Holy is The Lord of Host

We talk about how God is holy, but what do people mean by that?  Is holiness Godliness? Does it mean it belongs to God?  I think that is how we usually think of holiness, but it denotes more than that.  That would mean that God is Godly or He belongs to Himself.  To be holy means something or someone is separate. That sounds kind of dull at first, but it is actually very profound.

A good example of how this works is found in a marriage.  When two people marry it's called “Holy Matrimony”.  Holy does not simply mean that the husband and wife are married in the sight of God.  It means that they are now a holy couple.  They are separate from everyone else in the world and shall live as one.  Sexual relations are to be between them and no one else.  They live their lives for each other and not for anyone else in this world.  They are separate. They are holy.

God is holy and separate from anything of this world or of anything in existence.  There is nothing like Him.  Nothing even comes close.  Powerful? With His words He made all things come into existence. Smart? He knows every atom in the universe and call tell you where it was, where it is and where it will be. Anything about God’s greatness is beyond limits.

His attributes are the same way.  We will be talking about them in coming posts, but suffice it to say that He has more greatness in His nature than anyone who ever lived.

Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Someday we will see God face to face.  No one will remain standing when they first see God, but they will fall on their face.  In the Bible when men see Angels they fall down before them.  Seeing God will be so much more awesome and fearful.  How can we stand before a being who is so much greater then we?  A being who radiates His glory and greatness in a visible light which would blind our eyes.  If we were to see Him face to face these bodies could not survive the impact of just the sight of Him.

Photo Credit: HEAVEN by Telstar200

Who Knows God?

If you look around your church, at Sunday morning service, you will see a lot of people worshipping an idol they have created.  Far too many Christians do not know who God is.  They have stored up in their hearts false ideas which they have accumulated in their lives and have clung to them with all their strength.

Do you ever wonder how a Christian can live for years loving Christ and then turn away and follow some other God?  It is because they never knew who God was in the first place.  They only served the god of their own creation.  They served a god who could not strengthen him in times of trouble.  Their god was a false god who was corrupt and weak.  They did not know who God really is.

1 Corinthians 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

Have you heard a Christian say “God is a God of love and would never send someone to Hell?”  That person does not know that God is a God of Justice.  God’s love goes out to everyone, but so does His Justice.  To think otherwise leads to blaming God when bad things happen to good people.

No one knows all about God.  We all have mistaken ideas, but are you seeking to know Him?  Are you casting out false concepts you have when God shows you something new about Himself?

If we knew God as we should, we would not need books telling us 10 steps to a better prayer life or how to become a man or woman of God in one week.  We don’t need tricky little gimmicks to live our lives as God desires.  We simply need to know God and who He is.

I think I will start a series on the attributes of God.  I am sure I need it.  I do not know God as intimately as I should.  I do not follow in His footsteps with fear and trembling.  I need to learn of Him.  Will you join me?

Photo Credit: Funny Sign: Relaxed Worship with Live Band by herzogb

God Never Calls Us to Rebel Against the World

I searched for scripture which said to rebel against the world, but found none.  I thought that was curious until God showed me that we can not rebel against something which we have no allegiance to.  Christians are not of  this world but of Heaven.

We can conform to this world and scripture tells not to in Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

You do not belong to this world so while you might walk, talk and live like others who do not know Christ, you do not belong to it.  If you do conform to this world, then you are rebelling against God to whom you belong.  God is our king, not Satan, so to rebel against God is treason.

Photo Credit: Student Demonstration (46) - 27Nov07, Paris (France) by philippe leroye

How Much Ransom Are You Worth?

If you were held for ransom, what would you be worth?  Kidnappings happen in the world and large sums of money are paid to have the hostage released.

John Paul Getty III was released when his Grandfather paid 3 million dollars.  Patty Hurst father paid 6 million for her. The record amount paid is probably for the release of Li Tzar-kuoi of Hong Kong with a 134 million dollar ransom.  Are you worth 3, 6 or as much as 134 million dollars?

Every person who on this earth, except for Jesus Christ, has been held captive by Satan by way of the snare of sin.  2 Timothy 2:26 "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

What can we do?  We are all captives and a mere 134 million dollars will not free you.  Understand this, you are far more valuable than that.  If you owned the whole world, you still could not pay the ransom for your freedom. You are more valuable then all the universe.  If God wanted to He could create another universe in 6 days. It is as nothing to Him.  It has taken a lifetime to create you and there will only be one you.

1 Peter 1:18a "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,”

You are worth far more then silver, gold or anything else in this material realm. God sees that your value is so great that only the life of Jesus Christ can cover the ransom payment needed to redeem you.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Nothing you can do is great enough to cover the payment. Nothing you can give is enough. You are far more valuable to Him then you know, because He loves you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Photo Credit: Gold-Treasure by digitalmoneyworld

Our Crafty God

I learned just how crafty God was after I joined the Navy on August 23, 1970 and attended boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois.  A man in my company by the name of Gary Morstad was a Christian who loved God.  He got permission from our Company Commander to take any who wished to a Sunday night service at the chapel on the School side of the base.  That meant we would be outside of boot camp and where normal people were.

Little did I know that this was a trap that God had set up.  Gary, myself and three others went to this service.  I guess the service was alright, but what I really liked was that after the service they had cookies, kool aid and we got to meet to some girls.  Girls!  I had not seen a female in weeks.  The next week I was back again, and the weeks that followed.

I don’t remember anything that was said or preached at that chapel, but I do remember Gary and I talking as we walked from our barracks to the chapel and back.  It was as a result of those talks that I recognized my need for Christ.  If not for there being girls at the chapel, I am not so sure I would have gone back a second time and had those talks where I learned of Christ.

God knew what he was doing when he had those girls at the service.  I am sure those girls never knew how God used their presence to woo me to Christ.  They might have thought being there was of no eternal consequence, yet their answering God’s call to attend those services helped bring me to salvation.

We may not know until we get to Heaven what our following Christ has meant in the lives of others.  God does not call us all to great, heroic deeds or to evangelize thousands.  All He ask is for our obedience, and then He will do a great work in the hearts of men.  Perhaps God will use the sight of you at church as bait to a non-Christian to return again next week.  You might never know in this life just how important a part you played in that person’s salvation.

Photo Credit: 101107-N-4743B-059 by U.S. Pacific Fleet

Is Jesus Pro Gun Control or Pro NRA?

Our country is in turmoil in relation to guns, especially since the shooting at Sandy Hook.  Politicians, the media, NRA, and just about anyone living in the USA has an opinion about what should be done. Christians need to take a stand on this issue also, but are they looking to see what Jesus says?  Is He a card carrying NRA member?

I believe most Christians are politically conservative and believe in the right to bear arms.  I am standing right there beside them.  I believe the constitution of the United States gives us the right to have weapons for our own protection.  I even think assault rifles should be allowed.  That does not mean that Jesus agrees with me and others who are conservative.  Jesus is not a Republican.

Christians to often make the mistake of thinking God agrees with us.  I tell you the truth, God never agrees with us.  You can declare anything you want and it may sound so good and right, but Jesus still does not agree.  He does not agree with the Constitution.  He does not agree with Republican platform.  He does not agree with the death penalty.  He does not agree with you.

We, however, must always agree with Him.  He is not on our side on any issues.  We must always be on His side.  There is no middle ground on this, no matter how good it might look.  The answer to gun control is not found in the Constitution.   It is found in Jesus Christ and what God says in Scripture.

Jeremiah 17:9 " The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

The problem is found in the heart of man.  We are a wicked people who do all sorts of evil deeds.  If we do not use a gun, we will use a knife. If we don’t use a knife, we will use a club. If we don’t use a club, we will use our fist. If we don’t use our fist, we will use our lying lips.

The job of Christians is not to defend the Constitution, but to defend the faith first and foremost.  That means that turning the hearts of people to Christ is our primary job.  If we get distracted by political problems, people go to Hell.

So we are not to defend the Constitution?  I did not say that.  I said that faith in Christ is first.  The way to solve most of our political problems would be to change the hearts of men.   As Christians we must also stand up for our Country, pray for it and do our best to see that it goes according to Biblical principles.  Neither party platforms nor even the Constitution are the basis for our lives.  God and God alone is our compass of life.

Photo Credit: My Uncle with an AK-101 carbine by SamJUK

Healing the Lame Beggar, Today.

If John and Peter, found in Acts 3, were to meet the lame beggar today what would likely happen?

Peter and John were walking to church when they happened upon a certain man sitting beside the road with a cardboard sign that had scrawled on it in a black marker, “I am lame, homeless and hungry.  Please help!!”

As Peter and John were about to walk past him, the beggar sees them and calls out. “Hey Buddy!  How about five dollars, or even a single?  I ain’t eaten since yesterday.”

Peter and John stop and look at the man intently.  Peter shrugs.  “I don’t have a five or even a one, but God bless you.”

John looks to Peter in shock. In his soft voice, he chastises Peter. “That’s all?  God bless you?  This man needs love Brother Peter."

John walks over to the man and knells down beside him.  The man looks expectantly to John in hopes of a nice gift.  John gives the man a hearty hug and then hands him a flower.  “Jesus loves you more than you will ever know.”

Then laying his hands upon the man John looks up  to heaven.  “Father, bless this man from your abundant wealth and love.  Give him food to eat and a place to sleep. And if it is your will Lord, heal his legs so that he might walk again.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen!”

Standing up John smiles at the man who looks back at him confused.  Walking back to Peter John beams with love.  “You need to learn to be more loving brother Peter.”

Thankfully Peter and John knew what power they had, and used it.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit today as well. He will lead us when we encounter people in need.  Listen to The Spirit and follow Him. He might lead you to help by giving money, your things, yourself or by using the power of God.  We must remember that the power of God is within us to bless people with signs and wonders just like Peter and John.

Photo Credit: Seriously Handicapped Beggar by Augapfel