As we continue thinking about 'The Lord's Prayer, after addressing our Father, we should then praise Him. In the Psalms we have excellent examples of how to begin a prayer with praise and worship. In Psalm 8 it begins with "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 19 states "The heavens declare the Glory of God"; and in Psalm 27: "The Lord is my Light and my salvation." Psalm 33 begins with "Rejoice in the Lord", and Psalm 103 begins with "Bless the Lord, O my soul". And on it goes throughout the Psalms.
In our Lord's Prayer we cry out to His Holiness: "Hallowed be thy Name!" The word 'hallowed' means 'Holy' and 'Holy' means pure loving nature of God with the absence of evil. Holy is the way God is. He is holy with an infinite, beyond our imagination, fullness of purity. We in our finite beings know nothing like His divine holiness.
Yet it is to His holy name we are taught to pray. He is our Father, and His Name is complete Holiness. In Exodus 15:11 Moses and the Israelites say, "who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" In Revelation 4:8 the Seraphim sang, "Holy holy, holy, Lord God Almighty."
My Prayer to my Holy Father:
There is none like You, O my Lord! When I think of Your holiness and I see myself in the light of Your holiness, I cry "O woe is me!", as did Isaiah; and as Job: "I abhor myself." You are Holy and full of Glory! Yet you are mindful of me! Through the blood of Jesus I can come boldly into Your throne room, entering into the Holy of Holies to praise You and worship You and to seek Your face. You are majesty! I could search through all eternity and find no one like you! You are holy, holy, holy! There is none like You! 'Hallowed be thy Name' Amen
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Our Father Who is in Heaven---
For the next few weeks over the Christmas Season and the New Year's Holidays, we will discuss the prayer our Lord taught His disciples. It is better known as "The Lord's Prayer." This well known prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13.
Jesus told his disciples that they should pray like this: "Our Father Who is in heaven...". In John 20:17, he referred to His Father as "My Father and your Father", showing that He was not only the Father of Jesus, but also of His disciples and followers and even including me. In Romans 8:15 & 16 Paul says that "...you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God." This is quoted from the Amplified translation, giving some added meaning to the verses.
My prayer to my Father: Father, Father, my very own Father! You are Holy! Hallowed and Holy is Your name! And You have accepted me as Your child, a joint heir with Christ. This is all so very incomprehensible to me. Because I am unable to believe this in my finite state, You have given me Your Spirit to give witness to my spirit, and He assures me I am Your child. You are the Living God and You are my Father. Therefore I can cry out to You 'Father, my Father Who is in Heaven!" Amen
Jesus told his disciples that they should pray like this: "Our Father Who is in heaven...". In John 20:17, he referred to His Father as "My Father and your Father", showing that He was not only the Father of Jesus, but also of His disciples and followers and even including me. In Romans 8:15 & 16 Paul says that "...you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God." This is quoted from the Amplified translation, giving some added meaning to the verses.
My prayer to my Father: Father, Father, my very own Father! You are Holy! Hallowed and Holy is Your name! And You have accepted me as Your child, a joint heir with Christ. This is all so very incomprehensible to me. Because I am unable to believe this in my finite state, You have given me Your Spirit to give witness to my spirit, and He assures me I am Your child. You are the Living God and You are my Father. Therefore I can cry out to You 'Father, my Father Who is in Heaven!" Amen
Monday, December 14, 2009
GOD IS OMNIPRESENT
Again we have an attribute of God beginning with the prefix 'omni'. Omni gives a universality to the word, a completeness, all inclusive. The word 'present' means right here, close, next to.
God says of Himself in Jeremiah 23:24: "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" He is present in all places.
We have already learned that God is infinite, He is limitless. Therefore we cannot limit His presence. He surrounds and fills all that exists. Hildebart of Lavardin wrote "God is over all things, under all things, outside of all things, within but not enclosed; without but not excluded, above but not raised up, below but not depressed; wholly above presiding; wholly beneath, sustaining, wholly within, filling.
David understood the omnipresence of God as he stated in Psalm 139, "...if I ascend into heaven thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (vs.7-10)
The thought of the omnipresence of our God should bring the believer a real joy. Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he said "sorrowful yet always rejoicing." Even though the going is rough, the believer will have comfort and therefore a joy knowing our God is present. It is as a child may cry out in pain, even when sheltered in the comfort of its mother's arms. We still may suffer, yet we know we are not alone. God is ever present with us. This precious thought should calm troubled hearts and speak peace to our souls.
1. Truth for Today online: God is Everywhere Present
2. Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
3. The heart of CC
God says of Himself in Jeremiah 23:24: "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" He is present in all places.
We have already learned that God is infinite, He is limitless. Therefore we cannot limit His presence. He surrounds and fills all that exists. Hildebart of Lavardin wrote "God is over all things, under all things, outside of all things, within but not enclosed; without but not excluded, above but not raised up, below but not depressed; wholly above presiding; wholly beneath, sustaining, wholly within, filling.
David understood the omnipresence of God as he stated in Psalm 139, "...if I ascend into heaven thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (vs.7-10)
The thought of the omnipresence of our God should bring the believer a real joy. Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he said "sorrowful yet always rejoicing." Even though the going is rough, the believer will have comfort and therefore a joy knowing our God is present. It is as a child may cry out in pain, even when sheltered in the comfort of its mother's arms. We still may suffer, yet we know we are not alone. God is ever present with us. This precious thought should calm troubled hearts and speak peace to our souls.
1. Truth for Today online: God is Everywhere Present
2. Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
3. The heart of CC
Monday, December 7, 2009
GOD IS OMNISCIENT
Of the two words making up the word 'omniscient', we have 'omni' which means "all", and the word 'sciens' which refers to knowing, and also gives us our word in English for 'science'. By putting these two words together we have the word 'omniscient' meaning infinite knowledge, or knowing all things. This can only refer to God, as He only knows all things. He alone possesses perfect knowledge and therefore has no need to learn.
To give some understanding to our Almighty God, we can give the negatives approach by saying what He is not. In the case of omniscience, we would say God has never learned, and He cannot learn. In other attributes, we can say He suffers no change, He cannot lie, He had no beginning, He needs no help, He has no limitations.
God knows all: all thoughts, all creatures, all secrets, all things visible and invisible in heaven and earth. He knows no one thing better than another, but all things equally.
This all knowing, Almighty God, knew each one of us before He created time. He knows all about each of us, our thoughts, our secrets, our infirmities. He is never surprised or amazed.
This fact that God knows each one through and through should cause man to fear God, since He knows all our hidden sins and thoughts. David stated "whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?...If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day." (Psalm 139:7,11,12)
Our Father in heaven knows our frame that it is dust. Jesus took on a human body, and felt the same pain and sorrow we do. His knowledge of us is even more than the fact that He is all knowing, He actually has experienced it and has compassion. Whatever comes our way, or happens to us, God knows all about it and cares for each of us as no one else can.
1. Websters New World Dictionary
2. The Holy Bible
3. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
4. From the heart of CC
To give some understanding to our Almighty God, we can give the negatives approach by saying what He is not. In the case of omniscience, we would say God has never learned, and He cannot learn. In other attributes, we can say He suffers no change, He cannot lie, He had no beginning, He needs no help, He has no limitations.
God knows all: all thoughts, all creatures, all secrets, all things visible and invisible in heaven and earth. He knows no one thing better than another, but all things equally.
This all knowing, Almighty God, knew each one of us before He created time. He knows all about each of us, our thoughts, our secrets, our infirmities. He is never surprised or amazed.
This fact that God knows each one through and through should cause man to fear God, since He knows all our hidden sins and thoughts. David stated "whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?...If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day." (Psalm 139:7,11,12)
Our Father in heaven knows our frame that it is dust. Jesus took on a human body, and felt the same pain and sorrow we do. His knowledge of us is even more than the fact that He is all knowing, He actually has experienced it and has compassion. Whatever comes our way, or happens to us, God knows all about it and cares for each of us as no one else can.
1. Websters New World Dictionary
2. The Holy Bible
3. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
4. From the heart of CC
Monday, November 30, 2009
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT
The word Omnipotent means 'having all power'. The word is derived from the Latin words of 'Omni' meaning 'all', and 'potens' meaning 'power'. This word is identical in its meaning with the more common word of 'Almighty'. If one likes statistics, it is interesting to find that this word 'almighty' occurs fifty-six times in the English Bible and only does refer to God. He alone is Almighty, Omnipotent. In Revelation 4:6 John says "Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
Omnipotence is not a name given to the sum of all power, but it is an attribute of a very personal God, and a God who is infinite. Whatever He does is without limit; therefore He has limitless power, He is 'omnipotent'. He has no less power at one time than at another time; He is 'all power' all of the time.
With God having all power, He created this world and everything in it by speaking it into existence. In Psalm 33:6 it states that all came into being by the 'breath of His mouth'; just a mere thought or sigh. Paul states in Romans 1:20 that nature itself gives evidence of the eternal power of God.
This is the God we worship and this is the God who with all His power, with all His creation, is mindful of me, of you; and cares for each one of us with love, compassion and mercy. This is the God who provided a way for our salvation that we will be able to spend all of eternity with Him as His child. Thank you, Almighty Father, You are so good!
1. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
2. The Holy Bible
3. The Attribute of God/ online
4. The heart of CC
Omnipotence is not a name given to the sum of all power, but it is an attribute of a very personal God, and a God who is infinite. Whatever He does is without limit; therefore He has limitless power, He is 'omnipotent'. He has no less power at one time than at another time; He is 'all power' all of the time.
With God having all power, He created this world and everything in it by speaking it into existence. In Psalm 33:6 it states that all came into being by the 'breath of His mouth'; just a mere thought or sigh. Paul states in Romans 1:20 that nature itself gives evidence of the eternal power of God.
This is the God we worship and this is the God who with all His power, with all His creation, is mindful of me, of you; and cares for each one of us with love, compassion and mercy. This is the God who provided a way for our salvation that we will be able to spend all of eternity with Him as His child. Thank you, Almighty Father, You are so good!
1. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
2. The Holy Bible
3. The Attribute of God/ online
4. The heart of CC
Monday, November 23, 2009
GOD IS 'HOLY'
Divine holiness stands apart. It is unique, unapproachable, unattainable, and even beyond our understanding. Holy is the way God is. He is pure, with absolute moral perfection. And because He is Holy, all of His attributes are Holy.
We cannot appreciate the holiness of God by putting it to any comparisons that we know. It is simply beyond us as mere man, incomprehensible to our finite minds. Only through the Spirit of the Holy One Himself can we be given a glimpse of His holiness.
Psalm 145:17 says: "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." The holiness of God is directly related to His righteousness and completely separate from evil. In I Samuel 2:2 it says: "There is none holy as the Lord; for there is no one beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God." In Leviticus 11:45 and in I peter 1:16 it tells us that we shall be holy for God is holy.
In Isaiah 6, Isaiah had a vision of seeing the Lord sitting upon His throne with the seraphim crying to one another: "holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." Isaiah suddenly realized his personal depravity and cried out "woe is me! for I am undone!...for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." After Job saw the Lord with his spiritual eyes (Job 42:5) he states in verse 6: "I loathe and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes."
When we see ourselves as God does, we know that we are not holy, and can never be holy as God is; yet He will never tell us to do something we are unable to do. When we receive Jesus Christ, we receive all that God is, and we know we can trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to be holy. We are put right with God, and Christ is our holiness.
We cannot appreciate the holiness of God by putting it to any comparisons that we know. It is simply beyond us as mere man, incomprehensible to our finite minds. Only through the Spirit of the Holy One Himself can we be given a glimpse of His holiness.
Psalm 145:17 says: "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." The holiness of God is directly related to His righteousness and completely separate from evil. In I Samuel 2:2 it says: "There is none holy as the Lord; for there is no one beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God." In Leviticus 11:45 and in I peter 1:16 it tells us that we shall be holy for God is holy.
In Isaiah 6, Isaiah had a vision of seeing the Lord sitting upon His throne with the seraphim crying to one another: "holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." Isaiah suddenly realized his personal depravity and cried out "woe is me! for I am undone!...for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." After Job saw the Lord with his spiritual eyes (Job 42:5) he states in verse 6: "I loathe and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes."
When we see ourselves as God does, we know that we are not holy, and can never be holy as God is; yet He will never tell us to do something we are unable to do. When we receive Jesus Christ, we receive all that God is, and we know we can trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to be holy. We are put right with God, and Christ is our holiness.
Holy, holy holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity! Amen
by Reginal Heber
1. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
2. The Holy Bible
3. The Attributes of God (online)
4. The heart of CC
Monday, November 16, 2009
GOD IS 'JUST'
"He is the Rock. His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He."
(Deuteronomy 31:4)
According to A.W.Tozer, in the Scriptures Justice and Righteousness are almost synonymous; they can scarcely be distinguished from each other. He is righteous in all His ways; He is Holy and cannot tolerate sin. The just penalty for sin according to Romans 6:23 is 'death'.
God, who is just and righteous, could not spare the sinner; yet in His goodness He can still justify the sinner. This is done through the work of Christ on the Cross. The penalty for sin was paid when Christ became our substitute. Now when a sinner casts himself on Christ for salvation, justice is done and the sinner is made Just by a Just God.
But if one does not accept Christ as His substitute, God's justice still stands against the sinner. He is Just and He has provided a substitute for our death penalty. We dare not ignore this.
His Justice needed to be satisfied, but He took care of it for all who will believe and accept.
Prayer: "We live, O Lord, because thou art just and merciful. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, righteous in all Thy ways and Holy in all thy works. Amen"
1. The Holy Bible (Amplified Version)
2. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
3. The heart of CC
(Deuteronomy 31:4)
According to A.W.Tozer, in the Scriptures Justice and Righteousness are almost synonymous; they can scarcely be distinguished from each other. He is righteous in all His ways; He is Holy and cannot tolerate sin. The just penalty for sin according to Romans 6:23 is 'death'.
God, who is just and righteous, could not spare the sinner; yet in His goodness He can still justify the sinner. This is done through the work of Christ on the Cross. The penalty for sin was paid when Christ became our substitute. Now when a sinner casts himself on Christ for salvation, justice is done and the sinner is made Just by a Just God.
But if one does not accept Christ as His substitute, God's justice still stands against the sinner. He is Just and He has provided a substitute for our death penalty. We dare not ignore this.
His Justice needed to be satisfied, but He took care of it for all who will believe and accept.
Prayer: "We live, O Lord, because thou art just and merciful. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, righteous in all Thy ways and Holy in all thy works. Amen"
1. The Holy Bible (Amplified Version)
2. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W.Tozer
3. The heart of CC
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