Tag: Holy

15. So that we are distinct

Exodus 33:14  And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Numbers 14:14    They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people.

Exodus 19:5-6    Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;  and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Deuteronomy 4:7    For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

1 Kings 8:53     For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage,

2Corinthians 6:16  What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,  and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Proverbs 9:6     Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

Acts 2:40    And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

My presence will go with you, so that we are distinct, treasured possession, separate, speak of the difference in the lives of those who live for God. 

His presence will be with them; “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love”, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

His people will be distinct;  “I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” “declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” “ that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

None Like Him

“To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?”

Exodus 15:11   “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Deuteronomy 3:24     ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

1 Samuel 2:2     “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

2 Samuel 7:22     Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1 Kings 8:23     and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart;

Psalms 35:10    All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

Psalms 86:8     There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

Jeremiah 10:16    Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah 10:6    There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.

Isaiah 40:25     To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Psalms 89:6-8     For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,  a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?  O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

Isaiah 57:15     For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

We try to imagine what God is like so we can comprehend Him.  Yet there is none like Him.  He inhabits eternity and dwells in a high and holy place.  Scripture does not stop there, it also says that God also dwells with those having a contrite and lowly spirit.  There is none other like Him.  None mighty as He is.  None loving as He.  None who reached out to His creation with a redemptive plan of salvation like Him.  None who promised eternal life like Him.  None who can forgive sin like Him.  None who has steadfast love like Him.  None who strengthens our spirit like Him.  None who knows our thoughts like Him.  None who can give us peace like Him.  None who can lift up the weak and make the strong fall like Him.  None who can move nations like Him.  None who can soften a heart like Him.  No there is none like Him and we do well to live, act, speak and think in all our ways, to humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow, and obey Him.

I am the Alpha and the Omega

Exodus 3:13  Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel:  ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me,

Exodus 6:3     I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.

Job 11:7     “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

Psalms 90:2    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Isaiah 44:6     Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

2 Corinthians 1:20     For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Revelation 1:8    “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 4:8    And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Aren’t you amazed at the response “I am who I am”?  When someone asks you who you are, you might say John Smith, brother of Bill and Tom, Son of Brad and born in the city of X, county of X, country of X in the year of XXXX.   You might continue on and say you are married to Martha and work for IBM as a VP of technology.  You might say to volunteer at such and such organization(s).

God however has no beginning or end.  He has no father, mother, brother, sister, and is complete in Himself.  He is not bound by time.  He is outside of all that is created.  He is all knowledge, wisdom and understanding.  He is all love, righteous, and justice.  He can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  He is all powerful, mighty, and Holy.

And though we see Him partially, like though a fog, we will see Him fully in eternity.  We will understand His holiness, love, majesty, power, wisdom, and the fullness of “I am”

We serve a living God without limit.

Trust, faith, hope, reliance and love

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Psalms 119:71  It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Psalms 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Hebrews 12:10-11  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Genesis 37:4  But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Genesis 37:18-20  They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.  They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.   Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”

Psalms 56:5  All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

Genesis 45:5-8  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Acts 2:23  this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 3:13-15  The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.  But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,  and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Romans 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Is not God Sovereign?  Is He not righteous? Is He not all powerful?  Is He not loving?  Is He not the author and finisher of life?  Is He not all knowing?  Does He not have plans and purposes for us?  Is He not a place of refuge?  Is He not a comforter?  Is He not able to do more than we ask and can imagine?  Is He not living water and bread of life to our soul?  Has He not promised eternal life to those He loves and called according to His purpose and eternal death to those who do not?  Has He not given great and many precious promises of hope to our soul?  Has He not sent the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our paths?  Does He not know the thoughts, intents and actions of man?

Why is it then that we think we will never fall on troubled times or be disciplined by Him?  Why do we think, this side of eternity, we will have an easy go in life different from what all mankind face?   Why do we think death and judgement will not reach us until another time? How do we expect our faith, worship, thankfulness and love for God to grow if there is no need for dependance upon Him?    How do we expect to hear His whispers of guidance if we see no need for it?  How do we expect to see His handiwork if there is no want or desire to see it?  How are we to speak of His holiness if we never seek to understand it?

Why do we not seek His wisdom and understanding in all things?  Why do we allow good times to lead us into complacency and neglect?

Trust, faith, hope, reliance and love come through knowing Him more and more each day through all of the trials, troubles, and easier times in life.

We do well to respond as David did;  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Sin is crouching at the door

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin”

Genesis 4:7  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13    Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.  But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Isaiah 3:10-11     Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds  Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Romans 2:7-10     to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

Romans 12:1     I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Desire, want, pride, coveting, self-seeking all have root in our very nature.  We are born with this and it is never far from coming to the surface.  Even when we seek to do good there can be wrong motives.

How do we become aware and expose these.  It is hard when the culture we live in lives by different rules and expectations.  Pornography is labeled adult entertainment, abortion is legalized and a right, and christian values are mocked.  Though these are easily recognized as wrong by many with a background of bible teaching, they are not even close to being seen wrong by the culture that has no background of the bible.

Scripture speaks of both sin and righteousness.  The difference though should be clear as night and day, are not when God is not placed number one in our heart mind and soul.  When humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying God is not a desire everyday we are easily influenced by what seems right in our own eyes.

We can not rightly fight sin in our lives without a basis of knowledge and understanding of what it is.  Our thoughts, intents, and actions are all places where sin takes root.  How can we grow in this understanding of sin? Only by an understanding of God’s Holiness, grace, mercy, patience, justice, anger, wrath, and steadfast love.

As we read God’s word it exposes more and more of His holiness to us.  It peels away layer upon layer of false truths, fake lives, and self centered lukewarm living.

Do not neglect His word.  Do not become complacent in living each moment for His service and direction.  Godly and holy knowledge and understanding do not just happen without effort.  Effort does not exist when there is no desire.  Where there is no desire the heart, soul and mind starve of the very essence of life.  Choose to live this and everyday with His word in your heart, mind, and soul, to grow in your understanding and knowledge of serving and obeying Him.

How sad is the state of the culture when God’s word is at each person’s finger tips 24/7 and it is neglected days on end.

Securing an eternal redemption

“Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,”

Psalms 111:9  He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

 Psalms 130:7-8    O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

 Exodus 15:13    “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

 Isaiah 44:6    Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

 Isaiah 63:9    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

 Matthew 1:21    She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

 Luke 1:68     “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

 Ephesians 1:7    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

 Ephesians 1:14    who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 Titus 2:14    who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

 Hebrews 9:12     he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

 1 Peter 1:18-20     knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,  but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

 Exodus 15:11     “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Our redemption came at a cost, in an act of love, full of grace and mercy.  What action would you associate in the form of thankfulness for this great gift of remotion? Would it come in the form of trust, hope, patience, love, faith, and peace?  Would it inspire actions of good works.  Would it come out in the from of praise?  Would it sing songs of praise?  Would it speak kindly? Would it seek to be nearer and nearer to God’s presence?  Would it promote forgiveness?  It does us good to consider all that is found in Christ and live so that His light is seen.

Reviving the soul

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;”

“He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,”

Psalms 111:7  The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;

 Psalms 85:10    Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

 Psalms 89:14   Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

 Psalms 98:3    He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 Deuteronomy 32:4    “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

 Revelation 15:3-4     And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

 Psalms 119:160    The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

When you think about the attributes of God expressed in these verses, isn’t your heart, mind, and soul lifted up?  This is the God who reach out to you, revealed Himself to you, loved you so much that He sent Jesus to redeem you, and opened your heart and mind to His love, power, might, strength, joy, peace, grace, mercy, hope, and eternal life.  Trust in Him is never a waste, hope in Him is never meaningless, faith in Him is never pointless, waiting for Him is never a sign of weakness, humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying is never in vain.

People yet to be created

Psa 102:18  Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:  that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,  to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,  that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,  when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

Psalms 71:18    So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Psalms 78:4-6    We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

John 20:31     but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Romans 15:4     For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11     Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction

2 Timothy 3:16-17     All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Write it down so that there is a record for future generations.  These generations then can be told and read of the Awesome Power, Love, Promises, Might, Saving Grace, Mercy and Holiness of God.  This scripture is not something from the mind and thought of mankind, but from God,  and speaks of that which brings purpose and direction to our lives this side of eternity.  It shines light into the darkness of lost hearts and souls.  It brings hope to the lost.  It brings the good news of salvation.  It brings praise, joy, and humbleness to those who choose to serve, honor, follow and obey the Creator and Author of all there is and will be.  Scripture has been given to us so that we can grow in our knowledge and understanding of the one and only true God.  It has also be given so that we are able to share it with others.  Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news.

Psalm 99

Psalms 99:1  The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.  Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.   Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!  Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.  O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!

Matthew Henry Commentary:

Still we are celebrating the glories of the kingdom of God among men, and are called upon to praise him, as in the foregoing psalms; but those psalms looked forward to the times of the gospel, and prophesied of the graces and comforts of those times; this psalm seems to dwell more upon the Old-Testament dispensation and the manifestation of God’s glory and grace in that. The Jews were not, in expectation of the Messiah’s kingdom and the evangelical worship, to neglect the divine regimen they were then under, and the ordinances that were then given them, but in them to see God reigning, and to worship before him according to the law of Moses. Prophecies of good things to come must not lessen our esteem of good things present.

I like how Matthew ends this commentary with the statement of good things to come and good things present.  Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the present and which, somehow, we were ushered into the presence of Jesus, leaving this world behind.  Our God reigns and we are not to forget that even in the present and what overwhelms us, we are to turns our eyes to Him alone.  He has said to lay our burdens on Him, we are to trust Him.

Stand up and bless the LORD

Psalmsd 96:4  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalms 18:3    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Nehemiah 9:5     Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Psalms 145:3    Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalms 66:3     Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

Jeremiah 10:6-7   There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.  Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.

Revelation 15:4     Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Psalms 76:7     But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?

Luke 12:5     But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Psalms 9:17     The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.

Revelation 14:7    And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

2 Peter 2:4    For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Daily we are either living in God fearing reverence giving God praise or complacent neglect or absolute denial.  When thinking about an average day in your life in line with this, is a mirror to our heart, mind, and soul.  Living in a state of mind that does not have humble reverence and praise for God leaves us open for days upon end without purpose other than self.  Self walks down a path of “here and now”, giving no thought to God or His love, judgement, or eternity.  This is a fight within our very being.  Our sinful nature, left on its own, will walk paths separated from God.  Living for God, staying in His word and learning from it yields a continual transformation in our lives.  This transformation starts with a new birth, a new beginning, a life with purpose found in forgiveness of sin, by faith, through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

” Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”