And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Exodus 16:2).

Talking About the Weather

Human nature never ceases to amaze me. We are never satisfied. During the winter we complain because it is too cold and during the summer we grumble because it is too hot.

I'm currently reading through the Book of Exodus. It is the epic story of grumbling. Moses and his brother Aaron were empowered by God to lead their kinsmen, the Hebrew people, out of 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, refused to let God's people go. God brought 10 plagues on Egypt, each one progressively worse until Pharaoh finally drove the Hebrews out of the land.

There were 600,000 Hebrew men counted in the Exodus, not counting women and children. Bible scholars estimate there were probably close to 2,000,000 persons who left Egypt. Also included were herds and flocks of animals. The logistics of managing all of this was an incredible Job for Moses and Aaron and could only be accomplished by God's power.

God led the people into the wilderness where He miraculously saved the Jewish people from an attack from Pharaoh and his army, drowning the Egyptian army in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28). The people rejoiced at the power and might of God. The LORD led them further into the wilderness where the people immediately forgot about the might and power He had shown in their deliverance from the land of Egypt, not to mention His stopping the pursuit of Pharaoh's army. They complained against Moses that there was no water to drink (Exodus Chapter 15) and that they were going to starve because there was nothing to eat. God supplied quail for their meat and manna for them to eat (Exodus 16:13). He continued to meet their needs during 40 years of wandering in the desert where they continued to grumble and rebel against God and Moses.

The amazing thing to me as I read about the sojourning of Israel in the wilderness is throughout all the grumbling God continued His work with His chosen people. He did not give up on them. He was almost provoked to do so at one point because of their disobedience but Moses interceded on their behalf and God relented in His anger (Exodus 32:11).

God does not change. His love and faithfulness are eternal and never lose their power. His promises and care are holy and therefore perfect, even when we, like the Israelites, tend to grumble at what God is doing in our lives. He knows all things and in His wisdom He knows which is the best choice to lead us. He may not reveal Himself as He did with Moses and the children of Israel but His immutability means He never changes. He is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17). Whether we grumble about the weather or what is happening in our lives He is already a step ahead of us, knowing our need even before we ask or think it. So the next time you hear someone complaining about the weather, take a moment to think of Moses and the God that sustained him and a nation through all of the storm that came their way. He remains the same to guide and weather us through any storm of life we encounter.

Ken

I said in my heart God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:17

A Lesson on Love

The Apostle John by the Spirit of God said God is love (1^st John 4:8, 4:16). Some have taken his statement as the determinate view concerning this part of God's nature and attribute. This is an error I find many unbelievers (and some Christians) holding to.

While it is true one of God's attributes is love, comparing love as the totality of God does not take into account all His other attributes and is a great mistake. That train of thought and belief has created a vast following of unbiblical religious liberties and vain philosophies. If we say God alone is love we destroy His personality for it is made up of many facets. If we say God is love and only love His entire attributes are denied.

One of the major mistakes that many people make is to believe if God is love He won't judge them for their transgressions. That contradicts the attribute of God's justice which demands He judge and punish unrighteousness (Isaiah 13:11, Revelation 20:11-12).

Trusting in God's love by itself for justification instead of through faith in Christ discounts the attributes of God. He cannot let go of one attribute to use another. If He did He would not be God. God's word says that justification can only come through belief in the atoning and redemptive work accomplished through Christ (Colossians 1:20-22). That God came to us in the flesh was because of His love but it was not who He is. He is not totally love and nothing else. Turning back to the God of the Bible gives a picture of His fullness as He revealed Himself to us in His Word. God's love is vitally important and is the attribute that was poured out at the cross through the offering of His Son. Truer love has never yet been matched. It is part of His Majesty. He saves both through His love and powerful attributes. The Apostle Paul said “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love” (1^st Corinthians 13:13). Truly of all His amazing attributes, love being one of them, we can be thankful for that part of God's nature for His love never fails.

Ken

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by Myself. Isaiah 44:24

A New Calling

In my past devotional thoughts I have noted the great Attributes, Power and Might of God which in the past century the church has been lax in recognizing and applying to it's doctrine, teachings and actions.

Viewed from the perspective of eternity a most critical need of the church is to be brought back to the teaching of the attributes and might of God. For too long He has been marginalized in His Being. There needs to be a shift in our worship of God and a return to glorifying Him again for the reality of who He is.

The church is not a faceless body but it must be realized that whatever we do the church is doing. Indeed, the move to a new and holy outlook on the might and power of God must begin individually with a change of heart, teaching and thinking. There is no secret religious practice, custom or tradition that must be followed or adhered to. The answer is simple and as old as God's spoken word; “Acquaint yourself with your God.” He is not a God who brings success to the covetous or can be coaxed and blandished by everyone who wants a favor. The God we need to know is the Majesty in the Heavens who has no parts or flaws, is free from being obligated to anything or anyone. The God we need to know is awesome in His total and glorious being.

We ought to approach Him with the greatest awe and reverence. And with a heart that fears and trembles with wonder, astonishment and admiration as we come to Him through the might and power of Christ His Son. For it is through Christ's redeeming work that we can even approach Him in his holiness at all.

The concept of Majesty has all but disappeared from the American mind. Humanism has mostly replaced theology as the road to understanding life. To regain the idea of Majesty confession of sin must be first on the list of changes to be made then a return to learning His glorious attributes and our hearts and minds to genuine worship and obedience to His words and commandments.

In the coming week how will you worship God in the realization of His perfectly holy attributes? As A.W. Tozer so beautifully put it; We are left for a season among men; let us faithfully represent Him here.

Ken

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 1^st Chronicles 29:11

Your Majesty!

I've just finished reading The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. It was written by the theologian in the mid-twentieth century and is a writing on how the church has reduced God down to 'manageable' terms, losing the complete power and glory of His Person, reducing Him to a place where we can use Him or at least know where He is when we need Him.

He goes on to list the many attributes of God's powerful and holy (flawless) Being and urges a return to seeing and worshiping the all powerful God that He represents Himself to be in the His Word to us (the Bible).

For the past century the church has more or less taken God for granted needing to know what He is like and reducing Him to the security of a pitifully weak God of our imaginations.

His attributes are stunning . When we read, study and meditate on these mighty facets of God's Being and Character it leads us to a new and better understanding of an all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present Holy God. It reminds us that He is to be approached with awe, reverence and worship. It should also bring to mind the Lord is mighty to act on our behalf with all authoritative power.

What are some of those attributes that set God's Majesty in a whole new and breathtaking light? He is Infinite (limitless), Personal (a self-conscious Being capable of thought, will and interaction with His creation). He is self-existent (has always existed), He is omnipresent (everywhere at once) Omnipotent (can do all things consistent with His character, all powerful), Omniscient (has all knowledge) He is Sovereign (created all things and everything is under His Sovereign control), He is Perfect, Holy, Timeless in nature, all Wise (omnisapient), capable of wrath with a Moral Character that leads Him to judgment and punishment against unrighteousness, He is Truth, Just, Free (not constrained by anything or anyone other than Himself) Good (is absolute perfection), Patient, (Nahum 1:3, He is slow to anger causing Him to bear with the wicked and forebear so long in punishing them), He is immanent (active in and with His creation), Completely full in Majesty, (Sovereign in power, authority, and dignity. Great in splendor and quality of Character).

Tozer says the answer to the dilemma of the church's weak view of God is Jesus Christ. God made complete and full disclosure of Himself through the incarnate Christ. He shows Himself not to reason but to faith and love. He came to us in the flesh; in atonement He reconciled us to Himself and by faith and love we enter into relationship with Him.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit can never exist in an imagination that reduces Him to human terms. His Might and Quality of Character will not allow it. Reading and studying the attributes of God's Might has put me on my knees in worship. Has your God been a God on human terms, small, weak and controllable? Take a look with an open heart at the great and mighty power, love and being of the One True and Living God. You too will drop to your knees and say “Your Majesty!”

Ken

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

He Alone is Worthy

There is excitement in praise and worship of God. When I praise and worship I've experienced in my own life a deep sense of a peace, release and relief that cannot be explained to a person not acquainted with Christ.

I include in my worship Jesus Christ. As the God/Man who is 100% Man and 100% God He is worthy of adoration, praise and worship. I worship Him for His obedience to His Father's will that led Him to became the perfect sacrifice for all sin. I worship Him for His death and resurrection. The first brought redemption from sin for the entire world and the second is the promise that all believers will be resurrected, either through translation or the grave (1^st Thessalonians 4:16,17).

I worship the Holy Spirit who is also very God of very God. He was manifested in the early church as totally Divine. I worship Him for His powerful work in my life, bringing me growth and maturity in my daily life. He is the Comforter, He is always with me, He is my Protector, my Teacher, Intimate Friend, Confidant, Guide and Counselor.

All three Persons are One in essence and the only Ones worthy to be worshiped. No one and nothing else can ever be worthy to receive worship. God alone is worthy. We alone can give it. I cannot emphasize the exhilaration and joy there is in it. When worship is done with a willing heart it pleases God to the highest degree. When I worship I don't ask for anything I just quietly meditate my praise and adoration of the holiness, might and majesty of His powerful attributes. Most times I don't even speak but let my heart and mind go before God to honor and praise Him.

Giving praise, glory and worship to Him is the ultimate experience for believers. And it should be. It is a joy unparalleled in our life in Christ. When you worship Him begin by praising all He has done for you. Have you eaten today? Praise Him for supplying that need. Do you have shelter? Praise Him. Thank Him for His marvelous love and kindness. Worship Him. Meditate upon God's holy character, His power, majesty and His attributes. If you don't know what those attributes are do a search on the internet with 'attributes of God' in the browser. You'll be surprised at the many powerful facets of God's Person there are. It will astound and encourage you.

As you worship Him daily you will find God is so vast in His being that He is unsearchable yet totally fulfilling. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. It is a beauty that is matchless. It is confirming, loving, sanctifying and complete. There is no other One like Him for only He is worthy to be worshiped. You can experience the beauty of God's holiness through worship. I encourage you to seek to do it. It will enrich you relationship with God Almighty and change your life.

Ken

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10

Putting Your Fears to Rest

I was teaching a group of Christians once when I mentioned the fear of the Lord. One man suddenly got angry and said “I don't like that word 'fear.' We shouldn't be afraid of God.” I knew what he meant but explained the word fear in the context of God does not mean being terrified of Him. It means a proper respect and reverence that leads to worship and obedience.

While God is mighty in His Being and attributes and is to be respected with awe and reverence He is also slow to anger and full of lovingkindness (Titus 3:4-6, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 145:8). His love has been shown to all people by giving His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins (1^st John 4:10). And as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ God is the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort (2^nd Corinthians 1:3).

Perhaps we have a warped outlook of our heavenly Father through the conditional acceptance we received from a caregiver when we were young. It shaped our view of authority and left our sense of being able to be loved unconditionally deformed. While those kinds of experiences are unfortunate, God the Father tells us that He loves us with a love that is tender and never ending.

God is loving and gracious in His acceptance of those who have believed on His Son Christ Jesus. He desires for us to approach Him in a deeply loving relationship. Through His Son He sees us without blemish or defect. We may have a small view of ourselves and our frailties but God the Father sees us as His beloved children and since He is King of the entire universe in His eyes that makes us royalty and heirs.

As we embrace the reality of God's perfect love for us it can be a life changing experience. Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love are just some of the ways He demonstrates His love for us. As we come to accept these beautiful aspects of God's unconditional love we can enter into a whole new era of love and understanding. It can bring us rest from fear and worry, strengthen our faith in Him and bring us a depth of peace of mind that we never imagined was possible. The fear (respect and reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and an experience of warm trust and belonging. The fear of the Lord is something to be pursued. It is something that will put your fears to rest.

Ken

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.. Psalm 41:6

Finding Sanctuary in our Anxieties

There's a lot of talking about sanctuary on television today. You can hear it spoken of on practically every news cast. But are you aware how big a sanctuary and refuge our God is? Are you struggling today with something that seems too big to overcome? God's power to help us is magnified in the working of all three Persons of the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Psalmist writes that our God is a very present help in the time of trouble. He in His all-knowing attribute doesn't miss one wit of what we are currently going through. But why does God seem to hesitate at times in answering our prayers? In the world there is an evil presence in open and savage rebellion against God in Satan and his angels. We are in a spiritual war, not battling physical beings and obstacles but waging war with unseen evil against the cosmic forces over this present darkness, spiritual dominions and principalities, the rulers, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

In the book of Daniel we read that as soon as Daniel prayed a prayer of petition, God immediately dispatched the answer. But Satanic forces fought for 21 days against letting the answer through (Daniel 10:12-13). Even though Satan's power was lessened when Jesus died and rose from the dead he still remains a powerful foe of the Christian believer.

How can one feel the peace of God when lust hits or there are bills to be paid and no money in the bank account or you're dealing with family troubles or problems that seem impossible to solve? Enlarging your view of God is a good first step. He is awesome in His might and completely powerful to do all He purposes to do. Remember He heard Daniel's prayer request and immediately dispatched an answer.

I trust in God's sanctification. That is the state of growing in divine grace. It is a daily maturity marked by a quiet and trusting spirit in God and the promises in His Word. I read God's word daily. If you are anxious or worried reading in the Psalms is a good place to start concerning God's love, power and promises that are available in His Son, Christ Jesus. We must remember too that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Roman 8:26). When we take sanctuary or refuge in God and rest in His ability to answer prayer we can rest in His perfect will for our lives. One of the biggest helps for me, outside of immersing myself daily in God's Word and prayer, is reaching out to other believers for prayer and support. The Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Many people praying together is powerful and knowing others know of your struggle and are praying for you can be a great comfort.

Taking sanctuary in the Living God brings consolation and hope. He has opened that door of rest and refuge for you. All you need do is walk through and lay your burdens in His hands trusting in His mercy and His awesome power. He knows what you need even before you ask (Matthew 6:8). You can lay all your burdens and anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1^st Peter 5:7). May you be refreshed, encouraged and strengthened in Christ in your life today as you find sanctuary through the God of the impossible.

Ken