What is the Nature of God? We have the Bible to tell us about God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Let’s take an overview.

Why don’t you add any verses I’m missing. I enjoy these kinds of group projects.

As a writer and student of history I often daydream about what it would be like to discover a book lost to antiquity.  I’m not talking about the “hidden books of the Bible” that periodically get splashed on trash papers in the checkout lines at grocery stores.

I have the deuterocanonical books. I have the popular books of the first two century of the church. (The Max Lucado’s of the day.) I even have in translation the gnostic writings found in Nag Hammadi. These are ancient, but not inspired.

A lot of the lost books are that way. We call them “lost books” because they’re mentioned in the Bible and we don’t have them. I have a different list than most people as I disagree with what they call “lost”. For example, I don’t consider the Book of Jashar translated by Joseph Smith to be the original. I don’t agree with the explanation of how it arrived in North America or his ability to translate ancient Hebrew.

On the other had, other people mention “The Books of Judah and Israel” and they could be right, but I think our Books of  First and Second Kings fit the bill.

This list may not be complete, but it’s a fun list to dream about.

What would happen if we found the letter to the Laodecians? It would be easy enough to prove it to be Pauline…although I know there would be a debate…especially if it talked about something lost to us like baptism of the dead…or tithing in the church.

There’s more than a few novels in those thoughts. Have fun with them. Here’s some things you can let me know about:

1. Do you know of any other books mentioned in the Bible that seem to be lost to us?

2. Does this make you nervous knowing history has happened we know little or nothing about?

3. If Mulisms see lost books as weakness to us and Mormons write books to place them in history, how should we respond?

Thanks for leaving your comments below.

Can you rest? Busy-ness cannot be a badge of honor in a Kingdom that promises righteousness, peace and joy.

God’s been leading me to a few passages to slow me down and rest in His presence.

This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15 (New Living Translation)

I have to admit, I get a little offended at that last statement “but you would have none of it”. But once I slow down and thank Him, slow down and love Him, slow down and listen to Him…there’s no judgement only enjoyment and joy.

Jesus said (according to Peterson)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Rest today. Enjoy God. Be at peace with Him, yourself and those around you.

Then make it habit. Try the 40 day fast from negativity love to have you join us.

Unless you’re taking a test and the Teacher is silent, the Father is always speaking. It’s up to us to learn how He’s speaking in this season, or else we may just miss it.

Job 33:14 says –

For God speaks time and again but a person may not notice it.

Why is it so important for us to notice what the Father says?

First, it confirms we are His.

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Secondly, we are to follow the example of the Son (1 Peter 2:21)… and He only did what He saw the Father do. How can we possibly hope to have the relationship with the Father that He intended, if we don’t know how to hear His voice?

Third, hearing what the Father says is what brings us faith.

So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Romans 10:17 (Amplified Bible)

It’s not the Bible that brings faith… it’s hearing what God is currently saying that brings faith. You can study the Bible and be like the scholars of old that Jesus condemned:

You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. And you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
John 5:39-40 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Yes, the Bible is our guide. It is our Cannon. It is the rule by which we measure all revelation. But it is the present Word of God that brings us life.

We need to hear the words of the Father to change the hearts of ourselves and others.

So, how can the Father speak to us?

This is in no way a comprehensive or systematic list. God will change how He speaks. The writer of the book of Hebrews has made that clear:

Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

As well, as we mature in our walk, the Father will hide His Word – don’t worry, He hides it for us, not from us. Proverbs 25:2 says:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Does this surprise you? Why do you think Jesus taught in parables?

So be forewarned: if the Father has always spoken to you in one way, that way will change. Here’s a reason why: for a toddler or pre-toddler, finding an Easter egg in the middle of a room can be a lot of fun. A nine or ten year old will need more of challenge.

There’s a deeper purpose that we’ll get to in a bit. For now, we should probably go back to the basics to make sure everyone is on the same page.

To start with, all of us need to pause and in the words of Habakkuk “watch to see what His will say”.

There are ways in the natural He speaks to us:

1. Through the Bible.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

2. Through Teachers.

Also, this is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

3. Through “coincidences”.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalm 37:23 (New Living Translation)

When your leaning hard into God, there is no such thing as a coincident. If you’re not, you’ll never “watch to see what He will say”.

4. Through unexplainable events

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
Exodus 3:4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Bill Johnson teaches that when you stop from your agenda and step aside to see that which you cannot explain, you attract the voice of the Father. So when you see something that catches your eye, “watch to see what He will say.”

The prophet wasn’t simply being poetic when he penned those words in Habakkuk 2:1, the Father can and will speak to all of our senses. We can perceive His voice in these supernatural ways. We can:

1. Feel it, or
2. See it, or
3. Read it, or
4. Think it, or
5. Say it, or
6. Dream it, or
7. Experience it, or
8. Hear it.

These are the ways the Father speaks to us with Words of knowledge – that is, supernatural knowledge that we can’t acquire through natural means. You need to be aware of your physical body and know when something is happening to it that isn’t the cause of a natural event.

We were having friends over to our house to pray and rest in the presence of the Father. That afternoon I had severe pain in my left knee. I have never had problems with that knee, and I couldn’t figure out why it was hurting then. But that evening one of our friends asked for prayer for his knee because he hurt it that afternoon. When I heard it was his left knee, I knew the Father was saying he was going to heal it immediately. We commanded the pain to go, and he was instantly healed.

Do you see why learning to hear the voice of the Father is so important? We must learn to “watch to see what He will say” so we can be like Jesus and only do what we see the Father do.

When the Father speaks, it is your responsibility to pick up on the fact He is speaking as well as what He is saying because He probably won’t say it another way.

Why?

Here’s the deeper truth I was telling you I wouldn’t forget to mention. The Father speaks to conceal a matter because what He’s asking you requires pruning and until you adjust to His way of doing things, you will not be adequately prepared to carry it.

But here is the good news… He trusts you to pick up on His voice and He trusts you to obey what you hear. Not only that, He prepares to you be able to obey changing how He speaks so that you’ll always need to learn again how to listen.

Tell me what you think. I love to have your experience and questions in the comments.

For a number of years I’ve been working through our relationship with God and why prayer is important. I’ve learned not to blame God for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Bill Johnson has an amazing take on all of this and this is another teaching I want to consider and study through. It’s amazing revelation.

Should I be hungry for God?

I came across this verse in Scripture and it jumped out as one that we push off into eternity. The problem I have with doing that is that the context doesn’t seem to suggest we need to leave it until we die.

Jesus was saying some difficult things that made many of his followers turn back. One of these things was:

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.
John 6:35 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

It’s safe to assume, He’s speaking about spiritual things here. So why do we follow an inferior covenant in our language to God?

Why do we say, “I’m hungry for God?” or “I’m thirsty for the Spirit” or even “I’m desperate for the Father?”

Think of that last one in natural terms. If I am desperate for my earthly father, am I in a right relationship with him? No.

The psalms are wonderful and they cover the gambit of human emotion. We take most of our language for hunger, thirst, and desperation from their inspired utterances.

Maybe Jesus was just talking about one day when we all get to heaven, that we’ll never be spiritually hungry or spiritually thirsty again.

But He was responding to the crowds call to give them the bread that He spoke about. Since He said, as Luke records:

“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Luke 11:9-13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Why do we think He withholds His promises to us now?

It’s because of our experience.

We experience the hunger and thirst for the Father, and I’m not saying these are bad things. If this is simply a matter of semantics, I’ve wasted my time. I don’t think anyone one of us should strike sentiments in our vocabulary that our given to us by the inspired word of the Father. Instead my goal here is to give everyone – including myself – expectation that in this life, we can be satisfied without being content.

Jesus promised that NO ONE who comes to Him WILL EVER be hungry or thirsty again. I don’t want to say, “I’m a no one”, but we need to realize that includes all of us who follow hard after the Father.

To not satisfy our hunger and thirst in this life, would simply be cruel.

It’s not the role of a Father who is in a good mood.

I’ve had many comments in emails and on some of the social networks I belong to that sound like warnings not to rock the boat. Most suggest, people are preaching the gospel if they simply teach “Jesus came, lived, died, rose again, ascended, and is coming back to judge the living and the dead, so REPENT!”

I agree. This is the kerygma of Paul. This is his main message. But something that has me thinking is that Jesus preached about the Kingdom… and he wasn’t talking about those things.

Now before I get the emails, hear me out… Jesus did teach “these things must happen” but it’s clear His disciples didn’t understand and it’s also clear when He started to talk about His body being real food and His blood being real drink, He lost followers. (John 6:54-66)

Jesus went out teaching and showing the Kingdom.

And we’re happy just filling the committed with knowledge. Comfort kills us slowly.

The Kingdom drives out demons. The Kingdom heals the sick. The Kingdom starts small and grows big.

The Kingdom is, where ever the Father’s will is done. Where the King rules, that’s where the Kingdom exists.

So if I’m offending the ones who don’t believe in miracles anyway – why are you reading this blog? If I’m offending those working hard for the Lord; follow the one who’s yoke is easy and burden is light.

Did you really think His mission for you would be something you can accomplish on your own? What did Paul rant about to the Galatians?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Galatians 3:3 NIV)

Sure, Paul in context is talking about circumcision, but is their a difference to striving in your own effort? Paul’s definition of fully proclaiming the gospel of Christ is…

…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:19 (New International Version)

And ours can’t be anything less.

This is really good news when you think about it… It’s not up to you. You can’t preform signs and wonders. God can through you – and He longs to do it. So give Him opportunity.

Pray for the sick expectantly. Speak out words of encouragement and seek the Father for greater insight. Be faithful in what you’ve been given, and more will be given to you.

Remember the Kingdom starts small and grows.

Love to hear what you think. We really enjoy imparting power to people who are hungry for more of God.

We just had a an incredible weekend with the Holy Spirit… yes, I know He’s already in us, around us and on us at all times…but there are moments and times when He’s more palpable and people are healed, relationships are restored and good things happen…I’m still shaking sensing His presence now. I’d better go soak. Before I do, I wanted to share this post I prepared last week, about the Holy Spirit.

In her book, Spiritual Revolution Patricia King shows really good Biblical research on the function of the Holy Spirit. This list of the 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit come from her research.

1. He leads and directs. (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 8:29; Romans 8:14)
2. The Holy Spirit speaks – in, to and through. (Matthew 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25; Hebrews 3:7)
3. He gives power to cast out devils. (Matthew 12:28)
4. He releases power. (Luke 4:14)
5. The Holy Spirit anoints. (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38)
6. The Holy Spirit “comes upon” or “falls on”. (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22; 4:18; John 1:32,33; Acts 10:44; 11:15)
7. He baptizes and fills. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 3:16, 4:1; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 10:47; 11:24; 13:9,52; 1 Corinthians 12:12)
8. He gives new birth. (John 3:5,8)
9. He leads into worship. (John 4:23)
10. He flows like a river from the spirit man. (John 7:38-39)
11. He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
12. He dwells in people. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
13. The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
14. He proceeds from the Father. (John 15:26)
15. He shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
16. He gives the gift of tongues. (Acts 2:4)
17. He releases prophecy, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17,18; 11:28)
18. He can transport people physically. (Acts 8:39)
19. The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1
20. He is Holiness. (Romans 1:4)
21. He is the Spirit of life and gives life. (Romans 8:1,10)
22. The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
23. He groans, prays and intercedes. (Romans 8:26-27)
24. He is a Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)
25. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
26. He helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
27. He bears witness. (Acts 5:32 15:28; 20:23; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-8)
28. He is the Spirit of Adoption. (Romans 8:15)
29. He gives power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
30. He provides power for signs, wonders and preaching. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
31. He ministers love. (Romans 15:30)
32. He searches the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
33. He quickens the mortal body. (Romans 8:13)
34. He brings revelation. (Luke 2:25; 1 COrinthians 2:10,12; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:5)
35. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what has been given by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
36. He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15;16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
37. He gives gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)
38. He seals us. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)
39. He is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
40. He changes us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
41. He is the promise of the blessing of Abraham. (Galatians 3:14)
42. He releases a cry to the Father. (Galatians 4:6)
43. He gives access to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
44. The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
45. He strengthens us with might. (Ephesians 3:16)
46. He is unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)
47. He is wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
48. He supplies. (Philippians 1:19)
49. He is fellowship. (2 Corinthians 13;14; Philippians 2:1)
50. He is grace. (Hebrews 10:29)
51. He is glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
52. The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches. (Revelation 2:11,17,29; 3:6,13,22)
53. He calls for the Bridegroom. (Revelation 22:17)
54. The Holy Spirit has the power of conception and anointing for God’s purposes. (Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35)
55. He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
56. He gives commandments. (Acts 1:2)
57. He provides power to be a witness. (Acts 1:8)
58. He provides boldness. (Acts 4:31)
59. He give sight. (Acts 9:17)
60. He commissions. (Acts 13:4)
61. He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
62. He appoints ministries and gives them authority. (Acts 20:28)
63. He releases love. (Romans 5:5)
64. He is righteousness, peace and joy. (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)
65. He confesses Christ’s Lordship. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
66. The Holy Spirit brings the gospel. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)
67. He is keeping power. (2 Timothy 1:14)
68. He brings renewal. (Titus 3:5)
69. He moves on believers. (2 Peter 1:21)
70. He convicts the world. (John 16:8)

This is the starting point to exploring and experiencing more of the person of the Holy Spirit. Take time to read the verses in context and ask the Spirit to teach even more truth to you. It always amazes me that we can be in relationship with the Creator of the universe. I’m in awe when I consider any aspect of His nature.

Blessings

In her book, Spiritual Revolution: Experience the Supernatural in Your Life Through Angelic Visitations, Prophetic Dreams, and Miracles Patricia King shows a great deal of Biblical research on Angels.

Instead of going to my handy Dictionary of Bible Themes I’ve started my study on the characteristics of angels from Patricia’s work.

Here are 20 Characteristics of Angels I See in Scripture.

1. Angels are intelligent and wise. (2 Samuel 14:20; 19:27; Matthew 24:35)
2. Angels are patient. (Numbers 11:22-35)
3. They are meek. (2 Peter 2:11)
4. They can be joyful. (Luke 15:1-10)
5. Angels are modest. (1 Corinthians 11:10)
6. They are holy. (Mark 8:38)
7. They are glorious. (Luke 9:26)
8. Angels are immortal. (Luke 20:36)
9. They are mighty and powerful. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 18:1)
10. Angels are obedient. (Psalm 103:20; Matthew 6:10)
11. Angels have wills. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
12. Angels can be referred to as male (Judges 13:6; Daniel 10:5-21) and in one case female (Zechariah 5:5-9).
13. They have spirit bodies with limbs, eyes, voice, etc (Hebrews 13:2; Judges 13:6; Revelation 15:1-6)
14. Angels don’t seem to need rest. (Revelation 4:8)
15. Angels can eat food. (Genesis 18:8; 19:3; Psalm 78:25)
16. They can be visible or invisible to us. (Numbers 22:35; John 20:12; Hebrews 13:2)
17. Angels can operate in our physical realm. (Genesis 18:1-19, 24; 2 Kings 9:35)
18. They can travel at incomprehensible speed. (Revelation 8:13, 9:1)
19. Angels can ascend and descend between heaven and earth. (Genesis 28:12; John 1:51)
20. Angels can speak languages. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

I’m trying very hard to remove the mystical from the invisible. Angels aren’t the cherubs on clouds that sit and play harps. They are amazing created beings who will encourage us, obey God’s commands and do God’s will on our behalf.

It is possible to see angels and even entertain them without knowing…or without knowing at least at first. When we see what angels are doing, we can know what God wants to do.

I’d love to know you’re thoughts about angels. Start a discussion by leaving your comment.

In my ongoing posting about Angels, I think it’s time we look at Scripture to see what they actually do. We can all have pre-conceived ideas about fat-little babies with small wings playing harps and sitting on clouds. That’s probably the most common and worst description of angels.

Here are 18 things we see Angels do in Scripture

1. Angels bring answers to prayers. (Daniel 9:21-28)
2. Angels minister to the saints. (Hebrews 1:14)
3. Angels worship God. (Revelation 5:11, Psalm 148:2)
4. Angels carry out God’s orders. (Psalm 103:20)
5. Angels wage war. (Revelation 12:7-9; Daniel 10:12-13)
6. Angels watch over children. (Matthew 18:10)
7. Angels strengthen people during trials. (Matthew 4:11)
8. They can lead sinners to followers of Christ. (Acts 10:3)
9. They can direct preachers. (Acts 8:26)
10. They can appear in dreams. (Matthew 1:20-24)
11. They minister before God. (Revelation 8:2; 14:15-19)
12. They can protect people from harm. (Psalm 91:11; Acts 12:7-10)
13. They guard the Abyss. (Revelations 9:1; 20:1-3)
14. They watch over the interests of churches. (Revelation 2 and 3)
15. They affect the affairs of nations. (Daniel 10:12-13)
16. Angels do extraordinary acts. (Acts 7:53; 12:6-7; Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 2:22)
17. They bring people special messages. (Luke 1)
18. Angels punish God’s enemies. (Acts 12:23; 2 Samuel 24:16)

I’d love to see this list grow. It started with research in Patricia King’s Spiritual Revolution: Experience the Supernatural in Your Life Through Angelic Visitations, Prophetic Dreams, and Miracles I just got a copy of what she prophesied over Karen and I – and it’s still wrecking me in such an amazing way. Maybe I’ll post it sometime.

Are there any other truths from Scripture you’d like to add? Leave your comments and let me know.

In a previous post I started to talk about the new cessationism that is prominent in some Christian circles. I believe it’s because we have a retreat mentality every time someone we disagree with goes overboard.

I’m finding more and more Christian leaders are afraid to talk about angels.

They don’t want to seem “too spiritual.” They’ve seen the damage done when someone claims a new revelation that comes from angels. They want the focus to be complete on Christ. The “New-Age-er’s” talk about angels way too much.

Whatever the reason, they are missing out of some great truths of Scripture and experiences this side of heaven. And it’s more dangerous than that.

Malcolm Godwin estimates in Angels: An Endangered Species that 1 in 10 pop songs in the past 30 years mentions angels. What this shows is that when those who should be experts are silent, the wrong message gets ingrained in a culture.

I’ve already outlined the warnings we get in Scripture about angels. Now it’s time to focus on the positive things the Bible says about them. Let’s start with 4 general facts we should never forget:

• Angels were created.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7

Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:2-5

• Angels are not to be worshipped.

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 (New International Version)

• There’s is a lot of Angels.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Luke 2:13 (New International Version)

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, Hebrews 12:22 (New International Version)

• Angels are subject to God.

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:16

Keep these truths in mind as we continue to explore the unseen realms of angels in future posts. I’d love to have your comments on this on.

We’ve previously discussed WHY we should seek the Lord. But I still haven’t gotten around to discussing how we can. As I mentioned earlier, “I guess I always thought it meant “pray longer” maybe even “pray louder”. Of course it meant to fast…”

But what does the Bible say about it. I know I’m ticking off some Bible scholars because I pull verses out of context and don’t discuss the nuances of the original language. In my defense, this is a blog, not a commentary. I do study the verses in their original context, to their original readers, keeping what the early church and later commentators taught in the forefront of my thought, and always looking through the lens of the cross.

So even though it looks like I’m proof-texting, I’m really not as much as some of you assume.

Where did that tirade come from? Oh yes, I’m about to show you how you can seek the Lord.

How to Seek the Lord

• Keep your tongue from evil, Turn from evil, Do good, Seek peace and pursue it (Psalms 34:12-16)
• Cast your cares upon the Lord (Psalm 55:22)
• Forsake evil ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:6-7)
• Have clean hands, Pure heart, Don’t lift your soul to idols, Don’t swear by what is false (Isaiah 24:4-6)
• Serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9)
• Call upon God and pray to him (Jeremiah 29:12-14a)

This isn’t a definitive list, but I found there’s much more to seeking God than “praying louder and longer” or “fasting”. When we study about fasting, we see it’s not the act it’s the attitude that gets our Fathers attention (Isaiah 58).

Seeking God is about Living Life Above the Negativity. I’m organizing a 40 day fast over lent, but this can’t be an event, it needs to be a lifestyle. The 40 days is to help get us into the habit of seeking the Lord.

He will be found.

It’s best I don’t assume everyone buys into a life of “following hard after God”. Every tribe of church has our own language and  assumptions and what makes perfect sense to one won’t mean a thing to the next. Truth be told, even if we think we know what “seek the Lord” means, chances are its not exactly how Scripture defines it.

And so before I begin to show you how we are to seek the Lord as Scripture defines, I need to show you it’s a good thing to do.

The Benefits of Seeking the Lord

• We’ll fully understand justice (Proverbs 28:5)
• We don’t need to worry about everything everyone worries about (Matthew 6:31-33)
• God’s ears will be attentive to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12)
• We’ll be delivered from our fears (Psalm 34:4)
• We’ll Live! (Amos 5:4)
• We will be strengthened (2 Chronicles 16:9)
• God will be found (1 Chronicles 28:9, Jeremiah 29:13)

These are all positive outcomes for a positive life. So I say it’s time we seek the Lord. I’ll outline how in another post today.

When we’re raised in the church, we often accept that we know what phrases mean without ever thinking, “Just what does that mean?”

The longer your on the way, the harder it is to say to someone who asks you to explain a concept,  “I really don’t know.” So we make something up based on all the sermons we heard that never explained phrases and just assumed we were all on the same page.

I was a senior pastor at the age of 25. I knew enough to know that I knew less than people in my congregation who were in ministry longer than I had been alive. So I learned to say, “I really don’t know, but let me study up on it and get back to you.” It made me be a life-long learner.

A few months ago I was listening to a sermon encouraging me to ‘seek the Lord’ and I thought to myself, “Do I really know what that means?” I guess I always thought it meant “pray longer” maybe even “pray louder”. Of course it meant to fast – at least do a Daniel fast… I don’t think I’ve written about doing a Daniel fast on this blog yet.

Anyway, I decided I’d better do some research and figure out what the Bible says about seeking the Lord and I discovered I only knew part of the whole.

If we think we can just say, “I’m seeking God” we’re mistaken. If we think we can just pray more and find Him, we’re deceived. If we try to earn His favor in hopes we’ll get our ways, we’re going to be disappointed.

In another post we’ll look at why we should seek the Lord.

As we plan for 2010 and the future beyond, we want to keep listening to the Father. We can’t run ahead of Him and assume we know the next step He wants us to take. This highlights the importance of our relationship with Him. We can’t read the Bible or hear Him in some tangible way years ago and just assume we don’t need to hear Him again today.

I’m not talking about pointless introspection. I am encouraging you that God is almost always speaking… do we take the time to listen?

This comes from Ministering with Expectancy – our 9 session course that brings the supernatural into everyday life.

We had an incredible Harvest Moon around these parts this year. Every time I see it, I’m reminded about this illustration that comes from the natural and explains the supernatural. While no illustration is perfect, this one comes close. Be encouraged, this life you’re called to live is lived through you by One who can live it to the full.

Enjoy!

I love spending time being in awe of the Father. It’s too easy in our busy society to forget to reflect. I know this is a little long, but trust me, the pay off is worth it. Thanks to NASA for the clips from Hubble.

I’ve just ordered a bunch of royalty-free video clips as I want to start getting back into online video as a ministry tool. If you’re doing this as well, let’s hook up on YouTube Love to have your comments below.

I told you in the first post this week that I would let you know my favorite Christmas account.

Is it Matthew that tells us Jesus came as our King? I love Matthew’s interest in how prophecy is fulfilled – I don’t understand it all, but I love seeing how he saw prophecy fulfilled. But it’s not my favorite narrative.

Is it the lack of a story in Mark? When I was a kid, Dad started a tradition of reading a Christmas narrative before we opened our presents. When we read from Luke it seemed like forever. Matthew was quicker, but lacked the angels in the field. I never could get Dad to read the Mark account, even though I’d ask him for it every year… I mean really, those gifts just don’t open themselves. I love remembering Jesus came with a purpose – He came to die, but the lack of an account in Mark is not my favorite account. Besides now I take some pleasure in making my kids wait to open their presents.

Is it the detail of Luke I love? Luke is the classic account. It has so much detail  and is so well written, it rolls of the tongue. I so appreciate knowing Jesus came for all, but it’s not my favorite account of the nativity.

So you guessed it. Christmas According to John is my favorite account. It puts the awe of the advent into me every year. I love reading it, reciting it, meditating on it. It’s powerful.

Where is it you ask? Well, here it is. I’m doing this from memory – I can’t remember how far it goes, but it starts with John 1:1:

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God – He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing has been made. In him was life and his life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it. There was one sent from God his name was John, he came a witness to the light to testify so that all men might believe. He himself was not the light, he came as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came into his own and his own did not receive him. Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God. Children not born of natural descent or human wisdom or a husband’s will… but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us…

There it is. “The Word became flesh and (literally) camped out for a while”.  Remember I said Matthew puts the birth of Jesus in Jewish history and Luke puts the birth of Jesus in World history? John puts the birth of Jesus in Cosmic history.

The One who spoke and the 400 million stars of this galaxy were formed and 400 million galaxies of this Universe came into being – the one who sustains the spin of an electron around a proton and makes the dark matter we’re only speculating about keep the universe together… took on flesh and camped out for a while.

Yes, Jesus came as our King. He came to die in our place. He came for all. But the thing that continually puts me in awe of Christmas is HE CAME. Immanual – “God With Us” stripped himself of his omnipresence and omniscience and came as a helpless baby in a manger.

I don’t understand. I can  only see the edges of this picture. But I appreciate it and I’m in awe of it.

Christmas According to John is God came.

What’s your favorite Christmas narrative and why? Love to hear your comments.

Matthew placed Jesus in Jewish history. Luke places Jesus in world history. He puts it in time – Caesar Augusts taxes the world during the time Quirinuis was governor of Syria . His genealogy ends with Adam.

Luke has carefully researched the events around Christ’s birth – and he starts with the events around Jesus’ cousin’s birth – the miraculous birth of John.

Luke gives fuller accounts of angels – Matthew talks about angels appearing in dreams (more acceptable to a first century Jewish audience) while Luke is writing to Theopilus -either a Greek patron or a group of Greek believers that were known as “God Lovers”. The Greeks were more accustomed to stories of the gods interacting with humans and so would be interested in angelic encounters. He writes about the angel coming to Zachariah who didn’t believe He could become a father and so had his mouth shut until the prophecy was fulfilled. Luke talks about everything Mary hid in her heart about Gabriel’s visit. He reveals the story of the shepherd in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night and lo, the angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified… sorry got lost in a Sunday School production… oh it’s too good, let’s keep going… and the angel said to them – “Fear Not, for behold I bring you news of great joy that shall be for all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you ‘you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts singing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to all men on whom his favor rests”…

Wow, that takes me back… don’t you love Christmas pageants when you can’t hear the kids and don’t care if their lines get mixed up? I don’t care for the professional pageants – but hey if you like them, don’t let me stop you. I know the work that goes into them needs to be appreciated… where was I? OH yah, Luke…

Luke mentions the accounts of women – Mary, Elizabeth, Anna. He’s  the one to talk about the sheep herders in the field. He’s the one who makes sure we know they laid the child in a manger because there was no room in the inn. He makes sure to let you know the Angels said this is “great joy for all people”.

Luke was writing to Greek speaking believers who needed to know the Jewish Messiah was for them. You don’t have to be born into the right family. You don’t need to be the top of society. You don’t need to be a man to be loved by God.

It’s a message we need to get out to people every day. Why do non-Christians describe Christians as “Judgmental”? Because too often we are. As long as we have it right, it doesn’t matter who’s going to hell. That’s not the message of Luke.

Christmas according to Luke is Jesus came for all.

I wonder how many people came to this post with no idea that Mark says nothing about Christmas. I’m sure I snagged a few theologians who think I’m either unschooled or a heretic and are here to see which it is.

Yet Mark’s conspicuous absence of a nativity account speaks volumes to us and that’s what I want us to consider today.

Why would Mark – that in many ways is so close to its synoptic brothers (Matthew and Luke) – leave out any mention of the coming of Jesus as a baby?
Mark starts with a quick mention of John the Baptist and then right into Jesus’ baptism and ministry. He doesn’t seem to care about the prophecies Jesus fulfilled like Matthew. He certainly doesn’t care to put Jesus into Jewish or World history. Some describe Mark a a passion with a longer introduction. Before I explain that, let’s take a look at a few things about the book of Mark.

Since the earliest times it’s been held that Mark, while a witness to the events of Jesus’ life,  was the scribe for Peter. Remember Peter was the one to jump onto the waves. He was the one to run into the tomb when John stopped at the entrance. He was the one to speak up when the rest of the disciples were quite. He was the impetuous one.

42 times in 16 chapter (and these are just the ones that make it into English) the word “immediately” is used in the book of Mark. Everything in Mark is focussed on the one event. Everything in Mark rushes towards the reason Jesus came. Mark is so focussed on the passion of Christ – His death on the cross – that he doesn’t have time to waste on Jesus‘ birth.

And that’s something we can never forget in the Christmas season. Yes, Jesus came as a  baby and we celebrate his birthday on the only day early Christians could celebrate together as slave and free – the pagan holiday of Saturnalius  – but we should never forget Jesus came to this world to die. His death paid the price for our sins. It satisfied the requirements for justice. It made us friends again with the Father. And by His stripes we were healed.

Christmas without the cross is no better than a pagan holiday.

Christmas according to Mark is Jesus came to die.