"Who Is Your God?" 7

 H - My God IS my Healer. 

He IS Jehovah Rapha, the Lord that Healeth me. Exodus 15:26

He IS my Great Physician. Read the New Testament.

He IS the One who brought millions of people out of bondage in Egypt with not one even feeble, let alone sick, among them. Psalm 105:37

He IS the God who sent His Word and Healed us. Psalm 107:19-31

He IS the One who bore my sicknesses and carried my diseases. By whose stripes I am healed.        Isaiah 53:5

He IS the One who went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 8:35 

Healing is part of and evidence naturally of the Good News Matthew 4:23

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Act 8:12-13

He Is still compassionate toward us. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.    Matthew 14:14 

He IS the same yesterday today and forever.          Hebrews 13:8

He NEVER changes. James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19.

If you believe He forgives your iniquities, why not believe He heals all your sicknesses, too?

Read the Word of God....

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2-3.

 That is the complete scripture. Why refuse to receive all of the benefits He provided you?

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

Why believe only half of it? Study it out for yourself. It literally includes physical sicknesses and diseases as well as spiritual. Jesus healed the Whole man. Receive your entire salvation by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8 

Matthew 8:16-17 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

It is obvious that the diseases Jesus went about healing were physical diseases. We know this was the will of God because Jesus only did what he sees His Father do. John 5:19. Read also John 14:10.

Why believe only half of it? Study it out for yourself. It literally includes physical sicknesses and diseases as well as spiritual. Jesus healed the Whole man. Receive your entire salvation by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8 

Saved: heal, be made whole. To make well, heal, restore to health spiritually, physically and emotionally. The entire person restored to life and health abundantly. John 10:10.

From a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saos, "safe"); to save, i.e. Deliver or protect (literally or figuratively) -- heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

Your whole man, spirit, soul and body is who God created you to be from the very beginning. Why would He neglect to provide salvation, deliverance, rescue and healing for the complete person He created?

Your spirit, soul and body have been saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Receive your entire healing today.

He IS the Lord that Healeth YOU and Me, too!

"Who IS Your God - 6 ???!!!"

 G - "GOOD, GOOD GOD"

For many days now, I have been pondering this thought, "God is a Good God".  I know we sing, "God is a good God and He's worthy to be praised" at church, but then, when something undesireable happens, we blame God for the "bad" that just occured. So.......tell me, is God a Good, Good God" all the time??? Is He a Good God who does good or does He change His mind periodically and do harm, damage and evil to His people to teach them something or some other argument we create to attempt to justify what we do not understand?

Psalm 119:68 - You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

Nahum 1:7 - The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 145:9 - The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

I present to you the Truth! God IS Good - All the time, All the TIME!

So, I've been thinking how easily God's people tend to complain about what bad they think God has done and blame Him for what has happened. Several things come to my mind as I have been pondering.

#.1 - The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Who comes to steal? The thief!

Who comes to kill? The thief!

Who comes to destroy? The thief!

So.....if what is happening to me is either stealing, killing or destroying .... Who is the culprit?????? The thief!!!!! 

So.......do not blame God because Jesus came so that we would have life in abundance till it overflows.

Have - Have, Hold and Possess

Life -  life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence

Abundantly - exceedingly in abundance of, superior, superabundant, til it overflows.

God IS our Good, Good God - That IS Who He Is!!!!! 

John 10:11 - I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

#2. The majority of people, christian and non christian, view things in life as they see it by their own eyes, their own ears, their own understanding and their own experience. Few have learned to view things from God's point of view, especially in difficult times. Few stop to inquire of God for His perspective on what is going on. Few are willing to lay aside the natural report and seek to understand things from the spiritual vantage point.

Isaiah 55:8-9 -  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.

I have heard people say....See! Our thoughts are not God's thoughts, so we will never understand Him or His ways. However, that way of responding is not at all consistent with the Word of God.

We are told to search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11); Get (acquire) wisdom (Proverbs 4:7); the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel (Proverbs 20:15);

 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18). 

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

It seems pretty clear, in just these few scriptures, that we are to grow in the knowledge of Him and cast away our human thoughts and acquire for ourselves God's way of thinking and perceiving things. So, I encourage you. Don't evaluate things according to your way of seeing and understanding things. Ask God to help you understand things from His point of view.

Then I was thinking of how the Israelites, after leaving the slave life in Egypt, found themselves boxed in between the Red Sea and the Egyptians, who were in pursuit of them. Their viewpoint of the situation is found in:

Exodus 14:10-12 - When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 

They were accusing God of things that were not at all God's intention and things that did not at all include God's plans for their deliverance. They only evaluated things from their eyes, ears, emotions, fear and experience. 

If, they would have truly known their God, they would have had a different report. Something more like, " We know you are a Good God. You brought us out from slavery to these Egyptians who are now pursuing us. You told us you are taking us to The Promised Land. This is not it. This is not looking good to our eyes, but we know You! You are a Good God. You cannot Lie! Your Word is True, You are Faithful, You WILL Do what You said You would Do....You ARE bringing us to the Promised Land. We don't know how You are going to fix this problem, but we know you are working on it because You are our Good and Faithful God. They would have bowed down in Worship to their God. They would have Praised Him for Who He IS. They would have given Him Thanks for the deliverance He was in process of bringing them from the enemies who were after them. Not because there was any physical evidence to that end, but because they would have been looking at things from the spiritual view, not the natural view. They would have been great people of Faith in their Almighty God because they would have known their God was a Good and Faithful God!

This verse actually explains what God was thinking:

Exodus 13:17 - When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

We know how God, in His love and mercy, rescued the Israelites and destroyed the Egyptians as we read on in Exodus 14:15-31.

Meditate on the following verses regarding our Good God and grow in maturity and Faith in Him, so that when trouble comes, you are a worshipper of God, not a complainer because you know who your enemy is and what he comes to do and you know Who your God is and what He comes to bring us....Life and Life More Abundantly - That Is Who Our God IS!!!!! The Giver of Abundant Life now and in the future.

Psalm 34:7 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Romans 8:28 -And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Matthew 19:17 - And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.

Psalm 107:1 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, thato

1 John 1:5 - This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 84:11 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 31:19 - Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

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.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So....WHO IS Your God?????

"DO NOT...."

A few nights ago, I had a bad dream that was far to real and emotionally impacting. I woke up, fear had gripped me. Since I could not go back to sleep, I got up and read and studied the Bible. I came away from my time with God with peace and a very clear message.... "DO NOT BE anxious or worried about anything. God will supply your needs. If I give in to anxiety, worry or fear I am no different than the ungodly. I need to remember that I am a child of GOD. He cares for the birds, how much more does He care and provide for me?

There are two major lessons in these two words, "DO NOT"

The First one is Obvious....Don't Do It!

I am stuck on the words "DO NOT." This requires me to make a choice, a decision. No excuses acceptable. I either Will or I Won't.... my choice. There is really NO choice, if you Love God....

"DO NOT" leaves NO room for compromise or "why I can't" excuses. There is NO room for "Well, I'll Try" or " I will do my best" or "God understands...." NO!!! God instructs me to "DO NOT" do it. No anxiety, no fear, no worries - this is not an option. Simply give no room to anxiety, fear or worry. Stop them at the first thought. Don't Do It!!!!! Do Not go there. Make the choice, the decision, that fear, anxiety and worry are not options in my life. When the thoughts come that affect our emotions negatively and in opposition to God's word, stop them from going any further. Do not ponder on them, do not give them the time of day! Decide that I will not give these kind of thougts any space to torment me. Here is what these verses counsel us regarding this issue:

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Matthew 6:31 - Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Do not give anxieties, worries or fear any room to think about them and do not talk about them. Do this instead:

Philippians 4:8 - And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

These scriptures are all instructions from God regarding the wise way to handle things.

Apparently, God knows it is possible to follow His instructions or He wouldn't so clearly state, "Do Not be anxious about anything"! Additionally, He must have good reason in giving us those instructions. Finally, remember His Grace is His power on our behalf. Certainly, that must include helping us to do as He instructs.

Read Matthew 6:25-35 and Philippians 4:6

The Second is less obvious, but even more impacting.... not often spoken, but nonetheless obvious...."will you follow My instructions?"

It boils down to my choice to obey (Loving God), or not, and trusting His Counsel or not.

John 14:15 - “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

Psalm 21:6 - For the king [confidently] trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness (faithfulness, goodness) of the Most High he will never be shaken.

Jeremiah 17:7 - But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Proverbs 29:25 - Don't fall into the trap of being a coward--trust the LORD, and you will be safe.

Will I do according to the instructions of God or will I disregard His counsel? If we really know "Who our God Is", we will obey and trust Him because we Love him and we know He is the All Wise God. His way is the Wise way. He instructs us in order to help us. This is not an attempt to put the law on us. This is His instruction in the wise way to go. These are words of Love. Can't you see...if he cares about clothing the Lilies of the field, and feeding the birds of the air,  how much more does He care for me, His very own children!

Often, when we read God's Word - we often gloss over His instructions, without realizing what we are really doing or thinking. We are essentially silently saying "I could never do that", or some other lie of an excuse. We must understand that when God gives us instructions, He wants to help us to go in the best way to go and He will enable us to do it. That is what Grace is about....His power on our behalf. God is not telling us "Do Not" to be controlling, difficult or to frustrate us. He gives us His instructions to follow because it is the wise way, the best way, the smart way to go. He is trying to help us have peace and success. His way is the way of peace! Besides that, what do we gain by worrying? Sleepless nights? Ulcers?

This is a necessary lesson we must all learn to apply in every area of our life: Trust and obey God. Not because He is a dictator ready to strike us down or punish us for any deviation from His instruction. No! That is NOT Who Our God Is! He is our Loving Father, Great in Mercy. Ephesians 2:4.

He is instructing us in the right way to go because He Loves us. Because it is the Best Way to go. His Way is the tested Way, the Proven Way, the Wise way. His Way is the High Way.

I wonder how many times we make our lives miserable because we do not take His instructions seriously and choose to do things our own way instead.

Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

"Do Not" be anxious, worried or fearful about anything ..... Not just about what you will eat, drink or wear, but anything.....finances, politics, children, your future.....absolutely anything. Don't Worry about it! Why? Because God cares for you. You belong to Him.

Follow God's instructions, whatever they are, not only because you Love Him, but because that Love causes you to trust that He has your best interest in mind and His counsel is truly the best way to go. You don't need to understand the details. You just need to Know Who Your God is!!!!

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

Don't be anxious or worried about anything. Not one thing. Alternatively, pray and give God Thanksgiving!

Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].

PRAYER: Father, help me never to take your instructions lightly or ever consider them optional. I desire to show my love for You by my obedience to your Word, by trusting You. Your way is the Wise Way to go, it is the right way. I do not want to be a fool, I will follow your counsel. Thank You for loving me, for Your Mercy and Grace.

On the horizon is "Who Is Your God - 6 ???!!! 

God Is our Good, Good God!!!! 

Who IS Your God - 5 ???!!!

F.

"Faithful, Faithful, Faithful God"

Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a Faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

Faithfulness: literally firmness, steadiness: stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Many years ago, there were three things that I learned that completely changed my life. Still, today, I apply them constantly. These truths impact and direct my decisions and behavior. These three things help me stay steady in my faith toward God no matter what the circumstances are. I have written about these truths many times and speak to others frequently about them.

I am convinced of these truths. I know that I have become more, much more steady and immovable in my faith toward God because I firmly believe that:

1. God's Word is True

2. God cannot lie. It is Impossible for Him to Lie.

3. God IS Faithful. He Will do what He says He will do!!!

In the process of daily life, there are multitudes of things that we must process. Thoughts that we must evaluate and determine if they must be cast down and traded in for God's perspective or if they are currently in agreement with God's Word. It is a necessity to know what God's Word says. Without knowing what God says we have no solid basis in which to place our trust. God is Faithful to fulfill His Word, but what Word is it that we are standing on?

The most difficult to handle are the times of devasting news. We must stay steady and follow the same pattern of trusting that what God says is true no matter what. Regardless of how I feel, how it looks or any report contrary to God's report, I must hold fast to God and His Word. I must be convinced and choose to continually stay steady, knowing that it is simply impossible for Him to lie and I can confidently trust that He will do what He says He will do because He IS my Faithful God. That is the essence of the "Faith" that we are to Live by. I look to God, to His Word, and I say what God says about my situation. God always has something to say pertaining to whatever the situation is. I choose to agree with God. (Period). I know He will fulfill His Word to me - He is Faithful!!!! I just need to believe that and hold tight. 

God IS Faithful, He will do what He told you. He is a covenant keeping God of Loving Devotion. El Shaddai who nourishes you, cares for you, giving you all you need, this is not to difficult for Him. 

In whatever situation you are in. Ask God for His Counsel to you. If you ask, He will answer you with His  particular counsel to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].

English Standard Version - He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Numbers 23:19 - God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

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.

Psalm 89:33 - But I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:11 - By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Our Faith is based on His Word and is our response to His Faithfulness to His Word.

Will you consider Him Faithful who has promised? If you will, you will see the power of God working mightily in you and on your behalf..

I have determined that the question is NOT "Will God be Faithful to me?", but rather, "will I be found Faithful to Him?"

Luke 18:18 - I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Proverbs 20:6 -Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Psalm 138:2 - for you have exalted your Word above all your name.

Psalm 89:8 - O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD? You are entirely faithful.

Certainly, God is our Faithful, Faithful, Faithful God!

Respond to Him with that conviction. Show Him your faith!!!!