But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

Fulfilling Your Joy and Peace

It has been said, “The two most important days in your life is the day you were born and the day you find out why.” I've been a believer in Jesus since I was a child but I never experienced true joy and peace until the day I discovered why I was born. It was to worship and glorify God. True joy and peace came to me on that day.

I had been attending a men's church group when a video series called “Behold Your God” was presented to us. It was a twelve week series with a new video each week on rediscovering the attributes of God. An attribute can be defined as a quality, characteristic or distinctive property of being. Even though I felt I was a “Christian” for many years I had spent my life giving lip service to a God I did not fully trust and which I had made in my own poor and weak image. He was an idol. A weak God of my imagination. I had lost the connection to the God of the Bible; a God whose being and characteristics were mighty and beyond full comprehension.

I began to study the power and character of the One True and Living God and came to a new insight. I found a God who is eternal, holy, limitless, impassible (not governed or overcome by passions), all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present at the same time, full of love, capable of wrath to judge unrighteousness, full of grace, peace, and mercy, slow to anger yet mighty to save (Nahum 1:3), full of splendor and majesty. The list can go on and on.

I chanced to read two classics on the attributes and holiness of God, The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer and The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul. Tozer's answer to experiencing the awareness of God's attributes is simply “reacquaint thyself with your God.” Acquainting myself with my God in His true Being drove me to my knees in worship. And that's when true joy and peace came to me for the first time in my life.

I take time every day to read the Word of God. I start in the Old testament and read through the New Testament reading a chapter a day. I find it is helpful for me to read with a commentary although that isn't necessary. I find it helps me in my understanding of the Word. I pray through a written prayer list. But before I begin I have a printed list of God's attributes I go over, thanking, praising and worshiping God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for the Their unity, power and strength. I practiced worship every day until it got easier and easier. God is pleased with the feeblest attempts to know Him and to seek Him. As we take each day to do this He leads us into a deeper and more satisfying walk and establishes peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). For myself I've found my worship time to be my most fruitful. God said if we seek Him with all our heart and soul He can be found. As you do He can meet you where you are and become your fulfilling joy and peace.

Ken

And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:39-41

Immanence of the Holy

The Sea of Galilee is known for its sudden and terrifying storms. They can appear almost out of nowhere. Jesus had been ministering to the multitudes on it's shore one day. When evening came He boarded a boat and told the disciples to go across the lake to the other side. He immediately lay down in the stern on a cushion and went soundly to sleep.

When they were in the middle of the lake a ferocious storm blew up. While Jesus slept waves were breaking over the sides. The disciples were doing everything in their power to keep their boat from going under. Finally they woke Him and said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” You can hear the accusation in their question. After all, what did they expect Jesus to do, be awake when the boat sank? They were terrified.

What happened next terrified them even more. Christ calmed the storm and after the calm they were filled with great fear because of His act. Why were they so afraid? The storm was over. They were filled with greater fear because they were face-to-face with the immanent Holy.

The holiness of God thrills some and frightens others. Never is the holiness of God so evidently revealed in all its power and glory than in the books of the Law of Moses (Exodus through Deuteronomy). God disclosed His character, will and boundaries of approach in the laws He prescribed to Moses, the Levitical priesthood, and the nation of Israel. But He defined Himself in His only begotten Son. How do we approach such awesome holiness and perfection? With reverence and Godly respect, to be sure, but also with the knowledge of how many times Christ said of Himself “Do not be afraid.” Through wind and wave we can resist His holiness or become part of it (2^nd Corinthians 5:21). Standing with Him through the storm we can behold His immanent holiness and power knowing He is Lord of all. In His holiness He is not only immanent in His creation but He is also immutable and active within the creation He upholds. He does not change in His nature, being or dependability. While He is Lord of all have you resolved He is fully Lord of you?

Ken

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)

Approaching the Holy

God is immanent. That means that while He is transcendent (outside of space and time) He is also active within His creation. God is also Holy. He is set apart in His sanctity and is immortal, dwelling in unapproachable light (1^st Timothy 6:16). He revealed His holy Person to the nation of Israel after He brought them out of their bondage of slavery by the Egyptians.

God's first revelation of His presence was to Moses in the burning bush. Over time as God revealed more of Himself to Moses He displayed a holiness that was powerful and unapproachable. The holiness of God was shown in the design of the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting. God's presence filled a section of the tent with His Holy presence in a place called the Holy of Holies. Even the high priest was not allowed to enter that room except once a year to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel.

The way and means of approaching God now are different than it was under the priestly sacrificial system. Now through Christ the Holy of Holies has been opened to us (Matthew 27:51) giving us 'instant access' to God the Father through prayer, praise and worship. But we must never forget He has not changed at all in His holiness and perfection and must be approached with respect, reverence and awe.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit communicate with believers through the 'quickening' of His Spirit to our spirits. God is still as real today in His love, interest, and interaction to us as He was to the children of Israel in Moses's day. The Law of Moses gave direction of how to approach a holy God through the offering of blood sacrifices for sins. It was a look forward to Christ being the complete and final sacrificial Lamb for sin and unrighteousness (Hebrews 10:1-18). For those of us who draw near to God through Christ we are sanctified and able to approach God instantly through the offering of His Son once for all perfecting for all time those who are being sanctified in Him. God has not changed in His power or holiness but is now approachable to all who come to Him in faith. In His holiness He gladly welcomes all who come to Him through His Son.

Ken

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