Knowing the Father

I want to share some thoughts with you about something that's been on my heart lately and that is not only our relationship with Jesus, our Savior, but with The Father. Let's face it, "knowing" God can be a little intimidating and confusing. Let's look at this scripture below and hear what Jesus has to say about it.

Version: NAS

John 14:6-15

6. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. 7. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." 8. Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9. Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and [yet] you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father '? 10. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11. "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves. 12. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. 13. "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do [it]. 15. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

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Take a seat!

"Take a seat", someone might say to us. How common to hear that, yet if we think about this everyday act in response to a friendly command, we may get a more clear understanding of what it is to act "in faith".

You may have heard this reference to "sitting in a chair" as an act of faith and it may seem too simplified, but it is something we can all agree on.  Unless we are staring at a ramshackle bit of flimsy antiquity we all pretty much do not hesitate to be seated. Here is where I will insert that my love of vintage junk and antiques has indeed given me many opportunities to be more than a little wary when it comes to choosing a spot to rest!

We have all sat in a chair, and most of us have not had it crack and fall apart on us. So because we are familiar with chairs and their ability to support us, we don't worry and wring our hands each time we think about it. We just do it. We sit in the chair without a moment's hesitation.

This is what God wants us to feel about Him; that He is familiar and that He is capable to support and uphold us when we are living our daily lives. Sitting in a chair is not something we do on a rare occasion, but something that is daily and commonplace, matter-of-fact living.

I remember being in Bible Study Fellowship many years ago and we were talking about something and I made mention that I was "having faith" for something in particular to happen. I don't remember what the particular circumstance was, but I will always remember the look on a certain woman's face when I made the statement. Then she said "What do you mean, 'having faith', I don't understand what you're talking about?" Now that response was something I couldn't comprehend and never had stopped to think about. There were Christian people out there that had no concept of "living by faith", or "having faith" other than for "saving faith" for salvation.

Version: NAS

Colossians 2:6
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in Him,


Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The Colossian verse references the fact that it took faith on our part to believe in Jesus and then receive Him as our Savior. So if we have the faith to "receive Him", should we not have faith in Him in our daily Christian life or "walk"?

Hebrews 11, the great chapter on faith, says that we cannot please God if we don't have faith. If you stop and think about that, it is a pretty powerful statement...and pretty frightening. I'm not sure how you all feel, but I really want to be pleasing the Lord. "Pleasing" in thought and deed. I don't want to be in the place where He looks at me and is displeased... not a good place to be. Not because of retribution from Him, but if I'm in a place where I'm "displeasing" the Lord, then I'm in a place where He cannot work with or for me. And that equates to losing any "blessing" that I might be desiring.

For me "having faith" and "walking by faith" are as essential to my life as is breathing. I cannot imagine going for even a moment if I didn't rely on my faith in Jesus Christ. Not just for my salvation, which is indeed the very beginning of our "walk of faith", but for my very life and existence. Faith for my family's well being, my own health, driving down the highway, and even the food I put in my mouth. Are you with me?  How could you live if you didn't find faith for living in the source of understanding that God loves us and is with us, and that He will never leave us? To me all that is the "rock" of my life and my faith in Jesus Christ.

The Oxford dictionary defines faith as "complete trust or confidence; firm belief, without logical proof; certainty and conviction."

This all goes back to our knowing who God is, and His attributes. I guess if we don't know someone very well we cannot trust them or have confidence in them. So then, next step would be, to know someone we spend time with them. That's how we get to know someone. Then we "give them a chance" to prove themselves to us in the "trust" department. Can we trust them? All this causes us to "know" someone, trust them, have confidence in their character, and then have "faith in them as a person".

Reading God's Word, not just once a week, but on a daily basis. Consistency in our relationship through prayer and just meditating on the things of God. Being in a place where we desire His company. These are all ways to get to know Him better.

So think about "walking by faith" like this. Jesus is greeting you with a smile and a hug, inviting you in, and saying "Hello my friend, take a seat!"

love in Jesus,

Debra

Abba Father, He's My Dad!

Who wouldn't love to have a great relationship with our Dad? Many of us had great ones, while some of us really lacked the ability to have a wonderful father-child relationship. Some dads traveled, some dads weren't communicators, some dads had themselves been hurt as little children and couldn't show affection. Some were too harsh, others too lenient. Some were absent physically or emotionally. Some were even abusive. Then some of us were distant, too busy, or thoughtless. There are many reasons why we haven't had a perfect relationship with our earthly dads, but our Father in Heaven isn't like our earthly "Dad", no matter how wonderful he might be.

We as human parents love to give gifts to our children. Christmas, birthdays, sometimes even a "just because" gift, just to let them know we love them. Our Heavenly Father feels exactly the same about us. He wants to give us good things. He longs to bless His children.

Matthew 7:7-11
7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10. "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11. "If you then, being evil, (by comparison) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 6:8
"Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

James 4:2
You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

God knows what we need, yes. He's all knowing, but He still desires for us to ask. And then say "thank you, Father."
These first three scripture talk about our "asking" the Father for the things we need, but have you thought about asking Him for everything that HE would like to give you. There may be gifts and blessings that we haven't thought about, that He would like to bestow upon us.

We've probably heard the story about the man that arrived in heaven and was led to the large room filled with rows and rows of beautifully wrapped presents, each one tied with a bow and sitting on a shelf. He was amazed and asked his guide what they were. The guide replied. "These are all the gifts and blessings that God had for you, but you never thought to ask for."

A little simplistic, but wouldn't you want to receive each and every gift that God had prepared for you out of His great love? This goes for not only material things and blessings, but how about friendships, experiences, and spiritual gifts. Many people are afraid to ask for spiritual gifts because they think they are "scarey". God is good, He will prepare and nurture you for your giftings.


Psalm 103:1-5
1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Here we see that God has gifts and "benefits". These come with our salvation "package", but sometimes we don't know or recognize it. Salvation, forgiveness of sin, health, love, spiritual optimism and hope. A satisfied life. Youth in body, mind, and spirit. These gifts are all available for us by "asking" for them.

Galatians 4:6
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"


These last two verses talk about God refering to Himself not only as our Father, but as our Dad. How wonderful to know that God says "I love you so much, call me Dad!" Knowing God in this way enables us to go before Him to "ask" because we know He loves us, really loves us. This gives us the understanding that we have a loving dad who wants us to ask for the things we need, even though He knows these things in advance. He has a plan to give us all that He wants to give us, and so that we will come before Him with confidence, that we might have "effective prayer".

Hope you are having a great start to your week.

love,

Debra

Weekend Comments

Hi Everyone,

I hope you have had time to read and study along with us this week. We've been looking at scripture that speaks to us about God's "Nature"; His qualities and personality, and how that relates to our confidence in Him. Prayer is still the main focus, but we have to "know" God before we have "confidence" in Him. Then our confidence in God translates into "effective prayer".

Version: NAS

James 5:13-16

13. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. 14. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15. and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Remember, if you haven't read or have missed out on any of the daily posts, please comment here on the weekend comments. That way everyone else will get an opportunity to read and share.

I have a little more in this study on prayer, but I'm letting God lead me on what He would like us to discuss next. I've mentioned it before, but if anyone has questions or topics that you are interested in please let me know. I'll be open to see where they might lead. I want to keep this Bible Study relevant, and I know God can surely do it.

I'll be checking back in throughout the weekend. Have a great one!

love,

Debra

Unchangeable

What is your perception of God? How do you see Him? Do you see an angry old man hurling lightning bolts at the human race from the heavens? What about a kind and loving rotund figure sort of like "Santa in the sky"? What about Jesus...what does He look like to you? How do you equate your ideas of God the Father with your idea of Jesus of Nazareth? Are they alike, the same?

New American Standard Version



Hebrews 6: 17-20
17. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18. in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. 19. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a [hope] both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20. where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

God has certain purposes for His children here on earth, to come into relationship with Him and to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ are two that we have been discussing in this study on prayer. In this scripture passage the writer of Hebrews is telling us that these promises that God has given us are certain because of who God is. He is telling us that God is unchangeable and that He also swears to us in an oath that He will not lie and that the promises He has made are "good"; they are Truth.


Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today, [yes] and forever


Malachi 3:6
"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

These two verses basically say the same thing. Jesus never changes, God never changes. Thank you, Lord. I'm so glad He doesn't get sick of me. That He doesn't lose patience with me. That He doesn't change His mind and decide I'm not living up to His standards. So I'm out!
 
John 14:7-10
7. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." 8. Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9. Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and [yet] you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father '? 10. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

I grew up in a church where "hell fire and damnation" were the sermon topics of each week. Whether or not there was anything else preached I can't remember. That was all I could remember. Week after week, year after year. It really didn't even matter if the pastor changed. It was all the same. I remember when I was a teenager. I really had had it up to my eyeballs with hearing how I was going to hell if I didn't repent, and "get saved". I don't know if anyone else has been through this, but finally I'd had enough of condemnation and misery. I was 6 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I knew I had made that decision. I knew I was going to heaven. Why did I have to hear the same "sermon" every week? It warped my view of Father God. I felt like He was sitting up in Heaven just waiting for me to mess up so He could "punish" me.

Don't get me wrong, I know we need to know about the consequences of our lives lived without Jesus. But I just needed more. I needed to know about the love of God for "me"; me individually. I knew God loved me because He sent His son to die for me, but I wanted to know how he felt about me, personally.

When I was a little girl I loved Jesus so much and so enjoyed all the Bible stories I had learned in Sunday School. Jesus loved children and small furry animals and only got mad if you tried to sell things in the sanctuary. Then you better watch out!

Into my adult years I was never able to put God the Father and Jesus "together". Not until I really had this verse put into my heart.

So how do you justify all the bloodshed and "justice" of the Old Testament in light of what the New Testament says? I never could wrap my mind around it. How could God change from the stern disciplinarian of the Old Testament to the sweet baby and loving young teacher of the New Testament?

Here goes. A simplistic answer straight from the Holy Spirit. God has never changed. He has been the same through all eternity. God had had a plan in the Garden of Eden, but we messed up. So, plan B involved more "structure" by the 10 Commandments and the Law. Men still messed up. The only way to remedy this was by sending Jesus, God's son, yet the embodiment of God, to live and then die for us as payment of our sin. He "paid the price". God is Holy, and He does not allow sin in His presence. Jesus "justified" us by His death and resurrection.

Now, God did not change, but because of Jesus death on the cross, our perception of Him changed because we are now "covered in the blood of Jesus". When the Father sees us, He sees His Son, Jesus. There is a reason that our dating of time starts with the birth of Jesus. B.C. and A.D. Before Christ, and Anno Domini, meaning in the year of our Lord. Time and history radically changed at Jesus birth and death and crucifixion. We are now able to approach the Father, because of Jesus shed blood on the cross. Before, that could not happen.

We have been looking at God's nature and how that pertains to our prayer life. Knowing that God doesn't change and that we can trust Him, gives us confidence to come before Him in prayer.

I'm interested in hearing about how your views of God were shaped and how you have perceived Him in the past and present. Share with us your journey of knowing God.

love,

Debra

True to His Word

Don't we all want to be a person that's true to their word? I don't think any of us set out to "lie", nor do we want to be known as a "liar". I want people to feel like they can trust what I say, and that my actions will back it up. I want my "reputation" to be that of someone who is genuine, not a liar.

That's why I'm honest about the topics here. If I have an issue in any one of these areas, I want to be "upfront". So, if for some strange reason, just because I write this blog everyday, you may be thinking I have it all together, I have to inform you, that "NO", I'm far from it.

There are no perfect people. We are all flawed and that goes in the area of honesty and truth telling. My point today is not about we humans, that goes without saying. We've all lied or "fudged" or exaggerated. I'm talking about God today, that He IS Truth, and He will never lie. What He says stands firm. It is up to us to believe Him and the truth of His Word, the Bible.

Below are some verses that speak about God's Nature in the area of honesty, truthfulness, and promises that are found in scripture.


Version: NAS

Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

God is not like us in the area of truth telling, He never needs to repent because He is perfect, without flaw. When He says something in His Word, or to us personally, it is our responsibility to have faith in that "word" and believe Him for it.

Isaiah 55:10-11
10. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11. So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding [in the matter] for which I sent it.

God sends His Word out through the scripture in the Bible and just like the rain waters the earth, we can count on it. His Word waters our thirsty souls and gives birth to the seed He puts there. When you feel The Holy Spirit "quickening" your heart over a matter; when a certain scripture just "speaks" straight to you. Grab ahold of it, and let it get planted in your heart. Water it with faith in God and His Word. Let it stay there until, in God's perfect timing it will sprout and flourish.

John 4:50-53
50. Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he started off. 51. And as he was now going down, [his] slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53. So the father knew that [it was] at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed, and his whole household.

This man had come to Jesus because he had a sick child. He wanted Jesus to come with him before it was too late, but Jesus said in so many words, "If you will just trust my word your child will live." That is what happened.

Acts 10:34-35
34. And opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand [now] that God is not one to show partiality, 35. but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him.

In Acts Chapter 10 Peter meets with a Gentile (anyone not a Jew) named Cornelius. He was a Roman centurion, who was a believer in Jehovah God. Up until this time, the message of salvation had been only for the Jews, but now God was showing Peter, the Apostle, that the message was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. It was an eyeopener for Peter. God desires and loves each and everyone of us, no matter what nationality. It is totally up to our belief in Jesus as God's son. That is the qualifier.


2 Corinthians 1:19-20
19. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us-- by me and Silvanus and Timothy-- was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

God's Word is full of "promises". It is up to us to read and find them. Then believe God for them. They are all "yes" !


2 Peter1:3-4
3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Believing God's promises enable us to live a fruitful life. We get to know Him through His Word. We can trust Him, and all that He says to us.

Don't be overwhelmed with the amount of scripture. Let God speak to you about what He has for you. Let God put it in your heart for your particular need.

What I'm going to say next is of critical importance.

In the past, I knew God had told me something...He had given me a promise, but I didn't see it happen when I thought it should. God and I got in a big tangle over it. From that moment on I realized I do not know the "timing" of things, only that He is truth, not a liar. My job is to believe, trust, and wait. Wait until it comes to pass.

And that is where "patience" kicks in!

love,

Debra

Do you have GPS?

If you are a Christian we have one of these nifty little gadgets already installed. You don't have to pay extra, it comes with the package. Yes, we all have a GPS; you know, a "God's Plan System".

"GPS-the Global Positioning System is a U.S. space-based radionavigational, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis -- freely available to all. For anyone with a GPS receiver, the system will provide location and time. GPS provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world."

Part of learning about God and His Nature is realizing that He cares for us, and that He has a good plan for us. God knows where you are at all times, and has a great plan to get you to your destination. He sees if we are "on course" and knows when we are about to make a wrong turn. He sees what lies ahead and warns, and protects. His timing is perfect and He asks us to stay close. It works all over the world and it's "freely available to all." He will talk us through every step of the way.

I know we've talked about God's plans for us before, but because this aspect of God's nature is so important I want to re-visit these scriptures. They never get old and can always offer us some new insight.

Version: NAS

Romans 8: 28-29
28. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. 29. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.


I've heard unbelievers say "well, I just believe everything works out for the good." While that is an optimistic attitude it's not particularly "truth" for those who are not in relationship with Jesus Christ. As Christians that trust God and live a life according to what He desires, we can be confident that He will take all things that we learn and experience, and make them ultimately turn into "good".

I had a friend many years ago that had lost a son tragically in a car accident. Two years later when I met her, she was still raw and angry at God. She had received this "word" from God over and over, even by people that did not know her and the loss of her son. When the Lord impressed me with this scripture and was adamant for me to speak it to her, she became infuriated and blew up at me.
"How can you say what happened was good?"
Then I showed her that the verse did not say what happened was good, but that God would take it and ultimately make good come from it. As we submit our life and experiences to God, He will heal us from hurt and harm and will take those burdens from us, then He can work supernatural things in our life. But only if we allow Him to do so.

Romans 12: 2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.


As we allow God to "transform our thinking" we are then able to hear and understand His will. If we are "worldly thinkers" then we will not see God's plan or believe it to be "good".

Ephesians 1:11
NIV In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.
NAS: also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

Our inheritance as God's children is to be like Jesus. He has a predestined (thought out in advance, determined and planned in advance) plan for us, and asks us to be available to follow that plan.

Ephesians 2: 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God created good works for us to do here on earth. Each person's works and plans are not the same. God calls each of us to be in His likeness, that way wherever He puts us and whatever He asks us to do, we will be letting Him shine through.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Going back to that GPS, isn't it easier to read if all you have to do is stick on a major Highway? I'm not particularly good at map reading, but when we go to St. Louis to see our kids, we have a straight path, one highway.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
11. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13. 'And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. 14. 'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

This is one of my favorite scripture passages and I speak this back to God frequently. His plans for us are for good and not calamity. He gives us a future and hope! No matter if we get off course, as these Israelites had done, He promises to bring us back to Him and that He will restore us.

Genesis 50:20
"And as for you, you meant evil against me, [but] God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

As Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brother's lack of love and ruthless jealousy, God had a plan all along. He situated Joseph in the Pharaoh's household and gave him access to the wealth of Egypt. So when famine came God would have a plan to build the nation of Israel.

John 10:10
The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Here Jesus is telling us that He does not kill, steal from you, or plan on destroying you. Please remember this. It is our, enemy, the devil that does these things.

With what is happening in our country today and in our personal lives, stay strong with the power of the Holy Spirit. Remind God of these scriptures, for yourself and family. TRUST Him and ask for His good plan for your life and your loved ones.

He is good and has good plans for us!

love to you all,

Debra