Tag: acts of old

16.n. Fear not, I am the first and the last,  and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

John 8:58  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Proverbs 8:22-30    “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.  When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,  before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,  when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,  when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,  then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Colossians 1:17    And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:10-12     And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,  like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

Hebrews 13:8    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Revelation 1:17-18    When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,  and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

John 17:24    Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Before Abraham was, I AM: With this dramatic phrase Jesus told them that He was the eternal God, existing not only during the time of Abraham but before unto eternity past. We think of Jesus Christ as our redeemer and savior.  We trust in God’s Word that says He sent His Son into the world to redeem the lost and whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life.  Do you ever give thought to where He came from?  It may give you a greater appreciation for His love for you.  Before the beginning and before creation and before heavenily hosts, earth, and living plants and creatures Jesus Christ was.  He existed in eternity.  He is Holy, Pure, and True. He willingly came to earth, taking on the form of man, healed the sick, blind, deaf, lame, paralyzed, dead, proclaimed the day of salvation, suffered, died, and rose again all for the single purpose – to redeem the lost and give hope to the perishing.  Think about the grace, mercy, and love He displayed for you.  For certain you did not deserve this gift of eternal life but in and through His power, might, and love He came and bore your sins so that you might have eternal life.

When things around you are falling apart and there seems to be no reason for you to rejoice and give praise to Jesus Christ, remember who it is that gave His life just for you so that all who believe will have eternal life with Him forevermore.

6.j. The faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

Revelation 3:14  “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14     And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:13     He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Psalms 89:27     And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

John 3:16     “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Hebrews 1:6    And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Proverbs 8:22-30   “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.  When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,  before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,  when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,  when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,  then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

It is a mystery to even begin to partially understand the depth of the Triune God.  We read of the “faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation”, Firstborn, The Word was with God and was God, Word becoming flesh dwelling among us, beloved Son, For by Him all things were created, He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, He is the head of the body – the church, let all God’s angels worship Him, I was beside Him, rejoicing before Him always”    

It is He who is speaking to the Church, us.  It is He who is giving us warning, encouragement, promises, and hope.  It is He to whom we either live for with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength or whom we disregard most of our waking moments and give little thought or worship too.  We do well to think about who it is that called us and opened our hearts and minds to salvation, redemption, and the need for repentance and forgiveness. Intentionally choose to examine your life before our Lord Jesus Christ and determine if you are walking worthy of the Son of God and the price He paid for your sin.

To your name give glory

“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Psalms 115:1  Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalms 74:22    Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

Isaiah 48:11    For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Ezekiel 20:14     But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

Ezekiel 36:32    It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.

Daniel 9:19   O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Today I am reminded of how self-centered I am at times.  I ask God for help and seek His intervention but it is for my own sake I seek.  Notice how, in scripture, writers record calling out God’s help, not so much for the seeker but for others to see and give honor and glory and power to God.  God’s word gives us wisdom, instruction, and knowledge in how to live in such a way that in all we do, all we think, and all we say brings honor and glory to God.  Stay in His word, learn of His holiness, power, might, grace, mercy, truth, justice and love.  Live each minute of each day bringing glory and honor to Him alone.

Before the foundation of the world

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

John 8:48  The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.  Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”  The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’  But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.   Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Proverbs 8:22    “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.  When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,  before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,  when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,  when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,  then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Micah 5:2      But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Scripture is very clear in stating Jesus was with God from before the foundations of the world.  I don’t think much about this but probably should.  Some of the people were looking for the “Anointed One” to come.  And when He arrived in the flesh some believed He had come and others who should have been able to see did not.  Jesus looked at them and called them liars and told them they did not know God.  Today we see the same where some people see and others don’t.  Some believe and some don’t.  We are not blindly following a myth.   This is the Son of God who came to redeem the world and wishing none would perish but would come to everlasting life.  We have been given free will to believe or not.  We are give free choice to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Our life this side of eternity is very short.   Make the most of it living for Him alone and finding heart, mind and soul desire serving Him and His purpose.

Before the world existed

“ And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;”

“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.   All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.   In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Genesis 1:1    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Proverbs 8:22    “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.  When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,  before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,  when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,  when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,  then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,  rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

Colossians 1:17    And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together

Psalms 33:6     By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Isaiah 45:12    I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

Hebrews 1:10    And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

It is hard to understand the awesomeness of God who with the word of His mouth He created all there is.  I think about those who have fame and prestige in this world.  People will drive or fly miles to just see them at a distance.  I am not saying there is anything wrong in going to see them but rather making the point of their fame in light of God and His awesomeness.  There is no comparison.  We set sports players, performers, leaders in almost higher esteem than God.  Some may challenge this but when you think about giving your whole heart, mind, and soul to fully humbly serve, honor, follow and obey the Creator of all there is, it appears there is a gap in our lives.  It seems as though we state God is first in our life but in reality He is only first when we are sick, broke, hurt, or need divine intervention or direction.  We become complacent and negligent in our walk with Him.  Make Him more than a passing thought in your life.  Look for His leading each day.  Listen for His whispers of direction and follow obediently.