Who Are You 7 - Our Really Identity

Continuing our quest for knowing who we really are as Christians, we left our last post with Colossians 3:1 Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power.
And with Ephesians 2:6 And (God) lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms - all because of what Christ Jesus did.

These two verses sound like the person who is so heavenly minded he is no earthly good... "sights on heaven" - "sit with him in the heavenly realms?" What does this mean?
I looked at a number of commentaries. Contrasting them all, the meaning is somewhat obscure. Let me take a stab at what Col.3:1 and Eph.2:6 might mean.

What is our greatest need? (Love) Where do we tend to look for that need to be met? (all the wrong places). - marrieds with each other; single parents with their children; committed single Christians tend to look to God, until they begin dating. Philippians 4 tell us “My God shall supply all my needs.” Granted, He uses people to express His love through them to us, but there are situations where there is no one but God. It is then that He is our only source for the love we need. (Sights on heaven and seated with Him in the heavenlies.)

My greatest personal experience with this was when my first wife, Ann died - unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. After the shock wore off, I became very lonely. It hit expecially hard when I visted my daughter in Orlando. We went to Disney World one afternoon. There I saw families together - husband and wife and children. Wow, that was hard. I began to pray, "God, in Isaiah 54:5 you promise to be a husband to the abandoned wife. If you can do that you can also be a wife to the abandoned husband." I sought Him deeply. How precious it was to sense God's presence in a closeness that I had never experienced before. (Sights on heaven...).

How would most people finish this sentence: “I just want to be.... (happy). Where does true happiness and joy come from: (Psalm 16:11 NIV) You have made known to me the path of life; (you) will fill me with joy (in your presence), with eternal pleasures at your right hand. There can be much happiness in life but it is situational. Deep joy comes from the awareness of God working personally in one's life - working everything to our good, the good of others and for His glory. (Sights on heaven and seated with Him in the heavelies.)
Love from God. Joy and happiness from God. Thus,- sights on heaven, seated with him in heavenly places. The privilege we have of being a child of God. Praise the Lord.


More tomorrow.

Who Are You 6 - A Christian's Real Identity

GRANDPA OLE

Scores of times in the book of Ephesians, the christian is called "in Christ." The writer of the book calls it a mystery. Lets see if we can demystify it somewhat.

I was born of Oliver Burwick who was born of Ole who was born of ... etc. back to the first man Adam. I was born into the loins of Adam. Romans 5:12 states: When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned.

Results of my being in Adam:

Romans 3:23: all have sinned;

Romans 6:23: wages of sin is death;

the ultimate result: hell. Luke 16:23-4 describes hell as a place of flaming torment.

But there is an option: Scripture tells us that God is not willing that any should perish. God woos man to Himself and John 1:12 tells us: To as many as received Christ, to those He gives the right to be children of God and as children of God, Ephesians reminds us scores of times that as a child of God we are in Christ and Christ in us. Christian means Christ in one. (Christ in me, I in Christ).

Because of this, I have eternal life (John 3:16 ... so that anyone who believes in Him (Christ) shall not perish but have eternal life. Eternal - without beginning or end. Physically I'm still in the line of Adam. Spiritually I'm in the lineage of Christ. Eternal, without end, without beginning. Romans 6:5 describes this eternal life in Christ. “For you have become a part of him and so you died with him, so to speak, when he died, and now you share his new life and shall rise as he did.”

Romans.6:4 Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died, and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.

Since we have new life in Christ Colossians 3:1 challenges us: Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power.

Ephesians 2:6 takes the Chrsitian a step further: And (God) lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms - all because of what Christ Jesus did.

These last two verses sound like the person who is so heavenly minded he is no earthly good... sights on heaven - sit with him in the heavenly realms? What does this mean? We'll examine this further in our next post.

Who Are You 5 - A CHRISTIAN’S IDENTITY

Yesterday's post had us looking at "man" from a circles diagram. One circle depicting Adam and Eve in complete harmony with God. The second circle depicted fallen man. Today we examine the third circle.

What comes to mind when I ask “What is your identity - who are you?” single parent, steelworker, teacher.... We live out our self-perception. We act as we think. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Prov.23:7
Are you “a sinner saved by grace” or “a saint who can sin.” A sinner saved perspective tends to make sin palatable, expected. But First John 2 says make sin the exception. Live like a saint - who can sin. And call sin, sin. Not weakness or mistake.

Christians were referred to in the NT 60 times as saints, like Romans 1:7, “called to be saints (the consecrated ones, amp.Bible) Saint JoAnne, Saint Russell ...

The book of Ephesians refers 90 times to saints as being IN Christ... stressing the truth of the believers’ union with Christ in death, resurrection, ascension and present position. The fact of the believers position “in Christ” permeates the entire thought of Ephesians. A Christian’s real identity - in Christ.

The word mystery is used 5 times in Ephesians. - mystery, a hidden truth held in secret til proper time for revelation in God’s timetable for our lives. This mystery, being in Christ, is revealed to us most often in tough times and the revelation of this mystery seems to have deepening levels.

We understand it first at a surface level and as our growth in Christ develops, so does our awareness of this mystery - who we really are in Him.
Let’s see if we can understand the mystery more clearly. That is where we'll take up tomorrow.

Who Are You 4

In our quest for wanting to know who we are, dissect man with me.

Triunity of persons:
Though controversial, Scripture seems to say man is created tripartite. The triunity of man is seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are those who believe man is two part, body and soul. Because of the Thessalonians passage and because God is a triunity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), it seems to fit better to see man as three parts of a whole.

Many authors and speakers have used the circle diagrams to depict man, however, my first exposure to it was with Charles Solomon who teaches on the “Exchanged Life.” I am indebted to him.

Can you picture three circles on a white board in front of us. Each circle has three concentric circles. Looking at the circle on the left, (the circle depicting union of God and Adam -body, soul, spirit) the outer circle within the circle depicts the Body: the five senses, systems and motor responses.

The second inner circle represents the Soul: the source of reason, emotion, volition, memory, imagination, curiosity, perception, desires. The most inner concentric circle represents the Spirit: prayer/communing with God, revelation from Him, fellowship with other believers, spiritual fruit and gifts, warfare.

1. Before the fall: God planted a beautiful, fruitful garden and placed Adam in the Garden (of Eden) to tend and care for it. Adam, with God wisdom, named all the animals God had created. God then gave Adam a wife, Eve. Adam and Eve, untarnished by sin had intimate communion with each other and with God. They lived out their Image-bearing role perfectly, receiving and displaying the life of God. Paradise.

But man marred that image. Adam and Eve responded to the temptation of the evil one, disobeyed God and man fell from his position of intimacy with God. Fallen, depraved, in search for love, security, significance and identity, (all that Adam and Eve had with God before the fall). Something happened to the spiritual dimension of man. It died.

Referring back to the three circles on the white board in front of us, the middle circle diagrams the spirit dimension as dead. Body and soul are the same but the spiritual connection with God died.
Romans 5:17 tells us that the sin of the first man, Adam was passed on to all of us.
The Amplified version of Ephesians.2:1-2 describes this “walking dead man”:
And you He made alive, when you were dead (slain) by your trespasses and sins in which at one time you walked habitually. You were following the course and fashion of this world, were under the sway of the tendency of this present age, following the prince of the power of the air (satan). You were obedient to him and were under his control, the demon spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience, the careless, the rebellious and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God.

Man in this state sins automatically because of his true nature. This is hard for some “nice” people to accept. Some non-believers act more Christian then some believers in Christ act. “Me, a sinner? I don’t think so. I give to charity. I go to church. I’m more patient and kind then that deacon at church.” Yet the Bible tells us that without a saving faith in Christ, we are doomed eternally and can not enjoy fellowship with God now.

The world's value system is the guide to living for the non-Christian. The deep God-given longings are sought to be met not in God but in people, materialism, pleasure, lust, greed, status-seeking and other self-absorbed activity.
Let’s be reminded that the non believer not only lives according to the world value system, but is actually obeying satan. EPH.2:2KJV "You walked...according to the prince of power of the air (satan).
But man doesn't have to endure this fate. Paul, following the Ephesians 2 verses, wrote in Ephesians 2:4,5 "But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead.”

More on this tomorrow.

Who Are You 3

We are created in the image of God, however there is a shroud over that image.

SHROUDED IMAGE BEARER
The fall of man from that perfect image of God is described in Genesis 3:1-6.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

The “perfect” image bearer of the Creator doubted God’s word. This doubt lead to a temptation of three dimensions.
The eye: it looked good
Taste: good for food
Mind: be like God

Satan deceitful. The three fold temptation strong. Man fell. Intimacy gained through walking with God in the Garden, lost. Man, the image bearer of God, of infinite value, loved and esteemed by God and empowered by Him for dominance over creation, doomed.

The first result? Man hid. Genesis 3:7-8 describes it:
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Fig leaves and trees: a marred image of God, hiding. You and I do the same by projecting a persona. We wear masks. We create a false self. We feel inadequate so we pretend or set about on a life of proving we are someone. Or we flip flop and live the life of a victim, feeling unworthy, expecting nothing good from life. We hide. Authentic living is rare, even in the church.

Genesis describes pain, both physical land emotional as the second consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin. Later, pain became relational as they saw a son killed by his brother.
Clothed by God, yet banished from the garden. Doomed. This fate can be depicted by a tripart circle.

Dissect man with me beginning in tomorrow's post.

Who Are You - self perception

Though self perception is important it is not the total answer, because one’s image can be skewed. I once counseled with a woman who really felt she was the Virgin Mary. She had given away much of her belongings because “my son Jesus is coming to get me any day now.” Another, the bionic women who could leap tall buildings. (I asked her to show me and she said she hadn’t been wired yet that morning.)

We can’t allow self perception to evolve into heavy introspection. Paul Tournier, Swiss psychiatrist, behooves us: “self-examination is an exhausting undertaking. The mind becomes so engrossed in it that it loses its normal capacity for relationship with the world and with God. Locked in a narrow round of endless and sterile self-analysis, the person becomes shrunk and deformed, while false problems multiply ad infinitum.”

If heavy introspection should be avoided. If self perception is not the total answer. If man’s contradictory philosophies about himself is uncertain. If we live out our self perception, it might be wise to check out God’s description of man. (“Man” is used here as a generic term for either male or female.) What does God say about us?

GEN 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

God says about you and me is the beginning of the answer to “who are you.”
I am:
An image bearer of God
Of infinite value
Loved by God
Esteemed by God
Empowered by God for dominance over creation
Created in the image of God to rule over and subdue the earth; to be fruitful and multiply.

Because of this, ALL people are worthy of honor and respect, even the one who has committed the most heinous crime. The leader of the terrorists. The man who forced boys sexually, killed them and ate their body parts. Justice is to be meted out to this type of person. We are not to respect the behavior, but the personhood - created in the image of God.

If we’re created in God’s image, what happened? Why are we living in such an obscured image of the Creator? Be it the terrorist responsible for thousands of deaths, or you and I who worry or are fearful and demonstrate other then godly attitude or behavior. We’ve marred God’s image.

Where did the disfiguration begin? As one of my daughters (who was excusing her misbehavior) said as a preschooler, “If it weren’t for Adam, I wouldn’t be in trouble now.” God’s image lived through man became shrouded when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Tomorrow we'll look at the shroud.

Who Are You?

Two valuable people to me, Myrna and Sam Willard, enjoying a New Year's sparkling cider. Sam has been walking the streets of gold for a couple months.

Who are You?
We’ve been discussing intrinsic and functional value of persons. Do you see yourself as valuable? What are you worth? Who are you?
The Bible tells us: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” Prov.23:7.

My friend, Fred Crowell, used to say, “now if that were completely true, when I was in high school, I would have been either a basketball or a girl. (I thought a whole lot about girls and basketball.)”
However, in general, as a man thinks, so is he.

We live out our self perception. A person with a healthy, positive self esteem is one who thinks highly of others, serves out of love and yet productively ministers to self with a well-balanced, proper priority lifestyle.

A person who thinks poorly of himself has a low self esteem. He is self-denigrating, or covers with a cocky, know it all attitude. Masks are worn. The most sociable person takes refuge in social contacts to avoid intolerable inner loneliness. Evidence of low self esteem. How do you value yourself?

Paul Tournier in his book, The Meaning of Persons, claims “I become increasingly away that the person, pure and unvarnished, will always escape us. Doubtless only God knows it. I can never grasp the true reality, of myself or of anybody else, but only an image; a fragmentary and deformed image, an appearance: the ‘personage.’” If Tournier is correct, we may be on a fruitless chase. Whether we can know ourselves completely is probably an impossibility; however, an increasing knowledge of ourselves should give us greater freedom, wisdom and strength in daily life.

David Needham in his book Birthright, challenges us with: “Am I aware of who I am? If so, am I aware of the resulting meaning in life which flows from that identity and the divine resources available to fulfill that destiny - and what am I doing about it?”

How are we supposed to think of ourselves? Some would tell us we are basically evil; others, we are basically good. Some would say we're nothing but an animal in evolution. The new age movement tells us we are God. Some say, “I am a sinner saved by grace.” Others, “I am a saint who can sin.” In addiction meetings, people introduce themselves by their first name followed by “I am an alcoholic”... or whatever their addiction is.

Some children were told that they were stupid or ugly and like threads in a spider’s web, these words became like ropes in the thinking of themselves as stupid or ugly adults.

What (who) do you say you are? How would you describe the image of yourself?
“I’m an athlete,” one would say. But what happens when your body gives out?
“I’m a mother,” a young woman says. But what happens if the child dies?
“I'm a businessman.” But what if your capacity to do business is taken away?
“I’m a husband,” I once said. Then my wife died and I was no longer a husband.
Without giving your name or what you do, who are you? How do you perceive yourself?

Self Perception material comes in the next post. "Friday is here but Sunday's coming. Happy Easter!

Value of Persons 4

My Paternal family of valuable persons. Ole and Hannah Burwick. Dad is in the middle.

Henri Nouwen’s book “The Way of the Heart” addresses the value of persons. “Anger and greed are the two main enemies of the spiritual life. Anger is the impulsive response to the experience of being deprived. When my sense of self depends on what others say of me, anger is a quite natural reaction to a critical word. When my sense of self depends on what I can acquire, greed flares up when my desires are frustrated. Greed and anger are brother and sister of a false self fabricated by the social compulsions of an unredeemed world.

“Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Without solitude we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the false self. Solitude is the place of the great struggle and the great encounter, the struggle against the compulsions of the false self, and the encounter with the loving God who offers himself as the substance of the new self.

“In solitude I get rid of my scaffolding: no friends to talk with, no telephone calls to make, no meetings to attend, no music to entertain, no books to distract, just me - naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful deprived, broken - nothing. It is this nothingness that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something.

“The task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone.

“That is the struggle. The struggle to die to the false self - a struggle far behond our own strength. The confrontation with our own frightening nothingness forces us to surrender ourselves totally and uncondtionally to the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Christ can overcome the powers of evil. Only in and through him can we survivie the trials of our solitude.

“We enter into solitude first of all to meet our Lord and to be with him and him alone, keeping the eyes of the mind and heart on him who is our divine savior. As we come to realize that it is not we who live, but Christ who lives in us, that he is our true self, we can slowly let our compulsions melt away and begin to experience the freedom of the children of God. We can look back with a smile and realize that we aren’t even angry or greedy any more.”

And may I add, the compulsory solitude of the first three years of forced retirement compelled me to face my nakedness not covering it with performance fig leaves. The solitude was God’s personal game plan for me to acquire a balanced value structure – intrinsically and functionally. Eight years after the trauma of being fired and the subsequent depression, I am now enjoying life as I never have before.

How are you doing with intrinsic value? Are you recognizing and appreciating your value as a child of God walking in fellowship with Christ? Is your functional value (performance) in balance as you “Love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself?”
Blessings to you, dear reader.

Value of Persons 3

"God, help me be a godly granddad!"

Speaking personally, I went through some significant depression after being fired and experiencing all doors closed to work. My functional value was negligible. It was time to build with an emphasis on intrinsic value. I can now look back on those first three years post work and appreciate the painful process. God used that time to rub off a lot of rough edges - pride, self-sufficiency, performance oriented idolatry and more.

The only glimmer of hope for a functional value was found in Psalms 92: “even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. ( I was 62 years old at the time). I was on the vocational shelf temporarily for heat and pressure! I questioned my worth and felt quite impotent. Psalm 66 and Malachi 3:3 describe my position well.
“you have tried us with fire, O Lord, like silver in a crucible…)” He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites (including Burwick) and refine them (him) like gold and silver.

The refiner's fire can only accomplish its purposes when the heat is turned up to extraordinary temperatures. It breaks down the metal in order for it to become moldable and shapeable. Only when the temperatures reach this level can the work be fully accomplished. So it is in our lives.

When God takes us through the refiner's fire, be encouraged because it is His overriding commitment to turn us from a rough, hard-edged stone to a precious metal. He will do this through certain events in our workplace, our relationships, and other circumstances in life. We are not to try to blow out the fire!!

The “intrinsic value slogan” I endeavored to internalize was: “Nothing can come my way that God will not use for my benefit. For that reason, my objective is to learn to actively embrace my life, not passively resign or actively resist and to live with continuous joy and thanksgiving in the Lord even through the toughest circumstances or attack by satan. I have confident trust in the character of God. I wait with confident hope in Him.”

Moses’ example was a helpful reminder. It has been said that his first 40 years was spent thinking he was someone. Then 40 years of desert, sheep-herding, learning that he was no one. Finishing with 40 years finding out what God can do with somebody who thought he was a nobody.

So obviously as a Christian, I can’t evaluate myself with worldly evidence...performance, size of my bank account, type of car or prestige of work or living setting. Christian value of a person is measured first from within.Then the question is asked, “can that intrinsic value be lived out functionally in a well-balanced manner when there is no arena for it to be displayed? Is it necessary to be displayed?”

After a few heavy months, the black cloud lifted as I learned more deeply to depend on Him for everything. (Hard for a performance-oriented person to do.) This attitude wasn’t one of passive resignation nor was it a clinched fist. My attitude became one of embracing relinquishment. ‘You will use all this for my benefit. You’re building intrinsic value so that my functional value will be enhanced.”

More tomorrow

Value of Persons -2

Bella Rose has great intrinsic value.

We left off yesterday’s post speaking about a differentiation between a person’s functional value and intrinsic value. Let’s scrutinize the contrast.

Functional value - instrinsic value
A good friend of mine is a CPA and very skilled. Intrinsically he has great value as an individual and as a CPA. But if he isn’t working, his functional value is nil as a CPA.

Another example. The check book lying in my drawer at home has no functional value in and of itself. Intrinsically it is worth whatever I have deposited in my bank’s checking account. Functionally, that check book has no value until it is used.

Denise is an excellent writer. Has written many books and articles.Writing sometimes comes easily and flows clearly. Other times inspiration or insights are lacking and writing is like pulling teeth. At these times, sitting on the front porch sipping mint julips and eating bon bons is much more enticing. Obviously there are times when we need to rest (and she tells me that creative thinking and planning can be done on the front porch). But if the front porch is an escape from responsibility and she doesn’t discipline herself to plough through those barren fields, she will not function as a writer. Intrinsically, she is of great value as a person, but on the front porch, she would not be living out that intrinsic value. Functional value is nil.

On the other hand, many of us who have a high work ethic, unconsciously designed to prove personal value, view work as a top priority. Functional value far outweighs a sense of intrinsic value and our relationship with God and others takes a back seat. Work is top priority.

Anxiety and depression
I wonder if this is why some people who wrestle with anxiety and depression have guilt as a root issue for not functionally living out their intrinsic value. Lack of self discipline or fear thwarts their productivity, blocking their sense of functional value as a person. Guilt or even shame ensues, triggering anxiety and or depression.

Death
I’m wondering if lack of functional value is one cause of death. Some studies have indicated that the average man who retires from employment, dies within two years after stopping work. Most men perceive their value based on what they do - on performance, achievement. Retirement can remove that source of functional value if the career isn’t replaced with some other source of fulfillment.

The ideal balance seems to be understanding our value as a person intrinsically. Then, living out our intrinsic value in functional shoe leather.
More tomorrow on the value of persons.

Value of Persons

Theresa is in Denver enjoying being a grandma

We’ve examined how self perception is engineered and that no one has a perfect self image, all of us having some sense of insecurity or inadequacy. Secular wisdom had some good suggestions in constructing a healthy self esteem. Then we examined the names of God to better know Him and obtain a deeper sense of security in Him. Now we observe more deeply our value as one who walks with Christ.

Since the age of 12 (120 years ago!!), I have been accustomed to working and being productive. As a North Dakota adolescent, I shoveled snow from sidewalks and driveways, carried the daily newspaper, sometimes “enjoying” throwing papers in 30 degrees below zero blizzards. (What you are brought up in you think is normal.) I mowed lawns, set double lane pins in the bowling alley. In high school, I painted houses, barns and churches along with working in a laundry, construction, sports writing and farm work.College years was more of the same until I took my first post college job as a college teacher and athletic coach.

And I’ve worked ever since in the people helping business until 9 ago when I was asked to resign from my position as college prof and coach. Work has served as a source of ministry, of financial gain, fulfillment, of self esteem building and it has been fun. My norwegian/estonian heritage provided me with a good work ethic. My late wife, Ann, would at times chide me for not having fun. I would tell her that work, to me, was fun.

Retirement has removed that work related value of self. So what is my value as a person? What am I worth, especialy now that I’m not working (for money).
A Chuck Colson Breakpoint article has interesting thoughts about the value of a person.
“In one aisle, the local computer store sells a single CD for between $99 and $299. In the next aisle, they carry multi-pack CDs for less than a dollar per disc. Why the drastic price discrepancy? They're both made of the same plastic. The difference is, of course, that the cheap compact discs are blank -- while the expensive ones are encoded with various versions of Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system.

Man’s Value: 97 cents or $6 million
“A chemist calculated the value of the chemicals in his body. Computing the cost of the carbon, iron, calcium, and the other elemental chemicals on the periodic table of the elements -- he found his body was worth ninety-seven cents. “But that's not the way the chemicals appear in living bodies. When he calculated the value of the hemoglobin, insulin, and other complex organic compounds that actually composed his body, he realized he was worth more than $6 million! That's what the body's programming does. It's information technology from the DNA, which is why many scientists are now talking about Intelligent Design of the body.”

Speaking of personal value, it is interesting to note that the people of Israel valued Jesus at 30 pieces of silver. (Matt.27:9) One estimate of the 30 pieces (Dake’s Bible) is $19.20 - for the creator of the universe!
So, in my state of vocational unproductivity, I’m wondering: what is my value - 97 cents, less then 30 pieces of silver, 6 million dollars, or ...?

In speaking to a gemologist, I learned that a diamond has no real value sitting on a storage shelf. It has value only as it is used - either for cutting or as a gift. Intrinsically, a good two-carot diamond is worth between 20 and 40 thousand dollars, but it doesn’t demonstrate that value until is is presented as a gift representing love. Though the diamond is timeless and one of the most durable elements, its greatest functional value is emotional and has been since the 14th century when it was first given as an engagement ring.

I was told that a #2 pencil lead is made of the same material as a diamond - carbon. It just hasn’t gone through the crystalizing process of heat and pressure producing the diamond.
In the contemplating that we’re doing now with value and meaning of life, I’m wondering of what value you see yourself. Do you associate with the pencil lead? It has some value in use for writing. Is the diamond created by heat and pressure seemingly on the productive shelf?

We can know intellectually that we’re like the high priced Christ-encoded CD, that we have intrinsic value because God loves us and Christ died for us (John 3:16). Zephaniah 3:17-18 tells me God rejoices over me in happy song. And, God has been so good to us, for which we could write much supportive evidence. But, like the plastic un-encoded CD or the diamond ring, until there is functional productivity there seems to be little functioning value.
We’ll look at the difference between functional value and intrinsic value tomorrow.

Pleasing God

We’ve been examining the names of God, hopefully realizing more deeply the security we have in Him. But what does God say about you – about me? Can God say about me as He said about Christ, “with you I am well pleased.” “…And a voice came from heaven: ‘"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’" Luke 3:22

That doesn’t necessarily mean that I have that favor or responsibility of being acclaimed by God, does it? Check with me at 1 Thessalonians 4.
“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”1 Thessalonians 4:1.

Ook oh! We are to please God. How do I accomplish that? The following verses of chapter four address the question. Characteristics of a person pleasing God as seen in 1 Thes.4.

2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified (set apart to God): that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Further characteristics of a person pleasing God
"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 diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 - NKJV
"If anyone is desiring to come after me as a follower of mine, let him at once begin to lose sight of himself and his own interests, and let him at once begin to take up his cross and carry it, and let him start taking the same road that I travel in company with me, and let him continue to do so moment by moment." Mark 8:34 - Wuest's Expanded Translation.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:3, 6.
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." Matthew 19:17
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
The Matthew 5 beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness, you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. All characteristics of one pleasing God.

Summary
Fully living out the challenge of PLEASING GOD involves “dying to self and living in Christ”, renewing your mind and being strengthened with might in your inner man by God's Spirit.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

Results
"When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7

This obviously is a skeleton presentation. May I encourage you to develop this theme with further study. I can't but believe that living in such a way that pleases God is a tremendous enhancer to one's self esteem.

NAMES OF SATAN

Delaney's first b'day party at public school - san antonio

Just as an athletic team examines itself to understand its' strengths and weaknesses, so we are examining our heritage as Christians. We're hopefully realizing more acutely our resources in God. Knowing His names makes us more aware of who He is and what that means to His children. As the athletic team, we're more successful because of this added knowledge.
As an athletic team scouts the opposition to prepare for competition, so we are challenged to survey our opponent, Satan. To know his names will better prepare us for battle. (The battle describved in Ephesians 6: "...we fight not against flesh and blood but against....

Abaddon - angel of the Abyss (the bottomless pit)
Revelation 9:11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

Accuser
Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Adversary - enemy
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Belial
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Beelzebub - Prince of devils
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

Devil
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
God of this World

Murderer
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Prince of the Power of the Air
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Prince of this World
John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me,

Ruler of Darkness
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Serpent
Genesis 3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.

Tempter
Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Unclean Spirit
Matthew 12:43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

Wicked One
Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Some people give too much credence to Satan and blame him for everything - a "Satan made me do it" mentality. Or, a "Satan did it to me" rational.
I'm not suggesting here that we take away from our knowledge of God by diverting attention to the Evil One. I am recommending that in our pursuit of God, we also are sensitive to His (and our) enemy and are well prepared to do battle with him.

Ephesians 6:12-18 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

To do war with Satan, Paul dares us to an intensive basic training:
1. know you are a child of God
2. know the Word of God in depth
3. build your faith in God
4. take an aggressive stance against Satan
5. fortify yourself with holy living based in the truth of God's Word

Know God. Know His enemy.
Love God. Resist and attack the Evil One.

Closing up our section on Names of God and names of satan, I'm reminded that the Book of John by itself entitles God, "Father," 114 times. Could this signify that "Father" is His most meaningful name?

Knowing the names of God helps us understand the extensive nature of God -- and He is my PaPa. He's is your PaPa. Our Source for security in building healthy self esteem.

NEW TESTAMENT NAMES OF GOD

Ive been blessed with two great wives, first Ann and now Theresa,

In the New Testament God is Theos (power and preeminence, translated from the Hebrew Elohim;) and Jehovah (unoriginated, immutable, eternal and self-sustained existence.)

Father of Lights
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Heavenly Father
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Lord of Sabaoth
James 5:4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord

Our Father
Matthew 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Just as an athletic team examines itself to understand its' strengths and weaknesses, so we are examining our heritage as Christians. We're hopefully realizing more acutely our resources in God. Knowing His names makes us more aware of who He is and what that means to His children. As the athletic team, we're more successful because of this added knowledge.

As an athletic team scouts the opposition to prepare for competition, so we are challenged to survey our opponent, Satan. To know his names will better prepare us for battle.
Well look at those tomorrow.

Names of God 8

The Guardian

This will be the last listing of the Old Testament's names for God.

Savior - My God who saves me
Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Consider also Isaiah 25:9; Zephaniah 3:17; John 10:9; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:9;

Shalom - Peace name of the altar erected by Gideon
Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
For further study: Leviticus 26:2-6; Psalms 119:165; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 5:1; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 5:22

Shammah - God is there
Ezekial 48:35 "The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. "And the name of the city from that time on will be: the LORD is there."
For further study: Genesis 32:30; Exodus 4:15; 24:10; 33:20; Deuteronomy 4:36; 34:10; Judges 13:22; 1 Kings 19:4-5;ll-14; Job 42:5-6; Psalms 28:7; 34:15; 37:23-24; 57:1; 73:25-28; 94:14; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 6 (chapter); 25:4; 41:10; 55:1; 65:24; Zephaniah 3:17

Tsidkinu (M'Qaddishkhem) - Our rightesousness, the God who sanctifies, sets apart, expects holy living, makes us priests.
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
Consider also: Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Kings 18:37,39; Psalms 33:5; 37:39-40; 99:9; Isaiah 12:2; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekial 32:26-27

Tomorrow's post will list New Testament names of God.

Names of God 7

At Peace

By studying the names of God I trust that we are "being transformed" into a greater awareness of the security we have in "Abba PaPa." Today's post begins with:
Our Father
1 Chronicles 29:10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Matthew 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Romans 8: 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Qanna - Jealous
Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Raah (Roeh) - My Shepherd

He is all I need. I can look beyond my own inadequacy, my circumstances and know God is .... God of tranquility, of protection, of security.
We're referred to as sheep quite often in the Bible.
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Psalms 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures...

Rapha - Healer
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Psalms 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
James 5:14-16 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
God as healer is further seen in: 2 Kings 20:5; Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 1:4-6; 53:4-5; 61:1-2; Ezekial 37:1-11; Matthew 8:16-17; John 5:5-8,14; 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.

Sabaoth - Deliverer

The Lord of Hosts delivers to those who find their own resources inadequate. The God of the defeated who restores; defender; Commander of ministering angels.
1 Samuel 17:46-47 (David and Goliath) This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give all of you into our hands."
For further study: 1 Samuel 1:6-7,10,18; 4:3-4; 2 Chronicles 28:1-5; Psalms 58:4-19; 91:11; Isaiah 6:1-3; 7:2; 8:11-14; 31:4,5; Jeremiah 20:11-13; James 5:4.

Names of God 6

Our Family 2006

Continuing our study of God by knowing His names:

Judge -

Power to hear and decide; position and power to determine worth.
Genesis 18:25 Far be it from you to do such a thing --to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Living God
Joshua 3:10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites,....

Lord of Hosts
Joshua 5:14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

Lord of Lords
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Mekodish - Sanctifier (set apart for God)
Leviticus 20:7,8,26 "'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

"Set apart for God" is seen further in Exodus 19:2-6; 31:12-17; Leviticus 20:7-8,26;Romans 8:2-4; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 10:10-15; 12:14.

Most High
Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.

Nissi -

Banner, an altar erected by Moses to commemorate the defeat of the Amalekites; a standard carried at the head of a military band or body, to indicate the line of march or the rallying point (Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia). Our source of victory, Captain, mighty in battle. We fight under his flag.
Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
For further study: Deuteronomy 20:3-4; Isaiah 60:20; John 15:5; Ephesians 6:10; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 22:5

Names of God 5

Jehovah Jireh provides friendships!

Studying the names of God:
Jehovah Jireh, our provider. How many stories we could all tell about God's supernatural provision!

I'll never forget two of the times that God obviously demonstrated Himself as Jireh.
Ann (my first wife) and I were on staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, stationed with the Athletes in Action basketball team in Tulsa. Finances were extremely tight. I had to leave for a 10-day basketball trip and all we had was nine dollars. I took three and left six for Ann and our two toddler daughters. We prayed and trusted God for our provision.

The following day, I called Ann from Texas. "You won't believe what happened," was Ann's excited greeting. "A milk truck stopped at our apartment yesterday. The driver came to our door and told me he was informed to keep our refrigerator and shelves stocked with whatever we needed - all dairy products, plus many other items he carried on the truck." (Ann and I still have no idea of the identity of the donor.) Thank you, Jehovah, Jireh!

Another Jireh experience took place a few years later. A mid-life career change relocated me from basketball coaching into doctoral studies. Three part-time jobs and going to graduate school full time kept me busy, but the household wallet was empty.

Opening the mail one day we found a cashier's check for $500. It had a fictitious signature. The next day, the same thing happened. This time the check was for $250. The amounts were what we needed to make it over the hump. Years later, a friend told us that she had felt strongly impressed to send us those checks, though she had no idea that we were in dire financial need.
Thank you, Jehovah Jireh.

The list of verses that would support the promises of God's provision for us could fill a book by themselves. The following is a brief listing for those of you who may desire to study this topic more thoroughly.
Genesis 1:29-30; 8:22; 22:1-19; Deuteronomy 8:18; 10:18; Joshua 1:8; 1 Samuel 2:7; 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 2 Chronicles 20:17; Job 8:21; 12:23; 33:15-18;37:13; Psalms 23:1-6; 34:7,9.10; 37:25; 68:6; 91:1-16; 118:6; 147:6-18; Proverbs 10:27; Isaiah 46:4; Daniel 6:22; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:26,30; 10:29-31; Luke 12:22-32; Romans 5:8; 8:32; 2 Corinthians 9:8,10; Philippians 4:19 James 1:17;

Names of God 4

Two special friends, David and Heather Tarpley

Seeking to enhance the security dimension of building a positive self esteem, we continue in our quest for knowing God by studying His names.



Holy One of Israel - Sound, whole, sacred, spiritually pure, sinless, deserving reverence.
Psalms 71:22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

I Am - There is no one else like me.
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I Am Who I Am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I Am has sent me to you.'"

Ishi - Husband; to the single woman, God desires to be husband.
Hosea 2:16 (Amp) And it shall be in that day, says he Lord, that you will call Me Ishi or My Husband, and you shall call Me no more Baali or My Baal.

Jehovah - Absolutely self-existent and self-sufficient; Lord, eternal one, righteous and requires righteousness, holy, abhores evil, name of rejoicing.
Exodus 34:5-6 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.
Other passages to peruse: Exodus 6:2; 34:7; Isaiah 55:8-9; John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17

Jireh - Provider. Is not caught by surprise, has total provision for us at all times. The most classic example of this is demonstrated by Abraham with Isaac on the altar at Mt. Moriah.
Genesis 22:2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:10-13 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

More tomorrow!

Names of God 3

We spent the weekend with the Isaacsons' in Vancouver.

Continuing our pursuit of knowing God by studying His names:

El Olam - Everlasting God, of the unseen and unfathomable, never grows weary, God of the uncertainty.
1 Corinthians 2:9-11 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no
mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

El Roi - Omnipresent, sees all, omniscient, understands and cares.
Exodus 3:7-8 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Jeremiah 32:19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.

El Shaddai - all sufficient, omnipotent, all-embracing quality of the power of God. "El" refers to power, "shaddai" to breast. A mother's breast has almost infinite power over the child. Shaddai could be labeled a "comforting power," demonstrated 48 times in the book of Job. Corrects rather than punishes, restorer, our total resource.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For further study on El Shaddai, consider Genesis 17:1-2; Exodus 14:14; Psalms 17:8; 27:5; 31:20; 32:7; 46:1-2; 81:10; 91:1-2; 115:3;145:20; Jeremiah 31:3; Matthew 19:26; John 3:16; 10:28; 1 Corinthians 1:25; 2:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10;

Eternal God - Without beginning or end, forever the same.
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Job 36:26 How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

Psalms 135:13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...

Fortress - Strong; a fortified place for military defense.
2 Samuel 22:2 He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, Holy One of Israel - Sound, whole, sacred, spiritually pure, sinless, deserving reverence.
Psalms 71:22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

May the names of God stimulate our appetite for greater intimacy with Him.

Names of God 2

Bella Rose being baptized at Cincinnati's Crossroads Church.

Continuing our quest for knowing God more deeply, we examine names the Bible ascribes to God beginning today with:

Almighty - all powerful
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless."

Baali - my master, a symbolic name for Jehovah
Hosea 2:16 "In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.'

Elohim - God of Gods, creator; all compassing, self-sufficient, holds together all things, the One who stands by His creation and whose eye never leaves it. Breaking down the word Elohim: "El" means mighty and strong, "him" refers to three or more.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

For further study, consider Genesis 1:1; 1:26; Exodus 4:11; 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Job 10:12; 38:4; Psalms 8:3-8; 19:1; 24:1-10; 47:2-3; 83:18; 93:1; 139:14; 147:4; Proverbs 3:19; Isaiah 57:15; 66:1-2; Matthew 5:35; Acts 7:48-50; I Corinthians 12:18; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11.

El Elyon - Sovereign ruler (unlimited control of), Most High, the final word, the final court of appeal.
It has been said: "With God nothing is incidental, nothing is accidental, and no experience is wasted. God is too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind.
Somehow God moves in and before and above the affairs of man for the accomplishment of His purpose. Those who yield can be instruments; those who rebel cannot thwart His purpose, except in their own lives."
All that I have, all that I am, all that I will be is from Abba PaPa.

Exodus 15:18 The LORD will reign for ever and ever."
1 Chronicles 29:12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
1 Sam. 2:6-7 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

May I suggest these further verses for study. In His sovereignty He uses small things: Exodus 4:12; Judges 15:15; I Samuel 17:40; I Kings 17:12; 18:44; Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 13:32; John 6:9; and I Corinthians 1:27-29.

Further study: Genesis 45:5-8; Exodus 24:17; 40:34; Deuteronomy 4:39; 10:17; 32:39; Joshua 4:24; 2 Kings 18:6-7; I Chronicles 29:11; I Samuel 1:5-6; Job 9:12; 42:2; Psalms 22:28; 29:10; 50:10-12; 75:6-7; 83:18; 93:1-5; 135:5-12; 136:1; Isaiah 8:13; 14:24; 14:27; 40:18,22-23; 45:5-7; 46:9-11; 59:1-2; Jeremiah 27:5; Lamentations 3:37-39; Daniel 2:21-23; 4:17,34; Matthew 5:45; 6:26; 10:29-31; 19:26; Luke 2:9; John 19:10-11; Acts 17:4,25-26; Romans 9:16-18; 11:33-36; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 3:20; I Peter 5:6; Revelation 19:6.

In His sovereignty He exalts the saints: Psalms 91:14; Isaiah 58:14; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43; Luke 19:17; I Peter 5:6; Revelation 3:21;

More names of God in tomorrow's post.