Historical Posts
God Is – Genesis 1:1
Text: Genesis 1:1
Introduction
GOD IS OUR CREATOR.
He made the world (kosmos) in an orderly arrangement which includes the moons, planets, stars, earth, and mankind (Genesis 1:1).
Body
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT
- The term omnipotent describes God as being ALL POWERFUL. God created the heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1).
- It was through God’s power that the Red Sea was divided and the Israelites walked on dry ground into the midst of the sea, and the Egyptians also followed on dry ground in the midst of the sea, but by God’s power the walls of water came down and drown all the Egyptians (Exodus 14:15-31). By God’s power, Jesus was resurrected from the grave (Acts 3:14-15).
GOD IS OMNISCIENT
- The term omniscient denotes God as having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight. In other words, God is ALL KNOWING. This is a characteristic that men and women do not posses. And since God knows everything, and we are limited in our knowledge, we should humble ourselves before Him (Hebrews 4:13). God knows when Jesus is going to come back again. We do not know when Jesus is going to return – (Matthew 24:36).
GOD IS OMNIPRESENT
- The term omnipresent is the fact of God being present in all places at all times. In Psalm 139:7-8, David affirms God is everywhere. In Proverbs 15:3, the Bible teaches us the eyes of the Lord are in every place.
GOD IS LOVE
- The message of the Bible is the love that God has for us so that we can be reconciled back to Him through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10).
Conclusion
- God is our shelter or protection, when the storm’s of life arises. God is our source of strength in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). God is the giver of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
- According to Isaiah 12:2, God is our salvation. Therefore, you and I should be encouraged to Trust the LORD JEHOVAH. Let us also call to remembrance; our God is a consuming fire according to (Hebrews 12:29).
- This is why we all need to respond to the loving call of God. Now is the acceptable time. Why not come to Him tonight as we stand and sing?
HEAR BELIEVE REPENT CONFESS BAPTISM LIVE FAITHFULLY
Presented by Harry D. Anderson, Jr. on May 25, 2011 at the Gahanna Jefferson Church of Christ
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
You Will Get Through – Isaiah 43:2
Text: Isaiah 43:2
God promises you will get through the waters of grief, the river of sorrow, the furnace of pain. Somehow you will get through. What you experience today will not last forever.
One encouragement here is God knows who you are. He is your Creator, and he calls you by name – Isaiah 43:1.
You are His, and He will take care of His own. In time of sorrow you feel unimportant and unknown. God knows you, and you are important to him.
God also knows where you are. He knows when you’re fighting the current of the river of sorrow, when you’re walking through the fiery furnace of suffering. Others may not know what you’re experiencing. One the outside you may have everyone believing you’re fine. But inside you’re about to drown. God knows — and He is there for you.
When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furance, the king watched – Daniel 3:22-26. And what he saw amazed him: the men were not harmed, and a fourth person was with them in the furnace.
God knows how you feel: alone, afraid, uncertain about the future, isolated, maybe rejected. God made you with your emotions, and he knows how they can overwhelm and control you. God will never condemn you for the way you feel. Tell him how it feels — He will listen.
God knows what you need. You need someone to share the pain, to walk through this long valley with you. He promises His presence. He also promises His love. God gave you His Son to conquer death and give hope.
Live on promises, not on explanations. Even if God explained by your loved one died, the answer wouldn’t end the heartbreak or quench the questions. Instead of explanations, God gives promises, which keep you moving ahead, giving hope and new strength.
You’ll get through your grief. It won’t end today or next month. But there is an end. Just face today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Don’t burn today’s energies on tomorrow’s problems that aren’t here yet.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. – Isaiah 43:2
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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The Bad Guys Won’t Win This One – Psalm 11:4-7 – audio
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Text: Psalm 11:4-7
I shouldn’t, but sometimes I look at the world and get a little discouraged.
I see inexplicable violence, blatant perversion, and rampant materialism, and I worry about the future.
Can you relate?
I know they’re not, but sometimes it looks like the bad guys are winning.
I was somewhat surprised recently when I started working my way through the Psalms. I soon realized that I’m certainly not the first one who’s had these thoughts.
They’re all over the Psalms.
Why are you letting them win, God?
What are we supposed to do?
Where are you? Why aren’t you doing something?
Here’s a sample:
In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? – Psalm 11:1-3
Did you notice the uncertainty, the frustration bordering on despair?
What can the righteous do?
Maybe you’ve felt like that before. You see signs of depravity in the world, then you look at the church and see too much of the world in us.
Why are you letting them win, God?
He’s not! Even though it may look that way sometimes.
Here’s the rest of the Psalm:
The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. – Psalm 11:4-7
Where are you, God?
“I’m on my throne in my temple.”
What are you doing, Lord?
“I’m watching, I’m concerned, I’m acting.”
Are they going to win?
“Absolutely not.”
That’s a good reminder for us all.
The Lord’s throne is in heaven, David says. And our King is fully concerned about and engaged in everything that’s bothering us. He may not act today, or at least not in the way we think he should. But he’s busy, and he always does the right thing at the right time.
The bad guys won’t win this one!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Sometimes It Is Better Just to Say Nothing – Mark 9:2-6
Text: Mark 9:2-6
I rarely regret what I didn’t say, but I often kick myself for what I did say.
If the apostle Peter felt the same way, he must’ve walked around in a perpetual self-kicking posture.
As we would expect, Peter was blown away when he witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and the sudden appearance of two men who had been dead for hundreds of years. Jesus’ clothes became intensely white and radiant, and Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him, talking to Him.
Peter felt the need to say something, but what do you say in a situation like that?
“Hi Moses, Elijah. How are you guys doing today?” wouldn’t have sounded quite right.
So Peter said what he thought was appropriate . . . Here’s the first part of the story:
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. (Mark 9:2-6)
When we’re scared to death, we say things we shouldn’t. Peter’s comment here was well-intentioned, but he simply didn’t understand the significance of what was happening. He still thought Jesus was just another great man like Moses and Elijah.
He didn’t fully recognize who this Rabbi really was.
God responds to Peter quickly and decisively:
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. (Mark 9:7-8).
When Matthew tells this story, he lets us know that Peter and the others dove for cover when they heard God’s voice (Matthew 17:6).
While they were planting their faces in the dirt, they got the message: Jesus is infinitely greater than Moses and Elijah.
God worked through Moses to lead His people and deliver His Law.
God spoke through Elijah and the prophets to guide the people back to Him.
But don’t miss this: the point of the Law and the prophets was Jesus, and that’s what it’ll always be.
And that’s the main idea to take from today’s passage.
We hear many voices in our world:
- religious voices
- secular voices
- cultural voices
Quite often they’ll tell us different ways to go.
This Rabbi who was transfigured before Peter and the others is the only voice that matters.
This is God’s beloved Son.
Listen to Him.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Mary and Martha – Luke 10:38-42 – audio
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Text: Luke 10:38-42Mary and Martha were like a lot of siblings – they loved each other like crazy, but sometimes they simply drove each other crazy.
Can you relate?
This story about them always makes me laugh—Martha asks the Son of God to help her settle a little sisterly spat.
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42)
Can you envision the scene?
Martha’s working in the kitchen, making sure the beans don’t overcook and the roast doesn’t burn. She’s got sweat on her forehead and flour on her cheek.
Steam’s rising from the stove, and a little is coming from Martha herself.
She’s getting angry.
She keeps glancing toward her sister Mary, who’s doing what?
Absolutely nothing . . . and Martha can’t stand it.
I wonder how long she simmered before she exploded?
What in the world is Mary doing?, she thought. Hasn’t she noticed my slaving over the stove?
Finally she had enough.
“Lord, will you please tell my lazy sister to help me serve?”
You have to love Martha’s spirit. She was doing what she knew best: serving, working, cleaning.
And I’m sure Jesus appreciated it, but he decided to teach her a lesson I’m guessing she never forgot.
Slow down and enjoy your blessings. Some things are more important than having a clean house.
I can’t think of a more important lesson for many of us.
Your life is ridiculously hectic: bills to pay, diapers to change, carpool to manage, practice to attend, meals to cook, dishes to clean, quotas to meet
It never ends, does it?
Life’s filled with all kinds of responsibilities, and it’s almost impossible to get them all done.
But please hear Jesus: Have you sat at his feet lately?
Have you spoken quietly with him about your life’s joys and challenges?
Have you read his word lately to feed your soul?
You can only go so long at the pace you’ve set without nourishing the part of you that’s most important.
Are you “anxious and troubled about many things” today?
Are you letting the “many things” squeeze out the “good part”?
Commit yourself, or recommit yourself, to communing daily with Jesus.
It’s possible to be so busy doing the good that we neglect the best.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Why is the Bible Important? – audio
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Introduction
- The English word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning books. The Holy Bible is the collection of inspired books (39 old testament, 27 new testament), revealing in God’s Words how sinful man can be reconciled to Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – John 3:16-17
- For this reason it is important to know the indispensible value of God’s written law for men and women. It will determine where you and I will spend eternity, since it will judge us in the last day – John 12:48
- Let us examine further why the Bible is important.
Body
- The Holy scriptures are important because they are the inspired Word of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- God moved holy men as they were moved by the Spirit – 2 Peter 1:20-21
- The Bible was written over a span of about 1,500 years by forty different inspired authors, with no contradictions or conflicts in their writings.
- God’s law is important because it’s perfect. It has the ability to save your soul, if you obey it – Psalm 19:7; James 1:21
- The Word of God is important because it is absolute truth – John 17:17
- It is the standard that determines what is right or wrong.
- Through the Word of God you get an understanding of what is true and false – Psalm 119:104
- The Bible is important because it is the guide that leads you out of darkness to the light – Psalm 119:105
- The Sword of the Spirit is important because, it’s powerful, it gets to the thoughts, and intents of the heart – Hebrews 4:12
- The Bible is important because it reveals facts and answers that mankind has questions about. Did you know the Bible reveals that:
– The earth is round – Isaiah 40:22
– The center of the earth is molten – Job 28:5
– The earth floats in space – Job 26:7
– Water vapor rises from the earth – Jeremiah 10:13
– The wind moves in patterns – Ecclesiastes 1:6
Conclusion
- Is the Bible, the Word of God, the center of all things in your life? Is it the standard you live by and base all your decisions upon? If it’s not, why not?
- Why not obey the Word of Truth today and save yourself from the wrath of God?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
Beggars
I was getting off the interstate last week when I saw a man at the bottom of the exit ramp holding a “NEED FOOD” sign. I’m always stirred by different feelings when I see this – compassion, curiosity, even a bit of guilt and shame (for not doing more to help). Why doesn’t he have food? Should I give him money?
But it’s also interesting to recognize that this is the image Jesus used to start the most famous sermon ever preached. Most of his people thought the Messiah would come riding on the back of a white stallion at the front of an army of liberation. He would be strong, proud, powerful, and he would restore them to their former glory.
But his first words were nothing like what they expected.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).
Coming to God’s kingdom, Jesus said, involves first of all admitting that we are spiritually poverty-stricken. We are powerless to attain salvation, and we depend on God for everything that is good.
Beggars. That’s what we are. We come to Jesus without “a righteousness of our own” and receive that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith (Phil 3:9); “In him,” Paul writes, we “become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
What all this means is that being in the Lord’s kingdom involves emptying ourselves of pride, achievement, and accomplishment. We don’t bring our goodness to the table and exchange it for forgiveness. We don’t bring our impeccable morality and integrity to the Lord and hope it’s enough to be saved.
“Poor in spirit” means recognizing that there is “none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), including me.
It means admitting that “no one understands; no one seeks for God,” that “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12)… including me.
That is very hard for most of us. Naturally, I want to point to a few of the good things I’ve done. I want to compare myself to some of society’s dregs and take a little pride in, “Well, at least I’m not like that.”
That’s why pride has always been the biggest obstacle between us and salvation. It takes our eyes off of God and puts them on us.
You can’t be a part of the kingdom until you recognize that you are utterly dependent upon God for salvation. Blessed are the spiritual beggars, for theirs is the kingdom.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die. . . . When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee (Augustus Toplady).
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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