"And no creature is hidden from His sight, but ALL are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13 - CJB)
NOTE: This is the extended version before I trimmed down the message to fit our time slot - AMAZING what the Word provides to us, so I wanted to ensure you had all my notes for the evening... ENJOY!
Who are we worshiping and pouring out our praise to? Who are we glorifying and why?
God is not just some imaginary concept or a "Universal Force"... HE IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!
Romans 1:21-23 - “For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the IMMORTAL GOD for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Verse 25 – “because they exchanged the TRUTH about God for a lie and worshiped and SERVED THE CREATURE rather than the CREATOR, who is blessed forever! AMEN.”
What does it mean to truly Fear the Lord?
Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
To say that we know everything about Him would be ludicrous, but there are some insights He has so graciously provided to us through His Word.
So Who is the God we worship and praise?
Acts 17:22-28. (Paul addresses the folks at the Areopagus regarding the altar to the “unknown god”)
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said:
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’
What there you worship as “unknown”, this I proclaim to you.
The GOD who made the world and everything in it, being LORD of Heaven and Earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything!
And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and FIND HIM. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.
For: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” As even some of your own poets have said, “For we are indeed His offspring.”
God is Spirit –
John 4:24 – God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
1 Timothy 1:17 – To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Psalm 139:7 – Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
God is Omnipresent – He is EVERYWHERE – There is not a place in existence where God cannot be found.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 – “Am I a God at hand, declares that LORD, and not a God for away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? Declares the LORD.
Hebrews 4:13 – And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
1 Kings 8:27 – But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built!
2 Chronicles 2:6 – But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven, event highest heaven, cannot contain Him?
Psalm 139:7-12 - Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to Heaven You are There! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You.
God is ETERNAL – He is the Alpha, the Omega … the Beginning and the End. God is older than Time, God is the Creator of Time itself.
Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the Earth and the World, FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING YOU ARE GOD.
Psalm 103:17-18 – But the steadfast love of the LORD is from EVERLASTING to EVERLASTING on those who fear HIM, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.
Psalm 145:13 – Your kingdom is an EVERLASTING kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations.
Isaiah 26:4 – Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an EVERLASTING rock.
Isaiah 40:28 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the EVERLASTING God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is UNSEARCHABLE.
Isaiah 43:10 – “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. BEFORE ME NO god WAS FORMED, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY AFTER ME.”
Isaiah 44:6-8 – Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the FIRST and I am the LAST; besides Me there is NO god.” Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a god besides Me? There is NO ROCK; I know not any.”
Isaiah 46:9-10 – Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like me, declaring THE END FROM THE BEGINNING and FROM ANCIENT TIMES THINGS NOT YET DONE, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL MY PURPOSE,”
Isaiah 48:12 – Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am HE; I am THE FIRST, and I AM the LAST.
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits ETERNITY, whose name is HOLY: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Daniel 6:26 – I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the Living GOD, enduring FOREVER; His Kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end.
Daniel 7:14 – And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an EVERLASTING dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
2 Peter 1:11 – For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the ETERNAL Kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:8 – “I AM THE ALPHA and the OMEGA,” says the LORD GOD, “Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 21:6 – And He said to me, “It is done! I AM THE ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”
Revelation 22:13 – “I AM THE ALPHA and the OMEGA, the FIRST and the LAST, the BEGINNING and the END.”
Omnipotent – All Powerful, IN TOTAL and COMPLETE control of EVERYTHING at ALL TIIMES – He has never relinquished this EVER, HIS hands have never been bound or His Dominion diminished in ANY WAY – He is SOVEREIGN GOD
Psalm 115:3 – Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.
Romans 9:18-21 – So then He has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to it’s molder, “Why have you made me like this?”’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out o the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
Daniel 4:34-36 – At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the MOST HIGH, and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an EVERLASTING dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are account as nothing, and He does according to HIS will among the heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and NONE can stay His had or say to Him, “What have You done?”
Pretty much the entire passage of Job 12:7-Job 13:1 –
(Below is copied from the YouVersion Bible App - from the CJB version - https://www.bible.com/bible/1275/JOB.12.CJB)
Job 23:13 - But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back?
What HE DESIRES, that HE DOES.
For HE will complete what HE APPOINTS for me, and many such things are in HIS mind.
Therefore I am terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am in dread of Him.
Jeremiah 18:1-23 – The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear My words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? Declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in MY hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in My sight, not listening to My voice, than I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’
Isaiah 29:15-16 (CJB) – Who to those who burrow down deep to hide their plans from ADONAI! They work in the dark and say to themselves, “Nobody sees us, nobody knows us.” How you turn things upside down! Is the potter not better than the clay, Does something made say of it’s maker, “He didn’t make me”? Does the product say of its producer, “He has no discernment”?
Isaiah 45:7-12 – I form light and create darkness; I make well-being an create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.
“Woe to him who strives with Him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to Him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?
“Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
Or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the One who formed him: “Ask Me of things to come; will you command ME concerning My children and the work of My hands?”
I made the earth and created man on it; it was MY hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
Isaiah 55:8-11 – For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
All KNOWING – He is Omniscient – He knows ALL, What takes us a lifetime to learn, is old news to Him. Every invention ever created He knew would come to pass before the world was ever formed. He never had to acquire wisdom. He CREATED it! There is NOTHING God doesn’t already know and there is NOTHING that can FOOL Him or Deceive Him… He knows the TRUTH and MEANING behind everything.
Paul again describes our God in Romans…
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable are His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been HIS counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? (“OR, Who has given Him ANYTHING and made Him pay it back?” CJB)
For from HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things.
To HIM be the glory forever. AMEN.
Psalm 147:5 – Great is our LORD, and abundant in power; HIS UNDERSTANDING is BEYOND MEASURE!
1 John 3:20 – For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and HE knows EVERYTHING.
Proverbs 15:3 – The eyes of the LORD are in EVERY Place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Psalm 139:1-6 – O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
1 Chronicles 28:9 – (David’s charge to Solomon) – “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
Daniel 2:20-22 – (Daniel blesses the God of Heaven after God reveals King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream to him) – Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.
CREATOR with Whom ALL THINGS BELONG and are HIS:
Psalm 89:11 – The Heavens are Yours; the Earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them.
Psalm 24:1-2 - The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Last Worship night we went over Psalm 50 and in verse 9-12 the Lord declares –
"I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, FOR THE WORLD and IT’S FULLNESS are MINE."
Isaiah 66:1-2 – Thus says the LORD; “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest? All these things My hand has made and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.
Colossians 1:16 – For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, invisible and visible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.
There are so many more attributes and characteristics that He has demonstrated for us in His Word. He is HOLY, He is LOVE, He is FAITHFUL, He is PATIENT, LONG SUFFERING, He is KIND, COMPASSIONATE, MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, FORGIVING, JUST and ALL of HIS WAYS ARE RIGHT.
And with all of this in mind… how awesome the description of Jesus captured in …
Hebrews 1:1-4 – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the EXACT IMPRINT of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High, having become as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
The Greatness of the Lord is captured so beautifully in Psalm 145… Take some time to reflect on this Psalm!
With as much as we have been told about our Heavenly Father in His Word, there is much that our finite minds cannot comprehend regarding “WHO HE IS”. We would be foolish to think we could possibly know everything there is to know about our GOD or Yeshua or even the Holy Spirit. There is a large portion of “unknown” that we should be in awe and reverence too as well.
He has made known to us what we He has desired for us to know. Remembering what Hebrews 4:13 told us – And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Knowing what we do about God, with the knowledge and insight He provided to us about His character and sovereignty, we should be humbled before our Maker desiring His will in our lives. Being aware of all our actions, thoughts, words and let’s face it… even our time spent with Him.
What does this amazing God Who is everywhere and all around us, Who knows every thought and action we take before we know we are going to take them, Who reigns supreme with full and absolute sovereignty and to Whom we must all give account…, what does He take pleasure in seeing out of HIS faithful ones, HIS children?
As a wise man (aka my earthly dad) proclaims and fully believes and is a great example of … “Give Hope to the Hopeless… Give Help to the Helpless.”
Hope to the Hopeless by Providing the Good News to all as this is our Hope in Christ Jesus…
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
The Great Commission...
At the end of the gospel of Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus says… – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you ALWAYS, to the end of the age.”
And Mark put it this way (Mark 16:15) – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
And in Luke – (Luke 24:45-48) – Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Help to the Helpless by truly obeying God’s commandment to LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE and do so with a heart of humility and compassion –
Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Zechariah 7:9-10: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
1 John 3:17-18 – But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in DEED an in TRUTH.
Psalm 82:3 – "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
We all remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah… but in Ezekiel 16:49 it explains further why Sodom was held to ruin – “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but DID NOT AID THE POOR AND NEEDY.
Proverbs 31:8-9 - Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Within your own families and extended families -
1 Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Within your neighborhood -
1 Corinthians 10:24 – Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
With EVERYONE -
Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in HUMILITY count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
If Christ is in us and we are truly believers and followers of Yeshua, our Messiah Christ Jesus… we should be His light in this dark world.
1 John 2:6 – Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which HE walked.
Key word being walked not talked.
Take Aways:
What does this look like for us, how does it apply?
First and foremost… show God that you LOVE him by making Him a priority. God is not a once a week event. What did Jesus tell us as to the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-30) – ”The most important is, ‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
– Are we truly doing this? So easy for us to say yes, I love God in all those ways… but do our actions, does our WALK match our idea of what this verse means?
Does the time we spend in the Word and with the Father exceed the time we spend in front of our phones, tablets, TV, our hobbies/interests, our social life?
Do we put GOD before EVERTHING and EVERYONE in our lives?
Even before our spouses, our children, our families and friends…
Is He FIRST, are we truly loving HIM with ALL of our HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH?
When we are truly in love with someone … we yearn to be with that person, to know as much as we can about that person, to do our best to please that person AND we can’t wait to tell anyone and everyone about this AMAZING PERSON!… Are we yearning to be with our Father daily, or to know as much about Him as possible, is it our desire to please Him in any way that we can and our we longing to share the Good News and Who our AMAZING FATHER is to everyone and anyone we meet?
He literally provided us with a personal love letter that has stood the test of time, in which He lays out for us all we need to live the lives that he intended for us to lead. Are we reading the Bible as though our lives depend on it? Or just when we need to mark off the passages we’ve committed to for Bible Study or daily/weekly Plans that we’ve signed up for?
The second is this…(Mark 12:31) ”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
So with that in mind, just as important as the first part, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Show others love.
Go out of your comfort zones, Start looking at everyone you meet as family. Without being creepy, open your eyes to people… when you are out and about, at the supermarket, running errands… make eye contact with folks and say hello. We all inhabit this planet together… No one is of greater or of lesser value than another… let the light of Christ shine through you.
When you go out to eat, plan ahead and put aside an amount for the tip. Knowing that a person, made in God’s image, will be serving you the meal. Yes, that’s their job and yes they get a paycheck… but we all know that our waitresses and waiters at most restaurants count on tip money to supplement what they bring home… it is a privilege to be able to go out to to eat… that many do not have… put a smile on your waiter’s face and make their day special.
If you see someone that is struggling in any way… reach out and ask if they want your help… it’s the right thing to do… Open doors for folks, genuinely give a “God Bless You” as you end a conversation…
Parents/kids… school year has begun… so has bullying. Ask your kids if they are okay, and check in with them often. Then make sure you are instilling in them a no tolerance policy for that behavior. If they see it happening at their school, make sure they go find an adult to put a stop to it if they do not feel safe doing so themselves. Make sure they know that if they are not doing something to stop it… they are technically a part of it. Start teaching them how to be a “KIND” human being, and let the conversation for why this is so important go back to what Jesus has instructed of us… to LOVE OTHERS (period).
Spouses… make each other feel loved, needed, and appreciated. Take the time to reflect on the relationship and treasure it. Never take for granted what in an instance could be taken from you, and that goes with everything/everyone in our lives.
If you have more stuff than you know what to do with… pack it up and give it to a local organization that will distribute to those that don’t have any stuff! So many in the community are in need... let's start showing them the same love and kindness that Christ so clearly displayed during His time here on Earth.
Matthew 25:31 – 40 – “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer Him saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to You, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.’ Verses… 41 – 46 – Jesus declares the complete opposite to those on the left, those who did not provide help to the helpless, verse 45 and 46 – Then He will answer them saying, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to ME. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Don’t wait for a church event or an organized event to make a difference… be observant, ask God to open the eyes of your heart to others who need to see Him through you, whether that be a spiritual need, emotional, physical or financial.
LOVE OTHERS.
What is one of the biggest things that a non-believer will tell you when you say that you are a Christian – Oh, you’re one of those… just like so many other labels… being a Christian, being an Evangelist, being a follower of God… all have taken a hit … why? BECAUSE OF HUMAN ACTIONS… actions that God would NEVER approve of, but are done by self-proclaiming Christians whose walk does not demonstrate Christ’s perfect example. A walk that instead is paved with Pride, Greed, and Self Ambitions – their desire is to satisfy themselves and they use God to do that, instead of letting God use them to complete His desire for their lives.
James 3:16 tells us “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
THIS IS WHY the non-believer has so much trouble wrapping his/her mind around the Goodness of God. They observe the self-proclaimed, self-driven Christian and their actions not knowing what has been instructed of those who truly PUT GOD FIRST and follow in Christ’s example.
James 2:14-17 – “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? SO ALSO FAITH BY ITSELF, if it does not have works, is DEAD.
Let us not be dead in our faith, let’s make sure we are making a difference in not just our own lives, but the lives of those around us. There are so many that need both HOPE and HELP in our own community. Make it a daily prayer for the Lord to open our eyes to see those in need and a heart willing to help.
Songs Sung in Worship August 26th, 2023 -
Holy Forever
Revelation Song
Great are You Lord
I Exalt Thee
Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
How Great is Our God
The Blessing
Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty
Scripture used within the song portion of Worship:
Before singing Holy Forever - some of what John showed us in Revelation, a glimpse into what God has allowed us to see as to how He is worshiped in the Heavenly places…
Revelation 4
After these things I looked, and behold, a door was standing open in heaven.
And the first voice, which I heard speaking with me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
Immediately I was in the Ruach (Spirit); and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, an One seated on the throne. And the One who was seated was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders dressed in white clothes with golden crowns on their heads. And out from the throne come flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder and 7 torches of fire burning before the throne, which are the 7 seven spirits of God. And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.
In the middle of the throne and around it were 4 living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind -
The 1st living creature was like a lion
The 2nd living creature was like an ox
The 3rd living creature had a face like a man
And the 4th living creature was like a flying eagle.
The 4 living creatures, each having 6 wings, were full of eyes all around and within.
They DO NOT REST DAY OR NIGHT, chanting (proclaiming)
“Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh
ADONAI Elohei-Tzva’ot, asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo!
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts,
Who was and Who is and Who is to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give GLORY, and HONOR, and THANKS to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and
WORSHIP Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting,
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
For YOU created all things, and because of Your Will they existed and were created!”
Before singing Revelation Song
Revelation 5 -
Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break it’s seals?”
And NO ONE in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; BEHOLD, the LION of the tribe of JUDAH, the ROOT OF DAVID, has conquered, so that HE can open the scroll an it’s seven seals.”
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song saying,
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for YOU were slain, and by Your blood YOU ransomed people for God from every tribe and language an people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “AMEN!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Before singing I Exalt Thee (only 1 Chronicles was read aloud prior to singing due to time constraints but all passages are relevant)
Psalm 68:4 – Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; His name is the LORD; EXULT before Him!
Isaiah 25:1 – O Lord, You are my God; I will EXALT You; I will praise Your name, for You have one wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God. I will be EXALTED among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
I Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens an in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are EXALTED as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over ALL. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank You, our God, and praise Your glorious name.
Before singing Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Great example of the Lord opening the eyes to allow the "unseen" to be seen...
2 Kings 6:15-17 (Elisha prays to the Lord to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see the Lord's army all around them -
"When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold , an army with horses and chariots was all. around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He (Elisha) said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Before singing The Blessing -
Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord Bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Courtesy of ADAT HATIKVAH MESSIANIC SYNAGOGUE - 40 Days of Prayer for the HIGH HOLIDAYS - preparing to get your mind and heart right with God and others:
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