Doing God Your Own Way

Isaiah‬ ‭55:8‬ ‭- "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,  nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.  

‭‭

There is a belief, a misconception, that we can do God our own way. This simply is not true. It may seem narrow minded, but trust me it is not, when it is said we must receive Christ. 

There will always be some who want nothing to do with God. There are some who believe in different gods. There are some who believe all religious roads lead to God. But there is only one God, the one who created all things. He is the only one who gives true life to those who desire it. It is by and through Him our lives are changed.

We are all born with some understanding that there is something...Someone... greater because we have been created in His image. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. While we God has given us a way to know Him, we cannot know all about Him. The only way we can know Him is to seek and eventually receive God...Jesus. He always seeks everyone that they might be saved from their "lostness" in this world. Lost because He is not with them. 

The message is very simple: Receive Christ, receive life. There are just so many ways to put it. It is the most important thing anyone can do. And, sadly, the one thing so many resist doing because of man's beliefs.

Big lie: We cannot get to God or heaven in our own merits. If we were so perfect why did God have to send His perfect, holy, sinless Son Jesus to die for us? (Why did a death need to take place?) 

So now, instead of us doing for our salvation and eternal life, we too must die...to self. To those lies. To our ideas of right and wrong. To the world's view of right and wrong. Our focus must be on His view and this rubs people the wrong way. Our self gets in the way of receiving Christ. We want what makes us feel good or comfortable. God's way is not always as comfortable. It means giving up our ways. But, oh, if we do...

But, oh, if we do, we find that scripture that states His ways are not like ours is so accurate and good. We know who we can trust implicitly. He knows what we need more than we do. His ways are always good and true and just, even if it's not what we would choose. It takes a step of faith to do this and more steps of faith to keep on. When we do, there are great promises for us. The greatest is eternal life in and with Christ. 

We people think we are so smart. We think we have it all figured out. We believe in ourselves. Because of this there is division, as we see playing out in the world today. Only God knows the beginning from the end. I want to stand by Him. 

Many are suggesting that because of all the turmoil in the world today, the fact that it has grown quickly and escalates in its ugliness, that these are signs of the last days before the eventual return of Christ. While no one can say exactly when, and I do believe that things are going to get worse than we now see, and He will return. The worse this world gets, the more I long for it. The more I long for the promise of heaven and no more sorrow, tears or pain. I long for this for so many.

We can all long for that. We can all be assured of that by seeking God now. By seeking the God whose wisdom, knowledge and understanding far surpasses ours. He's there for anyone who wishes to receive Him. Any race or religion. He paid the price for all who would receive Him. He crosses over denominational lines because He is not a denomination. He is God. He is above man and man's ways (and thoughts and imaginations). 

I do not expect America to grow great again. No one can be greater than our God. He's the one I am glad to know and whom I will follow. How about all of you? 

Isaiah‬ ‭55:9,11-12‬ ‭- “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Neverending

Psalm 145:4 - One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.

Nothing will ever be able to eliminate God's people. The world may try to silence Him but God's acts will always be passed on from one to another. And one day He will return for all to see. 

The world can turn away from God but in the hearts of those who devote their lives to the Lord, He will always be there. Once committed to Him, He will not remove Himself from us. We can turn our backs and walk away from Him, break our covenant with Him--but His covenant with us is forever.  He will never turn His back on us. No man can take His Spirit from us once we have received it...and hold on to it.

In days to come, things will look more and more grim. It's only grim to those who do not have Christ as their Savior. We who are faithful in our walk with God will be watched to see how we respond to disaster. They will look and wonder at the peace we have. They will want to know where it comes from and even how to receive it. (At least I hope so.) Even if death is imminent there is peace that comes from knowing what lies ahead for those who have received Jesus for their salvation. If we know the Lord our lives are eternal in death. That's what Jesus is all about, why He came to this earth and why He had to die--for all of us.

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. That alone should be the praise on our lips--the declaration of our hearts. There is none like God. There is none wiser or honest, more loving, more concerned about our welfare and our salvation. No man on earth can possibly do that. He wishes none to perish.

This Psalm also tells us He is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. His kingdom is everlasting...even if some do not believe this. Only He endures. Other religions may claim otherwise, but the truth of His word will be made known some day. If you aren't sure where you're at with God, know that He gladly will take you in if you seek Him. Seek through asking, communing through prayer. Seek by picking up that dusty old Bible. Read the Gospel of John. Listen to what Jesus has to say about Himself and what He can do for you.

It's so important to understand and know His love for us. When we allow His truth to enter into our hearts, and God, and let Him be our center, here's His promise:

Psalm 145:18-19 - 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 also will hear their cry and save them.

What More Can I Say?

Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

What more can I say? It's always about Jesus. His love, His mercy, His desire that all should know Him intimately.

Nothing satisfies more than the deep knowledge of an unseen God. Just because we cannot see Him doesn't mean He does not exist. He's always a prayer away to those wanting to know Him.

Isaiah tells us in Chapter 55 that God has what we need. Thirsty? Hungry? ...Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah‬ ‭55:1-2‬) ‭Why else would He be called the Bread of Life or the Fountain of Living Water? He has all we need. Our soul, our spirit is the most important part of us. 

If we give up our own ideas of what life should be like, what we think we need to make us happy, and accept Jesus, we shall be satisifed. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you... (Isaiah 55:3) Everlasting = lasting through all time, eternal. Without Jesus we will always flounder.

Hah! Bear with me here! Flounder? Didn't Jesus enlist the help of fishermen? Didn't He say they would become fishers of men? Isn't that who we are without Jesus--people who just flounder through life without a purpose? Haven't we all at one time asked what we are here for? Let Him catch you in His net. Let His words pierce your soul and spirit.

What more can I say? He is a merciful God to anyone who seeks Him, no matter where you are in life, no matter how 
good or bad you are. Even those who think on their own merits they are good need Jesus because there is none righteous without Him. Period! 

Isaiah 55:6-7 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 

We can search all we want for the truth in this world but we will never find it here. It can only be found by taking our eyes off this world and looking up to God. It works.    

When I was 40 I lost my mother to cancer. That time was all a blur. It must have taken its toll because I decided to quit my job and get away from it all. I packed my bike, got a plane ticket to Luxembourg and spent seven weeks biking through Europe--searching for myself. I believe God was with me even then, when I didn't yet know Him. He was there every step of the way, in the people I met and safety I experienced, even down to very real moment-to-moment needs that I expressed out loud to myself. God heard me and those needs were met--without my knowledge of His hand. He knew a day would come when my searching for myself would end when I found Him. How I praise Him today for that. 

Now I know my purpose--even though I may not live it perfectly--is to glorify God in everything I do. To know Him as Truth and to trust Him with my life.

Why should we trust our own ideas? Who gave us life? Who gave us our abilities and gifts? If we do according to His plans we will not fail. Some believe our gifts and ideas are our own; they are gifts but gifts from God. He knows what's best for us. It's true, our Father knows best!

What more can I say? Despite the troubles life can bring, He gives us peace, joy, singing, blessings instead of cursings. With or without us God's plans for this world will be accomplished. I'd rather be on the safe side, on God's side. Seek Him and His Word. That's all I can say...for now!

Isaiah 55:11 - So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Revelation

Revelation 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.

Want to be clued in to things which must shortly take place before Jesus Himself returns? 

The truth of God's Word is revealed to those who seek it. 

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬)

In order to fully understand we must come into relationship with Christ, as His Book reveals throughout its pages. 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬)
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (‭I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9)

God gave His Son the revelation of the last days. He shares this information with those who seek it. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬)

This relationship comes from a new spiritual birth, being born again. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭3,5‬)

From there the Spirit of the living God draws us into knowing Him more. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. (‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭44-45‬)

When we turn to Him He makes it possible, through His Spirit, to know the things of God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (‭1Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭13)

...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬)

When we know the Lord, are born again, in relationship with Him, begin to know the things of God, i.e., understand His Word, we are given the mind of Christ.

But God has revealed them [hidden wisdom] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2:10,16)

Praise God for His love for all people. He never stops seeking those who seek for Him. He never turns away someone ready to repent and know His truth. He desires that none should perish. Without Him we are nothing...nothing...nothing.

Without His knowledge a lot of confusion and fear will arise. We will see things we've never seen before. We already see some things that we can relate to that are beyond our belief would happen in our lifetime. And it will escalate. Who is ready? 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, Who He is, what He has done, what He still does and what He will do when He returns, is ours just in believing in Him, knowing Him in your heart, not your mind, trusting Him and giving your life to and for Him.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus... Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (2Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬, Acts 4:12)

Fear...of God or World?

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

That scripture says it all. It's wise and a warning both. I don't claim to have all wisdom but I do believe I have a fear of the Lord. If we do not fear God...well, the Word tells us the truth. 

King Solomon was wise. He wrote Proverbs. He wrote Ecclesiastes which I have written occasionally about...how all is vanity and a grasping for the wind...without God. He was not so wise later in life when he seemed to have let the things of God and all that wisdom go along the wayside. But he wizened up!

We are told to fear God. This is reverent fear, not fearful fear! If we can grasp how big our God is, the power, control and love He has, fearing Him is easier. If we do not fear Him the fear of life's circumstances will overcome.

I think we can still be anxious when circumstances first present themselves, although to be honest we are not to be anxious for anything either. But I t's then we go to God and trust in Him. He does have all things under control. He knows what we go through and will face. But if we remember He's in control, that He has our life in His hands, whatever the outcome, if we know Him and reverently fear Him, we have nothing to fear...even death. 

How many fear death? It's because they do not know what lies ahead. Even if they believe heaven is theirs, they will fear death. But not all go to heaven. Not even those supposed to be good...claimed by family, friends, even selves. We need a relationship, wisdom, knowledge and reverent fear of God for that to happen. Nothing we can do on our own...no works, no thinking we're better than the next guy. We must take our focus off ourselves and put it squarely on God. 

Days are coming where some (in the world) may begin to fear. We don't know if/when the financial market might drop, jobs will be lost, illness comes, deaths occur, terrorism strikes or life's situations become too great. But we, as believers, are called not to fear. If we do not fear Him it might said of us: He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬)  Here the word know means: to come to know, get a knowledge of; Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. It means intimate knowledge of Him (and I'm not speaking something kinky). Not head knowledge but of the heart. It must come from the heart. And just to make it very clear, this is knowing Jesus, receiving Him as Lord and Savior, confessing our sins to Him, trusting in Him and believing He will forgive...not one of those points but all. 

Our pastor was saying the other day that most of those who have come into this relationship, this knowledge, know it happened. The Holy Spirit of God caused a change to take place in hearts, minds, spirits. We can't explain it very well other than to say we know that we know that we know something occurred that changed us. Do you know that? 

If we do not have the fear of the Lord, we have fear of the world. There are plenty of scriptures that show us examples of this. Here are just two. Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18)...I used to think I needed that perfect love for God; it's not about me but about a God, Jesus, whose love is the only perfect love. If we know that...wow. We are not to fear he (or what) who can kill the body because if we know Jesus he cannot kill our soul! (Matthew 10:28) It's all about knowing Jesus. If we have no fear of God, we are in sin. Ouch.

Solomon later in life once again understood the value of fearing and knowing God above all else. He wrote the difficult words of Ecclesiastes after having strayed from God and realizing his mistake. All the riches of the world, accomplishments, were nothing apart from God. Job was another man who understood this fear of the Lord and exercised it when he lost all he had and maintained trust in his God. They both had the same conclusion. Know the Lord, fear Him, know that He is to be our all in all. Wise words. 

“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. God understands its way, and He knows its place. And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’” (‭Job‬ ‭28‬:‭20-21,23,28‬)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬)

Who is the Lord?

Exodus 5:2 - And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” 

Who is the Lord is the question we all ask in some way before we truly know Him.

Moses was in the process of working out the freedom of the people of Israel who were in captivity in Egypt. But he was dealing with an unbeliever in their God. Later Pharaoh would cave after he saw the many plagues and torments brought about by this God of Israel he did not know.

There was a time when I asked, Why do I need to go to church? I know who Jesus is. I know He died for my sins. I heard this in children's Sunday school. Isn't that all I need? If God is good and I'm basically a good person--certainly not the best, but better than others--then I believe I will go to heaven.

These are pretty much standard suppositions...We aren't all that bad. And generally that statement is not always followed by are we? But God has a higher standard than that. Since the incident in the Garden of Eden mankind has been separated from God. We lost our relationship with Him because there was a purity in that relationship between Adam, Eve and God. There was holiness because of obedience. God never changes. He is still holy. It is we who have since  changed and are born with sinful, unholy natures. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭2‬) And we must be separated from God...until...

Pharaoh did not know the God Moses and Israel worshipped. He could not understand the plea to let Israel go to worship Him. I couldn't understand it either. Why do I need to follow this God? Why should I listen to Him? Why should I obey Him? Why do I need to?

I believed that until...the good news. God has given us an opportunity to be reconciled to Him, that the veil of separation would be torn down. It's a word called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He sent His Son Jesus. He stands between sinful man and a holy God. He is the Mediator and the Way. Only through Him do we get to heaven. Only through our heartfelt belief, trust and faith in Him. And only that way. It is Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross that is spiritually poured over us to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

So, I go to church. I go to be in His presence, to worship Him and to hear Him speak through a pastor who loves Him. I now know that I know who Jesus is. I realize now the importance of His death for my sins. No, I am not basically a good person. No one is and if they claim otherwise they lie. In God's eyes we are all on the same level playing field...But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. (‭Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬)  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬)

Ah, but back to the good news...Jesus came that we would no longer be a reproach to God the Father. He will deliver us from this body of spiritual death. He will allow us to be able to say, It IS the Lord I will obey and be able to hear now His voice. I can know the Lord and be in right relationship with Him. Hallelujah!

Who is the Lord to you? Is He your Lord? Do you know Him? Receive Christ and see what He will do!

Exodus 6:6 - "Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.'"

Not of the World

John 17:11-16

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.


I still maintain there is a difference between knowing Jesus and believing in Him in our heads and knowing and believing in our hearts.

There is a definite transition and transformation that takes place when one truly knows Jesus. Something happens in our hearts and spirits. What we thought we knew becomes what we truly know.

Jesus was not of the world. That we can agree on. His disciples followed Him and were also considered not of the world. There were a lot of people who knew who Jesus was but rejected His words. They preferred the lifestyle they had always known over the one that Jesus offered. He has a way of changing a person's priorities by changing our hearts. Some don't want that change. Being in Christ means no longer being in the world and all it thinks is important. It's about priorities.

Only one of His disciples, Judas, failed. His love for money (he was treasurer for the group) did him in in the end. It is my understanding that he was the most intelligent of all the disciples. He had a wise business sense (although not always honest). It makes me think of the scripture that tells us God chooses the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise...and the weak things to put to shame the mighty. (1Corinthians 1:27)  It wasn't the intelligence or position in life Jesus wanted. It was the heart willing to change.

One might say, Oh, Jesus wanted the lesser people because He could twist them around His little finger and coerce them. Not so. If anything He coerced them into an exceedingly apparent knowledge of God, that could only have come from the Spirit, that these men used to preach the Gospel...and eternal life.

Judas remained of the world while his counterparts were no longer of the world, as Jesus has been saying. We are all a part of this corrupt world until we come to Christ. When we receive Him we are given a better knowledge through the power of the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit is the dividing factor between the earthly and spiritual. And that Holy Spirit only comes as a result of our coming to Christ, being born of the Spirit.

God chose me. I did not choose God. It was a struggle between He and me for awhile till "I got it." He sought me (He sought me and He bought me with His redeeming blood!). I chose to hear and receive what He offered me. I chose to be different being in relationship with Him. I chose to come out of the world. I chose to learn about Him. I have not regretted it. It's been an amazing journey. I may have lost ties with some friends or they keep me at arm's length, but I have won a whole new
family in my brothers and sisters in Christ, even those whom I've not even met.

We are called to not be of the world. Jesus prays that we will be protected from the evil one. The world hates the things of God. That is a very strong statement, I'm sure, to those who say they have nothing against Him but His way is not exactly the way they want to go; their lives are already filled. They just aren't filled with Jesus.

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

How Long Will You Falter?

I was in the midst of writing something but as I was composing, my thoughts led me to this passage of scripture. I will explain at the end!

Introduction: Elijah tested Israel. They lived as the world lived, believing in their own god(s) instead of trusting the God. Gee, this seemed to happen a lot. Times have not changed...so what will it take? Read below about the test. (Baal was a worldly god, adaptable to any circumstance. The word means "lord.")

1Kings 18:20-39 - So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 

Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” 

So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.” 

Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. ” So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. 

And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. 

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “ Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” 

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 

What I wanted to write was what will it take for people to know this great God of ours. How will they understand that He created us for a purpose, one of relationship...to seek, believe, trust and obey Him...because, to quote a phrase, (the) Father knows best? What will it take for people to realize what He has done for them? What will it take for people like those above to confess “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”  Baals today are as adaptable as then...anything we put before God. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

There may be many who feel like Elijah, "I am alone in a world of unbelievers." I know that's not true, but there is a minority (believers) and a majority (unbelievers). Narrow road, wide road. What will it take to grow the number of believers? 

God has probably done numerous things in each of our lives that have been His attempt to get us to notice Him. The heavens declare the glory of God. But some don't see it. And it's not just about believing He created these things that we might know there is a God. It's about relationship. That's what He wants for us. Relationship with Him. We have relationships with people in our earthly lives. The greatest relationship, which brings those earthly relationships greater meaning, comes from knowing Him and the power of His glory in our lives. But we need to seek it. 

Jesus came to bring us life. Those who put their total faith and trust in Jesus will have that life. Heaven is assured to those who believe. Jesus said:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me...that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. (John 14:6, 5:23). I will pose the same question as Elijah, How long will you falter? Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God.

John 5:24 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." 

Knowing Him

John 7:28-29 - Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” 

Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, the Father sends His Spirit that we might know Jesus.

There are many people who know me and not so many anymore who know from where I came. I have one friend in particular who could tell you stories!

If we have at some point in our lives come to that place where we have received Christ, we have come from somewhere else...a different life. Like the Pharisees couldn't see Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. He was only Joseph, the carpenter's, son. How could He claim to be God?

So how can I say I came from somewhere else? God creates change in people. There are endless testimonies from people who have known Jesus and were transformed, delivered out of sin, set free from addictions, lives changed. Not that all changed lives were from some huge thing but all from a worldly knowledge to a godly knowledge.

We come from a worldly lifestyle, one of total self, total self-indulgence, total pride, confidence, desire. It is a lifestyle that tends to go against that of Christ. If we know anything at all about Jesus, He preaches a lifestyle so unlike what the world reveres. And much of the world is offended by Him.

These words come from a song called Knowing You:
All I once held dear, built my life upon
ALL THIS WORLD REVERES AND WARS TO OWN
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now compared to this

Compared to what? Knowing Jesus. This world views the here and now as the most important thing. Self and desires. But how things change when Jesus steps into our lives and God begins to mold and shape us, like the Master Potter He is. Little by little we see things differently and recognize the fact that we ARE only in this world for a time and what happens after we die is what we should be most concerned with because that's where our eternity will be from that day on. NO, we will NOT be reincarnated as some would believe. Been there, believed that! Resurrected, yes, as was Christ, some day.

Christ came that we might know Him, His power, wisdom, righteousness...that we might be conformed into His image, yet not be Him. We can never be God, only like Him.

We may not be opposed to hearing God's name (even if in vain) or going to church or having prayer in schools because we believe in God and know of Jesus. That may not be offensive.

The offense can come, however, when one claims to KNOW Him differently, intimately. This knowing comes from His Holy Spirit and is very real. THIS can be offensive, that someone might have a special knowledge of God that another might not have (or even want).

Some sort of commitment and personal change must take place, a removing of self from what the general society believes is okay, or what a church or denomination has told us, and may even truly believe.

Now before you turn away from this read on.

Jesus said He did not come of Himself. I say the same. I did not want to know God any differently than the rest. But sometimes we are so powerfully confronted by this God we cannot turn tail and run! If our hearts are allowed to soften and allowed to hear His voice, we will KNOW Him as He comes to us.

He comes, as Jesus also said, in truth. His truth, His power were put before me one day and I could not run. It was exactly what I needed. A minute before that I didn't know I needed Him. But in an instant (in the twinkling of an eye, as it were) I was changed, through the power of God. I came to a realization...truth was revealed...that apart from Him I could do nothing. I could not change anything in my own strength...only in His. Can anyone fault me for choosing that? He says His yoke is easy and burden light. I didn't see any of this coming...and it might be the same for anyone else...even you if you have not encountered Jesus.

Jesus goes on to say that although "you" don't know God the Father, He does because He was sent by the Father. I say the same to those who do not have intimate knowledge of the Lord. He knows you. And if you have not received Him, you do not know God. Jesus was sent FOR you. He knows what you have need of. He knew what I needed and He was there; I now know Him. You can too.

I am, again, saying that it was God who came to me and opened my eyes. I am not claiming myself to have understood Him and chose to receive Him on my own. His Spirit had a very large hand in this. It's the way it happens. He shows us. He reveals. Some don't like what they see, it's offensive, and they will never believe there is a God. Or they will believe in God the way they want to, not believing the truth as He explains it: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

God sent His Spirit to me to introduce me to the Living God, to Jesus, that I might receive Him for that eternal life. I had little to do with it, other than having a discontentment I didn't know what to do about...and something from which He wished to lighten my burden.

Knowing Jesus is not a very hard thing to do if the desire is strong. He knows your heart. He is able to capture it if it is soft enough and open to receive. He WILL show you your sins. He will forgive you too. He will turn what was wrong into what should be right...not all at once and never, ever totally.

He beckons daily. His work is never finished. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is ever watchful on both the good and evil. Let me pose this question to you from Oswald Chambers: Can you recall (a) time when the light of God in the face of Jesus Christ was clearer...than anything else has ever been, when (you) saw perfectly clearly and understood exactly what the Lord wanted? Did you follow that light? Or did you choose not to? His light so shines today for all to see and grasp. Reach out and receive. You will see that it is not totally of yourself. The light will come from God as He comes beside you to guide you into His truth and righteousness. In time you too will know Him.

John 8:28-29 - Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 

Do You Know God?

Colossians 2:2-3 - that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The Barna Group did a study that said that 

everyone has a worldview, but relatively few people have a biblical worldview - even among devoutly religious people and

 only 9 percent of professing born again Christians have a biblical worldview. In other words, most people who call themselves Christians live as the world lives, not how the Bible says we should. 

The question arises: Who is God? The answer is simple: He is the ultimate source of truth, according to the scripture above. With that truth, why would we search for a worldview answer? Scientists are not generally professing Christians. They need to have a definitive answer to everything without a belief and faith in an Almighty God. Sometimes they stumble for answers and cannot find solace in believing something "just is" because God created it. 

Then there is the question: What is eternal life? John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. There's the answer! Another simple truth. Eternal life comes only through the intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not a general knowledge but a personal knowledge. It's a knowledge that must be sought. It doesn't come from just the idea that if one goes to church they're doing their duty to God.

I've mentioned this before. There is a difference between knowing who God is and knowing God. It's not just the knowledge about someone, but knowing them intimately, like a husband knows a wife. We need to have an intimacy with God; it's a spiritual intimacy...learning about Him and knowing His nature. 

In Philippians 3:10-11, the apostle Paul proclaimed: I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. This scripture tells us a myriad of things: To know Jesus changes us: we can become like Him...know His sufferings...and receive eternal life. This is an intimate relationship. This is knowing Him. I've asked God to let me see things through His eyes. He has shown me, in the grand scheme of life, just a small glimpse of His suffering. I think it helps us to realize more what He went through for us. 

God also tells us what He would like. He wants us to know Him...intimately. He begins to open our eyes to who He is when we decide to make this decision. That's exciting. Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. It's not all about the things we have and do in our life on earth. It's about knowing and understanding Him. He promises us much when we know Him. He promises us eternal life, above all other things.


What I'm getting to is this: although one might be a good, selfless, humble, person, these things mean nothing without the intimate relationship with Christ. That's a very hard word. The way to eternal life is narrow, as Jesus has pointed out. We can say we know who Jesus is, but it's not the same as knowing Him intimately. I struggle with this and have occasionally let my feelings be known to the Lord (not that He doesn't already know) by saying "there has to be a place in heaven for a person like this." But in all honesty, we just don't know. It's all in God's hands only  God has the answer.  A very hard word, and frankly one I don't like to think about.


God is not middle of the road, suitable to all because of what they believe. With Him it's all or nothing; black or white, not gray. Just being a basically good person doesn't make it. This saddens me because I know a lot of basically good people who don't want to hear this because they want to believe what they want to believe.

Society thinks that tolerance is good and embracing diversity better, that God would not keep a basically good person from entering heaven. But there is only one way to heaven and eternal life. That Way is the Truth, mentioned above. His name is Jesus. Through our knowledge of the mystery of God and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, His ways, His nature, His promises. He gives us the only thing we can truly cling to when all hell breaks loose in this world...hope. Choose to know Him, not just know of Him.

Philippians 4:19 - And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Through This Man

Acts 13:26-28, 29-30, 33 - Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. ...But God raised Him from the dead. ... And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. 

I've mentioned in the past that history repeats itself and the Book of Job tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. This concept has got to be part of God's plan that we might learn from others' past mistakes. But we are, as the people of Israel were, a stubborn lot. We are convinced we are capable of ruling ourselves without Divine guidance. We've celebrated our Independence Day. Have we learned enough about Divine guidance in the founding of this land? 

As I read Acts 13:26-32 a catch in my spirit caused me to think how this relates so much to us today. The Apostle Paul is speaking to believers in Philippi. He is referring to the Jews of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. He is relating the prophetic words spoken years prior about the Christ, the Messiah, who was to come...and whom these people had seen and either received Him or rejected Him.

Acts 13:26 refers to those who follow Christ today, who fear Him. We have received the Gospel message and have taken it to heart. Israel was the original "Abraham's seed." Israel's Jews are God's chosen people. Because of their constant disobedience and wandering away from the One who delivered them time and time again, God began to include us, Gentiles...mainly as a way to make Israel jealous:  Romans 11:11 - I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. This was part of God's plan since before the beginning of time...something we cannot fully grasp with our limited minds! We who have chosen Christ are part of Abraham's seed by adoption into the family of God...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5). As Jesus is the Light to us, we (corporately) are to be the light to the Jews and all people.

Here's where my mind has taken me for Acts 13:27 (don't worry, I won't go through each scripture!): the scripture is referring to the Israel of the past. Some of the Jews did not receive Jesus at the time He was living. Certainly not the religious leaders because He was a threat to their way of practicing their religious rites. Their "not knowing Him" in the scripture was their rejection. They knew very well the words of the prophets but did not believe. Jesus told them in their own temple one day who He was: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2. After Jesus had read these words He made a bold statement: Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21.  Oh, how these words were rejected.

So, as Acts 13 continues in verse 28 we see what they chose to do...put Him to death. Why? Because they did not want this single man, so different in His thinking, to cause them to submit to His ways. And what do we see today? People not believing Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life. It's that same stubbornness...the same mentality...take God out of all equations in this world. Take Him out of schools, remove prayer from the public because it is offensive to believe one Man can be so powerful and mighty...and God. How dare any one person be so great?

But here's the good news: although Jesus, Son of God, was crucified, died and was buried, He arose again. And today, despite what anyone wants to think, He is alive and seated on His throne. He will return some day. Jesus will lead the battle against the enemy in a great war. He will win and will begin a millennial reign on this earth where He will reign from Jerusalem. It will be a new earth where no evil will exist. We will work to recreate the devastated land. There will be no tears, no sorrow, no pain. And everyone will know Jesus is King. Oh, how I wish I could explain how everything we see happening today in the world is pointing to that day! 

If we know Jesus as Lord and Savior...with every fiber of our being...we will participate in this new life. We can be the children referred to in verse 33. Knowing Christ, not just knowing of Him, secures the same promises found all throughout the Word. It's all contingent upon our bowing our knees before Jesus today. The world offers a lot of wonderful stuff, but the "stuff" of Jesus is better in the end.

Let's not go the direction of the world and reject this Man who offers so great a salvation. Let's fight with endurance the battle that rages against Him. It's believed that we are in the last days because we see the rejection of God so rampant and the sins of the world growing greater. We could be seeing the results of our disobedience and rejection (like Israel so long ago)...our not taking seriously the Word of God...both in book form and in the form of a single, great and awesome Man. Remember, He arose from the grave. He will return! It's not just some fable. It's not something we've not seen happen yet so why should we believe it ever will. 

Only He is able to forgive sins...not our works, not who we think we are, not our money, not our wisdom. We are not greater than He. We will bend our knees to Him someday, either gladly because we have accepted Him today or with shame should we continue to reject Him. Philippians 2:10-11 - that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  And this is where the question arises, what must I do to be saved?  ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. It's believing with your whole heart. It's allowing the Lord into every part of your life. It's letting the Holy Spirit direct your paths. Most importantly, it's acknowledging His sovereignty.

Acts 13:38-39 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things ...

Do You KNOW God?

Colossians 2:2-3 - that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

We've been doing a study at church called The Truth Project. We have been told that only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview. In other words, most people who call themselves Christians live as the world lives, not how the Bible says we should. The study helps us dig deeper into life from a biblical perspective. Am I perfect? No. But I'm desiring the type of perfection God wants.

This past week we discussed Who is God? The answer is very simple: He is the ultimate source of truth, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, according to the scripture above. With that, why would we search for anything else? Scientists are not generally professing Christians. They need to have a definitive answer to everything without a belief and faith in an Almighty God. They stumble for answers and cannot find solace in believing something "just is" because God created it and doesn't need to explain why. I'm convinced they make things up! They just don't have all the answers.

Another question asked was: What is eternal life? John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. There's the answer! It's as simple as that. The only true God...truth....and eternal life through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

That issue seemed to link everything else in the lesson together. I've talked about this before. There is a difference between knowing who God is and knowing God. It's not just the knowledge about someone, but knowing them intimately, like a husband knows a wife...like Adam knew Eve. He didn't just know who she was; he was intimately involved with her. We need to have an intimacy with God; it's a spiritual intimacy...learning about Him and knowing His nature. 

In Philippians 3:10-11, the apostle Paul proclaimed: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. This scripture tells us a myriad of things: Knowing Jesus changes us...we can become like Him...receive eternal life...and also know His sufferings. This is an intimate relationship. This is knowing Him. I've asked God to let me see things through His eyes, know His sufferings. He has shown me just a very small glimpse of His suffering. I think it helps us to realize more what He went through for us. 

God also tells us what He would like. He wants us to know Him. And again, it's not about just knowing who He is, but knowing Him intimately. He begins to open our eyes to who He is when we decide to make this decision. That's exciting. Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. It's not all about the things we have and do in our life on earth. It's about knowing and understanding Him. He promises us much when we know Him.

But this world wants nothing of this. Little by little the idea of a one true God is being eroded by society's thought that tolerance is good and embracing diversity better. The devil is having a field day! There is only one way to heaven and eternal life. That Way is the Truth, mentioned above. His name is Jesus. Through our knowledge of God, He gives us more than we could ever need and shows us His ways, His nature, His promises. He gives us the only thing we can truly cling to when all hell breaks loose in this world...hope. Choose to know Him, not just know of Him.

Philippians 4:19 - And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.