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Archive for the ‘God Thoughts’ Category

A New Way Led

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, Sustaining, tagged , , , , , , on January 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I break the present silence with trepidation because as always I feel compelled to be honest and that is hard when you have also been foolish in the eyes of others. So, I will start off slowly and get around to several points in a circuitous way.

At 4 AM on New Years Day, my precious wife awoke with what I now know to be “having a stroke”. She rubbed her head both front and back, complaining of it hurting and could not recognize me speaking to her. There is so much I am not saying because it is too hard to say, and there have  been many doubts and tears. We finally arrived at the hospital for a 3 night stay. Thankfully the stroke did not effect her motor skills other than a general, temporary weakness. She walked into the ER, spoke in a limited way without slurred speech, grasp numerous nurses and doctors hands and pushed against their resistance. Instead, her language center was arrested. She could not say names, mine, her own, and to her, most notably, her children. She could not understand many instructions which led one doctor to conclude she had motor skill deficiencies because she could not follow his instructions to apply pressure against his push.

I am going to post several poems that came 2 weeks after the events described above that reveal some of my reactions to all that I saw and experienced during this time as a result of seeing my wife’s debilitation and having family push me this way and that. The reflections are obviously focused around my thoughts and struggles concerning the stroke my wife had and are therefore skewed away from the events to my feelings about the events. No one is truly objective afterall though that does not mean untruthful. My first poem is a short one that deals with the immediate “why” question, to which there is no answer other than “He is good”:

I know in my heart that God is good
His Word declares it so
From His works to show
How His providence and care
The abundance He does share
Reveal that He is kind
And powerful and involved and good

If you have not yet concluded by faith that He is good you will probably ask endlessly “Why”, or perhaps, accuse Him, when it is sin in the world that is the cause of so much pain and suffering. Oh, so its sin and not Him. Why didn’t you say so? It is because all good and ill is filtered through His providential hands, otherwise He is not truly God: “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11) Here it is, pay careful attention, those of you who want to soften God down, “who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil'” (Zephaniah 1:12): “I am the Lord, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.” (Isaiah45:6-7) Wow what a tangent! But it is not a false one because His goodness is based on His sovereignty- He is not fickle; He has purpose, much of which He has made known and yet is inscrutable by man. He is good and there is purpose in difficulty and harm we experience.

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Spiritual Growth

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged , , , on August 15, 2013| 1 Comment »

 

 

 

In the Summer 2013 Gospel Project, Lesson 12, the following quote by Robertson McQuilkin appears:

“The more I know [Christ], the more I love Him. The more I love Him, the more I obey Him. The more I obey Him, the more I become like Him. The more I become like Him, the better I know Him. The better I know Him, I love Him the more. And the more I love Him, I reach a new level of likeness to Him.”

I think better in diagrams and so remember concepts better. Additionally, I need to know what it looks like when it is happening including what part I have in the process and what part is applied to me. I hope the following helps you as well. The row of “looks like” bubbles are only a few examples that need expanded. You can click on the diagram to enlarge it.

Becoming Like Christ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Omnipotence

Posted in General, God Thoughts, tagged , , , , , on July 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

We are drawn to strength and power. Whether it incites fear because of its wildness and antagonism or security because of its protection and deterrent, we are curious and awestruck and enamored by the sight and use of power and strength. Strength is the shear magnitude of force that may be brought to bear on an object whereas power is how fast that strength may be utilized to move or deflect an object. But how do we account for all powerful, omnipotent. Is it just a hypothetical construct? Or perhaps it is a “my dad is bigger than your dad” scenario invented by Christians trying to justify their puny conception of reality. Is it necessary to God’s character and is it true? Does the Bible teach that God is omnipotent?

Having previously discussed God’s infinite character in “Omniscience”, Omnipresence”, and “To Infinity and Beyond”, I submit that omnipotence is indeed a necessary part of God’s nature in order for Him to be infinite any respect and infinite in knowledge and presence in particular. How can He know all things if He is not everywhere at once? And how can He be all places at once if He is not all powerful? Or else on the latter question He is but a background noise in the universe that influences nothing and no one. But He is active. We know that He is because we observe it in nature; we observe it in changed lives; we observe it in answers to prayer. His influence reaches throughout all of Creation and into all spheres (physical and spiritual). So if God is omnipotent, what is possible for Him to do?

God can save to the uttermost. “And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”  And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:23-26)  In fact, Isaiah 63:1 says that He is “mighty to save”. ‘

This power of His makes Him the only Sovereign: “Why should the nations say,“Where, now, is their God?” But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:2-3  

He is so powerful that nothing He does may be changed, for it says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)  Having seen His power to bring down and rise up, to produce wind and lightning and storm Job declared, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:1-2)  

He spoke the Creation into existence out of nothing, for II Peter 3:5 says, “it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago”. His judgments have been and will be with great and unassailable power. He will form the new heavens and new earth to stand fast forever.

But there are things that God cannot do, or more accurately, will not do. Anything contrary to His nature He will not do. Titus 1:2 gives to us who are trusting His promises great encouragement when Paul reports on our salvation, “the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago”. And James 1:13 proclaims, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” Since there is no evil in God, none proceeds from Him nor influences Him. Another discussion seems outside what the Bible proclaims about God. There is a hypothetical argument in Physics that pits an immovable object against an unstoppable force. But if the adjectives both hold true, then these two items have infinite inertia and strength, respectively, making them strictly speaking gods. But the Bible is clear on this point when it teaches that there is but one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). There are several ways out of this problem, but saying there is no God is not acceptable on either logical (look around you man) or biblical grounds (Romans 1:19-20). Perhaps neither of the objects exist (it is hypothetical afterall), or perhaps only one of them exists, or perhaps they describe the same object, namely God. The argument reminds me of another one that the skeptic likes to bring up to throw the believer off kilter and off subject (You need Jesus!). Can God make a boulder so big that He cannot lift it? If the boulder were that big it would be infinite. If it were infinite then it would be god. Then there would be two gods and not one as the Bible declares. And in reality there would be no gods because neither is fully sovereign, so no, God will not make a boulder too big that He cannot lift it.

For the Christian there are a number of daily applications to this concept of God’s omnipotence. We may feel secure. This security is a great gift from God, but this is not the reason we are here. How does God’s power enable us to fulfill His mission, which is our mission? His mission is glory to Himself through our spreading of the Gospel. His omnipotence enables us to defeat spiritual forces through prayer when witnessing and during spiritual opposition. His power enables us through the Holy Spirit’s work to overcome the sin and temptation in our own lives. Witnessing is the hardest thing to be involved in because of resistance from the world, the flesh, and the devil. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)  And we are speaking life to dead people who don’t even know that they are spiritually dead, separated from God. Their non-response, or conversely their antagonism, proceeds from this separation from God. We are in every sense in spiritual battle and need God’s power to overcome darkness in the form of hatred, apathy, skepticism, and our own faltering tendencies.

May God’s omnipotence be pleased to include us in His mission for His purposes and glory and our growth and joy. Amen.

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Omniscience

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2013| 1 Comment »

He knows everything- the position and momentum of every particle (Heisenberg Principle doesn’t apply), where they have been and where they are going? He knows all thoughts and possibilities? If the idea doesn’t blow your little mind it’s just because you haven’t understood it yet.

That’s OK; David didn’t either:

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
 You understand my thought from afar.
 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
 And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
 Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
 You have enclosed me behind and before,
 And laid Your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
 It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”      Psalm 103:1-6

David points out that God knows his location, position, thoughts, intentions; direction before, during, and after moving; the words coming to his tongue. The result is entrapment, control, of which David realizes he has no comprehension beyond the fact that God does know, which was also revealed to David as a prophet in this Psalm. To state the case simply, God has intimate knowledge of us.

Do you find God’s thoughts of you, as expressed here, threatening or comforting? David was awed, acknowledging that he could not understand, but how did that make him feel? Jesus tells us the proper response to such a knowledge and power:

 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:25b-31

Do not fear; fear; do not fear. Which is it, Lord? Well, it depends on who you should fear and in what way. People can harm and even kill the body, but do not fear that because the worst it can result in is pain and the best is ushering you into the presence of God (not an excuse for humanly speaking “untimely” death by one’s own hand or someone else’s). Do fear, reverence, hold in awe God who can eternally separate you from His presence into an eternal world of hurt. But for those who know Him (not merely about Him), do not fear for His knowledge of you is intimate down to the counting of each hair and He values you.

Not only does He know us intimately, but He also knows us and all things completely:

1) in the present

“Listen to this, O Job,
 Stand and consider the wonders of God.
 “Do you know how God establishes them,
 And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?
 Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
 The wonders of one perfect in knowledge…?”  Job 37:14-16 

“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.  We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.  I John 3:18-20

His knowledge is our security!

2) in the past and the future 

“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’”  Isaiah 46:9-10

One outside of time can see “the end from the beginning”, but I can’t fathom lack of time, existing in the eternal present, or foreknowledge. I can praise Him as the one of a kind God He is and be secure in His plan, established and accomplished as it is by a His good pleasure which is good (James 1:17). Not only does He know everything actual- past, present, future- but He also knows all potential as seen by the call to repentance of Jesus:

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew 11:21

The application for our lives is powerful. Since God knows my good, bad, and ugly sides and still loves me and chose me apart from any good or bad, then my relationship with Him is totally secure. But did He really choose me apart from foreknowledge of me?  

“…there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”  Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.””  Romans 9:10-13

What are we to say about those who do not know Jesus? Are they simply doomed to hell because they have not been chosen? We can’t know who is and who isn’t, because we are limited in knowledge. But we do have the opportunity to plead for our salvation and we know that He hears, for “it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21

Additionally, our security in Him is greatly increased because His plan is based on perfect knowledge so that nothing takes Him by surprise. His plan will be accomplished, period: “…You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” Isaiah 25:1

The result of these assurances of security should be to help us interpret situations that come up in our lives in a more patient, confident, purposeful, thankful, and eternal manner. Circumstances may be hard but they are not without purpose. We can add to the glory given to God by working with His plan instead of against it. He is worthy and there is great reward. 

The thoughts expressed herein are a mixture of mine and those of Kendell Easley in the Summer 2013 Gospel Project lesson “The Omni God”.

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The Omni-Attributes

Posted in General, God Thoughts, tagged , , , on July 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Over the next several blog entries I want to consider the three omni-attributes of God: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. By their very quality I can not hope to touch their grandeur, that is the grandeur of their owner, but it is always appropriate to explore and praise the glories of our God. 

As I begin to consider these facets of the most perfect jewel it seems to me that these facets are three perspectives on one characteristic of God. Afterall, He cannot do all things if He does not know all things. And He cannot know all things if He is not everywhere at once. And He cannot be everywhere at once if His power is limited. To what one characteristic do I refer? God is infinite. He is without limit or boundary. “…Who is like the Lord our God…?”   Psalm 113:5a

But is it true? Do we exaggerate who God is for our own comfort or to ward off the claims of opposing viewpoints or other gods? We Christians are a people of the Book. Does the Bible reveal God as infinite in these three ways: all knowing, all present, all powerful?

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Holy Spirit, part 5

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , on June 27, 2013| 1 Comment »

Regeneration, renewal, sealing, sanctification, leading, filling, gifting the Holy Spirit is mighty in the believer’s life, always glorifying the work of Christ on the cross on our behalf. We finish our study tonight with emphasis on leading, filling, and gifting. Scripture certainly says more about these issues and the working out of them in our lives certainly require more consideration, but here is an overview:

V. Leading of the Spirit

      A. How

            1. Direct leading

                a. Sent Acts 13:4

                b. Forbad Acts16:6

                c. Said…go Acts 8:29-31

               d. Re-location Acts 8:39

          2. As involves truth

               a.Word of God only Deuteronomy 18:20-22

               b. Guides John 16:13

               c. Witness  Romans 8:16; Revelation 3:14

     B. Filling 

          1. Acts 6:5

          2. Acts 2:4, 4:8, 13:9

          3. Ephesians 5:18

          4. Luke 1:15

          5. Luke 1:41,67

          6. Acts 13:52

      C. Gifts

          1. I Corinthians 12:3-11,18

          2. Order    I Corinthians 14:26-33

      D. Result

          1. Romans 8:13-15  sons of God

          2. Galatians 5:18 not under the Law

Study Guide

V. Leading of the Spirit
The following verses each tell something about how
the Spirit leads us. For each verse write down how He leads.
1. Direct leading
     a. Acts 13:4

     b. Acts16:6

     c. Acts 8:29-31

     d. Acts 8:39

2. As involves truth
     a. Deuteronomy 18:20-22

     b. John 16:13

3. The following verses speak of the filling of the Holy Spirit. When does it seem to be happening or should happen: all the time, special occasions, when we ask for it?
     a. Acts 6:5

     b. Acts 2:4, 4:8, 13:9

     c. Ephesians 5:18

     d. Luke 1:15

     e. Luke 1:41,67

     f. Acts 13:52

4. Is there a difference in being led by the Spirit and being
filled with the Spirit? If so, what is it, and if not, are they
just two phrases for the same thing?

 

5. The following verses speak about the gifts of the Spirit
and how they operate.
     a. What is God’s purpose for the church in putting various
         gifts in the church according to I Corinthians 12:3-11,18?

     b. What are some of the gifts listed?

 

     c. Based on I Corinthians 14:26-33, what do you think
          edification means?

     d. What is the reason given by Paul for why prophets and
          those speaking in tongues should speak one at a time?

6. What are some results of being led by and filled with the
     Spirit in the following verses?
     a. Romans 8:13-15

     b. Galatians 5:18

 

 

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Holy Spirit, part 4

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , on June 26, 2013| 1 Comment »

Let’s focus more detail on the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, what He does for us and in us, and how we are involved in His work.

IV. Sanctifying Work of the Spirit

      A. Necessity

          1. Galatians 3:1-18

          2. Galatians 5:17

          3. Romans 7:14-8:4

      B. Transformative work of the Spirit

          1. Galatians 5:22-23      2. Romans 8:13

      C. How we are involved

          1. Romans 6:11    2. I Corinthians 10:13   

          3. Philippians 4:8  4. Galatians 4:24,26

          5. I Corinthians 6:18    6. II Corinthians 5:7

          7. II Corinthians 5:14-15

Study Guide

IV. Sanctifying Work of the Spirit

1. In what ways do the following verses point out that

    the work of the Spirit is necessary?

    a. Galatians 3:1-18

 

    b. Galatians 5:17

 

    c. Romans 7:14-8:4

 

2a. Based on Galatians 5:22-23, who produces the fruits?

 

b. List the fruits and then indicate on which one(s) of the

    following each one focuses:   inward, outward, upward

    1)

    2)

    3)

    4)  

    5)  

    6)

    7)

    8)

    9)

 

3a. According to Romans 8:13 do we have a part in the

       Spirit working in us? If so, what is it?

 

b. The following verses shed further light on the answer to

#3a. How do each of these verses say we may be involved?

     1) Romans 6:11

 

     2) I Corinthians 10:13       

 

     3) Philippians 4:8 

 

     4) Galatians 5:24,26

 

     5) I Corinthians 6:18

 

     6) II Corinthians 5:7

 

     7) II Corinthians 5:14-15

 

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Holy Spirit, part 3

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , on June 25, 2013| 1 Comment »

The Divine Person of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen is evidenced by many characteristics of both divinity and personhood. Now we want to emphasize the aspect of this divine person’s work in the world and believers.

III. Work of the Holy Spirit

      A. In the World

          1. Creation  Job 33:4

          2. Inspiration of Scriptures  II Peter 1:21

          3. Miracles  Matthew 12:28

          4. Providence  Psalm 104:30

          5. Conviction  John 16:7-9

      B. In Believers

          1. Regeneration  Titus 3:5

                   a. Revealing and convicting of

                             1) sins         2) original sin (intentions)

                             3) failing of own works

                   b. Revealing of God

                             1) holiness  2) mercy

                   c. Revealing of Christ’s saving work

          2. Sanctification

               Salvation is a great gift

              Thought by the Father above

              Received by faith in the work

              Bought by the Son here in love

              In our hearts promoting change

             Wrought by the Spirit, the Dove

          3. Resurrection  Romans 8:11

          4. Teaches  Luke 12:12

          5. Commands  Acts 13:2

          6. Assurance  Ephesians 1:13-14

          7. Leading and filling

      C. Our Response

                1. Ephesians 4:3      2. II Timothy 2:15

                3. Romans 8:16       4. Revelation 3:14,22

Study Guide

III. Work of the Holy Spirit

A. The H.S. has worked and is working in the world.

     How is He at work in the following verses?

1. Job 33:4 

 

2. II Peter 1:21

 

3. Matthew 12:28

 

4. Psalm 104:30

 

5. John 16:7-9

 

B. How is He working in believers ? Titus 3:5

 

6. Regeneration 

a. What is the term in the verse for revealing problems in a

     person’s heart in John 16:7-11?

1) sins  2) original sin (intentions)   3) failing of own works

b. What is being shown the sinner when he/she is convicted

     of righteousness? What and/or who is being revealed?

 

    1) holiness        2) mercy

 

c. God is just and sin must be judged. How is the saved

    sinner’s sin judged?

 

7. Renewing (Sanctification) II Thessalonians 2:13-14

Salvation is a great gift

Thought by the Father above

Received by faith in the work

Bought by the Son here in love

In our hearts promoting change

Wrought by the Spirit, the Dove

8. What other important works of the Spirit are spoken of

     in the following verses?     

a. Romans 8:11

b. Luke 12:12

c. Acts 13:2

d. Ephesians 1:13-14

More on the following in the next days

e. Leading

f. Filling

Application.

9. Is God active in the world today? How?

 

10. Does the believer have a part in the work of Spirit or

      should we get out of the way so He can work?

      a. Ephesians 4:3

      b. II Timothy 2:15

      c. Romans 8:16

      d. Revelation 3:14,22

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Holy Spirit, Part 2

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , on June 23, 2013| 1 Comment »

The Spirit is both divine and a person. Let us survey the evidence from Scripture that He is indeed both, not subordinate and not a mere force.

II. Divine Person of the Holy Spirit

    A. Divine…not subordinate

         1.  Names

              a. Named separate from Almighty God

                   1) Exodus 31:1-5             2) Psalm 51:1

               b. Called God Acts 5:1-5

          2. Divine Attributes

                a. Omnipresence Psalm 139:7-8

                b. Omniscience I Corinthians 2:10-11

                c. Omnipotence Luke 1:35

                d. Sovereignty I Corinthians 12:11

                e. Eternity Hebrews 9:14

           3. Works

           4. Honors

                a. Unpardonable Sin Matthew 12:31

                b. In Trinity in position and action- I John 5:7

    B. Person…not force

          1. Name John 14:26

               a. Comforter- KJV, ESV

               b. Helper-  NASB c. Advocate- NIV

          2. Personal characteristics

               a. Intelligence- teach  John 14:26

               b. Will- Acts 16:7

               c. Affections- Isaiah 63:10

          3. Actions of a Person

          4. Stands as a separate Person

               a. I Peter 1:1-2          b. II Corinthians 13:14

          5. Separate from His power- I Corinthians 2:4

Study Guide

II. Divine Person of the Holy Spirit

1. What does the word divine mean?

 

2. Is He subordinate to anyone else?

 

The following are evidences that the Holy Spirit is divine. 

He is named separate from Almighty God, distinct from Him.

3a. How is the Holy Spirit separated from God Almighty in 

       these verses? 

      1) Exodus 31:1-5

      2) Psalm 51:10-11

 b. How is the Holy Spirit declared divine in Acts 5:1-5?

 

4. The divine attributes mentioned in these verses point to 

    the Holy Spirit’s divinity. What do each of the following 

    say about Him and His divinity?

a. Psalm 139:7-8

b. I Corinthians 2:10-11

c. Luke 1:35

d. I Corinthians 12:11

e. Hebrews 9:14

5. If the Holy Spirit could do things only God could do, 

   would that give evidence that He is God?

 

6. Honors

a. Why is speaking against the Holy Spirit an unpardonable 

    sin? Matthew 12:24,28-31

 

b. In what ways is the Holy Spirit honored as part of the 

    Trinity in I John 5:7?

 

7. Various names are used for the Holy Spirit in John 

    14:26:

     1) Comforter- KJV, ESV,       2)  Helper-  NASB,

     3) Advocate- NIV. How do these point to the Holy Spirit

          being a person instead of a force?

 

8. If the Holy Spirit has characteristics of a person that is 

     good evidence that He is a person. What personal

     characteristic does each of the following verses point out?

a. John 14:26

b. Acts 16:7

c. Isaiah 63:10

9. Actions of a person would also give evidence that He is a person.

10. In what two ways does the H.S. stand as a separate 

       person in each of the following verses?

       a. I Peter 1:1-2

       b. II Corinthians 13:14

 

11. Why does the Spirit’s power in I Corinthians 2:4

     indicate He is a person distinct from the God Almighty?

 

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The Holy Spirit, Part 1

Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , on June 22, 2013| 1 Comment »

Is the Holy Spirit a person or a force, coequal or subordinate, active or passive, divine or not, real or imagined, Old Testament or New, available or aloof?

These are but a few of the questions I hope to answer in a Scripture based study of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will read along and look up the references for your own benefit. The five studies will be divided up in to two parts, an outline and a study guide. The topics are not exhaustive on Scripture about the Spirit but I do believe they are thorough.

Is the Holy Spirit a New Testament invention?

I. Trinity- One God, three Persons      Deuteronomy 6:4

    A. Does the Spirit show up in the Old Testament?

         1.  Use of plural

               a. Genesis 1:26            b. Genesis 3:22

               c. Genesis 11:7

        2. God conversing within the Trinity

              a. Psalm 45:6-7             b. Psalm 110:1

         3. All three mentioned

              a. Isaiah 48:16        b. Isaiah 42:1-4  Who is “My Servant”?

B. Spirit spoken of more clearly after Pentecost

          1. Sent

              a. John 15:26               b. John 3:34

          2. Prophesied in the OT: Ezekiel 36:22-28

Study Guide

I. Trinity

*Is the Holy Spirit a New Testament invention?

1. What does Deuteronomy 6:4 say about God?

2. Does the Spirit show up in the Old Testament?

a. What about the following verses suggest the Holy Spirit?

    1) Genesis 1:26   2) Genesis 3:22   3) Genesis 11:4

b. What is happening within God in the following verses

    and what does it suggest about Him?

    1) Psalm 45:6-7 2) Psalm 110:1

c. Who are the three persons referred to in these verses?

   1) Isaiah 48:16    2) Isaiah 42:1-4  Who is “My Servant”?

3. Why is the Spirit spoken of more clearly after

    Pentecost?

a. Because He is _______     a. John 15:26   b. John 3:34

b. In the OT this was ____________    Ezekiel 36:22-28

Application.

4. Since the Holy Spirit is God, how should you interact

    with Him?

5. What are some ways you find out more about Him?

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To Infinity and Beyond

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Random thoughts, Remembering, tagged , , , on June 19, 2013| 8 Comments »

No, I’m not Buzz Lightyear but I do have a story. I have trouble remembering my age when the following event occurred, eight or nine years old, but I can narrow it down because of the left over beginning writer’s paper I used. One day, probably a Saturday, my father was trimming the English Ivy that lined either side of our driveway and cascaded over the stone wall extending halfway across our front yard. My brother and I were cleaning it up as he cut the ivy, hauling it to the leaf pile in rear. I asked my father, “What is the biggest number that exists?” He replied, “It looks like an eight laid on its side.” That got him off the hook and me in a pickle. I now imagine him grinning to himself about what I would do with that. Afterall, I had expected a name: thousand, million, billion, and so on. It took me several years to realize he had described the symbol for infinity. So I decided to write to the biggest number I could on my leftover beginner’s writing paper from 1st grade, that tan colored paper with dashed lines for forming letters properly. I would write to each 100 on one side of a piece of paper. I vaguely remember knowing questions from my older brother or mother to the effect, “How long are you going to do that?” I remember that I made it to several hundred past ten thousand. I’ve always wanted to understand infinity.

Recently on a hike with my two youngest sons I asked the 19 year-old who is conversant in Calculus and particularly related to my question, limits, “Is it possible to have +∞ (there’s that silly sideways eight: read “infinity”)?”After some exchange back and forth, we agreed that it is mathematically possible. My son then added the insight that it is possible because “we created zero.” Immediately I saw that zero is the center of the mathematical universe. But the question persists: Is it possible to have +∞? Afterall, how is something infinite if it leaves out half of all that exists, namely -∞?

And this contrast is the difference between God’s eternality and our eternal life in Him. He is self-existent always (-∞ to +∞), period. We are finite, existing in Him, having a beginning, and if we be saved in Christ continuing forever to +∞, well past a few hundred over ten thousand. 

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The Why

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, Why?!, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , on June 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

The first poem I wrote this past week is the last one I am posting because I had to reflect on its content abit. It could so easily be seen as insensitive, or premature, but I consider it neither. I think it is just honest in a constructive kind of way. We have questions; we should voice them and find answers rather than silently or violently remaining agnostic about what is real and true. I offer this poem as a balm to many hurting loved ones who are truly asking. The eleven year old girl who died of leukemia and provoked my mind to write it has God’s best as I understand because she accepted God’s solution:

A purpose in life to glorify God
To enjoy His gifts, obey His commands
Accept hardships and the correcting rod
Challenge potential and all life’s demands

What’s the way forward when we’ve lost such life?
Then come tears and doubts and questions abound
Mind and heart struggle with internal strife
About ultimate issues, life profound

How is God good when there is so much bad?
God’s not the author of evil and wrong
Man disobeys, consequences are sad
Overtaking the ‘innocent’ and strong

God provides a way to overcome death
To have peace with Him and eternal rest
Bought by His Son, finished at His last breath
Now and forever have life and God’s best

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But a Few of His Benefits

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, Sustaining, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »

It has been a good week for poetry. I end on an encouraging note. I owe all that I am, have, and will be to the gracious Lord Who enables me to serve Him. His Benefits are far more than I can tell. I want others to bask in His goodness by submitting to His Son. The benefits are eternal.

Father near, sovereign will
Chosen in Christ, what a thrill

Rest from work, all is done
‘It is finished’ by the Son

Peace with God, free from guilt
All because Christ’s blood was spilt

Strength to live, sin abate
His Spirit does motivate

Stress and strife, like a knife
Spirit purifies my life

Help in trials, answers prayers
God is gracious and He cares

Hardship here, glory there
Joy, comfort beyond compare

Tell good news, with you share
Eternal life here and there

Purpose now, glory then
Live for Him, soon free from sin

All that’s good, all that’s fair
Is found in Christ, jewel so rare

Come again, at the end
In His glory, sky will rend

 

Forever with Him then
Perfect in Him without sin

 

 

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Nothing Truly Random

Posted in Creation Articles, General, God Thoughts, Poem, Science, tagged , , , , on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »

My previous poem, “It Is a Moral Issue”, is in our society largely, I believe, the result of believing that chance, time, matter, and energy (CTME) are the cause of all that we observe. If CTME is our god we have no purpose and no responsibility. But the universe screams a different message:

Nothing random in the way the world works
Order and sequence the rule of the day
For observers consistency has perks
Cause and effect reveal the rules at play

What is the source of this order we see?
Of design in the cosmos’s scenery
Even random disorder follows laws
And beauty is objective and enthralls

Design points to an Architect with skill
Information an Intellect reveals
Beauty an Artist with canvas to fill
Order a Mathematician Who wills

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Salvation By Trinity

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , on May 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I can not find the source for “thought, bought, wrought” but I can by my simple poem point once again to God’s glorious salvation for all who will receive it by faith.

Salvation is a great gift
Thought by the Father above
Received by faith in the work
Bought by the Son here in love
In our hearts promoting change
Wrought by the Spirit, the Dove

The word wrought means “to work by hand”. I well imagine the Holy Spirit toughening me up by a sanctifying work over so that I am hard and resilient like wrought iron rather than brittle like cast iron. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design, your dross to consume and your gold to refine,” says the old hymn. The trials are the fire and the hammer is the kind but firm work of the Holy Spirit to make us into the image of the Son.

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Fervent Heat of II Peter 3

Posted in Creation Articles, General, God Thoughts, God's Word, Science, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , on May 18, 2013| 5 Comments »

I have thought about 2 Peter 3 extensively and even written about it (see “Four Singularities”). It is all amazing to me but verses 10-13 are just fascinating:

” But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (underlining mine)

Many of the words describing the demise of the created order as we now know it must certainly be metaphor. Indeed, they must be for our quantum mechanics and relativity still cannot fathom what God will do then. But our present understanding does align with what the Scriptures say and very possibly give us some insight into what God is saying through Peter. I am particularly interested as a student of science in the words I have underlined. I am fully aware that this passing away is not the main point of the passage but rather the certainty of judgment and the certainty of a future home where righteousness dwells and the result of compelling us to live for more permanent things. For these I am thankful. But I still muse on how God accomplishes His works. The word destroyed is variously translated as “destroyed” (NASB, NIV), “dissolved” (HCSB, ESV), and “melt” (KJV). The Greek (anytime I mention this it means I only have a dictionary to look it up in, not more knowledge than that) has the meaning of “loosed, released, dissolved”. “Intense heat” (NASB) is also rendered “burned up” (ESV), “fire” (NIV), “fervent heat” (KJV), and “burn” (HCSB). The word in Greek for “roar” means a “rushing sound”. The word rendered here as “elements” has the meaning of “in a row” as letters or bits of knowledge. These words strongly suggest to me properties of matter and energy. But since Einstein and E = mc2 matter and energy are really convenient descriptions of the same thing. E = m. Energy = matter.  c, the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant that relates the two. Since speed of light is so large and squared in the equation, matter is seen to hold “crazy” amounts of energy. When matter is destroyed it becomes energy, and when energy is organized just so it is matter. I like to think of matter as “condensed” energy. That suggests that energy is the fundamental “stuff”. But here is where science becomes vague. What is energy? We know what energy does but we do not know what energy is. It is as Feynman said an abstract idea. Could it not be that our lack of understanding stems from viewing a spiritual matter rather than a totally physical one? The elements roar with intense heat and are released. That sounds like the destruction of all matter into energy to me. All of the particles of matter, discovered and undiscovered (muons, electrons, strange, flavors, and so on) becoming intense abstraction. But the abstraction is real, and what is it? 

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.”  (Psalm 33:6-9)

God spoke His word and it stood fast. Out of nothing, physically speaking, but out of a substantial word from God, everything. “In the beginning God created….Then God said,” (Genesis 1:1,3) His Word was condensed into physical creation and will one day soon be “melted” into His Word. When it happens will not this Scripture be fulfilled for Creation?

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

It, that is His Word, will return to Him in an intense flame out, not empty or simply annihilated, but fully complete in His intention and accomplishment. So all of the elements, atoms in fact, lined up in their orderly fashion, controlled and compelled by fundamental forces will dissolve or melt back into energy. Am I saying energy = God’s Word? Certainly not. But God’s Word accomplishes energy and all His works return after fully accomplishing what He set out for them. It is so with man’s spirit as well:

“For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7)

So it is with all things. God gets ultimate glory because all things proceed from Him and all will return to Him and be assigned to the place He has ordained for them to be in His presence or excluded from it. In the meantime His Word holds all things together. Is not this the Grand Unified Theory, the Fundamental Force?

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”  (Colosians 1:16-17)

The physical world will be destroyed by thermonuclear annihilation, coming unglued as it were:

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
They will perish, but You remain;
And they all will become old like a garment,
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)

These words are spoken of Jesus, God the Son, who will not end as the created order will end. He endures and so does His Word. So in the transience of the what seems so permanent I see the permanence of what I have I have seen to be transient. God’s Word is permanent.

Wow! Roar on to completion.

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Joy Today

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged , , on March 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Not from difficulty or frustration or pressure was my day in danger of preventing joy, but from excessively mundane and unwanted pursuit. One need not be bored nor down when the scope of all eternity, the God of the universe, dwells in the heart by grace through faith. So I asked and He provided:

Lord, please give me joy today
The knowledge of Your presence with me
Awareness of  all that may
Be fulfilled by Your Spirit in me
 
Joy in Your salvation free
Hilarity giving to the poor
The Gospel that they may see
Blessing now, in eternity more
 
Joy come in, joy reaching out
All God has and will do and nourish
He is great I want to shout
May His work in our time now flourish
 
God’s peace in my heart to stay
No regrets to repent or to act
Clinging to Him, always pray
Accepting His Word as ruling fact
 
Joy in who I am in Him
Happiness in the path He does give
Contentment when hard trials ever trim
Joy-robbing sin so I live
 
Now may I sing a new song
Of the blessing of knowing my Lord
On Him and His works be long
Raise voice as I praise afford

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Haiku Hiccup

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Random thoughts, Science, tagged , , , on January 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

After showing her some poetry of mine my English-teacher colleague challenged me to write Haiku. I’ve heard of it and maybe even wrote some in high school, but I don’t remember. It turns out to be a quite difficult short form of poetry that juxtaposes two ideas in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively. It has some other characteristics but that is sufficient for me since I add one other difficulty of my own. I want my poetry to rhyme and I was told traditional Haiku does not. So I asked, ‘Must it not rhyme?’ or ‘May it not rhyme?’ Evidently traditional Japanese Haiku simply does not but in other Asian countries it frequently does. So with all of this swirling in my head I began: 

Said she write haiku
I don’t know what to pursue
Will truth and rhyme do?
 
Haiku has no rhyme
For this form I have no time
Want my verse to chime
 
Haiku Nazis come
Five, seven, five is the sum
Juxtapose in some
 

Then I got a bit more serious and wanted to write more substantial verse:

God’s Son comes in flesh                                               Beauty in flower
Controls worlds yet has to rest                                   And in design of tower
Died that life flourish                                                    Art forms with power
 
What odd design this
Transfer sin for holiness
God’s death buys us bliss

And to end on a light note, I ‘haiku’d’ (Where’s the Nazis?) science:

Biology, cool!                                                    Chemistry, oh my!
Growth, reproduce, cells the rule                 Explosions and baking pie
So look alive fool                                              Electron shift is why
 Physics tells what moves
Accelerates, stops and grooves
Know it all behooves

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A Wild Party

Posted in Beauty, General, God Thoughts, Outdoors, Photo, tagged , , , on January 2, 2013| 1 Comment »

Yeh, it’s my birthday, and many kind people have wished me a happy one for which I am grateful. The best birthday present in a long time? My wife agreed to go on a hike with me to somewhere I’d never been. I assured her it was short and easy, but you’ve got to realize some history here. “How do you know if you haven’t been there?” “Well I don’t really, but it’s on top of the ridge and we’ll be on top of the ridge, and people have said it is easy, and it can’t be too far.” She went without complaining and we enjoyed the time. So I had a party in the wilderness, a wild party, just looking around and enjoying the presence of my wife and a cell phone call from my brother in Ukraine.

“When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur…..Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!” Consider that the most beautiful scene you have ever seen is part of the tarnished creation- degraded by sin. And the God who made the originally un-degraded creation is far more beautiful than any part of His artwork here. He is unimaginably beautiful in purity, power, and presence. I desire to see His face one day and will because of what Jesus has done for me. I warm up for that day in the dim light of His awe inspiring beauty exhibited in His Creation. If you haven’t been to the Pinnacle off the side of Old NC 105 on the far side of Linville Gorge you should check it out. Enjoy the pictures of one more day He has given me.

Linville Gorge from the Pinnacle

Linville Gorge from the Pinnacle

My good wife of 31 years

My good wife of 31 years

Shortoff Mountain

Shortoff Mountain

Atop the rocks at Black Fork climbing area

Atop the rocks at Black Fork climbing area

100_7055       100_7049

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Farm, End of Shortoff, and Lake James

Alexander Farm, End of Shortoff, and Lake James

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Wood Grain

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Photo, Random thoughts, tagged , , on January 1, 2013| 1 Comment »

Why do we copy wood grain in plastic? Is it because it is simply but wonderfully beautiful? We can only hope to copy and immulate the creativity and beauty the Creator has put into humble items like the pattern of tree growth. He is awesome.

See if you know any of the woodgrains pictured from a humble dwelling: Exhibits #1-8

exhibit #1

Exhibit #2

mahogany

oak floor

pine

hickory3

wood2

oak2

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