Majesty…Father Almighty…Maker….Saviour

June 16, 2011

Eddie Adoration, Cleasing from Guilt, Commitment, Genuine Christianity, God as Creator, God as Father, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Intimacy with God, Obedience, Purity, Purpose, Savior, Service, Sins, Truth, Will of God, Worship Leave a comment

The following are excerpts from chapter 23, “The Open Secret”, in  The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer

“But the God we must see is not the utilitarian God who is having such a run of popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and flattered by everyone who wants a favor.  The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, the only wise God our Saviour.

“Knowledge of such a Being cannot be gained by study alone.  It comes by a wisdom the natural man knows nothing of, neither can know, because it is spiritually discerned.  To know God is at once the easiest and the most difficult thing in the world.  It is easy because the knowledge is not won by hard mental toil, but is something freely given”…”But this knowledge is difficult because there are conditions to be met and the obstinate nature of  fallen man does not take kindly to them.”

See the the chapter for the details of the conditions to which Tozer refers.  I present the introductory statements with these conditions which “as taught by the Bible and repeated through the centuries by the holiest, sweetest saints the world has ever known:”

  1. We must forsake our sins.  The belief that a holy God cannot be known by men of confirmed evil lives is not new to the Christian religion.
  2. There must be an utter committal of the whole life to Christ in faith.  This is what it means to “believe in Christ.”
  3. There must be a reckoning of ourselves to have died unto sin and to be alive unto God in Christ Jesus, followed by a throwing open of the entire personality to the inflow of the Holy Spirit.
  4. We must boldly repudiate the cheap values of the fallen world and become completely detached in spirit from everything that unbelieving men set their hearts upon, allowing ourselves on the simplest enjoyments of nature which God has bestowed alike upon the just and the unjust.
  5. We must practice the art of long and loving meditation upon the majesty of God.  This will take some effort, for the concept of majesty has all but disappeared from the human race.

Tozer closes the chapter and book with this statement:  “There is a glorified Man on the right hand of the Majesty in heaven faithfully representing us there.  We are left for a season among men; let us faithfully represent Him here.” 

Oh, Father, with the time I have remaining here, let me faithfully represent you!

 

Don’t You Care?

November 4, 2010

Eddie Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Hope, Jesus Christ is God, Persecution, Perspective, Protection, Rescue, Salvation, Savior Leave a comment

Jesus Calms a Storm
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

This is one of those events in the life of Jesus we remember from childhood.  The account of Jesus in the boat asleep when a storm comes up and terrifies the disciples.  Matthew and Luke also carry this account, but Mark includes a statement the disciples made to Jesus that the other two writers did not include.  They asked Jesus, “do you not care…?”   Oh, there have been storms occur in my life and at times I wondered if the Lord even cared that this was happening to me.  But He did care and He did get me through the storm.  I ask myself, “Why didn’t the disciples get Jesus sooner?  Why did they wait until it appeared they would capsize?”  They were probably like me in my storms:  “I can tough it out!”  “I can handle it!”

“Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.”

My Shield is with God!

August 9, 2010

Eddie Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Persecution, Perspective, Protection, Rescue, Strength Leave a comment

When I read Psalms like this especially from David when he cries to the Lord because of his enemies who are in pursuit of him, I cannot relate to it in natural way.  I mean, I don’t have enemies pursuing me physically.

The thought does cross my mind that I do have spiritual enemies, those of the “underworld” (Ephesians 6:12) who desire to tear my soul apart.  I’ve got to really believe that is true!  I must remember verse 10:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

My Shield is with God!

Lord in light of Psalm 7:17:  I give thanks to you due to your righteousness and will sing praise to your name, Most High!

When Blind-Sided: “Behold Your God!”

July 27, 2010

Eddie Comfort, God as Father, God is Sovereign, God's Power, God's Word, Hope, Perspective Leave a comment

Summarizing the lessons learned from Isaiah 40,  I am reminded that when I am blind-sided by troubles, that I need to “Behold my God!”  He is the God of might, He will be my shepherd, He will gather me in His arms and carry me next to His heart and with tenderness lead me.

I am reminded to come back the God’s Word the the Author seems distant or uninterested.  The Word will clear up my stinkin’ thinkin’.  Who else can handle the troubles I face? Only One!  May I cast may cares on Him.  Let me invite you to do the same today.  (1 Peter 5:7)

Great is the LORD! He is Most Worthy of Praise!

July 24, 2010

Eddie God as Creator, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Honor, Intimacy with God, Obedience, Perspective, Praise & Thankfulness, Protection, Purpose, Rescue, Salvation, Service, Sins, Truth, Worship Leave a comment

During the last two months I have meditated on five passages of Scripture.  Three centered around Scripture itself (Psalm 1; Psalm 19 and 2 Timothy 3:1-4:8).  Two focuses on God Himself (Psalm 145 and Isaiah 40).  Next week I have one more meditation from 2 Timothy 4:5-8, but otherwise I will be summarizing the lessons learned and impacts received in this series.  In this post, I want to summarize what I have learned in Psalm 145.  Read Psalm 145 and then reflect with me.  Please go back to previous posts and meditate with me the truths from God’s word about Scripture and Himself from these focus passages.

  • Psalm 145
    • Because of God’s greatness, our praise should be the richest that we can offer.
    • Meditation upon God’s greatness should raise the awareness of my sinfulness and my helplessness while at the same time knowing God is there and delights to help me.  I can turn to Him for forgiveness and deliverance.
    • God is the amazing Great I AM.  He is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He is good to all and His mercy covers all that he has made.  And to think He wants to be with me for eternity!
    • Nature’s sounds may very well be the praise lifted up to the Most High God!  The praise of His saints, those who have accepted His Son as Lord of glory and salvation, should share with others the glory and power of God and His mighty deeds.
    • I’ve been reminded of the importance of calling upon the Lord in full honesty about myself and my circumstances.  Noting areas that are my fault. I’m also reminded about my fear and love of God.  Reverencing Him and living an obedient life.
    • I should praise Him for Who He is, not only for what He has done!

1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness. (Psalm 145:1-3, NLT)

“Behold Your God!”

July 1, 2010

Eddie Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Hope, Perspective, Protection, Rescue Leave a comment

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isa. 40:9-11, ESV)

God’s creation is steeped with the declaration of His existence and His greatness.  In God’s special revelation to us in His Word, we read in our passage today about Isaiah’s admonition to the inhabitants of Jerusalem  go to a high mountain and proclaim “Behold your God!”

In our language we never employ this term to get someone’s attention.  We exclaim:  “Here! There!  Look! Now!  The cry goes out “Look!  Your God!!”  Isaiah says to look to God and then he supplies the reasons we should:

  • He comes with might
  • His arm rules for him
  • His reward is with him
  • His recompense (pay off) is before him.
  • He will be a shepherd to his flock
  • He will gather them in his arms and carry them next to his heart
  • He will gently lead those that are with young (tender!)

When troubles come.  When you get blind-sided (“I didn’t see that coming!”). Friend, “Behold your God!”

God Desires to Share Himself with Us

June 16, 2010

Eddie God as Creator, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Revelation Leave a comment

Psalm 19 – 1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The God of the universe has gone to great lengths to manifest Himself
to us, His creation.  You could categorize this effort in three areas:  (1)
general (2) specific and (3) His Son, Jesus Christ.

Psalm 19 presents God’s general and specific revelation.  Let’s consider
His disclosure of Himself in a general way.  Read again verses 1-6.
As I am writing this I am sitting on the “quiet side” of the Smokey
Mountians. Often we are caught up with the sights and beauty of nature.
I’ve seen it, too, today:  clouds adorning the mountains, the sheer greenery
of the landscape.

Verse 3 says “Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals
knowledge.”  I am hearing in the sounds made by birds, insects, dripping
water from rains the day before that someone with greater knowledge than
I or anyone could possess put all of this here.  Nature is shouting
with its variety of sounds:  “There is a God.”

I see, hear, feel and smell the fact that this God of glory has desired
to let me in on the fact that He is and that He is powerful, creative,
wise and all-knowing.  Let us remove the blinders and earplugs.  The
Sovereign God of this universe wants our attention.

Too Marvelous to Understand

January 7, 2009

Eddie God's Power Leave a comment

ohmanbible12_jobWhen I think of Job, I don’t think of his patience.  I think of a man who knew how big His God was.  I must keep in mind that this ia a man who lost everything dear to him.  He lost his children and grandchildren, all his possessions and eventually deserted by his wife.  The companion who should have been his closest human friend.  She is devastated and apparently blamed God and left, if not physically, then emotionally.

In chapter nine, Job is responding to Bildad’s speech.  He breaks into confessing God’s power.  Then in verse 10 he says,  

“He does great things too marvelous to understand.  He performs countless miracles.”

I look at this statement.  I ponder it.  I confess that You do great things Lord.  You work behind the scenes (“cutting deals for us when we sleep”).   Sometimes You work on stage for all to see but for whatever reason, we don’t.   We don’t see or we don’t get it.   Lord, You perform countless miracles.  We believers need to sit and take in that fact.  Sometimes God performs a miracle and we just say thank you Lord and go on!  

I can easily make the confession “He does great things too marvelous to understand.  He performs countless miracles.”  when all is well.  Yet this statement is coming from the lips of a man who has been a survivor of a devestation!  That can impress me as to what kind of man Job was.  But this is about God!  What kind of God He is – read the end of the story!

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