate and meditate on who God is. I must stick with it until I find refuge, until I find stability and peace in His presence.

How do I do it? I take one of God’s attributes at a time and focus my attention on it and meditate on it. I remind myself that God is sovereign – my problems may seem out of control to me, but God is in full control. I think of His infinite knowledge and wisdom and remind myself that He knows more about my problems than I do and He has a perfect, wise plan to use them for my good and His glory. I remind myself that God is good, gracious, merciful and faithful.

As thoughts of the problems come to my mind and I begin to get distracted and disturbed, I force myself to refocus on the character of God. Slowly, but surely, I begin to gain perspective. As I abide in His presence beholding glory, I actually begin to rest in His presence, find peace in His presence. Now that the threatening thoughts of my problems are far away, now that I am standing on the rock of God’s glory, now, I can begin to look at and think about my problems from God’s perspective. And I can do it calmly, peacefully, and with confidence because I am resting in Him. I am standing with unwavering stability on the Rock of my salvation. I must not be satisfied until I have found this place of safety, security, peace, and calm.

Are you facing problems that threaten to overwhelm you? God invites you, God longs for you to come into His presence. Sit down, curl up with Him in His strong arms, gaze upon His glory. Look intently at that wonder of who He is. Be overwhelmed by an infinitely awesome God.

Come into His presence. He wants to help you think straight, see clearly, find strength, wisdom, direction, hope, peace, stability. Listen to Him comfort you and speak to you. Come into His presence. He’s waiting for you.

SDG
Share

Entering God's Presence

2010-09-24T10:44:00.001-04:00

“Father God, I love you . . . I worship you . . . you are so great, so glorious.” These words roll off my tongue in rapid succession, so quickly, so easily as I begin my time of prayer. And as soon as they do, I realize it comes too quickly, too easily. It barely has meaning. It’s just words with little heart.

I slow down. I think. I reflect. I meditate on the glory of God. And now, I begin to enter into the presence of God.

Here is what is in the heart of the one who truly knows and experiences the glory of God’s presence:

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. . . . When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek." (Psalm 27:4,8 NAU)

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! 2I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, "When will I be able to go and appear in God's presence?" (Psalm 42:1-2 NET)

Do you hear and feel the desperation and determination in these verses? “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek.” “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! I thirst fo God . . .” This is passion. This is a desire that demands to be satisfied. It is unquenchable by anything else but personal, intimate, me and God alone in unity of heart, mind and soul fellowship! Nothing else will do. There is no stopping, no ending of the pursuit until there is an abiding in the presence of God. Desperation. Determination.

Discovering the intimate presence of God begins with a longing that has resided deep in the heart, that has been expressed to God, and a longing that will continue to be pursued, “all the days of my life.” There is a continual thirst, for once you have drunk from the well of God’s divine presence, you will be satisfied with nothing else. You may drink from other wells, but they will be so tasteless and unsatisfying that you will know there must be something more, something better, something you know you have tasted before and long for again.

But how is it cultivated? How do you come to taste of this soul-quenching presence of God? You “behold the beauty of the Lord”. Some translations replace the word “behold” with the word “gaze”. It is an intense look. It is contemplation and meditation. On what? On the “beauty” of the Lord. His splendor. His majesty. His glorious greatness. His divine character.

This is no casual approach to God! You can’t think you can carve out 15 minutes in your day, read a few verses, read a few paragraphs in a devotional, and then rattle off all your requests to God in the remaining time and expect to enter into and experience fellowship in the presence of God. It takes time! Time to empty your head of all the thoughts that compete with single minded focus on God. It takes time to focus your thoughts on the character of God. It takes time to get yourself quiet before Him to spend time with Him and hear from Him.

There’s a principle that runs through scripture, especially the messages of the prophets. It is this: “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13).” Jesus repeated the same basic idea when He said the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. You don’t get to the place of intimate fellowship in the presence of God by half-hearted effort. It comes through passionate pursuit that will not stop or be satisfied with anything else but to know, “I have met with God; I have been in the presence of God. And now, I go forth, living and walking in His presence.”

Lord, may I attempt to be satisfied with nothing else then to know your very real presence in deep, meaningful, intimate, personal fellowship with you in your presence. May I be desperate for and determined to gaze on, meditate on, and adore your beautiful majesty. Lord, keep me in your presence, always abiding, walking with you, mindful of your presence with me at all times. Help me to live in fellowship with you – true, life altering, thought governing, heart beating with your heart fellowship with you.

SDG
Share

Abiding in His Holy Presence

2010-09-22T05:49:00.004-04:00

God reigns over the nations! God sits on his holy throne!

(Psalm 47:8 NET)

To abide in the presence of God is to abide in the presence of infinite holiness, righteousness and perfection. It is a very sacred place, a place where sin cannot abide. The one and only way anyone can be accepted into the presence of perfect holiness and not be immediately consumed is if they possess perfect holiness. And so, the only way to enter into this sacred place is through the shed blood of the glorious Christ, clothed in His perfect righteousness. It is because of the perfect righteous ness of Christ given to us that we are not just accepted into the holy presence of God, but are actually invited and welcomed. We are told to come boldly before Him. How astonishing!

The LORD our God has shown us his great glory and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. (Deuteronomy 5:24 NET)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19 NLT)

How astonishing! How incredible! How glorious! I can enter . . . I am invited and welcomed to enter into the presence of the consuming fire of God’s holiness and live to tell about it!

And as I enter into His holy, sacred presence, I am broken by the gift of His grace that provides me with the righteousness of Christ. And, I see at once that my practice does not match up with my position. I am deeply humbled, deeply grieved over my sin. I see that it is not just the big sins that I commit that make me unworthy of His grace, Christ’s righteousness, this welcome into His presence. It is the very reality that every moment of every day I fall short of the standard, the true standard, His perfection, His holiness, His righteousness. In my best moments, I am imperfect, I think less of God than I should, I love Him less than I should. And I am deeply, deeply humbled and broken and filled with incredible awe and wonder that I can come into His holy presence and be forgiven, be welcomed, be embraced by pure holiness.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (Psalm 90:8 ESV)

Abiding in the presence of His Holiness touches my heart and I come to see the ugliness of my sin. In the glorious light of His holiness I see the darkness of my sin. And I hate it! I want to forsake it. I want to be clean. I want to be pure. And I see so clearly why I desperately need His mercy and grace; why I so desperately need the righteousness of Christ. And I am so grateful. Grateful for His mercy that withholds condemnation in Christ. Grateful for His grace that welcomes me into His presence. Grateful for forgiveness.

Oh, holy God, forgive me! Cleanse me. Make me clean. Draw me into your holy presence where I see your holiness so clearly and am so overwhelmed that I am passionate about turning from sin, passionate about living a holy life, passionate about honoring your holiness, for you are holy.

May my words and my thoughts be pleasing in Your sight, my sheltering rock and my redeemer! (Psalm 19:14 NET)

SDG
Share

Abiding in the Presence of God

2010-09-20T16:50:00.001-04:00

To all those who have asked or emailed me about when I will be blogging again, I hope to soon get back to regular posts to Soli Deo Gloria related to the character of God. But for now, I want to share with you how God has been working in my live to draw me deeper into an awe and wonder of His glory.

Lately, God has been teaching me so much about abiding in His presence. It has been and I expect it will continue to be a humbling and exciting journey.

You lead me in the path of life;

I experience absolute joy in your presence;

you always give me sheer delight.

(Psalm 16:11 NET)

Abiding in the presence of God is both a fundamentally doctrinal reality and a very personal experience. It is both factual and mystical. It is a matter of the intellect – thinking rightly about God, but also a matter of the heart and soul. It is experiencing God as the one who is infinitely transcendent and yet so wonderfully near and intimate. It is recognizing that God is present everywhere at all times and yet, so beautifully and uniquely present with me, right here, right now as if He were no where else.

Abiding in God’s presence is not a place entered into casually or in a rush but it is available at any time in just a moment.

When you truly enter into the intimate presence of God you know it, because it is unmistakably characterized by peace, harmony, joy, a deep sense of contentment, fulfillment, and soul satisfaction, awe, wonder, confidence, humility, abandonment, surrender, devotion, and love. Yes, it is the place of deep love and affection – you love deeply and you know you are deeply loved.

In the presence of God, in the place of real intimate fellowship with him, all fears, worries, desires, and temptations fade away because in that place, nothing else matters, nothing else can penetrate this sacred place but the beauty of his presence.

It is a place where your head clears of all the fog, and everything becomes crystal clear – everything that really matters that is, for all other thoughts and distractions are shut out.

But it’s not about how you feel – though it is wonderful – for when you start to focus on how you feel, you know it is all wrong. It is all about Him. It is all about delighting in Him, not for the peace, joy and delight that IT BRINGS but just for the peace, joy and delight that HE IS. There is great blessing in dwelling in the presence of God, but the pursuit is never motivated by the blessing alone, in and of itself. It is purely motivated by the blessing of Him, knowing Him, possessing and being possessed by Him.

God, draw me into the joy of your presence, the sheer delight, peace and majesty of your glory. May I find my life in you and you alone. Grant that I would be so overwhelmed by your glorious beauty, majesty, holiness, and infinite perfection that it cannot be contained, that it would overflow in praise and worship, in declaration of your glory to all and in all.

SDG
Share

(87) The Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

2010-05-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Having established the fact that God’s sovereign rule is purposeful and follows a definite plan, a question arises. What motivates and guides God’s purpose and plan? Many believers would ponder for a moment and then reply that God is ultimately motivated by His love for us. Ah, the warmth and encouragement of the love of God. But this is not what ultimately motivates God. Remember, God is not man-centered, God is and must be God-centered. God does not exist and God is not motivated to do what pleases us. God exists and is motivated in His sovereign rule by what pleases Him.

For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6 NAU)

As God exercises His sovereign authority over history, He does whatever Hie pleases and whatever He pleases, He does. God is governed by what pleases Him. God acts according to what pleases Him. It can be, and we should want it to be no other way. Why? Because what pleases God is the highest good, the greatest wisdom, the best plan. God can only act to advance what is perfect, holy, righteous, just, and good because that is His nature. And this is what pleases Him.

Of course this raises some perplexing questions for us. We wonder how the existence of sin and evil fit in with these truths. How can God be sovereignly controlling history according to what pleases Him and yet, sin exists and evil prevails?

We will deal with these confusing questions and see how scripture answers these questions for us in due time. But for now, we will stay focused on the clear teaching of scripture that God works all things according to the purpose and counsel of His will (Eph. 1:10-11), and according to what pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). God is sovereign over all creation, He is in control, and He is ruling according to what pleases Him. Let’s not question or alter scripture because it is confusing to us when we look at the world around us.

This is true when it comes to you and I specifically. God’s love for us and all His thoughts and actions toward us and on our behalf are ultimately motivated by what pleases Him, not what pleases us.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 NAU)

What a fascinating passage of scripture. We are commanded to work out our salvation; to put the reality of our salvation into practice in how we live our lives. Then, we are told that God is working in our lives to this end. He is working in us to give us the will or desire, and then, He is giving us the ability. And what is all this willing and working focused on? God’s good pleasure. God is constantly at work in us so that our exclusive focus and goal in life, and all our energies are poured into His good pleasure. God is not working to satisfy our desires and do what pleases us. He is working to change our desires so we will live to do what pleases Him.

Guess what? It really is true. It is, all about Him! God exercises His absolute, sovereign rule over all creation to bring about what pleases Him. And for this, we should be eternally grateful, for what pleases Him is infinitely better than what pleases us.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

(Romans 11:36 ESV)

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.

All glory to him forever! Amen.

(Romans 11:36 NLT)

Share

Next: (88) The Nature & Extent of God’s Sovereignty

(86) The Purpose of God’s Sovereignty

2010-04-23T08:49:00.002-04:00

There have been rulers down through history who exercised a high level of sovereign control over their people. Some have been quite maddening in their capricious, aimless and foolish decisions. In glaring contrast, God’s sovereign rule is not random, erratic, or whimsical. God’s sovereignty is purposeful and intentional. He has a definite, skillfully designed and targeted plan. We touched on God’s plans and purpose when we studied the immutability of God but it bears repeating and closer scrutiny.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

(Psalm 33:11 NIV)

Through the parallelism of Psalm 33:11, we see both the ancient and enduring nature of God’s purposes and plans. Scripture repeatedly speaks of God’s purposes and plans as existing and being initiated in eternity past. In fact, Paul refers to God’s plan for the Cross and the Church as being part of His “eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11).” He describes this purpose more fully in chapter one.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (9)He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him. . . . (11)also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will . . . (Ephesians 1:5,9,11 NAU)

The Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose decreed from before He created anything. It is all part of God’s kind intention or purpose for the redeemed. If the Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose from before creation, so also, the fall Satan and man and the entry of sin into His creation fits within God’s ultimate plan and purpose.

Before God created, there existed in the mind of God a purpose for all He would create and a plan for that creation to fulfill His purpose. Proverbs 16:4 states this clearly, “The LORD has made everything for his own purposes. (NLT)” In their classic commentary Carl Friedrich Keil, and Franz Delitzsch clarify what this verse is teaching us.

All is made by God for its purpose, that is, a purpose premeditated by Him, the world of things and of events stands under the law of a plan, which has in God its ground and its end.

God has a perfect, wise plan and purpose for His-story that He devised in eternity past. He set in motion from before creation and He is sovereignly steering or orchestrating that plan in time.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)

God states it very clearly. In fact, He links His identity as God to the truth that He has made the end of history known from the very beginning of history. Before there was any history or even creation, all of history was established in the mind of God. He declared much of His plan for history to man and states here that all He has purposed to do in time will in fact take place. God rules with a perfect, wise, eternal purpose and plan.
Share
Next: (87) The Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

(85) What does it mean to say that God is sovereign?

2010-04-21T01:26:00.001-04:00

What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? The word sovereign sums up what scripture teaches about God’s rule and control. Scripture teaches us that God alone is the autonomous, free, independent ruler of all creation, exercising absolute control and direction over all creation. Let me break this down for you.

God rules. When you say this, you have said nothing more than that God is in fact, God. He is King. With His all-seeing eyes and all-knowing mind, His perfect wisdom, goodness, righteousness and justice, God rules over all He created. That is, He rules over all existence outside Himself, from the dawn of creation to eternity. God rules over it all.

God is an autonomous ruler. Autonomous comes from the Greek. It means self-law. It describes God as being self-governing, subject only to Himself and free of any other law or constraint.

God is a free ruler. This further emphasizes God’s ability to act without external restraint. There is nothing and no one that exists that God is obligated to obey. There is no force of nature or humanity that diectates, constrains, or restrains His rule.

God is an independent ruler. This emphasizes the truth that God is without obligation to any other person or ruler. Not only is God free to act, He is not obligated to act in anyway by some moral code outside Himself. God does not owe anyone anything He must be obliged to pay back..

God exercises absolute control and direction. Scripture clearly teaches that there is nothing whether within Himself or in all of creation that is outside God’s control and direction. God exercises control and direction over all creation without qualification or exception.

God rules and exercises absolute control and direction over all creation. This includes all existence, past, present and future, in heaven and on earth. His sovereign rule and control of creation is complete and without exception to the most minute, sub-atomic detail. As theologian R.C. Sproul puts it, “There is not one stray molecule in all the universe.”

For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6)

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35 )

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

Share

Next: (86) The Purpose & Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

(84) The Sovereignty of God - Introduction

2010-04-20T09:47:00.001-04:00

Let me suggest to you what I believe is one of the top ten most used but most misunderstood mantras of Christianity, “God is in control.” Christians say it when they want to find stability and encouragement in the face of frightening circumstances like the news of a serious illness. We say it when we want to believe we will make it through a tough financial time. Often, we will use it to try to bolster the confidence of a family member or friend who is hurting.

Then, there are other times we want nothing to do with this statement. For many Christians, when you are hit hard by the evil that is so prevalent in the world, we don’t quickly affirm that God is in control of the evil actions of wicked men.

And then, we don’t gravitate toward embracing God’s control when things continually don’t go the way we like. We don’t mind God being in control of everything as long as it fits with how we think things should be. We don’t mind celebrating the sovereignty of God as long as He doesn’t interfere with how we think things should go.

The sovereignty of God is possibly the most debated and easily misunderstood and misapplied of all the attributes of God. We will take this study one step at a time, relying heavily on scripture as our guide and beginning with a narrow focus on God’s sovereignty as an essential aspect of His nature. It is critical that we start with this focus on God and His nature as sovereign so as not to cloud or pollute the nature of God by thoughts of what this means to us and our supposed personal sovereignty over our own lives. In other words, we must focus on what scripture reveals about God’s sovereignty first, and later, think about what this means for us and our lives.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12 ESV)

Share

Next: (85) What does it mean to say the God is sovereign?

(83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

2010-04-16T09:29:00.000-04:00

God is holy, one-of-a-kind, infinitely unique. He is unique in every aspect of His character. He is unique in His thinking and His actions. God is so unlike us, so inhuman.

Because God is infinitely unique, so different from us, we will have to make a conscious effort to appreciate and live according to His unique character. We will always need to be careful that our view of God, His character and ways has not slipped into a man-conceived idea of who God is. We must make sure our view of God does in fact reflect who God is as revealed in the scriptures. It may seem that once we have studied the scriptures and accurately understood God’s character that this exercise would be finished. It is not. We can easily slip into viewing God in accordance with what makes sense to us. We can easily adopt the view of our culture. And in both cases we will be wrong in our view of God. When you are conscious of it, you will be surprised at how quickly and easily your view of God slips from the truth presented in scripture.

In our humanness, we will naturally think in keeping with human thinking. We will naturally think in a way that makes sense from a human point of view. We will naturally do things the way every human does things. We will not naturally think and act in keeping with God’s unique character, thinking, and ways. Our thinking and actions needs to be brought in line with God’s unique thinking and ways.

So, we must consciously strive to understand God’s unique thoughts and ways, guided by His Word and His Spirit. Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique thinking. We will think differently than most people because God thinks differently.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique values. We will value different things and we will have different desires than most people because God’s values are different, God’s desires are different than man’s.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique actions. We will act differently than most people because God’s ways are different than man’s.

Living out God’s holiness means we must consciously and carefully purge our lives from anything that is contrary to the character and ways of God.

So, I ask myself, “Am I thinking man’s way or God’s way?” “Am I looking at life from man’s viewpoint or God’s?” “Are my values and actions a reflection of God’s uniqueness?” “Am I really living a holy life?”

How about you? Does your life reflect a vital relationship with the holiness of God? Are you a person living out the reality of God’s holiness? Do you look at life differently, with new purpose and passion. Are you unique because you reflect the character of God? God is holy . . . unique . . . different . . . are you? Are you exclusively His?

Prayer of Commitment:

Holy God,

I want to know you in your holiness. I want to understand your uniqueness. Reveal to me how I have lowered you to the level of mankind. Show me how my view of you is less than what you really are. I want to demonstrate your holiness in my life. Help me to see where I am like man when you have redeemed me to be like you. Change my thinking. Change my values. Change my life in every way.

Make me holy, unique as you are.

Share

Next: (84) The Sovereignty of God - Introduction

(82) Exclusively His

2010-04-13T01:15:00.003-04:00

We like to think that our lives are ours to live as we want. We don’t like other people telling us what to do, how to live our lives. We have our ideas, we make our plans, and we set out to fulfill our plans. We don’t like it when someone or something frustrates our plans. And all this thinking flies in the face of what it means to live in recognition and response to the holiness of God.

Remember, holiness has to do with difference or uniqueness. It also has to do with distinction and separation. As we have seen, God is infinitely distinct, separate from all creation. He also applies this holiness to believers.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

At the time of salvation, God makes us holy, He sets us apart from the mass of humanity to make us His people making us different, unique. Peter explains this change and what it means very clearly.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peter refers to believers as a “chosen race.” The Greek word is genos and refers to the offspring of a person or people group, or a nationality. This may seem peculiar to us. After all, we are all from different races. But, Peter is thinking of the fact that God has chosen people from all races to become His people, forming a new and distinct group of people. In fact, by the second century, Christians are referred to as a “new race.” Perhaps in the time that Peter was writing, Christians were already being recognized as a distinct group of people who are separate and unique among the mass of humanity.

Second, Peter refers to us as a “royal priesthood.” This could also be translated as “the king’s priests.” Here believers are viewed as both royalty and priests. This is another statement of distinction from the world. Believers are part of God’s royal family and also serve as mediators between Him and those who remain outside the family of God.

Third, we are called a “holy nation.” The word for nation here is ethnos and again refers to a distinct people group. This is a people group that is “holy.” And again we see that we have been set apart. We are a distinct group of people in the world of humanity.

Finally, we are called, “A people for God’s own possession.” Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest explains that the Greek word that is translated “possession” literally means “to make around,” that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. It speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God. Each saint is God’s unique possession just as if that saint were the only human being in existence.

Through three unique descriptions, Peter makes it clear that believers have been placed in a new position as God’s people, His possession. We are no longer like the average human being, we are different, set apart, unique. We are now part of a new race, a new priesthood, a new nation. We are now God’s people, part of His family. And so, our lives are not ours to live as we please. We belong to God. Peter continues and explains that God has a specific purpose for us as His people.

God chose us to be His people for a very specific purpose, to “proclaim the excellencies” or praise of the one who “called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” In other words, God made us His people so that we would live, with exclusive purpose, to give Him glory. It is a reasonable expectation that we would live exclusively for the praise and glory of God because it is God who made us His people and gave us the gift of His mercy (v.10) .

Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV)

Christ redeemed us “for Himself”, to be God’s possession. God has separated us to Himself. We have been set apart as His people, His possession, to live for His purposes EXCLUSIVELY! God expects His people to live as people who are distinctively different, unique, and set apart from the lost world in that we live our lives exclusively for His purposes, by His design, to fulfill His desires. This it what it really means to be holy. Holiness is not jsut about moral purity. It is about being different. It is about living our lives in a way that is quite unique compared to the way unbelievers live. Being holy means living my life as a child of God, according to God's desires alone, to fulfill His plans and purposes alone, for His praise and glory alone. Holiness is about being distinctively and uniquely God's.

So, I must ask myself, “Am I really different in my values, desires and lifestyle?” “Does my thinking, planning, and choices in life reflect a unique, distinct and all encompassing demonstration of life lived for God and His glory?” "Am I really living a holy life?" Or, in my values, desires, and lifestyle, do I look a lot like the average unbeliever in my community? Think about it. Does God really have all of you?
Share

Next: (83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

(81) Living in Response to the Holiness of God

2010-04-09T09:24:00.000-04:00

What exactly does it mean to honor the holiness of God? What exactly does it mean for us as believers to live holy lives? In order to answer these questions accurately, we need to briefly return to a few fundamental concepts as it relates to the meaning of holiness.

Remember, we have discovered from the root meaning of the Hebrew word qodesh that holiness means to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for God’s purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. Holiness is a matter of difference, distinction, and uniqueness.

To live in response to the holiness of God is to pursue His uniqueness. It involves allowing Him to move us from our humanistic thinking, values, and ways. We must be careful not to reduce God to our thinking and concepts of God. We must diligently assure that our concepts of God match with His uniqueness as revealed in the scriptures.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

When I begin to think about the awesome uniqueness of God, I am struck with a series of questions, “Do I really see God as infinitely unique?” “Do I really treat God like He is the one -and-only, unique God of all creation?” “Do I really act like He is God or do I act like He’s just a little bit better version of me?”

That last question might seem almost blasphemous, and if it was a statement and not a question, it would be. But I must be honest. Sometimes the way I treat God isn’t any better than I would expect to treat another human being who was just a bit better than me. Quite frankly, I’m not sure I treat God better than I would a human dignitary at times. Does this sound shocking to you? Then perhaps you need to take a closer look at your own heart.

Let me illustrate. If I was going to make a financial decision and I knew someone I rubbed shoulders with every day was really, really, I mean exceptionally good with financial things, I would seek his advice. If I was considering a career move and I had another close acquaintance who was clearly gifted in guiding people, and giving excellent counsel in matters like this, I would seek her out for advice. If there was someone in my life that I really held in high regard, deeply appreciated, and viewed with great respect, I would look for, excitedly anticipate, and greatly enjoy spending time with him. I would be careful not to dishonor him, hurt him, disrespect him. I would want to please him, protect him from unkindness, make him happy. I would count it a profound privilege and be greatly humbled by the honor of knowing this man and having a personal relationship with him.

Now, if I would act this way toward human beings, and I honestly believe I would, what does this say about how I act toward God who is infinitely more special, unique, one-or-a-kind? Do I deeply cherish and value Him as my Father, friend, and counselor? Do I really have a sense that it is an unspeakably profound privilege and honor to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him? Am I determined to honor Him and do I have a healthy fear of dishonoring Him? Do I act like I can disregard and ignore Him, speak little of Him or too Him, dishonor Him, disobey Him and with cavalier, indifferent casualness act like its no big deal. Would I even treat a dear friend with such callousness?

We need (I need) to continually refocus our view of God to bring it into a sharp, clear view of the holiness of God. We need to lift our eyes and see the one-and-only majestic, brilliant, marvelous, perfect, infinite, unique God of all glory. We need to see God, high and lifted up, with the awesome heavenly beings surrounding His throne crying out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy . . .”

We need to fall face down in humble worship, surrender, and absolute honor of Yahweh. Then, we need to get up, and live every moment, in every thought, and in every action to honor and glorify the Holy One.

Be filled with wonder as the people of Israel were:

Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! (Deuteronomy 5:24 NLT)

Share

Next: (82) Exclusively His

(80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service

2010-04-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

(Isaiah 6:8)

The first invitation given to the repentant and redeemed is to go and tell others of the grace that has been given. The first response of the one who has come to appreciate the glory of God’s holiness and the gift of His grace is, “Here am I, send me!”

God invites Isaiah to join Him in what He is doing. He is offered a new position. Isaiah now became a man who was separated to God. He became a servant of God; and so unique as God is unique, different from the common man who is simply living for himself.

In his new position, Isaiah has a new purpose for living as he now was filled with the passion of knowing God and glorifying Him. This is evidenced by the way Isaiah lived his life in service to God.

This is the effect the a true understanding of the holiness of God has on a believer. We see ourselves in a new position. We are no longer "of" the world. We are now separated unto God to go back into the world to declare and demonstrate His character and glory.

When we see the holiness of God, we to will have a new passion. A passion to know God, to honor and glorify God. The world's passions are position, power, pleasure, prestige. Ours is the glory of God.

What’s your passion in life. What are you really living your life for? Are you passionate about knowing God and demonstrating His glory? Of course our first reaction to these questions is to say that we are living for God, we are passionate about knowing Him, demonstrating His glory? But, could be self-deceived? Could we just be giving the answer we know we should give? Is it really true? How do you know for sure? Here’s my suggestion: follow the trail of you thoughts, time, your money, your energy. What’s at the end of the trail? This is what your life is really all about.

As believers, we have been set apart from sin, from the world, to God, to live to honor Him and His glory in everything we do. This is the implications of holiness for the believer. It grows out of an appreciation of the glorious holiness of God. Do you find yourself lacking in passion for God and His glory? Get a fresh vision of the holiness of God. Meditate on how infinitely unique He is. Meditate on His majesty and beauty. Behold His glory as Isaiah did and you will see yourself in a new position with a new passion for God.
Share

Next: (81) Living in Response to the Holiness of God

(79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

2010-04-01T00:29:00.001-04:00

What happened when Isaiah saw the holiness of God and his wretched condition? Was there silence in Heaven for a moment? I can only imagine if I were in his place what would be going on in my mind. The words already expressed would continue to resonate in my head. My heart pounds. Tears flow freely from my eyes. I shake my head in complete bewilderment . . . with my own sinfulness. The thoughts that go through my mind . . . “O God, I am so unworthy to be in your presence. This is too much to bear. Your holiness! My sin! O God, forgive me. Have mercy on me. I have nothing to offer, nothing to claim. No explanations. No excuses. I am guilty! Woe is me! Take my life. I deserve no less.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.

“Your guilt is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.” Glorious, gracious redemption! Ruined and broken and hopeless before the majesty and holiness of God one moment. Redeemed and forgiven the next. All this as a free gift given at God’s initiative by His grace. The most beautiful words a sinner could ever hear in the presence of the burning glorious holiness of God: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He received a new purity from God. He was humbled by his impurity in the face of the holiness of God and bowed in repentance. God cleansed him. Isaiah was now set apart from sin. Isaiah had identified with the sinfulness of the nation. Now, God set him apart from the people as one who was now redeemed, one who was holy.

It is only when you see the glory of God’s holiness and the ugliness of your sin that you come to fully appreciate the glory of God’s grace. When you see the glory of God’s holiness you realize that it is only by an unmerited, unwarranted gift of God’s grace that you can stand before His holiness.
Share

Next: (80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service

(78) Encountering the Holiness of God -2

2010-03-30T11:17:00.001-04:00

Somehow, though engulfed in the unspeakable glory of God’s holy presence, somehow, Isaiah speaks. Isaiah responds to his encounter with the awesome holiness of God.

“Woe is me!” “I am lost!” “I am ruined!”

I believe we could paraphrase it this way, “God’s gonna kill me! That’s the only possible explanation for why I’m seeing this glorious sight. You can’t see God’s glory and live. God’s gonna kill me!”

Just a moment in the presence of the glorious, holy, God of glory will bring you to your knees before Him in complete brokenness and humility. Why?

“ I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips”

When we see how glorious He really is, we see how corrupt, sinful, unworthy, and defiled we are. We see the damning difference. A moment in the presence of God’s absolute holiness leads you to realize your great wickedness. We are corrupt and defiled by just the words we speak.

“my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Isaiah knows who he has seen. The King of all kings. Yahweh, the one and only true God. God of all Gods. The ruler of all the peoples and armies of the universe. Holy God.

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He gained a new perspective on God and on himself. He was overwhelmed with the glorious holiness or God. He realized that God is different, far different than our grandest thoughts. He also realized how unworthy he was to be in God’s presence. He realized how unworthy he was to open his lips to join in the praise of God. He was a common man. He was a sinner.

When you encounter the glory, majesty, and holiness of God it has a deeply profound impact on you. We need a fresh encounter like this everyday so that we might free ourselves of the humanly conceived and inadequate view of God that so easily clouds our minds. We need to see the glorious holiness of God. We need to beg God to give us a glimpse of His glory. Just a glimpse like Isaiah had so that we might be changed as he was.

We need to see this glory so that we will see our own sin and unworthiness before God. We need to be broken. We need to be brought to true repentance. We need to be driven to passion for God, His glory, holiness.

Glorious, infinitely holy God,

Words cannot express how glorious you are.

You are the one and only.

You alone are God.

I am left speechless before your glory.

I am humbled by your glory.

I beg your mercy . . . your forgiveness.

Ignite in me a passion . . . a burning, unquenchable passion for your glory.

You are so worthy of every breath that I breathe.

You are so worthy of every beat of my heart.

Take them, they are yours.

Share

Next: (79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

(77) Encountering the Holiness of God - 1

2010-03-25T00:01:00.005-04:00

In Isaiah six, we read of one of the most amazing encounters with the holiness of God vividly displayed to man. You are probably familiar with this passage. Let me encourage you to slowly and carefully read it with fresh eyes and a heart to fully appreciate the scene before us here.

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. (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. (3) And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (4) And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (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!" (6) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. (7) And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. (8) And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:1-8 ESV)

What did Isaiah see? Though words are clearly inadequate to answer that question, they are all we have. But as we consider this scene, try to get an appreciation of it in your imagination.

In verse one, Isaiah says he saw the Lord. The Hebrew word here is Adonay. It describes God as master, lord, king, and sovereign one. It is used only of God and so is a title of the true God with a focus on His majesty and authority. (Dictionary of Biblical Languages – Adapted)

Isaiah saw the Lord “sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” He sits as sovereign King over all creation, exalted far above all lesser human authorities and kings.

“The train of his robe filled the temple” The train here signifies splendor, beauty, and majesty. The whole temple is filled with the display of the splendor and majesty of the King of kings!

“ 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. ” These beings may only be seen by Isaiah here. The seraphim worship and serve before the throne of the King in complete humility. John Piper describes this scene so beautifully.

Not even seraphs can look upon the Lord nor do they feel worthy even to leave their feet exposed in his presence. Great and good as they are, untainted by human sin, they revere their Maker in great humility. An angel terrifies a man with his brilliance and power. But angels themselves hide in holy fear and reverence from the splendor of God. How much more will we shudder and quake in his presence who cannot even endure the splendor of his angels!

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

From what can you separate God to make him holy? The very god-ness of God means that he is separate from all that is not God. There is an infinite qualitative difference between Creator and creature. God is one of a kind. In a class by himself. In that sense he is utterly holy. But then you have said no more than that he is God. – John Piper

Here, the word LORD is the unique name of God, Yahweh or Jehovah. This King who sits enthroned in breath-taking beauty, splendor, and majesty is the one and only God, Yahweh. He is identified as “Yahweh of armies” emphasizing God’s absolute power and authority. He is the sovereign ruler over the heavenly armies.

Isaiah is seeing the one-and-only, one-of-a-kind, unique, holy, sovereign, majestic King of all creation. So great is His splendor, the angels declare that His glory fills the entire earth. It is unimaginable glory!

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ” The King of glory is awesome in the display of His power, causing the entire temple to shake at the declaration of His glory. The King is glorious in the display of His presence. God demonstrated His presence to Israel through a cloud and smoke (Exodus, wilderness, Tabernacle, Temple). Here it fills the throne room of God. The throne room of God is an overwhelming, incredible display of glory that is absolutely staggering.

Can you imagine the cacophony of emotions and reactions that must have engulfed Isaiah? Can you imagine being there yourself, encountering the overwhelmingly majestic and glorious vision of God's glory? Amazement, wonder, reverence, fear, terror, speechlessness, conviction, humility, worship, adoration. This is what happens when man comes face to face with a veiled display of God holiness. Have you encountered the holiness of God?

Share

Next: (78) Encountering the Holiness of God - 2

(76) “I will be treated as holy!”

2010-03-23T09:34:00.003-04:00

As we have seen from several passages of scripture related to the holiness of God, there is a very clear emphasis on uniqueness. God is unique, distinct in all He is. His nature is unique, His thoughts are unique, His ways are unique, His power is unique, His presence is unique. We could go on & on! God is the one! The only one. God is all that!

Who indeed is like Him . . . majestic in Holiness? There is no one holy like the Lord! What God is like our God? “To whom should you liken me that I should be his equal” says the Holy One!”

We have seen that God takes holiness seriously. We now discover that God takes the worship, honor, and protection of His holiness very seriously.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. (Leviticus 22:32 NIV)

You remember when Aaron’s two sons were struck dead by God while serving in the Tabernacle? We are told that they offered “unauthorized” or “strange” fire before the Lord. We don’t know exactly what their error was, but we do know it was not in keeping with God’s commands. We do know that fire from the Holy Place instantly incinerated them. We also know why God responded so quickly and so strongly.

Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored."' So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. (Leviticus 10:3 NAU)

Nadab and Abihu had dishonored God. They treated God and His commands as though they were unimportant or optional. They disregarded God and His instruction on how to worship Him. They thought they could approach God and worship Him however they wanted to. They lowered God to their level. They failed to view God as holy. And God took their lives.

This is not the only time we see God punishing His people because they did not honor His holiness. In fact, the profaning of God’s holiness was the chief sin that resulted in Israel being taken into captivity. God explains this through the prophet Exekiel. As you read these verses, notice that Israel had “profaned” or treated as common God and His commands. Notice also how strongly God reacts to this and His passion that He be seen as the holy, unique, one-and-only God.

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it. I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them. But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.' But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:16-23 ESV)

God is intense about being regarded, responded to, and worshiped as holy. He cannot be seen or treated like any other being for He is unique. He is majestic and highly exalted in infinite uniqueness. When He is not treated as holy, He will act to make it crystal clear that He alone is God and there is no other.

God is God and we dare not treat Him as anything but infinitely unique, highly exalted, one-of-a-kind. We dare not think we can approach Him and treat Him any way we see fit. We must guard against irreverent or ignoble thoughts of God. We must be passionate about seeing Him as He truly is as revealed in scripture, not a product of our human reasoning in our puny minds. Who is your God?

Next: (76) Encountering the Holiness of God

(75) The Importance of Holiness

2010-03-18T08:44:00.002-04:00

Holiness is of great significance to God. Why? Because it is the one attribute of His character that describes Him more than any other. It is the one attribute that receives the greatest attention in scripture, and in Heaven. Let’s take a journey into the future and look at vignette of a scene that will be played throughout eternity.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:1-11 NAU)

Glory! I can’t wait to be part of this glorious celebration and worship of the God of infinite majesty and glory! And what will be the focus of this worship for all eternity? The holiness of God. That’s right, holiness. Notice, the continual antiphonal worship of the angelic hosts of Heaven will keep the focus of all eternity on the holiness of God. Why? Because the holiness of God distinguishes Him as the one who is infinitely different, distinct, and unique. All that He is in His character He is in a way that is unlike any other.

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NAU)

"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2 NAU)

Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13 NAU)

"To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25 NAU)

O LORD my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. (Psalms 40:5 NLT)

God is God. There is no other. There is no one who remotely begins to compare with His infinite, glorious greatness. He is in absolute truth, one-of-a-kind. He is indescribable, incomparable, great, awesome, infinite, unfathomable glory. There is no other. God is so infinitely unique man can only just begin to understand all that is involved in the depth of who He is.

This is what it means to say that God is holy. This is the importance of holiness. In all of the other attributes of God that we could name, He is holy, unique, different that all others. He is holy in His power, knowledge, righteousness, love, grace, mercy. Yes, in all His being, He is holy, He is infinitely different and unique.

(74) The Holiness of Things

2010-03-16T08:02:00.000-04:00

Before we look more closely at the depth of meaning and significance of God’s holiness, it will be helpful for us to look a bit more closely at the basic, root meaning of holiness as it is revealed in its usage in scripture. For this, we must take a deeper look at how scripture uses holiness to relate to and describe things like wood, metal, fabric and other very common, insignificantly ordinary, everyday objects.

When we look at scripture, we find something very fascinating. For example, we find some wood that might be sitting in a pile just like all the other wood a carpenter might use to make a table. The next day, that wood is holy. Why? Because that wood was donated to be use in the building of the Tabernacle. It was dedicated to the Lord. This is true for a number of plain, ordinary objects that had no distinctiveness but when they were dedicated to the building of the Tabernacle, making it’s furniture, or the objects used in worship at the Tabernacle, they became holy. They were now different, set apart from other wood, fabric, metal, grain, animals, etc. They were now unique. And God took this holiness very, very seriously.

As we consider the following scriptures and their meaning, keep in mind that we are laying a foundation for understanding that holiness is far more than moral purity. All this lays a foundation for understanding the holiness of God. All of this is critical to gaining a fully appreciate the holiness of God and worship Him as He deserves.

First, notice that God commanded the priests accountable for maintaining and protecting the holiness of the things that were dedicated to be used in worship.

They [priests] shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 44:23 ESV)

Notice in this verse, we are reminded that holiness is a matter of difference, distinction, and uniqueness. God is intent on teaching His people that holiness is about recognizing and maintaining distinctiveness, uniqueness, and exclusivity. In fact, God takes this so seriously that He held the person who did not treat this seriously as guilty and under punishment – even if they didn’t mean to!

"If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD'S holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, . . .. "He shall make restitution for that which he has sinned against the holy thing. (Leviticus 5:15-16 NAU)

God takes this so seriously, that He cites it as one of the reasons He was sending the sinful nation of Israel into exile.

"Son of man, say to her [Israel]: 'You are a land that receives no rain or showers in the day of my anger.' . . . (26) Her priests abuse my law and have desecrated my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the profane, or recognize any distinction between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 22:23-24,26 NAU)

So, what do we learn from all this? We learn that God really takes these things seriously. God is unwaveringly serious about holiness. When God says something is set apart to Him, He means it. When God says something is to be treated as unique, to be treated differently than all else, He isn’t playing around. We learn that God demands that the distinction and separation be maintained between the holy, that which is set apart to glorify Him as holy, from the common. This isn’t just a religious, ceremonial formality. This is real, this is serious, this is demanded by God. To God, holiness is definitely not something to be taken lightly.

Next: (75) The Importance of Holiness

(73) The Holiness of God - Introduction

2010-03-09T01:07:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, out of the sea of ordinary humanity, someone extraordinary emerges. As I contemplate history, some of the extraordinary people that come to mind include Augustine of Hippo, John Hus, John Wycliff, John Knox, John Calvin (I'm thinking about changing my name to John!), Martin Luther. As I think of individuals in modern history, I think of Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce, Charles Spurgeon, John Gresham Machen, Billy Graham, B. B. Warfield, J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, Martin Luther King Jr.. Currently, some of my picks would be John Piper, Al Mohler Jr., Millard Erickson, John MacArthur and others.

But each of these have one major thing in common. They are all common human beings. The similarities they have with the great sea of humanity far surpass the uniqueness of their splash in the ripples of time and human existence.

In Stark contrast to all of humanity is God. God is infinitely unique, one of a kind in every respect. This is what the essence of holiness is all about.

When we think of holiness, many believers think immediately of moral purity and the absence of sin. This is one aspect of holiness, but it is not the full picture.

It is in the Old Testament that we see the glory of God’s holiness unfold. The Hebrew word that is translated “holiness” is qodesh. The basic meaning of this word refers to being “marked off, withdrawn from common ordinary use” or “to separate.” Before we can understand holiness as it relates to God, we need to get a solid understanding of this concept through it’s usage in the Old Testament. As we look at this usage, an important emphasis emerges. Consider the following chart listing the usage of qodesh to describe people or things as “holy”.

This chart doesn’t quite fit with our traditional idea that holiness is simply a matter of moral purity. God is morally pure. People can be morally pure. But ground? Things? And why are there over three times as many references to inanimate objects rather than to God or people? Because holiness is broader than moral purity.

Qodesh is used overwhelmingly to speak of a thing or place (tabernacle, ground) that God designated or had made (articles, clothes, etc. for the Tabernacle) to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for His purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

With this root meaning of qodesh in mind we get a better understanding of the holiness of God. The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. God is so infinitely unique, so different, so one of a kind, that you and I cannot begin to understand all that is involved in His glorious character.

"To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?"

says the Holy One.

(Isaiah 40:25 NAU)

Next: (74) The Holiness of Things

(72) The Immutability of God (Conclusion)

2010-03-02T00:03:00.003-05:00

Last night the 2010 Winter Olympic Games ended. Our family enjoyed watching several events together. One thing that struck me was the various surprises along the way. Some who were expected to win a medal did not, while others performed much better than expected and did earn a medal. I guess even for elite athletes, sometimes you have it and sometimes you don’t. Some of the greats underperformed due to physical problems, some because of weather conditions outside their control, some because of poor officiating, some because they just didn’t keep it together mentally.

We all have our ups and downs, days when we’re on the top of our game, and times when we just don’t have what it takes in one way or another. Not so with God.

Our God is always “on top of His game” and His “game” is the best in the universe. God’s knowledge has always been infinite and it will never change. God’s power is infinite, and it will never change. God’s plan is perfect and it always will be – flawless in every detail. God is impeccably holy and righteous, absolutely just – the standard is not a moving target, it will never change.

The God who solved your problems, gave you perfect guidance, freely poured out His grace for you to face the most challenging circumstances, generously and mercifully forgave your sin. This God is the same God you serve today.

This is the comfort, the stability, the strength of the immutability of God.

When you feel like life is overwhelming, recall how God has miraculously worked in the past. He’s still the same!

When you’re confused by the bombardment of voices trying to tell you what is right and wrong, turn to God and His Word. The truth is there and it has not changed. He’s still the same!

Are you bewildered over the right direction to take in life. Remember that God’s plan has always been perfect and He has always worked it out perfectly. He’s still the same!

When you feel like you don’t have the strength to keep going, recall the indescribable demonstrations of God’s power in the past. He’s still the same!

Whatever you face, whatever your challenge, surely you can recall a time in biblical history or in your own life that demonstrates that God is more than adequate to meet the need. And He’s still the same!

Next: (73) The Holiness of God (Introduction)

(71) Process Theology & Open Theism

2009-11-25T08:31:00.000-05:00

.
There are two prevalent and growing heresies relating to the undermining of the immutability of God that we should all be aware of.

Process Theology and Open Theism are kindred beliefs that begin with the fundamental thesis that reality is changing. All reality. And so, God is changing. There is an interdependance in all of reality and so God is dependant on other reality and must change in response to those other realities. God is in process, processing new situations and knowledge as they come into being.

Those who promote these beliefs say that they do not deny that God is all-powerful and sovereign and that He can ordain and control future events, He just chooses not to do so and leaves the future open to the choice of man. They say God is all-knowing but the future does not exist yet so God cannot know it yet. God, for example only knows all that can be known at the moment. So, God responds and has to change plans due to the changes in history as it unfolds.

Some of these thoughts may not seem to be that radical and it is in it’s subtle undermining of the character of God that these beliefs can be successful. It is an undermining and in many statements, an outright denial that God is in fact all-knowing of the past, present, and future as scripture clearely declares Him to be. It is a denial of the sovereignty of God and the biblical statements that He does have an immutable and eternal plan that He is working out in time. It is a denial of the infinity of God and the perfection of God. Matt Slick, serving with the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry explains:

In Open Theism God can make mistakes because He does not know all things that will occur in the future . . . If God cannot know the future, then does it not follow logically that God is limited by time, the very thing He created? According to them, God also takes risks and adapts to the free-will choices of people. . . God can change His mind on issues depending on what He learns and what He discovers people do. Usually, God's change of mind is due to Him being surprised by something for which He didn't plan or expect. . . . My opinion is that openness is a dangerous teaching that undermines the sovereignty, majesty, infinitude, knowledge, existence, and glory of God and exalts the nature and condition of man's own free will. . . . This is absolutely and definitely a reduction in the quality, nature, and majesty of God. It is a bedrock for further heresy. And only time will tell what sort of depraved and twisted lies will come out of that fertile ground of heresy. (Excerpts from several pages at http://www.carm.org/open-theism)

Note: For a more complete and excellent study on Open Theism, please see http://www.carm.org/open-theism or the book, What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? The Current Controversy over Divine Foreknowledge by Millard Erickson

Next (72) The Immutability of God - Conclusion

(70) Apparent Change

2009-11-23T08:29:00.003-05:00

(Note: This post is part of a series on the immutability of God. If your have not read the previous two posts, "What About God Repenting" and "Understanding Anthropopathisms" I encourage you to read them as they are important to understanding this post.)

"But, don’t we see God changing His mind and actions based on man’s rebellion or repentance? Didn’t God change His mind when He told Moses He was going to destroy Israel? Didn’t God change His mind and decide not to destroy Nineveh?

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:10 ESV)

Certainly, these look like genuine changes of God’s mind and plans. We could or course view these as anthropopathisms and to some degree, they are. But there is another principle at work in these situations in scripture also. Spiros Zodhiates explains:

Sometimes, there is a change in His purported (believed) course of action based upon man's change of heart. This does not mean that the exercise of God's sovereign will is contingent (dependant) upon man's behavior. Jehovah is not whimsical or fickle. God is consistent. He is morally bound not to change His stance if man continues to travel on an evil path. Yet, if man turns from his wicked ways, God, in His graciousness, exercises mercy in withholding judgment. Though it might appear that God's purposes had changed, according to God's perspective, nothing had changed.

Because God is omniscient, He knows how man will respond, all this is part of His eternal plan and there is in reality, in the mind and plan of God, no real change.

We look at these things and we see a change in God’s mind and action. But it is only an apparent change. Most often, when scripture says that God “relented” or “changed His mind” this is what is happening. This apparent change is actually, in keeping with what God had declared from the time of Moses in Deuteronomy. It is stated most clearly in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Joel.

"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 8if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 9"Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it. (Jeremiah 18:7-10 NAU)

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. "Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. "But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. "Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."

Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, "No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." Then some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus the LORD of hosts has said, "Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest."' "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves." (Jeremiah 26:12-19 NAU)

The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it? "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? (Joel 2:11-14 NAU)

Jonah fully understood these truths about how God operates. That is why he fled to Tarshish the first time God called Him to go to Nineveh. He knew the pronouncement of judgement was conditional and he didn’t want the Ninevites to be spared by God.

He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. (Jonah 4:2 NAU)

Since it is God who changes hearts (Eze. 36:26) and gives the gifts of repentance (2 Tim. 2:54) and faith (Eph. 2:8), and because God is all-knowing and has an eternal plan for His creation, it is clear that all this takes place according to His sovereign will. God pronounces judgement contingent on man’s rebellion or repentance. Man continues to rebel and faces that judgement or he responds to God’s gift of repentance and is spared from judgement. And all of this takes place according to God’s permission and plan, according to His sovereign will. Nothing changes in God or in His plans. It only appears to be a change from man’s perspective and is expressed that way to accommodate man’s finite understanding of God as an anthropopathism.

Next: (71) Process Theology & Open Theism

(69) Understanding Anthropopathisms

2009-11-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

"I am the LORD, and I do not change.

(Malachi 3:6)

“. . . there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.”

(James 1:17)

Scripture makes it very clear that God does not change or repent. Yet, it also describes God as repenting. Both cannot be true. So how do we make sense of this? We have already seen the unfortunate translation of the Hebrew word that has created confusion, but need to look further at how this word is actually used.

In most cases, when the term nacham “repented” is used of God, it reflects a common figure of speech known as anthropopathism (literally, man feelings). This is a figure of speech where God’s actions are described symbolically in terms of human emotion. Essentially, human characteristics are used to help us understand God in a way that we would otherwise not understand. It is similar to another figure of speach, anthropomorphism (man form). This is a figure of speech where God is described as having physical parts (e.g., eyes, hands, etc.) even though he is not a physical being and does not have these parts.

Anthropopathism, is a figure of speech where human feelings or emotions are ascribed to God, in order to accommodate finite man’s inability to fully understand the complex and infinite intentions, plans, and actions of God.

Because God is infinite, perfect, and holy, He cannot change His mind as this change of mind in regard to thought or action as this would involve a move from one thought to one that is better or worse. Because God’s knowledge of the past, present, and future is perfect, He cannot change His mind or plans because He comes to learn something new. Even man’s actions are fully known by God and so, God will not change His mind because of seeing man’s actions. He always knew those actions.

Next: (70) Apparent Change

(68) What About God “Repenting?”

2009-11-19T08:58:00.001-05:00

One of the questions that always comes up when we talk about the immutability of God regards passages in scripture that speak of God “repenting” or “relenting” of something.

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, "I regret [KJV= “repent”] that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands." (1 Samuel 15:10-11)

If God is immutable and does not change, how do we make sense of these verses? How can God be immutable and also “repent” for doing something?

There are three main explanations for this confusing question. First, it is important to understand the Hebrew word behind the English translation. The Hebrew word used in the passages that speak of God “repenting” is nacham. This word has several meanings, including "to be sorry or grieved," "console oneself," "repent," "regret," and "be comforted." The actual meaning is determined from the context where it is used.

Unfortunately, the archaic, if not inaccurate translation of this Hebrew word in the King James Version has caused the most confusion. The KJV often translates this Hebrew word with the English word “repent” making it seam that God has recognized that something He did was wrong. But, there is actually another Hebrew word that is used in reference to repentance from sin, shub and it is never used of God. In many of the passages where nacham is used, it would be far more accurate to translate it as sorrow of grief. This only means that God is grieved by something – by man’s actions and how man has fallen into evil. God has not, does not, and cannot do anything that is not perfectly right. Therefore, God cannot repent of doing something wrong or even less than perfect.

This does not completely solve our problem. While it is clear that God never “repents” of doing something wrong, it is not clear yet if scripture is indicating that God changed His mind, intentions, or actions because of some event or due to the actions of man or some other influence.

To understand scripture when it speaks of God relenting or changing His mind, we need to understand how the Bible speaks in a way to help finite human beings make sense of an infinite God.

Next: (69) Understanding Anthropopathisms

(67) The Immutable Future

2009-11-17T09:40:00.002-05:00

Future shock or even moderate anxiety over the future will disappear when we have a firm understanding of the immutability of God. As we have seen, the promises of God assure that those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ have absolute assurance of a glorious future with God in Heaven that is unalterable because of God’s immutability.

In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago . . . (Titus 1:2 NAU)

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18 NLT)

These verses and several others give us firm, personal confidence for the future that is rooted in the immutability of God. God said that His purpose is to save us forever and make us like Christ. In fact, according to Romans 8:29-30 this is completed before it is even started.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30 ESV)

Not only are we assured that we will spend eternity with God, but also that we will be made like Christ, free from sin and suffering. This is forever settled for every believer from before creation based on the decree and immutability of God.

But there is a negative side as well. As much as the immutability of God is a great comfort to believers, it will be a great terror to unbelievers. Those who continue to reject and rebel against Christ also have an immutable future. Those who refuse to confess and repent of their sin and turn in faith to Jesus for forgiveness and redemption will face an eternity separated from the presence of God in extreme torment in Hell.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36 NIV)

God showed the apostle John the future of all those who don’t place their faith in Christ alone for forgiveness and righteousness.

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Revelation 20:14 NIV)

The immutability of God is a sobering and critical warning that God will fulfill His Word regarding judgment for sin. There’s no point in trying to deny these truths or hope that God will change His mind and give a break to any who do not accept Christ. The future is decreed and it is unalterably settled in the immutability of God.

If you have never admitted your sin and guilt before God and your inability to satisfy His righteousness and justice, turning by faith alone in Christ alone for your forgiveness and salvation, you will face the wrath of God for eternity. This is immutable.

Secure your future today. Admit that you sinned and deserve to face God’s wrath for eternity. Confess your sin to God. Then, recognize that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin. Put your faith in Jesus, relying 100% on what He did for you on the Cross.

Next: (68) What About God “Repenting?”

(66) Finding Peace in an Immutable God

2009-11-16T09:01:00.001-05:00

Forty years ago, Alvin Toffler wrote the book Future Shock about how intimidating change can be. Toffler defined future shock as a personal perception that there is too much change in too short a time. He argued that science an technology were producing so much change so quickly that people would become disconnected from one another, disoriented and even overwhelmed by a world they could not keep up with. He even talked about people feeling a sense of “information overload.” Forty years latter, we can really identify with what Toffler was talking about.
On top of all the technological and scientific changes are the rapid changes in morality and social norms. Then, there is global instability and change through wars, revolutions, ethnic cleansing, economic competition and treaties. Even countries are being redefined.

Just try keeping up with all that is going on in the world in medicine, science, technology and current events, and it will make your head spin. In fact, it is impossible. And so, the world can be a pretty scary place at times. Things change at such an amazing pace that it can be downright intimidating. Where do you find peace in the midst of all this stressful change? In an immutable God!

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV)

Peace in the most unstable, constantly changing circumstances, peace in the chaos of a rapidly changing world, perfect peace comes when we keep our minds focused on God. Why? Because God is an everlasting rock. He is stable, solid, firm. He always has been and He always will be.

Because God’s person, purposes, plans, and promises are immutable, we can have rock solid stability and confident, restful peace no matter how chaotic or confusing the world around us becomes. Peace in confusion and chaos is found by focusing on, meditating on and reminding ourselves of the glorious character of our glorious and immutable God.

So, who’s your God? Perhaps you can answer that question more accurately by evaluating your level of peace and confidence. Unrest and anxiety over the confusion of a world in chaotic flux or fear of a rapidly changing future will be present whenever there is an absence of focus on God, the perfect, infinite, immutable God of glory. And there will be an absence of peace and confidence.

So what do you do when you experience this unrest, anxiety and fear over change? Get into the Word and saturate your mind with the glories of a rock-solid, immutable God.

Next : (67) The Immutable Future

(65) Finding Stability in an Immutable God

2009-11-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

Times change. People change. Methods change. Practices changes. Rules change. And they should. And many times they come around full circle.

People change. We’ve already discussed how we change physically over time. But people also change in beliefs and character and in many other ways. Sometimes these changes are for the good, sometimes bad, but people change.

Methods change. New technology and ways of doing things come along. Often these new methods are an improvement. Sometimes we aren’t so sure. New medical and scientific methods like artificial insemination, stem cell harvesting and cloning raise serious ethical issues. Just because we can do something due to new technology does not mean we should do it ethically or biblically. Where’s solid footing in the midst of dramatic change?

Practices change. The infant church met every day in homes. Soon, they met once a week for one long service. Latter, the church added services including Sunday School and mid-week services. Now, many churches have gone back to fewer services and meeting in homes for some of these.

Rules change. I remember when I was a child, there were a number of things that were considered wrong by the Christians I knew. One I remember was the belief that blue jeans were worldly and should not be worn by Christians. I an bewildered today (actually I always have been) as to where this idea came from. This rule is pretty much gone from Christian circles. Rules change.

We live in a world that is changing in many different ways. We live out our relationship with Christ in a Church that is changing locally and globally. It can make your head spin at times trying to make sense of the change and determine what is good change and what is bad change.

Where to we go for answers? How do we find solid footing? We turn to the timeless and unchanging principles of the scriptures.

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

(Psalm 119:89)

The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

(Isaiah 40:8)

The Word of God never changes. People will try to tear down the value of the Word by saying it is outdated and irrelevant. But the truth is that the Word of God transcends time. The Word of God is the most relevant book there is. Man’s thinking, ideas, methods, practices and rules change. And they should. But God’s Word does not change. God’s Word remains the single unchanging standard of truth and principles to guide us in judging our thinking, ideas, methods, practices and rules. We must always go back to the scriptures. We must always ask, “What does the Bible say about this?” Because the truth and principles of the Bible never change and stand as the authoritative and governing judge over all our choices in all our methods, practices and rules.

The closer we stay to the scriptures, the more we will have stability in our standards. This does not mean our rules and practices and methods won’t change. They will change when we follow the truth and principles of scripture. But, all the while, we stand on the solid foundation of God’s Word, not on the shaky ground of popular opinion.

God’s Word is forever settled. It will stand forever. Stand, settled on the Word of God and you will have stability.

Next: (66) Finding Peace in an Immutable God

(64) God: Immutable in His Promises

2009-11-11T08:33:00.001-05:00

Much of the confidence and stability we find in the immutability of God’s purposes and plans is also rooted in the immutable promises of God. God’s purposes and plans are expressed in prophecies, but also in promises.

"I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. (Malachi 3:6)

In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago . . . (Titus 1:2 NAU)

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18NLT)

In Malachi, God declares that the only reason why Israel has not been totally wiped out is because He is immutable. It is not because they are something special, have been so good, or in some way deserve it. Just the opposite. They are not destroyed because God made a promise that the descendants of Jacob would always be His covenant people and, because His promises are immutable, they are not destroyed.

Our hope of eternal life is also not based on our goodness, merit, or future faithfulness. Our security is based on the promises of a God “who cannot lie.” In fact, just to make it doubly secure, He added an oath to His promise. When you stand on the promises of God, you are standing on the rock-solid foundation of the immutability of God.

Ah! we love to speak about the sweet promises of God; but if we could ever suppose that one of them could be changed, we would not talk anything more about them. If I thought that the notes of the bank of England could not be cashed next week, I should decline to take them; and if I thought that God's promises would never be fulfilled—if I thought that God would see it right to alter some word in his promises—farewell Scriptures! I want immutable things: and I find that I have immutable promises when I turn to the Bible: for, "by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie," he hath signed, confirmed, and sealed every promise of his. (Charles Spurgeon)

Next: (65) Finding Stability in an Immutable God

(63) God: Immutable in His Purpose & Plans

2009-11-10T01:14:00.002-05:00

I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

(Isaiah 46:10 NIV)

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

(Psalm 33:11 NIV)

God’s purposes and plans are unchanging. What God decreed remains the same, unchanged and unchangeable. In fact, scripture repeatedly speaks of God’s purposes and plans as existing and being initiated in eternity past. They are called His “eternal purpose.” God has set His-story in motion from before creation stating that He has made the end known from the very beginning. The purposes and plans for His-story remain exactly the same from creation to eternity future. God finishes what He starts.

This is critical if we are to have any confidence for the future. If God can change His plans then the future plans He has declared in His Word are meaningless. Prophecy becomes maybe, we’ll see. Paul could not comfort the Thessalonian believers regarding the future if God could change plans at any time. We would be left with instability, fear, uncertainty and anxiety.

But, God has a plan; a plan He has set forth from before creation. He is working that plan and He will never stop working that plan. This is a great comfort for us. It is peace, strength and confidence.

Human beings change plans, begin something and then stop, fail to plan ahead and then fail. Man changes his mind about what matters in life and in the world and what causes man should invest his energies into. This will never happen with God. We don’t have to worry about whether God will change His mind and decide to move in a different direction with a new plan.

We can find stability in the immutability of God’s plans and purpose. Rather than devising our own insignificant man-sized plans dreamed up in our futile thinking, we can join God in His God-sized, eternal, all-wise plans. Investing our lives into furthering God’s purposes and plans leads to a life of meaning, significance and stability. Don’t be blown about by the winds of change. Find rock-solid stability in the eternal, unchanging purposes and plans of God.

Next: (64) God: Immutable in His Promises

(62) God: Immutable in His Person & Perfections

2009-11-09T10:46:00.000-05:00

"I am the LORD, and I do not change.

(Malachi 3:6)

“. . . there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.”

(James 1:17)

God does not and cannot change in His nature. He is perfect and infinite in every aspect of His being. There is no quantitative change in God. This means there will never be more of God and never less of God. There has never been a time when there was more of God or less of God and there never will be. God has not and cannot grow, God has not and cannot decay.

There is no qualitative change in God. Change implies improvement or decline in some way. But, God is perfect, He cannot become more perfect or less perfect. God is infinite. He cannot become more or less infinite or He would not be infinite in the first place.

God’s perfections or attributes are intrinsic to His essence or nature. All of God’s attributes, all that He is in His essence or nature remain exactly the same from eternity past to eternity future. God hasn’t become more or less gracious, kind, loving, merciful. He has not and will not change in any way in who He is in His character.

Arthur Pink points out,

God is immutable in His attributes. Whatever the attributes of God were before the universe was called into existence, they are precisely the same now, and will remain so forever. Necessarily so; for they are the very perfections, the essential qualities of His being. Semper idem (always the same) is written across every one of them. His power is unabated, His wisdom undiminished, His holiness unsullied. The attributes of God can no more change than deity can cease to be.

All that God is in His nature, He always has been and always will be. The God of the Old Testament is the same God as the God of the New Testament and the God of today. Any view of change in the nature of God is the result of the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the scriptures and the true nature of God. At its foundations, the way God has dealt with His creation has, and will never change. It is always an outworking and result of the totality of His divine, unchanging nature.

Next: (63) God: Immutable in His Purpose & Plans

(61) The Immutability of God -Introduction

2009-11-06T01:32:00.003-05:00

One thing in life is certain: Change. Of course we see it and feel in our bodies as we age and face physical deterioration. We see change all around us in nature in the changing of the seasons and global cooling over the past ten years. Oceans evaporate at a rate of about 110.736 inches each year (Descriptive Physical Oceanography by William J. Emery, Lynne D. Talley and George L. Pickard). This means a total annual evaporation from ocean of abut 96,519 cubic miles. There is a total annual global precipitation of about 137,856 cubic miles.

Nanga Parbat is the fastest growing mountain on earth and it is still growing. Standing at the extreme western end of the 1,500 mile long Himalayan Range - just beyond the deep Indus Valley, it culminates in an ice crest, 26,600 feet high. No other peak within 60 miles comes anywhere near to it's size. It's incomparable Rupal Face on the southern side is one of the greatest precipices in the world with a sheer drop of 16,404 feet.

And, "you, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; and they all will become old like a garment, 12 and like a mantle you will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not come to an end." (Hebrews 1:10 -12 NAU)

All of creation is an incredible demonstration of God’s glory, and constant change. God created a constantly changing universe. God is the unchanging changer. In a world that is changing and even seems chaotic at times, God remains, unchanged.

A.W. Tozer points out that “The concept of a growing or developing God is not found in the Scriptures . . . In God no change is possible; in men change is impossible to escape” God is not capable of change in nature, but is constant, enduring, stable. God is never inconsistent with His nature or character. He never differs from himself or His promises. He cannot be changed by any thing or person. Whatever He was, He is, and He always will be. You can count on it.

Next: (62) God: Immutable in His Person & Perfections

(60) Waiting for the Lord’s Direction

2009-11-03T01:04:00.002-05:00

We have already thought about how important it is to earnestly seek God’s direction in decision making. But, what do we do when we earnestly seek to know God’s wisdom and direction for a life decision and God just seems to be silent?

Knowing God as the eternal God who has perfect timing means we earnestly seek God’s direction and then, we refuse to move ahead unless we are confident it is in fact under His direction. But most of us don’t like to wait and unfortunately, too many times, we get impatient and move ahead without God’s clear direction. This is no small error to fall into.

Failure to wait on God’s direction was the beginning of Saul’s downward spiral away from God. After Samuel anointed Saul as king of Israel he told Saul of very specific events that God would orchestrate in his life that day. Then, Saul was ordered, "Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do (1 Samuel 10:8)." Samuel then tells us that as Saul left Samuel, God changed his heart (1 Samuel 10:9 ).

Saul was obedient and all the things that Samuel prophesied took place that day. In the next few days, Saul led a victorious attack on the Ammonites and they prepared to retaliate against Israel. The people of Israel became very frightened because of the much larger armies of the Philistines. Saul was encamped at Gilgal waiting for Samuel to come as promised. But then he took a very wrong turn in his life. As he was waiting for Samuel, he got impatient. Instead of waiting for Samuel to come and offer the burnt offering sacrifice, he went ahead and did it on his own. And immediately, Samuel returned. Saul had been told to wait for Samuel to come, offer the burnt offering and tell him what to do. Saul got impatient waiting for direction. He disobeyed God and moved ahead on his own. Samuel rebuked him.

"You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14 ESV)

Like a ton of bricks the judgement comes down. You kingdom is over.

While it may be rare that the consequences of not waiting for God’s direction will be this severe for us, the lesson is a profound and important one. When a decision is to be made or a new direction is considered in life, it is critical that we wait on God’s direction and not move without it. Don’t get impatient and believe the thoughts that you have to make a decision. If God has not given you direction, wait. “But the sale will be over!” “But the deal will be lost!” “But I will miss this opportunity!” If God doesn’t give the go ahead to move forward, stay put! If God hasn’t given you the answer yet, He has a very good reason. Wait.

But, we ask the question, “How do I get God’s direction?” Do we just sit and wait for it to miraculously pop into our heads? No, we pray. We diligently search God’s Word for principles that apply to the decision – direction God has already given. Then, we make sure we are being obedient to the direction God has already given us in His Word. We assure that we are walking in intimate fellowship with Him, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit step by step. And we wait on God to give us clarity for the specific direction we need, remembering all the while that God has a purpose in making us wait. His timing is perfect and He will give the answer at the right time.

Now, don’t misunderstand and think that this means you have to have all the answers and know exactly how everything is going to work out. It does not mean that there will be complete confidence and the absence of all doubt, worry or fear. You can know God has given His direction and still struggle with trusting God. But, don’t move unless you are sure it is at God’s direction.

Conclusion

God is eternal. He created us for eternity. So what are you living for? Are you wasting your life or investing it?

Are you stressed out by time issues? Maybe your spending time on things God hasn’t asked you to do. You have all the time you need to do all that God wants you to do.

Are you frustrated, waiting on God to speak or act? Be still and contemplate the truth that there is a God in heaven who is indeed sovereign, and who has perfect timing, every time. Wait for His deliverance. Wait for His direction.

Next: (61) The Immutability of God -Introduction

(59) God’s Timing is Everything!

2009-10-30T09:52:00.000-04:00

Are you unhappy with the pace of certain things? Do you wish things would happen more quickly? Are you tired of waiting for something to happen? Wait. Be still and contemplate the truth that there is a God in heaven who is indeed sovereign, and who has perfect timing, every time. God has perfect timing - we need to wait.

First, we need to wait for the Lord’s deliverance. When we face uncomfortable circumstances in life, our natural reaction is to try to change things as quickly as possible so that we don’t feel bad anymore. We will do whatever we can to remove the physical pain, financial or relationship strain, or whatever we don’t like in life. Often, we can be successful in getting out of a jam by sheer force of will and hard work. Many times we will resort to finding a simple, quick fix that doesn’t really solve the problem. Other times, we will even manipulate, deceive, or commit some other sin so we can get out from under the pain.

But, there is another, better way to respond when we face painful and challenging circumstances. Instead of becoming frantic and desperately running about tying to find the easiest way out, perhaps even falling into sin, we need to passionately seek to know God’s wisdom for the situation, and patiently wait for God’s deliverance. David understood the importance of these principles. Carefully consider his approach to tough times found in Psalm 27 and 37 and jot down your observations.

Psalm 27:11-14

Teach me Your way, O LORD,

And lead me in a level path because of my foes.

Do not deliver me over

to the desire of my adversaries,

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

I would have despaired unless I had believed

that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalm 37:4-11

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Next: (60) Waiting for the Lord’s Deliverance

(58) All the Time You Need

2009-10-27T09:24:00.000-04:00

Have you ever felt like you just don’t have enough time to get done all you need to do? How do you view time? Is time your enemy? Are you always trying to beat the clock? Perhaps you need to get a fresh view of the God of time.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

Many of us have loved and clung to this verse for years. We have been encouraged through this verse to trust God for the outcome of our life struggles with sin and evil. These are important principles to apply from this verse. But there is something more here for us to see; a principle that can help us get victory over our stressed out lives.

You see, the context of this verse describes a world in chaos as the wicked seek to destroy the righteous and rebel against God. The statement of verse ten is an admonition to let God take care of things and not try to take responsibility for the things God must deal with. It is a call to let go of control and trying to make things happen on your own. It is a command to surrender to the sovereignty of God and His way of dealing with things as He works that plan out in time. And these principles can help us if we apply them to our daily activites.

We scurry about, trying to make things happen, sometimes quite frankly, we are really trying to force things to happen. We want it done now. We want the problem solved now. And so, we work and strive to win the battle and all the while God says, “Slow down, stop trying to make it happen yourself, let me do it my way in my time. You’re just spinning your wheels trying to make something happen that only I can make happen.”

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NET)

Much of our frantic activity is rooted in a lack of submission and faith. We fail to submit our wills, life circumstances, and plans to God and so we frantically run about trying to accomplish our plans, relying on our wisdom and strength. What we need to do is take all the little worries and anxieties of the day and give them to God. Let Him sort through all the things we think we need to do and show us what He wants us to do and then trust Him to guide us through the day to accomplish what He wants. This is the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NET)

There it is. Don’t trust in or rely on your own understanding of what you need to do. Instead, in ALL your ways acknowledge – or, more literally, “know” God. We seek god for major life decisions, but we think we know what we need to do each day. We establish our goals and make our plans and get to work. And we give little thought of what God wants us to do in our daily activities. Yet, as William MacDonald explains, “Every area of our lives must be turned over to His control. We must have no will of our own, only a single pure desire to know His will and to do it.”

In The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Sid S. Buzzell points out, “This means more than guidance; it means God removes the obstacles, making a smooth path or way of life, or perhaps better, bringing one to the appointed goal.”

So here’s the remedy for a stressed out life or simply a stressed out day. First, submit your will to the will of God for your life and your day. Second, earnestly seek to know His will and follow His lead step by step through your day. Third, trust Him to accomplish what He wants done in this day.

Perhaps we are stressed out over time because we are trying to fill our lives with all kinds of activities that we want to do or we think we need to do that God hasn’t led us to do. Maybe, we just need to follow these three simple principles and realize, we have all the time we need to do all that God wants us to do. Be still and let God be God of your agenda.

Next: (59) God's Timing is Everything!

(57) Longview Christianity

2009-10-16T08:50:00.000-04:00

According to Wikipedia, the original name of Longview, Texas was Earpville until men stood on a hill and looked out over the town and made the reply, "What a long view." Hence the name Longview. A prison sits on that historic hill today.

Unfortunately, too many of us never get up on the hill of God and see the long view and stay imprisoned to the consequences of short-sighted living. We live our lives for the here-and-now and our immediate gratification and so waste our lives on fleeting pleasures. We liveour lives for what we want now and even in time we end up regretting it. We need to live in God’s “longview.”

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. (Matthew 16:25 NLT)

Living in longview means we will give our lives to God for the purposes of eternity. My human conceived purposes and plans are temporal and only impact time. God’s purposes and plans are eternal. And God wants me to engage in activities that contribute to fulfilling His eternal purposes and plans.

The first step to living in longview is to make a complete surrender of my life to God. I must surrender my plans and goals and live my life earnestly seeking to know and live out God’s plans and goals for my life. This is the only life that constitutes an invested life. When I live my way, by my plans, for my goals, I end up with a wasted life.

It’s one thing to say I am going to live to fulfill God’s purposes and plans for my life, it’s another thing altogether to do it. You see, I think many of us have made the commitment to live in longview but we never move there. We stay put on the edge of living for eternity, making short visits into longview but the majority of our time is spent living in the moment. We never fully “get it” and move into lonview and get settled into a lifestyle of living for eternity.

So, if we are going to live an invested life rather than a wasted life, we will have to choose to give our time to God for the purposes of eternity. Remember, this was the idea of Ephesians 5:15-16. Read it again.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16making the most of your time (redeeming the time), because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16 NAU)

The point here is that we live in a time that is characterized by evil, short-sighted living. We need to use our minutes wisely so they are invested, not wasted. This is a conscious choice. Again, I feel I cannot overemphasize the importance of being intentional, discerning, and determined in the use of our time. Don’t just visit longview on Sundays in a church service. Move in. Make every minute count for eternity.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Next: (58) All the Time You Need

(56) Time Investment Strategies

2009-10-14T08:52:00.000-04:00

(NOTE: This post is part of a series on the eternality of God)

There are all kinds of strategies for investing money. We are told to invest in gold “because it has never been worth zero.” We are told to invest in stocks for a good return on investment, bonds for stability. There are lots of opinions and plenty of people willing to take your money from you.

With time, there is only one sure investment. Invest your time into fulfilling God’s purposes and plans for your life. Invest your life into activities that last for eternity.

Certainly key in this investment strategy is to invest your life into leading people to know, honor, and worship God with their lives. A fundamental part of this strategy is demonstrating and declaring the glorious Christ to unbelievers.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:5 NKJ)

Again, we see the idea of being intentional and thoughtful about how we live. We are to be wise in our interactions with unbelievers. This wisdom involves discernment, skill, and an acute appreciation that time is short, our opportunity to influence them for Christ is limited.

This brings a thought to my mind. If I were representing my country as an ambassador in a foreign country, I would have to be very discerning and skilled in how I spoke to people. I would need to make sure I say the right things at the right times. I would be obligated to make sure I didn’t say anything that would be inappropriate. So, I would think about various situations and conversations that could be encountered. I would think through what I would say. I would think of ways to steer conversation toward the things my country wanted to communicate. I would think about what questions I might be asked and how I would answer them. I would think about things I could do to give people a favorable view of my country. This would be my responsibilities and if I wanted to be good at my job, I would think, plan, and envision how to be as effective as possible.

This is what it looks like to “walk in wisdom” toward unbelievers. I won’t just wait for things to happen, I will prepare for them to happen, I will plan to make them happen. I will envision how I can “buy up” (redeem) or shall I say, “snatch up” the moments I have in interaction with unbelievers to influence and impact them for Christ.

Now, this does not mean that as soon as our eyes meet I blurt out the Gospel as quickly as possible so I can say I “witnessed” to them. That is not wisdom. No, wisdom is skill, tact, discernment of how the Spirit of God is guiding you and how He is speaking to them.

And, Paul says we are to speak with grace. This means we will be gentle, kind, humble. It means we don’t have a self-righteous, condemning attitude. Yes, we speak of sin. Yes, we speak of God’s judgement and wrath against sin. Yes, we speak about eternity and the eternal torment that awaits those who refuse to repent of their sin and continue to reject Christ. But we speak from the realization that we are sinners saved only by grace. We deserve Hell. We are no better than they are.

God is an eternal God. He created time and He placed us in time for the purposes of eternity. We will invest our time wisely when we develop a keen appreciation of the truth that time is short . . . for everyone.

So let’s be skillful, prepared, practiced, intentional, and gracious in the moments we have interacting with unbelievers. Time is short. Their eternity is at stake.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Next: (57) Longview Christianity

(55) Making a Time Investment

2009-10-12T10:44:00.000-04:00

(Note: this post is part of a series on the eternality of God)

Have you ever looked back on the way you’ve spent you money and been angry with yourself? Perhaps you have wished you would have used your money more wisely. Maybe you’ve looked back and realized you wasted money. Maybe you wished you would have saved and invested some. The good thing about money is we can usually earn more and even correct our prior bad habits.

This is not so easy with time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Whatever we do with our time is either a waste or an investment. Time is a very precious resource. Because of this, Paul challenges us to use our time very carefully.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time (redeeming the time), because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16 NAU)

This short passage is packed with powerful wisdom and vital principles. The important verses that come just before these provide the context that help us understand the depths of what Paul is saying. These verses contain a strong admonition to believers. To sum it up, Paul says, “Don’t live like unbelievers, live like those who have the light from God. Because God’s light will reveal the truth, expose all sin, and judge sin.”

So, because God is going to judge sin, and because God has given us His light to discern righteousness from unrighteousness, you should, “be careful how you walk not as unwise but as wise.” Don’t live thoughtlessly, be careful, thoughtful, intentional in how you use your time. Don’t act like people who have no wisdom, take advantage of the wisdom available to you from God.

Paul continues, “making the most of your time (NAU).” Here, the KJV translates this more accurately, “redeeming the time.” The Greek word here is the word that speaks of redemption, the act of paying the price to buy something. Here, Paul is saying that we need to buy up time. But he’s not just talking about time generally. The word he uses refers to smaller segments of time. We are to buy up segments of time because the “days” are evil.

We could paraphrase Paul’s words this way, “Be careful how you spend your time in life. Don’t live thoughtlessly. Live according to the light of God and His wisdom. Snatch up moments you have to invest in righteousness because we are living in an evil world.”

How do we live in light of eternity? We live on purpose. We live intentionally. We live according to the commands and principles of God’s light found in His Word. We strive to assure that every moment counts. We strive to make sure we are living in such a way that we are living out the righteousness of Christ.

Why? Because we are living in an evil world. The influence of evil is all around us. The world is trying to squeeze us into its mold (Rom. 12:2 Phillips). Because it’s easy just to go along with the crowd and the path they are taking in life. It’s easy to get caught up in the activities that are really a waste of time if not outright sinful. It’s easy to waste your time. It takes intentional and determined effort to invest your time for eternity.

So, be careful, thoughtful, intentional, focused, and wise about how you use your most precious resource. Once its gone you can’t get it back. Don’t waste it . . . invest it!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (56 )Time Investment Strategies

(54) Living In the Light of Eternity

2009-10-09T11:15:00.000-04:00

(Note: This post is part of a series on the Eternality of God)

As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,

And its place acknowledges it no longer.

(Psalm 103:15-16)

A flower springs up, it flourishes for a brief time, and then it is gone . . . forgotten . . . no lasting impact. Before long, the ground it was planted in will show no signs it was ever there. So is the life of man apart from Christ and investing life into eternally significant pursuits.

Man’s life is a mere micro-spec on the scale of eternity. The amazing thing is that what you and I do now, in this micro-spec we call our lives actually makes a difference for eternity. As the redeemed and regenerated, we can make a difference, and impact eternity for the glory of God. Eternity is determined in the present. Lives saved and matured in Christ to the point where they reach others for Christ will result in greater numbers to praise God in eternity.

This begs a question, “How do we live in the blink of time we have in light of the great span of eternity?” Someone has calculated how a typical life span of 70 years is spent. Here is his estimate:

What’s your reaction to this? When I think about how brief my life is and think about investing my life for eternity, and question immediately comes to mind, “How can I free up some of my precious moments from temporal, insignificant activities so I can invest more time into eternity?” I look at this chart, and I realize I have to be careful messing with the sleep time, I’m already employed in ministry, but #3! What it the world? You mean to tell me that the third biggest time consumer for the average person is watching T.V.? I sure hope that’s not true for me!

For there has already been enough time spent in doing the will of the pagans: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. (1 Peter 4:3 CSB)

See what is this verse saying? Basically, it is saying, “You’ve wasted enough time!” OK, so you may not be engaged in the activities listed in this verse, but the principle remains, don’t waste your life. Life is way to short to waste time on fruitless activity. Let’s make it our ambition that we will not spend one more purposeless, unintentionally lived, wasted moment. Let’s live with laser-like focus, assuring that every moment is purposefully invested into making an impact on eternity for the glory of God.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (55) Making a Time Investment

(53) Don’t Waste Your Life

2009-10-08T00:04:00.000-04:00

Psalm 90:1-12

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were born

Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man back into dust

And say, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it passes by,

Or as a watch in the night.

You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;

In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;

Toward evening it fades and withers away.

For we have been consumed by Your anger

And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.

You have placed our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

For all our days have declined in Your fury;

We have finished our years like a sigh.

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,

Or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;

For soon it is gone and we fly away.

Who understands the power of Your anger

And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

So teach us to number our days,

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

In this Psalm, Moses has a sharp focus on the eternality of God. He points out that God has always been the dwelling place and the place of safety for the people of God. God was around before the mountains or the earth were created. He is Eternal God.

He is above and beyond the span of man’s raising up and laying to rest, generation upon generation, while being unaffected by time himself. Man is like grass, he comes and goes. Life is short, God is eternal. And this is what is troubling Moses.

In the view of Moses, in Psalm 90, the sins of the people were before God and they were ending their brief years in sorrow, suffering the consequences of their sin and estrangement from God due to a lack of repentance and reestablishment of fellowship with God.

Moses recognizes the brevity of human life saying that it is soon over and we "fly away." Moses recognizes the tragedy to living out your days separated from the beauty of intimate fellowship with God due to unconfessed sin and rebellion. Moses recognizes the great tragedy of a wasted life. So, Moses pleads with God for help to realize the brevity of life, to realize how little time there is, and to act in humility, reverence for God, and wisdom to maintain an intimate relationship with God which will matter for eternity.

So, are you investing your life or wasting it? Consider this, every second spent doing your thing, every minute spent heading in your direction, every hour spent pursuing your plans, every day spent fulfilling your purpose is one more step in the direction of a wasted life. So give it up . . . all of it . . . every second to pursue God’s thing, God’s direction, God’s plans, God’s purpose. And you will find life . . . an invested life. Don’t waste your life!
Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (54 )Living in the Light of Eternity

(52) The Eternality of God - Introduction

2009-10-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

“What time is it?” “There’s just not enough time in a day!” “How am I ever going to get all this done on time?” “Your time is up.”

Man is bound by time, hampered by time, frustrated with time. If things don't happen according to our timing, we get bothered. God is above all this. God is the “One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15).” Moses declared, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. ( Psalm 90:2)”

When we speak of God being eternal, we mean that He has no beginning or end and is above all temporal limits of time. He possesses all His existence in one indivisible present and sees past and future as clearly as present.

Two names of God help us understand God’s eternality. First, God is “Yahweh.” Of course we know “Yahweh” as the unique name for God that sets Him apart from all humanly conceived gods as the one-and-only true God. But, it also is a statement of God’s eternal existence. It speaks of God’s self existence meaning that His existence is permanently or eternally within Himself. No one and no thing caused God to come into existence. Existence exists only within God. John Durham explains the meaning behind this name in The Word Biblical Commentary.

“I am being that I am being,” or “I am the Is-ing One,” that is, “the One Who Always Is.” Not conceptual being, being in the abstract, but active being, is the intent of this reply [to Moses]. It is a reply that suggests that it is inappropriate to refer to God as “was” or as “will be,” for the reality of this active existence can be suggested only by the present: “is” or “is-ing,” “Always Is,” or “Am.”

Everything that exists finds its origin in God. We exist because God exists and because God chose to give us existence. God created us. But God has no cause or origin. He is the uncaused cause and the original originator. A.W. Tozer explains:

Origin is a word that can apply only to things created. When we think of anything that has origin we are not thinking of God. God is self-existent, while all created things necessarily originated somewhere at some time. Aside from God, nothing is self-caused.

Second, God is “El Olam,” the God of eternity. This name teaches us that God rules over eternity, He is sovereign over eternity. We are governed by time, controlled by time. But, God is not governed by time but rather, He governs time. Tozer states, “God dwells in eternity but time dwells in God. He has already lived all our tomorrows as He has lived all our yesterdays.”

Your throne is established from of old;

You are from everlasting.

(Psalm 93:2 NAU)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

(Psalm 145:13 NAU)

But the LORD is the true God;

He is the living God and the everlasting King.

At His wrath the earth quakes,

And the nations cannot endure His indignation.

(Jeremiah 10:10 NAU)

There has never been a time when God has not been on His throne, ruling over His creation as King! You may feel like God has taken a break, but your feelings lie, your circumstances lie.

The eternal God is a dwelling place,

And underneath are the everlasting arms.

(Deuteronomy 33:27)

Trust in the LORD forever,

For in GOD the LORD,

we have an everlasting Rock.

(Isaiah 26:4)

God was, is, and always will be governing and orchestrating His-story to fulfill His “eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11)” according to His perfect plan for His glory.

Your name, O LORD, is everlasting,

Your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.

(Psalm 135:13 NAU)

God is eternally and thoroughly committed to the glory of His name. That’s His agenda for time . . . for your life . . . your day. What’s on your agenda? What are you doing today?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (53) Don’t Waste Your Life

(51) Who is YOUR God?

2009-10-06T00:56:00.001-04:00

We end our meditation on the infinite glory of God with a challenge. It is a question we all must honestly answer. But, we must not give a hasty answer or we may be giving an answer that only comes from our heads, and not from our hearts. This question is not meant to be a question of your theology, but of your true heart beliefs, the beliefs that govern your thinking, attitudes, emotions, actions, and view of life.

So I challenge you, search your heart . . . evaluate your life . . . consider your reactions to life’s troubles, disappointments and pain. And, from the reality of your heart, answer the question,

“Who is YOUR God?”

Who is YOUR God . . . When life seems out of CONTROL?

When things seem out of control, there is a God in heaven who is sovereign over all.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When life seems IMPOSSIBLE?

When there's no way it can happen, there is a God who is limitless in power.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When you don't know what to DO?

When you don't know what to do, there is a God who is limitless in knowledge & wisdom.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When you feel like you're all ALONE?

When you feel like you're all alone, there is a God who is everywhere.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When you can’t see the end and TIME is working against you?

When you can’t see the end and time is working against you, there is a God who is the creator of time.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When you feel like you've BLOWN IT one too many times?

When you feel like you've blown it one too many times, there is a God who is infinite in mercy to those who come humbly to Him for forgiveness.

Who’s YOUR God?

Are you overwhelmed by the glory of God? Realize the truth that you haven’t barely touched the surface of the vast sea of God’s glory. There is so much more to discover! But for now, would you pause and make the following commitment to your glorious, infinite God.

My Commitment:

Infinite God, source of all creation, you are the one who spoke the universe into existence. Nothing is too big for you. No problem is above your power. No complexity is above your knowledge & wisdom. No place hides your presence. No sin is above your grace & mercy. No chaos is above your control & care. You are a big God and I will put my confidence in you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Next: (52) The Eternality of God - Introduction

(50) Who is Like Our God?

2009-10-05T01:43:00.002-04:00

We have seen a beautiful celebration of our infinite God in Psalm 145. Now we turn our attention to a series of penetrating questions in Isaiah 40 that can all be summed up under the question, “Who is great like our God?” Again, I challenge you to read slowly and thoughtfully. Consider the questions and statements carefully and think about what they say about the greatness of our God. But first, take a moment to pray and ask God to bring His Word alive to you as you read.

Isaiah 40:12-31 (NLT)

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?

Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?

Who else knows the weight of the earth

or has weighed out the mountains and the hills?

Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?

Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor?

Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice?

Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best?

No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him.

They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales.

He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all.

All Lebanon's forests do not contain sufficient fuel

to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor him.

All Lebanon's sacrificial animals

would not make an offering worthy of our God.

The nations of the world are as nothing to him.

In his eyes they are less than nothing

mere emptiness and froth.

To whom, then, can we compare God?

What image might we find to resemble him?

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold,

and decorated with silver chains?

Or is a poor person's wooden idol better?

Can God be compared to an idol

that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down?

Have you never heard or understood?

Are you deaf to the words of God

the words he gave before the world began?

Are you so ignorant?

It is God who sits above the circle of the earth.

The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers!

He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain

and makes his tent from them.

He judges the great people of the world

and brings them all to nothing.

They hardly get started, barely taking root,

when he blows on them and their work withers.

The wind carries them off like straw.

"To whom will you compare me?

Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.

Look up into the heavens.

Who created all the stars?

He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name.

And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away.

O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?

How can you say God refuses to hear your case?

Have you never heard or understood?

Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth?

He never grows faint or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;

he offers strength to the weak.

Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.

But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.

They will fly high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Hallelujah! What an awesome, infinitely great and glorious God! This is an incredibly powerful passage of scripture that just keeps coming at us with heart piercing challenges, demanding that we answer the question, “Who is great like our God?”

If we really let the challenge of this passage reach our hearts we will be overcome with brokenness over our doubts, anxieties, and fears. For what place do these have in the life of one who has a God like this?

If you’re still overwhelmed by some problem in your life, some challenge before you, read this passage again and be overwhelmed by an infinite God who is bigger than anything you will ever face.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (51) Who is YOUR God?

(49) Celebrating the Infinite God

2009-10-02T01:30:00.000-04:00

Psalm 145 is a beautiful Psalm celebrating the infinite greatness of God. David paints a colorful word picture of our infinite God. In verse three he says that God's "greatness is unsearchable." Throughout the Psalm he describes the practical implications of Gods infinity. He speaks of God's greatness, majesty, power, abundant goodness, righteousness, grace, mercy, patience, loving-kindness, goodness, and provision. He describes the works of God as mighty, wonderful, awesome, and kind. As you read, think about this question: “Why is God so great?” Let me encourage you to write the answers on a piece of paper as you read this Psalm.

Psalm 145

I will extol You, my God, O King,

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty

And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,

And I will tell of Your greatness.

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.

All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD,

And Your godly ones shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom

And talk of Your power;

To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts

And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The LORD sustains all who fall

And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You,

And You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

And kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He will also hear their cry and will save them.

The LORD keeps all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

What an incredible portrait of our infinite God. This Psalm mentions so many aspects of God's character and we must keep in mind that the infinite nature of God is in David's heart. While he tries to find words to describe the greatness of God, he says that God's greatness is in reality unsearchable. As we consider the various characteristics of God's nature, we must realize that we too can barely begin to conceive the glory and magnitude of His character. Mortal man can only begin to understand the infinite nature of God's love, grace, mercy, power, and glory.

Are you overwhelmed by the glory of God? Are you overwhelmed at times by God's love, grace, and mercy? Meditate for a moment on the truth that you haven't barely touched the surface of the vast sea of any of these attributes!

Sometimes our troubles can seem so big. They can seem overwhelming. When I am overwhelmed by circumstances, it is an indication that I need to meditate on the infinite greatness of God and be overwhelmed with Him. As we do this, our troubles will become less overwhelming as we realize that we have a God who is far more awesome than any trouble we will ever face. Even if your problems grow bigger, they can never grow bigger than God.

How great is YOUR God?

Soli Deo Gloria!
Next: (50) Who is Like Our God?

(48) King David's God

2009-10-01T09:52:00.000-04:00

King David had an appreciation for the glorious, infinite greatness of God. Meditate and worship through this beautiful declaration of praise to our infinitely great God.

So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. "Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:10-13 NAU)

David begins by blessing Jehovah. The word “bless” here is connected to kneeling in honor and reverence. He declared that Jehovah is worthy of reverence and praise forever and ever. God is worthy of this worship because He is the possessor and source of all greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, yes, in fact, everything in all the universe! And, God rules. He exercises authority over all creation. In fact, no one has a spark of power or energy, or authority that has not been given by God. Realizing all this, David is humbled, gives thanks and praises his glorious God.

"But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. "For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You. (1 Chronicles 29:14-18 NAU)

David is overwhelmed because the infinitely great God who owns and controls everything and needs nothing, has chosen to give him the privilege of honoring Him. He is overcome by the fact that God has given him the opportunity to serve and lead others to worship the true King of Glory.

When we come to see the infinite greatness, majesty, and glory of God, it is overwhelming. And then, when we realize that this overwhelmingly great God chooses to have a relationship with us and receive service and worship from us, it becomes too much to bear. The honor, the privilege of a personal relationship with this glorious, glorious God is . . . . . words cannot express it . . . to think that I, wicked, ungrateful, sinful . . . that I can have a personal relationship with this glorious God just cuts me to the core of my heart. I find it hard to express how overcome I am that I . . . me . . . I am not just allowed, but invited . . . encouraged . . . welcomed . . . wooed . . . into personal relationship with God. How can words capture this?

And then, to think that God would want me to serve Him and worship Him. Who am I to serve and worship the God of glory? May my life be consumed with delighting in the glory of this infinitely glorious God. May my life be consumed with leading others to be overwhelmed and filled with passion to delight in, worship, and serve our infinitely glorious God.

Next: (49) Celebrating the Infinite God

(47) The Infinitude of God - Pt. 2

2009-09-30T08:33:00.000-04:00

So how does scripture describe the infinite greatness of God? Let’s begin with a sampling of verses that describe God’s greatness. Read them slowly and thoughtfully. Allow the greatness of your God to envelope and overwhelm you.

Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number. (Job 36:26 NLT )

His great works are too marvelous to understand. He performs miracles without number. (Job 9:10 NLT)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-36 NAU)

Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28 NLT)

He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number. (Job 5:9 NET)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! (1 Kings 8:27 NAU)

'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? (Deuteronomy 3:24 NAU)

"Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." (Numbers 14:19 NAU)

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. (Isaiah 40:26 NAU)

In these verses we see that God’s years, miracles, knowledge, wisdom, power, strength, and authority are without limit. They tell us that God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His works are great and too marvelous to understand. This is the infinite God of glory. Is He your God?

The people of Israel got a view of God’s infinite greatness when they were delivered from Egypt. In the Song of Moses, the victory song the people sang after crossing through the Red Sea, God is worshiped for the abundance of His majesty or, His unlimited majesty (Exodus 15:7). This is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Is He your God?

When asked, “Is He your God?” it is easy for us to answer affirmatively. Of course we give mental agreement that He is God. Of course we claim Him as our God. But perhaps we are far too quick to answer. Perhaps we need to put the question another way. Is this infinite God your God? Do you really view God this way? Do you have an awestruck, overwhelming, breath-taking view of the infinite greatness of God? Perhaps our view of life, our attitudes, thinking, and actions best answer these questions. So, slow down. Evaluate your life, question your attitudes and thinking. Scrutinize your actions. Does your life demonstrate a view of an infinitely great God? Do you have confident faith in the infinitely great God of glory?

Think about it!

Next: (48) King David’s God

(46) The Infinitude of God - Pt. 1

2009-09-29T01:35:00.001-04:00

What does it mean when we talk about the infinitude of God . . . What does it mean when we talk about God being infinite? We are speaking about how big God is, how great God is.

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. (Psalm 145:3 NLT)

When we talk about the infinite nature of God, we mean that He has no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude of any kind. He is immeasurably great . . . indefinitely or exceedingly great . . . unlimited or unmeasurable in extent of space, duration of time . . . . He is unbounded, unlimited and endless.

As we set out to consider the infinitude of God, we must first consider a question: Can finite beings who measure everything they experience truly conceive of infinity? Clearly, it is a challenge! Here is God’s pointed question, "To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike (Isaiah 46:5 NAU)?” A. W. Tozer explains:

God dwells in a mode of being totally beyond us and wholly above us and infinitely removed from us so when we think about God we are trying to think about someone unlike anything we know. God says, Who am I like? or to whom will you compare me? The answer being, nobody; nobody's like God, nothing's like God. God is like Himself. We attempt to conceive of a mode of being with which we are completely unfamiliar; not merely somewhat unfamiliar, but completely unfamiliar.

The God of glory is limitless and measureless. All of God's attributes [all that is a part of God’s nature] are limitless and measureless. Not only is God limitless, but he cannot be limited. All existence can trace its source back to God, therefore God exceeds the sum of all existence.

Here is an amazing truth to consider: As Scientists are able to explore deeper and deeper into the minute particles of the atom and farther and farther into the great expanse of the heavens, they continue to discover that there is more to be discovered. Could God have created an infinite world? This is a curious question to consider. But one thing is clear, at least as far as man will ever understand it, the universe is infinite. And God created all of it with the simple command of His word.

So, how big is YOUR God? What do your doubts, fears, discouragement, and worries say about how big your God is? Let’s get to know the infinite God of glory!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (47) The Infinitude of God - Pt. 2

(45) How to Study the Character of God

2009-09-28T01:06:00.000-04:00

We turn our hearts now to the truth of God’s Word as it reveals His character. This is at the same time an intellectual and a Spiritual exercise. Paul admonished Timothy, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Timothy 2:7 ESV).” Notice, he tells Timothy he needs to think. We will not learn and grow without thinking. But, notice also, that he tells Timothy that the Lord will give understanding. We must study, think, and evaluate as we are guided and taught by the Spirit.

Often, this understanding of truth and the ministry of the Spirit will produce an emotional response. We may be led to joy over the greatness of God. We may be led to sorrow over our sinfulness and pride. Whatever emotion is produced, we should not think that it is something that must be controlled and avoided. In fact, emotional reaction to truth is encouraged in scripture.

If the ministry of the Word of God and the Spirit lead you to joy and praise, express it to God inwardly and outwardly. Spend some time in praise, singing songs in worship to God. “Shout for joy,” as the Psalms encourage.

If the ministry of the Word of God and the Spirit lead you to sorrow or humble brokenness, don’t fight the flow of tears, don’t resist being broken to the point of tears. This too is Biblical.

There is one more way in which the Word and the Spirit should work in us. God never intended His Word to produce only an intellectual or emotional response. To come away from God’s Word with only these responses is complete foolishness (Jesus’ words). God intends for the ministry of His Word and Spirit to produce in us a change in action.

When we are confronted in these meditations with the truth of God’s character we must not respond only emotionally. We must respond by bringing our actions in line with the character of God. We must go even beyond the exercise of application in our study to the point of implementation.

This is true worship: To recognize the truths of God, to apply them to our lives, to allow the ministry of the Holy Spirit to seal these truths to the depths of our hearts, producing the appropriate response, and then, to act according to this truth.

Each one of these meditations on the character of God has spanned several sessions in study and meditation. I would encourage you to take your time. Meditation is essential to reap the full benefits of the Word of God.

I pray that “you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of eh saints in light.” (Col. 1:9-12)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (46) The Infinitude of God

(44) Defining God

2009-09-25T01:05:00.008-04:00

How would you define God? Give it a try. Pretty difficult isn’t it? You can describe God, using His attributes fairly easily, but its pretty hard to define God with any kind of brevity. Theologians and denominations have sought to give concise statements regarding the nature of God but even these statements end up being more descriptive than defining.

The historic Baptist Faith & Message states, “There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the Universe. God is infinite in holiness and all perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.”

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.”

Of course these are just two of many attempts to define God. What we see in these definitions is that in their quest to define God apart from an extended description certain distinctives of God’s nature are often mentioned.

1. Spirit:

God is not composed of matter and does not possess a physical nature.

2. Person:

God is a personal being, with self-consciousness and self-determination, capable of feeling, choosing, and having a relationship with other personal and social beings.

3. Life:

God is alive and is the originator of all life. In that life He is self-existent and eternal.

4. Triunity:

God is one being, eternally existing in three persons.

5. Infinite:

God is limitless and measureless. All of God's attributes are limitless and measureless.

6. Unchangeable:

God is not capable of or susceptible to change in nature, but is constant, enduring, stable.

7. Unique:

God is one of a kind, one-and-only, different form all we know and even what we can conceive.

8. Perfect:

God is the embodiment and standard of all that is good and desirable by which all else is judged.

9. Sovereign:

God alone is the autonomous, free, independent ruler of all creation, exercising absolute control and direction over all creation.

With these distinctives in mind, I will venture to add one more futile attempt to define God:

God is a spirit, eternally self-existing and personal trinity, the source of all other existence, infinite and unchangeable in the totality of His nature, uniquely existing as the one and only God. He is the embodiment of all that is of value and that which His creation exists to describe.

This is the complexity and glory of God. Even in the simple exercise of trying to give a basic definition of God we are left with futility and inadequate words. There is nothing simple about God here and we have not begun to explore the true depth of His glory. Perhaps Mark Altrogge has captured the reality in his song, I Stand in Awe of You.

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

And I stand I stand in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Soli Deo Gloria

(43) The Meaning of Attribute

2009-09-24T01:23:00.002-04:00

When we think and talk about the character of God, we often hear the word “attribute” to describe God’s nature. An attribute of God is simply qualities that constitute the nature of God or describe an aspect of His nature. Some of these attributes would describe God’s authority, power, knowledge, presence, holiness, grace, mercy, and love to name a few.

When we study to attributes of God, we study them individually but we must remember that they must be considered inseparable from each other in the essence of God. God doesn’t have multiple personalities in conflict with each other. In fact, James describes God as having “no variation or the slightest hint of change (James 1:17).” This verse speaks of God’s unchanging nature, but it also expresses the unity of God’s nature in His actions. God doesn’t show one side of His character at one moment and another the next.

All God's acts arise from the sum of His attributes which make up His nature. A. W. Tozer explains,

The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of parts but of the absence of parts. Between His attributes no contradiction can exist. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one.

I think it might be demonstrated that almost every heresy that has afflicted the church through the years has arisen from believing about God things that are not true, or from overemphasizing certain true things so as to obscure other things equally true. To magnify any attribute to the exclusion of another is to head straight for one of the dismal swamps of theology; and yet we are all constantly tempted to do just that.

So while they can and must be studied individually, they must be seen as one in the essence of whom God is. We must endeavor to keep all of God’s character in mind even as we explore each attribute individually.

As we study these attributes of God, we will immerse ourselves in the bottomless well of His glorious nature. Each attribute will bring us closer to understanding the vast and magnificent brilliance of His nature. And, we will be left in wonder and worship of this God who is our God.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (44) Defining God

(42) Can We Really Know God?

2009-09-22T07:06:00.006-04:00

As we approach our study of the nature and character of God, there are two important truths we must keep in tension. No, that’s not a mistake, I really do mean that we need to keep these truths in tension. Not an antagonistic tension of conflicting ideas, but a tension between two truths that balance each other out and keep us from error. The first truth is that God created us and gave us life in Christ in order that we might know Him. The second truth that is critical for us to keep before us is that we cannot fully understand God. Let me briefly expand on each of these and then we’ll consider why it is so important to hold tightly to both truths.

First, we focus our attention on man’s ability to know God. It is clear from scripture that God made man for relationship with Him. Remember what Jesus said as he prayed to the Father, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God (John 17:3). That God wants us to know Him is clear in that He has revealed Himself over and over again to man (Hebrews 1:1-3).

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV)

God also chose to communicate to man in clear language. God didn’t use the language of the elite, academics, politically powerful, or in complex legalese. He communicated in the language of the people, using culturally relevant language and illustrations. God wants us to know Him and to grow in knowing Him better. It is incumbent upon each of us to pursue greater knowledge and insight into the character of God.

But with this pursuit of understanding must always be the conscious recognition that we can never fully understand God and there will even be things we see in scripture that make no sense to our human reasoning and logic.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3 NAU)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the lord, or who became his counselor? (Rom. 11:33-34 NAU)

Scripture does present God as one who can be known and understood, but we must remember that this knowledge will always be incomplete. Finite humans can only understand the true essence of God's being in a limited manner. Therefore, as we study the character of God and indeed, all of scripture we must always be keenly aware of our weakness. We must be careful we do not actually distort the nature of God and His ways in our attempt to understand them.

Let me get a bit more specific. There will be times as we study the character and ways of God that it will be offensive to our humanity and sense of human dignity. We will think it doesn’t seem right or fair. But here’s what we must do. We must embrace the teaching of scripture whether it sits well with us or not, whether we understand it or not, whether we like it or not.

So, before we go any further in considering the character of God, let's firmly answer two questions. "Will you let scripture speak for itself and determine for you what you will believe?" "Will you let God be God or will insist that He fit within your preconceived ideas and what you think is right?"

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (43) The Meaning of Attribute

(41) Knowledge vs. Knowing

2009-09-18T22:02:00.004-04:00

I remember when I was in college, doing two major papers of important historical figures. One was on Christopher Columbus, “The Dark Side of Discovery.” The other was on J. Edger Hoover, “Did J. Edgar Hoover Abuse His Power for Personal Gain?”

I did a great deal of research and reading about these two men. I got to know quite a bit about them. Most of what I discovered is now forgotten; all but my personal assessment of these two men. The title of the first reveals my opinion of Christopher Columbus and my answer to the question posed by the second was a pretty confident “yes.” But this matters little.

What does matter is what this illustrates. I can learn a lot of facts about a person and even draw conclusions and do character judgements of them. But this does not mean I really know them. In fact, if I had known them personally, I suspect my opinion might differ, even significantly. On top of this is the reality that knowledge of facts doesn’t stick in our minds or in our psyche. We forget facts about a person if that is all there is to our relationship. When it becomes personal and truly interactive, the facts take on more of a reality to us. The facts grow to be a fuller, personal, and experiential knowledge. Instead of knowing about the person, we actually know them.

We will soon begin a factual study of the character of God. And, it is vitally critical that we get the facts straight based on scripture. But this factual study must not remain at the fact level. It must become real and personal. Fact must become familiarity and familial. Jesus said: "This is eternal life that they might know You (God)", and "know" there means experience. There is a difference between knowing about something and experiencing something.

Let me put this in other, theological terms. Theologians have debated the nature of the Word of God and how it is to be viewed. Some say it is propositional, meaning that it is truth given in propositions or principles that are objective in nature. Others say that the Bible is personal and is meant simply to influence and impact people and does so differently with each person. Perhaps the proper view of scripture needs to take both the propositional and personal concepts into account.

We must affirm that the Bible contains timeless moral absolutes as well as timeless principles which are to be followed across cultural and chronological boundaries. The Bible is propositional. It is propositional in that it contains objective truth and universal principles. But, the Bible is meant by God to be personal as well. It is personal in that God gave these propositional truths with a view toward revealing Himself to man in order to transform our lives and to have personal relationship and fellowship. God never meant for His Word to only impart knowledge. He designed it to change lives.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise. (Matthew 7:24 NLT)

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22 NLT)

If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:5 NLT)

Some might argue that this simply amounts to a pragmatic approach to scripture. It is not. Pragmatism would say that scripture is good and applicable to life if it works. So, when scripture says a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved that Church, and that a wife is to submit to her husband, the pragmatist might say, this doesn’t work for me, you don’t know my spouse.

The propositional yet personal approach to scripture says that the propositional truths of scripture must be put into practice irregardless of the difficulty due to our circumstances. Scripture must change our thinking and life, not the other way around. Proposition always trumps.

So as we study propositional truth related to the goodness and greatness of God, we must assure that we get the facts straight by careful study of the Word of God. But, we must not stop there. These truths must transform our thinking and our lives. We must go from knowing about God to knowing God . . . personally . . . practically . . . intimately . . . transformatively.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (42) Can We Really Know God?

(40) The Heart of Worship is the Heart

2009-09-16T09:33:00.002-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

"For forty years I loathed that generation,

And said they are a people who err in their heart,

And they do not know My ways.

"Therefore I swore in My anger,

Truly they shall not enter into My rest."

(Psalm 95:10-11)

God got angry with Israel. Why? Because of their unbelief and disobedience. But notice, God doesn’t stop there. God digs deeper and looks at the heart. With God, it’s never just about our actions. Actions matter, but the heart matters more. God wants us to do the right thing, but not out of slavish obligation but out or joy and delight. If you don’t feel like doing what is right, you should still do it, but you should stop and seriously think about what is wrong in your heart that you don’t want to do what is right.

All of life is to be an act of worship, honoring, demonstrating, and declaring the glory of God. There is life worship, magnifying God’s character in the minute, day by day activities of life. Then there is liturgical worship, worship that follows a planned pattern and focus such as in our daily devotions or in a church service. All of this is to be worship and all of this worship must come from the heart.

When it comes to liturgical worship the heart is critical. When all is said & done, biblical as it may be, genuine worship has not taken place unless it is genuinely the expression of the heart!

Worship must begin in the heart. Valuing God above all else must be the passion of the heart. When my heart values anything above God, I cease to worship. The heart of worship is the heart that values God, His praise, His fame, His ways, His desires above ALL ELSE! Theo-centric worship begins in a Theo-centric heart.

"Worship is for God. He is our Creator, and the worship of His creatures is both His right and His pleasure. Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and most wholesome experience in life." (Graham Kendrick)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (41) Knowledge vs. Knowing

(39) The Heart of Worship is Active Faith

2009-09-15T01:25:00.004-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

when your fathers tested Me, They tried Me,

though they had seen My work.

The people of Israel had seen great demonstrations of God’s power, protection, and provision when He delivered them from Egypt and yet, they still doubted Him. They still questioned His love and faithfulness. They hardened their hearts. They tested God there in the wilderness. They demanded that He provide water for them to prove Himself to them. They withheld worship because God did not act the way they wanted in their time.

The genuine worshiper is one who worships from a heart of belief in God for who He is. When we truly worship God, thinking about and declaring the greatness of God it will lead to greater trust. Worship leads to trust, trust leads to worship. The opposite of worship is unbelief.

Here are some very important truths we need to grasp. When we stop believing God we stop worshiping. When we stop acting upon God’s Word we stop worshiping. When we chose our way rather than God’s, we stop worshiping. When we put our desires before God’s, we stop worshiping. When we demand that God do things our way or that He make others follow our wishes, we stop worshiping. When our worship is dependant on our circumstances, we have stopped worshiping.

We cease to worship God when we fail to trust Him for guidance and provision, when we demand that God do something we desire in order to prove He is worthy of worship or before we will choose to worship.

Worship involves seeing God for who He is and what He has done, recognizing how He operates, and facing life from that understanding. The heart of worship is a heart of active faith, confidence, and trust in God.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (40) The Heart of Worship is the Heart

(38) The Heart of Worship is Teachable

2009-09-14T09:52:00.003-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness. . .

(Psalm 95:7-8)

In these phrases of Psalm 95, and those that follow, there is an important element of faith that we must pay attention to. We will see that in the next post, but first, we need to think about the fundamental issue of listening to the voice of God.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts

Consider again the issue of reverence and submission. If you truly have a deep respect and reverence for someone, you will listen carefully to what they say. You will value their opinion. You will consider their counsel and most of the time it will profoundly influence if not determine your own thinking and actions.

How much more should this be true when we are speaking to the God of all knowledge and wisdom? If we truly reverence and respect Him for His infinite knowledge and wisdom, and recognize that His ways and plans are far better than ours, we will listen to Him and follow His counsel and direction. This is an aspect of worship.

The heart of genuine, Theo-centric worship will include listening to the voice of God, hearing what he has to say, letting his Word correct our thinking, attitudes and our actions. We must never become so convinced we are right and entrenched in our thinking that we are unwilling to scrutinize and assure we are in fact right.

It makes little sense to say I worship God, honor Him and reverence Him and then, I ignore or directly disregard and disobey Him. That’s not worshiping God.

Can you be quiet for a few moments? Listen carefully with your heart to the pleas of God to Israel and hear Him speak to you.

"I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. "Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! "I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries. "Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever. "But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." (Psalm 81:10-16 NAU)

My I make this passage very personal for you by sharing my heart response? Here’s what I hear God saying to me through this passage.

I am the God of all creation, the one and only, sovereign of the universe. I am your God. I delivered you from your bondage. You were a mess, running away from me. Ensnared by your own will. I delivered you. I have blessed you. I have blessed you so, so richly. You know. You are overwhelmed by it when you’re thinking clearly. But so many times you won’t listen to me. You say you reverence me. You talk about how wise I am but you so often trust in your own thinking and wisdom. You refuse to listen and obey me.

If that’s the way you want it, fine. But know this, when you go your own way, you’re heading down the path of your own harm. I wish you would listen to me. I know what’s best. I want only what is best for your life. Please listen to me. All the enemies you fight, your sinful thoughts, selfishness, unkindness, are my enemies too. Listen to me. I want to defeat those enemies. Listen to me. I’m speaking. Be quiet and listen. Truly reverence me. Listen to me. Follow me. Obey me.

“I am the Lord, your God . . . but my people would not listen.”

Will you listen?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (39) The Heart of Worship is Active Faith

(37) The Heart of Worship is Reverent & Submissive

2009-09-11T01:48:00.005-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

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.

(Psalm 95:6-7)

There is a time for exuberant, expressive, loud shouts of joy. There is also a time for humble, quiet, sober, and meditative worship. One style or expression of worship is not necessarily more reverent than another. Genuine worship includes both shouts of joy and tears of gratitude, unworthiness, and repentance. But whatever the tone, the attitude must be one of reverence.

Genuine worship is never done casually or lightly! It will always be done with a sense of somber recognition that our worship is received or rejected by a God who “searches the secret motives of the heart (Jer. 17:9)”

Reverence for God will then be demonstrated in submission to His will in my life. The heart of worship recognizes and affirms that God alone is the rightful owner of my very life. We are His sheep and live in His pasture.

And, we are the sheep of His hand. This means we are dependant on Him for life but it also means that we follow His lead. He is the shepherd who gives us direction. He is the sovereign God whose plan we pursue and embrace. When we truly have a deep reverence for the glory of God it will be demonstrated by our submission to His will and sovereign control of our lives.

Worship of God’s glory isn’t just a matter or what we say with our lips. It is also a matter of our thinking, attitudes, plans, and choices in life. Our decision making, goal setting, and choices say a lot about who’s running our lives . . . and who we really reverence. Whenever I allow my choices and actions to be controlled by something or someone other than God, including myself, I am stealing from God the reverence and control that He deserves. And, I am also stealing the worship He alone deserves as the sovereign God of creation.

Declaring the goodness, greatness, and glory of God with my lips while in my head I am devising plans to suit my goals is an inconsistency. If I claim to revere God as the all wise God who’s ways are perfect and yet, I follow my wisdom and plans, I am really deceiving myself. I am worshiping myself, not God.

So, who’s running your life . . . who are you really worshiping?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (38) The Heart of Worship is Teachable

(36) The Heart of Worship is Expressive

2009-09-10T01:25:00.005-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us Kneel

(Psalm 95:6)

When something impacts our hearts, our actions will follow. These Hebrew words convey a outward, physical expression of worship. Remember, the Hebrew word translated “worship” here includes the idea of prostrating yourself or bowing in respect. The word translated “bow down” obviously includes physical expression. The third expression is also very clear, “kneel.” They are very nearly exact synonyms with only slightly differing meanings.

We have noted that these expressions are rooted in a heart of humility. But there is something else we need to consider here. That is the biblical appropriateness of physical expression in worship.

The first time I studied worship in scripture and saw this truth I didn’t know what to do with it. I come from a background completely devoid of any physical expression in worship beyond singing . . . and pretty restrained expression in singing at that. And as I studied scripture, I saw that some of the physical expressions I was led to shun and think to be unbiblical were actually encouraged in scripture!

As with musical expression, scripture also encourages and even commands a variety of physical expressions in worship:

So, what do I do with this when my tradition tells me these things have no place in worship? Well, I begin by getting a bit confused. Then, I begin to question the traditions. Then, because I hold scripture as my ultimate authority in faith and practice, I dismiss the tradition and cling to scripture. And I conclude that these physical expressions in worship are not wrong, they should not be discouraged. Rather, God’s people should be encouraged because scripture encourages us to kneel, prostrate themselves, raise their hands, bow down, clap their hands, and yes, even dance in worship.

Ok, let me get a little more personal. If I say I value God above everything else, that I worship God, and yet, I am inhibited in my worship, because of what others will think of me, what does that say? My actions say I value the opinions, acceptance, and approval of man more than I value God. At that moment, I have ceased to worship God! What matters more, what man says or thinks or what God says? Doesn’t it occur to us that something is wrong when we can jump and shout for joy and clap, and dance at a ball game and yet, we would never get so excited and overjoyed with the glory of our God to do the same thing?

I am not encouraging everyone who attends a church where these physical expressions are not welcome to go into church this Sunday and throw yourself on the floor, then get up and dance while you throw your hands in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care. But, let us all recognize that the physical expressions of scripture should not be shunned. We should not look down on those who do the things encouraged if not commanded in scripture. And, we ought to think carefully about why we are not doing them. Let’s base our practice of worship on scripture.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (37) The Heart of Worship is Reverent & Submissive

(35) The Heart of Worship is Humble

2009-09-09T04:41:00.006-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Come, let us worship and bow down

(Psalm 95:6)

The Hebrew word translated “worship” here means, “to prostrate oneself, to bow in homage, humbly beseech, do reverence.” The word translated “bow down” means to bless or praise and is related to kneeling. These words convey one of the many physical responses of one who comes into the presence of the God of creation. It reflects a heart of humility.

When we come to a right belief about the God we worship, we will be filled with the humble recognition of our unworthiness. Sadly, in Christianity today, we have lost this sense of humility before God. We have lost true biblical reverence for God. Why? Because we have made man the center of the universe, the highest of all beings, the ones God exists to exalt and serve and bless. We have lost sight of the reality of the Creator - Creature relationship.

Now, you certainly don’t like being called a creature. And this just goes to illustrate and prove the reality of our confusion and pride. But again, my words are futile, and in the end, meaningless unless they express the truths of scripture. So, let’s see what scripture says about man apart from God grace.

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7 NAU)

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. . . . All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. (Isaiah 40:15,17 NAU)

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. (Isaiah 40:22-24 NAU)

If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is but a maggot-- a son of man, who is only a worm!" (Job 25: 5-6 NIV)

Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; (Acts 17:25 NAU)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, (1 Corinthians 15:10 NAU)

Here’s a vital truth we all need to get crystal clear in our minds: I am nothing. I have nothing. I can do nothing. Except by the gift of God’s grace. He’s God and I’m not. He’s the Creator, I am His creation. I can’t draw another breath if He does not graciously give it to me. And I don’t deserve it . . . or anything else . . . Let alone the gift of forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, relationship. I am nothing, He is everything. Be humbled before the God of glory!

Louie Gigglio puts life in perspective for us:

The story already has a star, and the star is not you or me. And here's why it matters – if we don't get the two stories straight, everything else in our lives will be out of sync. We'll spend our days trying to hijack the story of God, turning it into the story of us. Inverting reality, we'll live every day as though life is all about you and me.. We'll live as thought life is our one-act play and His-story is Our story – as though creation is our habitation alone, existence our playground, and God our servant (that is, if we decide we need Him at all). We will throw every once of our energy into the fragmented and fleeting story of us. Calling the shots ourselves, me-centered thinking will dictate every move we make and how we feel. (From I Am Not, but I Know I AM)

Be humbled before the God of glory!

It’s not about you.

This is His-Story for His glory!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (36) The Heart of Worship is Expressive

(34) The Heart of Worship is Focused & Awestruck

2009-09-08T00:01:00.005-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods,

In whose hand are the depths of the earth,

The peaks of the mountains are His also.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it,

And His hands formed the dry land.

(Psalm 95:3-5)

Focus on the character and nature of God is an essential element of all genuine, God-centered worship. Our worship should capture our thoughts to lead us to intentional thought of what scripture reveals about who God is.

Notice here that we are called to worship God as a “great god.” We are to recognize Him as “a great King above all gods.” Worship increases when our view of God increases. When we see the greatness of the majesty and glory of God, we will worship.

Perhaps our worship is distracted and feeble in its expression because we don’t really recognize God as a great, awesome and glorious God. Our words are so inadequate to describe the glories of our God. And they lack the power of the living Word of God. So, I will simply allow God’s Word to give us focus on His glory. For me, one of the most powerful passages in scripture to bring me to proper focus on the glories of God is Isaiah 40. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. See the glory of the God of the universe . . . and be struck with awe and wonder.

"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.

To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver. He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To prepare an idol that will not totter.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. "To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God "? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:1-31 NAU)

This is the glory of the God we worship. This amazing description of God’s glory should leave us overwhelmed with the awesome greatness and beauty of God! The person who focuses on the true goodness, greatness and glory of God will be filled with awe and wonder. It will lead to the sense that the multiplying of word upon word in our grandest verbal expressions could NEVER touch the reality of God’s glory. And our worship should reflect this focus and this awestruck wonder. Does yours?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (35) The Heart of Worship is Humble

(33) The Heart of Worship is Musical

2009-09-07T00:00:00.006-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

“With psalms” indicates the use of instruments in the Hebrew. The Hebrew mizmôr and the Greek word psalmos, signify music accompanied by an instrument, particularly the harp. Scripture describes a large variety of musical instruments including stringed (Dulcimer, Harp, Lute, Lyre, Psaltery, Sackbut, Trigon, Viol), wind (Clarinet, Cornet, Flute, Organ, Pipe, Shophar, Trumpet) and percussion (Bells, Castanets, Cymbals, Rattler-Sistrum, Tabret, Timbrel, Gong).

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150)

The Bible is full of invitations and commands to worship God through music. Various styles and expressions are encouraged from melodious and peaceful to very loud and expressive. Biblical, God honoring and reverential music can be very calm and peaceful or it can be very loud with many instruments and “shouts” of joy. It even includes rhythmic dancing with timbrels. (If you attend a church with a conservative, formal worship style, I don’t recommend you try to start a congo line down the aisles this Sunday!) In Heaven, the worship sounds like thunder! So, biblical worship can include a wide variety of instruments and a wide variety of expressions.

I have heard some claim that “church music” does not include drums or guitars. They say these are not in the Bible. But neither are the piano or the organ. The mention of a particular instrument in scripture or its absence from scripture does not determine if it is appropriate. Scripture does not mention numerous things that are a part of our church services today, even the most formal and conservative churches.

In terms of the lyrics of the songs used in worship, examples of worship in scripture exhibit variety here as well. Sometimes worship in scripture recounts the stories of God’s dealings with His people, sometimes several of God’s attributes. Sometimes it is progressive in its thoughts, sometimes it is very repetitive . . . “Your love endures forever (Psalm 136).” (Please take note of this extensive repetition in light of the criticism that contemporary worship is repetitive.)

There is no biblical style of worship. Let me pose a hypothetical situation for your consideration and judgement. Imagine that you go to a jungle in the Amazon rain forest and lead a tribal group to Christ. You give them the Bible in their language and miraculously, they can read it immediately. As yet, you have not taught them about worship or modeled worship for them. Now, you challenge them to study all the biblical passages related to worship and music. What would their worship look like? I can tell you without fear of contradiction that if they only went on their study of the Word of God that their worship would hardly look anything like our worship in western civilizations. Their worship and their music would in many ways mirror their existing cultural expressions. The content would change, but much of their musical forms would probably not change. Why? Because they would find nothing in scripture to tell them it should change! Scripture indicates there will be people in Heaven from all cultures worshiping God according to their ethnic style of worship.

The critical element in genuine worship is not the instruments or the style, it is the necessity of biblical content and the heart.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

(Ephesians 5:19)

God is a God who loves variety and creativity. In His Word He encourages us to have variety and creativity ino our worship. Let's not put ourselves in an artificial, traditional or cultural box that God doesn't put us in. There is a great deal of worshp expression encouraged in scripture that many of God's people, especially we who are doctrinally conservative and reformed, have never put into practice and in some cases, have even shunned.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (34) The Heart of Worship is Focused

(32) The Heart of Worship is Engaging

2009-09-04T00:01:00.006-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

“Let us” . . . “Let us” . . . “Let us”

Three times in this Psalm, the psalmist calls on others to join in worship together. Private, personal worship is essential and irreplaceable. But so is public, corporate worship with fellow believers. God saves us as individuals but places us in the body of Christ and commands us to worship together. God works through this worship to build unity and fellowship with each other as we join our hearts, minds, and voices in worship. Worshiping with other believers in unity provides a little glimmer of the glory of worship we will enjoy in Heaven.

There’s another important point we need to consider here. Worship is not a spectator activity. Genuine worship is never done for someone else. We cannot worship for someone else. We cannot watch someone else sing and say we are worshiping unless we are engaged in our minds and hearts in that worship.

It is biblically appropriate to have worship leaders. God Himself appointed them in the Old Testament. But, the “Praise Team,” the choir, soloists, etc. must see themselves as those who have the responsibility of leading the rest of the congregation in worship, not in the position of performing worship for the congregation. If you lead worship, when you stand in front of the congregation to sing or speak, you are there to lead the people in worship, to lead them to focus on God, not you or your talents.

Worship leaders cannot worship in the place of the congregation. The congregation should always strive to engage and participate along with those leading in worship, even soloists. If you are not engaged in active worship, you are not worshiping. Worship is not passive observance, it is active participation.

So, this Sunday, determine that you won’t be a passive observer for even one minute. Engage you mind . . . your heart . . . your emotions . . . your body. May the determination of each of us be, “Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name! (Psalm 103:1 NET)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (33) The Heart of Worship is Musical

(31) The Heart of Worship is Thankful

2009-09-03T00:01:00.004-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us come before His presence

with thanksgiving,

(Psalm 95:2)

When we truly “come before His presence”, when we take note of who our God is, we will see how innumerable are the blessings we have in Christ. We will quickly see how much we have to be thankful for! Genuine worship will spring from a thankful heart and at the same time produce a thankful heart.

But, what if I don’t feel thankful? Certainly you have faced times in your life when you just didn’t feel like you had anything to be thankful for. But, in reality, the most critical time for us to “come before His presence with thanksgiving” is at that very point when we feel we have the least to be thankful for. It is then that we must choose to give thanks even though everything in us is telling us to despair and complain.

What I need to recognize is that if I don’t feel thankful it indicates one of two things. First, it may indicate that I have lost focus and trust in the goodness, greatness, and glory of God. I have compounded the sin of thankfulness on top of the sin of unbelief.

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (Psalm 33:1-4 ESV)

Notice that this call to thankfulness is rooted in belief in the Word of God. It is belief that God’s Word is right. Added to this is confidence in the faithfulness of God. It is unwavering faith that what God does is right and is in keeping with His character and promises. So, the real question is not how you feel, it is, “What do your believe?” Selwyn Hughes challenges us, “Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.” Cling to the truth you know in your heart rather than giving ear to the confusion in your head.

Another reason I may become unthankful is because I am valuing something other than God. If my heart is set on material things, earthly success or social status, my attitude of thankfulness will be like a roller coaster. But, there’s something far more valuable that is always fulfilling and leads to genuine delight, thanksgiving, and worship . . . the glory of God!

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:9-11 NAU)

Notice in this Psalm that David’s heart of thanksgiving is rooted in a heart to praise Him because of the glories of His covenantal love, His magnificent truth, and His majestic exaltation over all the universe. Knowing God’s glory and having a heart to see His glory exalted, will result in a heart of thanksgiving.

Are you thankful?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: (32) The Heart of Worship is Engaging

(30) The Heart of Worship is Purposeful

2009-09-02T00:04:00.003-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us come

before His presence
(Psalm 95:2)

Why do you go to church? Think about it. That’s actually not a dumb question. Some people go to church out of habit or ritual. Some people go to church to keep a friend or family member from nagging them. Some go to church to see friends, others to enjoy the music or a creative, gifted speaker. Some of these are pretty bad reasons for going to church, none of these should be our primary reason for going to church.

“Let us come before His presence” is an invitation to come together with clear intention and purpose. God is everywhere present with His whole being at all times, yet He has chosen to demonstrate His presence in a unique way when His people choose to assemble together in worship. When we gather together to “worship”, we must each purpose in our hearts and actions to enter together into the unique presence of God. Every other reason for gathering, even sound, biblical reasons like fellowship with the family of God must honor this ultimate and essential purpose for gathering. Our gathering must be in the presence of God and for the purpose of the glory of God.

This isn’t a matter of inviting God into our presence. God is present, but we must actively choose to recognize, be alert to, and worship before Him in His presence. It doesn’t just happen, it must be intentional, purposeful.

So, let me ask again, why do you go to church? What’s in your mind and heart when you arrive? . . . when you sit there waiting for the service to begin? . . . throughout the service? Are you conscious of the very real presence of God? Are you intent on meeting in the unique presence of God with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

This Sunday, take time before the service begins and get focused. “Let us come before His presence”

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Heart of Worship is Thankful

(29) The Heart of Worship is Satisfied

2009-09-01T01:06:00.005-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,

Let us shout joyfully

to the rock of our salvation.

Based on the context of Psalm 95 (v. 8) we must conclude that the psalmist’s reference to the “rock of our salvation” looks back to the rock that gushed water to provide for the people of Israel in the wilderness. You remember when Israel came out of Egypt they crossed the Red Sea and then traveled for about 40 miles without any water source. They complained to God and He provided water from a rock. Israel failed to be content in how God led and provided. It seemed as though they were never satisfied. Here in Psalm 95, the psalmist is reminding the people of Israel of this event and is calling on them to worship God as the one who provides for them – the God who delivers, and to be content in Him.

For us, worshiping God as the rock of our salvation signifies worshiping Him as our provider. There are two attitudes that are at the core of this characteristic of the heart of worship. First, there is confidence in God as our provider. Second, there is contentment in the provision. And the two work together, hand in glove.

The heart of worship is confident that God will provide all that is needed because this is what He has promised. But in that statement there is a bit of a rub for each of us. God has promised what we need and so, coupled with confidence must be contentment.

What does it take for me to be content? It takes a reorientation of affections and values. If my heart is set on earthly things, I will have a difficult time being content. I will always want more, better, newer. But, if my heart is set on God, if I value Him above all else or rather, at the exclusion of all else, I will be content with whatever my earthly status. When I value God and His glory above all else, all else will be meaningless. I will have my treasure in Him and I will be content.

The heart of worship is content in wealth or poverty, satisfied simply in the shear pleasure of personal relationship with God! The heart of worship leads to a person who is content to have Christ and nothing else!

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

(Psalm 73:25 ESV)

So, what does it say about me if I am not content? It tells me I don’t have a heart that is satisfied in God and God alone. It tells me I need to reorient my heart to break free from the fleeting, decaying, empty and counterfeit treasures this world offers and set my heart on the greatest treasure in all the universe, the God of the universe! The heart of worship is satisfied because it has what it treasures most.

He who delights in the possession of the Lord Jesus

has all that heart can wish.

(Charles Spurgeon)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Heart of Worship is Purposeful

(28) The Heart of Worship is Joyful & Excited

2009-08-31T00:01:00.007-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully

The Hebrew word translated joy is also translated as “shout,” “rejoice,” “sing,” “sing aloud,” “shout for joy,” “sing for joy,” “cry out,” “shout aloud.” It means to give a ringing cry in joy, exultation, and praise. What is joy? Joy is “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation”

What is God telling us to do here? He’s telling us that our emotions should be engaged when we worship. We should be delighted in God’s greatness and glory. We should express this delight and joy in worship. This is an emotional expression. Rick Warren has pointed out that “Some people sing like they’re practicing to be ventriloquists. ‘Look, he´s worshiping and I barely saw his mouth move!’” Funny, but sad . . . and unbiblical. Worship must always be reverent, but that does not mean it has to be formal, subdued or subdued. The idea that worship must be restrained, subdued, somber, and dignified is distinctly UNBIBLICAL!

Make a joyful noise to the LORD,

all the earth;

break forth into joyous song

and sing praises!

(Psalm 98:4 ESV)

The clear command of the Hebrew translated, “sing for joy” and “shout joyfully” is unrestrained, excited, loud worship. Ruwa [“shout joyfully”] is used frequently in the Old Testament to refer to the loud shout given to call the army to battle or in triumph after a victory. In other words, God is telling us . . . God, not me . . . that we should shout exultingly in worship like those who are victorious in battle . . . or perhaps to put it in our context, when our team wins the game!

Remember, not only are we worshipers . . . BUT we worship all the time! So, what does it say about me if I feel the freedom to get excited and shout for joy when my team wins or I get something I’ve been anticipating but I hold back when it comes to getting excited about God and shouting for joy in worship?

If I say I value God above everything else, that I worship God, and yet, I am inhibited in my worship, because of what others will think of me, than my actions say I value the opinions, acceptance, and approval of man more than I value God. At that moment, I have ceased to worship God!

Where did we get the idea that it’s ok to get excited, clap, shout, jump up and down and express joy when a ball team scores but it’s not ok to do this when we worship the greatness and goodness of God. We sure didn’t get this idea from scripture.

Remember when David was rebuked by his wife Michal for his worship at the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jereusalem? Remember David’s response to her? "I was dancing before the LORD, . . . I celebrate before the LORD. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! (2 Samuel 6:21-22 NLT)

"Worship is the believer's response of all that he is-mind, emotion, will, and body-to all that God is and says and does. (Warren Wiersbe)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Heart of Worship is Satisfied

(27) The Heart of Worship is Vertical

2009-08-28T00:05:00.007-04:00

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD

In scripture we find both a horizontal, man to man expression of worship and also a vertical, man to God expression. Both are valid and both have their place in biblical, God honoring worship. But, while vertically expressed worship is appropriate in the absence of horizontal expression, horizontal worship is never appropriate if it is not joined with an ultimate focus on vertical worship.

Psalm 95 begins with a call to a vertical focus in worship: "O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD." Genuine, biblical worship always exalts God as the one to be worshiped. If it is not God-centered, exalting Him, praising Him, and delighting in Him it is not biblical worship.

Horizontal, man to man expression of worship is an act of giving testimony to others, declaring God’s goodness and blessing. Such testimonies are edifying, and certainly bring glory to God. They are an important part of worship, but their focus is more on us – it is communication one to another. In scripture, this declaration is joined with a call to others to turn the focus from the blessing to the blesser and worship of God for His goodness and blessing.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
(Psalm 105:1-3 NAU)

Here in Psalm 105, we see horizontal worship in an expression of what God has done, declaring His truth and glory. But notice that the focus on God’s blessing is in the context of a primary focus on worshiping God.

Vertical, man to God worship, has God as its primary focus, expressing adoration and praise directly to Him. Vertical worship leads us to worship God simply for who He is, not just the benefit we receive in relationship with Him.

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing,
I will sing praises, even with my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!
I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens
And Your truth reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth.
(Psalm 108:1-5 NAU)

So, worship should include a horizontal aspect of declaring God’s greatness to others. But, we must assure that this horizontal testimony and encouragement always directs the focus to God as the one to be praised. We must not stop at the point of focusing on the blessings. We must move beyond the blessings to worship the blesser.

But there is another important aspect of vertical, God-focused worship. Worship is simply about value. It is our response to what we value the most. True worship of God has at its core the belief that God is the highest value and is therefore worthy of worship above all else. Vertical worship is valuing God and His fame above everything else. Worship is declaring and demonstrating God’s worth above everything else.

Whenever I put anything above God I become an idolater. I can worship God or I can worship an idol. If I sing, "Lord, you are more precious than silver" and yet my choices in how I spend my money say I value something more than God (silver), my choices and actions say I don’t value God above all else.

We may not say we worship our stuff, but the volume of our actions speak louder than words. Worship is more about what we do from the heart than what we say from the lips!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Heart of Worship is Joyful & Excited!

(26) Getting Back to the Heart of Worship

2009-08-27T00:24:00.007-04:00

(Note: This is the first in a series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Worship is the very heart of God’s purpose for creating us. And make no mistake about it, we all worship, all the time. Worship is linked to what we value, honor, devote ourselves to. We are always living for something, worshiping something. If we choose not to give God what He desires, and worship Him, we will worship anyway, simply exchanging the creator for something He has created. We may worship an object, a person, or a goal, but we will worship something.

Psalm 95 has a lot to say about who we should worship and how we should worship. When we carefully study this Psalm phrase by phrase, we get a pretty comprehensive guideline for what God-centered worship looks like. In this Psalm we discover the true heart of worship. Read it slowly and thoughtfully.

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, 4In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. 5The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land.

6Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, 8Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9"When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work. 10"For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. 11"Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest."

Certainly this Psalm isn’t an exhaustive guide for worship, but it does give a solid foundation and starting point for discovering the heart of genuine, God-centered worship. In this beautiful Psalm I see seventeen characteristics of the heart of worship that we will look at more closely.

The heart of worship is:
Vertical . . . Joyful . . . Excited . . . Satisfied
Purposeful . . . Thankful . . . Engaging . . . Musical
Focused . . . Awestruck . . . Humble . . . Expressive
Reverent . . . Submissive . . . Teachable . . . Active Faith.
The Heart

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Heart of Worship is Vertical

(25) When God Says, “Stop Worshiping – I Don’t Do Left-Overs!”

2009-08-26T00:02:00.003-04:00

Everyone in our family loves left-overs. One time my wife cooked every dinner for a whole month in one Saturday. For the next month, we basically ate leftovers every day. It was great, just pick something out of the freezer and pop it in the oven or nuker.

But I know there are others who want a fresh cooked meal at every meal. I have met more than one person who wanted a cooked meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have a friend who absolutely will not eat left-overs of any kind at any time.

When it comes to worship, God’s like my friend. He wants our best efforts, He expects to have first priority. God doesn’t do leftovers.

The LORD of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!"But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?' 7"You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar."Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices? '"You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 8When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. 9 Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?" asks the LORD of Heaven's Armies. 10"How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "and I will not accept your offerings. (Malachi. 1:6-10)

Let me try to paraphrase this passage in a nutshell synopsis. God is saying, "You’re disrespecting me and disregarding me. You don’t even treat me as good as you do your fathers or governors. You keep the best for yourself. You only give me what you don’t want for yourself, your left-overs. I don’t’ want your left-overs. In fact, please, just close the doors and stop coming if all you’re giving is the left-overs you didn’t want after serving yourself."

Remember, God told Israel to bring the best of their flocks, animals without blemish to sacrifice in worship. The people were keeping the best for themselves and bringing God the lame and disfigured animals they had no use for. All God was getting was the throw-aways.

But God doesn’t do left-overs. If all we have to give Him is our left-over time, energy, money, and attention, that we begrudgingly give then God says, "Keep it." Giving God only our left-overs is a grave offense of dishonoring and disrespecting Him.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that the answer is to give God first place. This thinking is faulty because it tends to say, "Give God first place and once you’ve done that, the rest is yours." But the Bible teaches us that God desires, deserves and demands all our time . . . all our energy . . . all our money . . . all of our abilities . . . everything invested in the advancement of the worship and praise of His glory. Paul says, "Do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)

Let me put this more practically and, well, bluntly with a few questions to ask yourself.

Is my daily time in God’s Word and worship determined by how busy my schedule is for the day and how much time I feel I can spare or have left over at the end of the day?
Is my church attendance based on whether or not I have something around the house I want to do, a game I want to watch, or some other activity I want to do?
How often do I skip church because I’ve got other things to do?
Do I make it a priority to be rested and well prepared to worship God or do I show up tired and distracted, thinking about what’s next?
Am I seeking to do ALL for the glory of God . . . to make my life, all of it, an act of worship?

When our worship is only the left-overs of our time, effort, and money, then God says, "Stop worshiping!"

God deserves that every thought of our minds . . . every beat of our hearts . . . every affection . . . every word . . . every ounce of our energy . . . be focused on Him . . . His exaltation, praise, and worship. He deserves that we continually, completely, and constantly give Him all the glory and honor with all of our energy. He deserves every thought . . . every affection . . . every energy . . . every heart beat . . .every breath. Soli deo gloria!

Soli Deo Gloria

NEXT: Getting Back to the Heart of Worship

(24) When God Says, “Stop Worshiping – There’s Sin In Your Life!”

2009-08-25T07:04:00.007-04:00

Holiness is an all but forgotten pursuit of modern Christians. The popular cry is trumpeted from pulpits, "God loves you the way you are." This is true, but God does not leave us the way we are. He is on a mission to make us like Christ. God is on a mission to purge us of our sin. What does God do when we refuse to respond to His efforts to rid us of our sin? He tells us to stop worshiping.

Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting-- even your most pious meetings-- are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. (Isa. 1:13-15 NLT)

Wow! What sobering words. Look at what God says about their meetings, offerings, and prayers. God is saying, "Stop worshiping, close the doors, I can’t take it anymore, I’m disgusted!" Why? Because "Your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims."

We must not think that we can live as we please, living in sin and rebellion against God’s Word and then think we can go to church and worship God like everything is fine. The first step in biblical worship is always confession and repentance.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Palm 139:23-24 NIV)

This really does fly in the face of our contemporary "come as you are" mentality were the implication and in some cases the practice is devoid of reverence for the holiness and commands of God. I have known churches to allow practicing homosexuals and even unbelievers participate in leading worship.

What would God say to this? I believe He would say, "Stop it! . . .Close the church doors!" You can’t rebel against the Gospel and the Word of God and worship Him at the same time.

Perhaps with most of us our sin is less blatant and grievous. But are we guilty of downplaying our own sin? Do we take our sin lightly as we come before God in worship? Is our first act of worship Spirit-guided self examination, confession and repentance?

When there is known sin in our lives and we refuse to confess and turn from it, then God says, "Stop worshiping!" The first act of worship must be confession and repentance.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: When God Says, "Stop Worshiping – I Don’t Do Left-Overs!"

(23) When God Says, “Stop Worshiping – You’re Heart’s Not In It!”

2009-08-24T01:15:00.012-04:00

Can you imagine God telling us to stop worshiping and close the church doors? This is, in effect, what He says to the people of Israel . . . more than once! Why? Was it because their worship was unsound doctrinally? No. Was it because God didn’t approve of their worship style or the instruments they used? No. It had nothing to do with the content or style of their worship at all.

Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote . . . (Isaiah 29:13 NAU)
　
What’s the problem here? There’s no reason to question the content of their worship. They were saying the right things in worship. And, on top of that, they were doing it faithfully. They were showing up whenever the doors were open and saying the right things and singing the right words. But there was one big problem. The words were just words without heart. They were just going through the motions. They were just doing church. It was habit, ritual, tradition without heart. There was no joy or delight in God. There was no affection for God.

You shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your might.

(Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV)

In Hebrew thought, the heart was the center of personality. It was a word that summed up the totality of the real person inside the flesh and bones. The heart includes thoughts, values, emotions, and will. For the people in Isaiah’s day, they were exercising their wills, but their thoughts, values, and emotions were not engaged in worship.

Again, we need to note that God doesn’t just want acts of worship. God wants us to have hearts that love Him, delight in Him, are passionate about Him, and so, worship Him. The acts of worship whether they be spoken words, singing, clapping, raising hands, bowing, kneeling, dancing or any other act we are told to do in scripture must come from a heart for God. Genuine worship is more than the right thoughts, words, and actions. Genuine worship engages the whole person.

So let me ask you a question. Where are your thoughts when you are singing in church? Are your thoughts on the truth of the words you are singing? Is this truth about God a genuine expression of your heart as you sing? Or is it just words coming out of your mouth?

What are your emotions like when you worship? Are you filled with joy and delight in the God of glory? Is it a pleasure and thrill to gather with other believers to worship God? Are you touched to the core of your being by His greatness and majesty? Are you humbled, perhaps even to tears by the wonders of His grace, mercy and love?

When worship is nothing more than an intellectual, physical practice without the reality of a heart responding to the heart of God, then God says, "Stop worshiping!"

May we never have to hear God say,

"Stop worshiping, your heart’s not in it."

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: When God Says, "Stop Worshiping – There’s Sin In Your Life!"

(22) Authentic Worship

2009-08-22T15:49:00.005-04:00

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

(Psalm 111:1 NAU)

Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name!

(Psalm 103:1 NET)

God is looking for authentic worship! Authentic worship begins with accurate worship. Worship that is based on truth and expresses truth. But it is not enough for worship to be accurate. Even if the words spoken or sung are directly from scripture, this is not enough. God does not just want the head, He wants the heart. He doesn’t want us to just express the right words from our mouths. He wants to engage our hearts. Accurate worship must be coupled with authentic worship. Worship that comes from the heart.

Worship is not an unexpressed feeling, nor is it an empty formality. True worship is balanced and involves the mind, the emotions, and the will. It must be intelligent; it must reach deep within and be motivated by love; and it must lead to obedient actions that glorify God. (Warren Wiersbe)

Authentic worship must be built on accurate worship. Accurate worship must be expressed authentically from a heart that affirms the words, believes the words, feels the emotion of the words. The truth of the character and glory of God and the truth of the Word should produce a multifaceted response in us. It should impact our heads – our thinking. It should impact our hearts – our values and emotions. It should impact hour hands – our actions. Authentic worship involves our whole being, intellect, emotion and will.

Those of us who hold truth and holiness in high regard tend to do really well with the head and the hands when it comes to obeying God’s Word and worship. We are often lacking in heart. We shun feelings and expressions of emotion. Especially when it comes to worship.

I once had a friend tell me that His church taught that there should be no physical or emotional aspects to worship in worship. You were to sit or stand still and sing the words without any feeling. We will clearly see from scripture that this is totally unbiblical.

John Piper has pointed out, "Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead...True worship must include inward feelings that reflect the worth of God's glory."

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
(Psalm 32:11 NAU)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: When God Says, "Stop Worshiping!"

(21) Accurate Worship

2009-08-21T08:52:00.005-04:00

Man-centered worship is typically heavily oriented toward feeling and experience. The goal is to enjoy worship, feel something and have a positive experience in worship. If these goals are accomplished then it is called good worship. And while feelings and experience of God’s presence are an important part of biblical worship, there is much more than that. God is looking for accurate worship. Worship that is rooted in truth and is an expression of truth.

Jesus points out that the Samaritan’s worship was not based on an accurate understanding of God, "You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him."

Worship based on erroneous thinking and view of God is not worship at all. So, we must first turn our hearts to the truth of God's Word as it reveals His character. If our worship is to be pleasing to God, we need to know God . . . know His character . . . see His glory. It is not enough that we worship with all our hearts if our heads are filled with wrong concepts of God. Paul points out this flaw in Israel’s pursuit of God.

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. (Romans 10:1-2 NAU)

Sincerity is not enough! If worship is based on error, no matter how sincere the worshiper, it is not true worship! And so, we must know God accurately, based on scripture’s revelation of God’s nature and character.

"Worship must be both accurate & authentic. God pleasing worship is deeply emotional & deeply doctrinal. We use our hearts & our hands . . . If worship is mindless it is meaningless" (Rick Warren)

True worship has both objective and subjective aspects, and we must maintain this balance. . . If we do not submit to some kind of objective revelation, some Word from God, then our worship is ignorant and probably false. (Warren Wiersbe)

Worship that honors God is an accurate expression of biblical truth. This expression of biblical truth in worship requires that we keep two great truths about God in mind. The worship of God is simultaneously about an infinite God who is beyond comprehension and an intimate God we can know. Worship must hold on to both these truths.

It is worship of the God of infinite glory who dwells in marvelous light unapproachable (1 Tim. 6:16). This is called God’s transcendence meaning that God is above and beyond us in every way. Our worship must recognize God's transcendence and should arouse attitudes and emotions of reverence, awe, and wonder, even speechlessness.

But it is also the worship of the God who is our Father and personal friend (John 15:14; Jam. 2:23). This is referred to as God’s immanence meaning that we can come near to God and interact with Him and have close fellowship with Him. The immanence of God arouses attitudes and emotions of intimacy, love, and passion.

Some worship tends to do well at spotlighting and expressing God’s transcendence. Some does well at focusing on God’s immanence. But it need not be one or the other and one should never outshine the other. We need to reverence God and we need to celebrate God. We need awe and we need intimacy. They should go hand in hand, be reciprocal, and complement one another.

As we will see, scripture calls us to very reverent, humble, and contemplative expressions of worship that is quiet, even silent. Scripture also calls us to exuberant, expressive, and celebratory worship that raises the roof. We need both.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: Authentic Worship

(20) Theo-centric Worship

2009-08-20T09:52:00.005-04:00

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2)

To worship is to place value in something that leads to honoring it, venerating it, exalting it, drawing attention to its worth and seeing it as worthy of praise. So, worship begins in the heart where something or someone is valued and then, worship is expressed in some action.

I am a firm believer in worship. Really, this whole blog is about worship. It could even be called a handbook on the purpose and content of worship. Why, because worship is for God and about God, the glory of God. Biblical worship is God-centered.

So, a correct view of God is vital for proper worship. As Tozer points out, a correct view of God, "Is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse."

In scripture, worship is not just something we do on Sunday. Worship is to be a lifestyle of exalting God in everything we do. But, in the scripture, we also see a major focus on focused worship; expressing God’s glory verbally and with music. In fact, this is a major theme of scripture. In the book of Exodus, 25 chapters are devoted to the construction and worship of the tabernacle. Leviticus is a 27 chapter guide to worship practice for Israel. The Psalms formed the Jewish hymnal. There are several commands to worship in the New Testament and principles to guide us in that worship.

Worship of the glory of God is the theme and essence of this blog. The expression of worship through our lifestyle, speaking, songs and other acts of worship liturgy are an important aspect of worship, personally, privately, and publically. So, we will need to spend some time considering biblical principles for worship. We start with the words of Jesus as He instruct the Samaritan woman on principles of worship.

" So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"

Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming-- indeed it's here now-- when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:20-25 NLT)

The focus of this woman was on determining the proper place and method of worship, "Who worships the right way and in the right place?" Jesus’ response shows us that worship is not about these external things. It is first a foremost about truth and the heart, not methods. God desires a deeper worship than just going through the motions. He is seeking worshipers who truly know Him and exalt His glory.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: Accurate Worship

(19) The Lens of Theo-centric Theology

2009-08-19T00:29:00.003-04:00

When you look through a frosted window, you get a distorted view of everything outside. When you look through the lens of man-centered or another fallacious, clouded theological lens, you get a distorted view of God and everything else in life.

Dan Dehaan points out in The God You Can Know that, "Christians believe in one big, bold miracle – God. As a result, everything else fits into place. The rest of the world denies God, the Creator, and needs a miracle to explain everything created."

A correct view of God puts everything else in proper place and perspective. Many of the struggles in our lives are a result of losing perspective on who God is. We see so much pain, sorrow, and difficulty around us, and our view of God gets distorted. It is only when we get a clear focus on the greatness and character of God that we can properly view and respond to the challenges and painful circumstances of life. A. W. Tozer explains this:

The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot concern him for very long; but even if the multiple burdens of time may be lifted from him, the one mighty single burden of eternity begins to press down upon him with a weight more crushing than all the woes of the world piled one upon another. That mighty burden is his obligation to God.

The great need in life is not to make sense of the problems of life and find solutions for them. The great need of life is to know God in all His glorious character. The great need of life is to understand how to live life in light of God’s glorious character. The great need of life is learning how to glorify God in the challenging circumstances of life. This can only happen when we have an accurate, biblical view of God. Life begins and ends with a clear view of the character of God.

We get confused and can’t make sense of life . . . We need to know the God of all knowledge and wisdom. We think we know the answers and end up dead wrong . . . we need to follow the God with the perfect plan. We run out of time and get impatient . . . we need to rest in the timing of the eternal God. We are weak and run out of energy to keep going . . . we need to be renewed by the almighty God. We loose heart, get discouraged, feel like giving up. God says, "Have you forgotten who I am?"

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)

Without doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God, and the weightiest word in any language is its word for God. (A.W. Tozer)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: Theo-centric Worship

(18) God Like Us

2009-08-18T14:15:00.005-04:00

We live in a world today where we have lost sight of the God revealed in scripture. We have formulated a God who fits with our sensibilities. We have created a God who is just like us.

For some, truth about God and the acts of God revealed in scripture do not sit well with them and so they are faced with a crisis of belief. Do I accept this God or reject Him? Many reject the God revealed in the Bible because He insults their pride, their sense of self-worth and fairness.

They see God commanding Israel to wipe out an entire civilization – men, women, children, and animals. And they don’t want anything to do with a God like this. They see God condemning man to Hell and they don’t want anything to do with a God like this. They don’t think God has any right or justification for doing such things to the highest of all evolved beings. They don’t want anything to do with a God who exercises His righteousness, holiness, and justice in acts of vengeance and wrath. Because, in their minds, man does not deserve this, they view Him as some Godzilla-like monster. To them it is just arbitrary, evil and the unrestrained outpouring of violence on the nobelist of beings who are undeserving, good people.

But God is not Godzilla. This is perception of God is incomplete and inaccurate. It is built on an inaccurate view of man. It is a view that is corrected when we see the God revealed in the scripture in the totality of His Divine nature.

God is not Godzilla.

God is not your grandfather. God is often brought down to the level of man so that He is familiar, kind, lenient, cozy, a and warm grandfatherly type. The mind-set is that grandfathers don’t discipline. They’re always kind, gentle and loving. The view of God is that He smiles down on us no matter what we do, no matter what the condition of our hearts. People who view God this way will overemphasize the love of God and exalt it as the one defining attribute of God that governs all others.

Some of us may see this as the distorted view of liberal theologians. But unfortunately, even some orthodox, conservative theologians fall into this error. We will deal more thoroughly with this error and the truth of scripture on this matter when we study the love of God. But for now, consider this:

"God is love," and some have taken his words to be a definitive statement concerning the essential nature of God. This is a great error. The words "God is love" mean that love is an essential attribute of God. Love is something true of God but it is not God. (A.W. Tozer)
God is love. But God is also holy, just, righteous. Around the throne of God it is not the love of God that is focused on, it is His holiness (Isaiah 6, Revelation 4) . . . "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, almighty."

God is not your grandfather. Love is just one of the attributes found in the essential nature of God.

God is not your genie. God is often seen as being there for man's benefit. They act like God is their personal genie, existing to grant their wishes whatever they may be, whenever they are demanded. This is closely related to the error of overemphasizing the love of God. Many people act like God exists to serve them. God exists to fulfill their desires and make them happy. God exists to make me healthy, wealthy and successful in whatever I want to do.

Some preachers are preaching this every Sunday. Time magazine reports that "61% of American Christians tell pollsters they believe God wants them to be financially prosperous." (Read their sobering article, Does God Want You To Be Rich? at www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html

Sadly, much of Christianity today is about what God can do for me. People attend church, put money in the offering plate and maybe serve in some program because they believe this is how they get the blessing of God. They do their religious acts like Aladdin rubs Genie’s lamp. They are only in it for what they hope to get out of it from God in the form of "the good life" now. And the "good life" is all about material, physical things of this world.

God is not your genie!

God is not Godzilla. He is not your grandfather. He is not your genie.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Lens of Theo-centric Theology

(17) The Importance of Theo-Centric Theology

2009-08-17T17:51:00.005-04:00

When you start with the wrong roadmap, headed in the wrong direction, you’re going to end up in the wrong place. Now that’s profound isn’t it? Perhaps not, but it illustrates an important principle that applies to theology and doctrine.

Before I explain this further, it might be good to make sure we understand what we’re talking about when we use the words doctrine and theology. Doctrine is simply a statement of what we believe to be true. Another word we use for this is "theology." The word theology literally means the study of God. And this is where so much of our doctrine goes wrong. It doesn’t begin with a study of the character of God as revealed in His Word.

Too often, we start doing theology and establishing our doctrine with the wrong roadmap and headed in the wrong direction. Far too much theology and doctrine is man-centered. Because of this, we look at the wrong thing and we look for the wrong thing. Many people get tripped up because they do theology and formulate their doctrinal beliefs with this wrong starting point – man-centered theology that begins with a wrong view of humanity, human reason and reasoning ability, man’s goodness and intrinsic value. Man-centered theology tends to view and formulate doctrine based on how it effects or impacts man. Instead of letting scripture speak for itself, it is filtered through what makes sense to man and man’s concepts of what is right. Most often, this leads to error in belief about the character of God, the nature of man and doctrine related to sin and salvation.

This was the error of Job and his friends who thought themselves counselors in theology. They began with wrong thinking about God, man, and suffering and so, they came up with wrong conclusions regarding the horrific pain in Job’s life. It didn’t make sense from the perspective of man and their views of suffering and God. The "theologians" concluded Job must be guilty of sin. It didn’t fit with their man-centered theology that said Job couldn’t be suffering for any other reason but sin. Job had this same theology but he declared his innocence and so he questioned if God really knew what was going on. But then, God responded,

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2)

God goes on in some length to show them that He is the creator, man is the creation. God’s knowledge and wisdom is infinite, man’s is very limited. God is the center of the universe, not man. Job and his counselors needed to be humbled before God and start with a Theo-centric theology.

Theology must be governed by scripture and must begin with the one who is the beginning, creator and source of all truth. Theology must begin and end with a focus on the character and glory of God. Theology must be God centered, that is, Theo-centric.

Perhaps one of the greatest books ever written on the glory of God is The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. In it, he writes, "I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God."

Millard Erickson in Christian Theology agrees, "The doctrine of God is the central point for much of the rest of theology. One's view of God might even be thought of as supplying the whole framework within which one's theology is constructed and life is lived."

Our study of theology must begin with a study of God. It must be centered on God as God and man as creation. God was who He is in eternity past, before man was created. So, we must get a firm grip on what scripture reveals about God, apart from the implications of these truths on humanity. This is difficult, but it must be pursued. Whenever the scripture declares truth about the character of God and His ways that does not sit well with us, we must return to this truth. God is God. He always has been and always will be. We are His creation.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: God Like Us

(16) The Glory of Eternity

2009-08-13T10:36:00.008-04:00

Paul looked froward to the glory of eternity when he said, ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee will bow– in heaven and on earth and under the earth– and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Philipians 2:10-11 NET)). He said this right after he described Jesus’ humility in going to the Cross. What a contrast! From the most humbling, degrading and horrific circumstances man can imaging to glory that is far beyond man’s imagination!

The reason every knee will bow to Jesus’ lordship and give glory to the Father is that His worth will finally be fully appreciated. John sees this worth described and worshiped in Heaven when He is given the privilege of a glimpse of Heaven.

Revelation 4 and 5 are a vignette of the worship that will go on in Heaven through eternity. In chapter four, the majestic and mysterious angelic beings cry out in constant antiphonal worship, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (4:8)" They continually, "give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever (4:9)." Around the throne of God there are 24 "elders" who most likely represent the redeemed Church. Here the Church is seen casting their crowns received for faithful service down in worship at the feet of God. As they do this, they proclaim, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

This is the beginning of the end. The vindication of God’s glory is beginning. God’s wrath against sin and rebellion is about to be unleashed, His judgement against those who refuse to willingly bow in worship. But before this happens, God vindicates the justice of His coming acts of judgement and wrath. He demonstrates that the recipients of judgement are fully deserving of this judgement.

The scene in Heaven is hushed as the hosts of Heaven wait for one who is worthy, justified in unleashing the judgement of God. And then it happens. One steps forward. One who looks like a lamb that has been slain. He takes possession of the scrolls that declare and unleash God’s judgement. And all of heaven bursts forth with the declaration of His worth, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (5:9-10)."

Worthy! Why? Because Jesus is the lamb who gave His live for the redeemed. These are a people who have been ransomed, "for God." Its all about Him and the worship of His glory. These are a kingdom and priests "to our God." These are the ones who exist for eternity in their priestly role of giving honor, service, and worship to the God of glory!

John's glimpse of this glorious scene in Heaven comes to a close,

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14 NIV)

May we, this day, bow, shout, sing, delight in, praise, and worship the Triune God of glory. He is worthy of our praise now, and for all eternity.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: The Importance of Theo-centric Theology