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Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." Acts 15:10-11
we are saved by grace. pure simple wonderful amazing grace.
and we respond to that grace and salvation by how we live our lives.
i can never earn my salvation.
i can never pay it back.
anything i do for Jesus, do to know Jesus, do to live for Jesus, is a response to His love for me first.
bible study and personal worship – times of discipline – are fuelled by devotion
attending and being involved in church – are fuelled by devotion
sometimes those things don’t feel very inspiring or overflowing from a place of love and connection, but they’re so important
but not if you’re adding a burden to yourself to work out being a good Christian
you are rescued and redeemed, not because of anything we have done, we had done or we can do or could do
but because of the love and grace and power of God
God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. Colossians 1:19-22
God because of the imputed righteousness of Christ to me and his wrath absorbing death on the cross and his resurrection now sees me as perfect and spotless and holy, not because i am but because HE IS ~ Matt Chandler
The good news – the gospel – is that you and I have fallen short, we have worshiped things that are not God, we have belittled and mocked God with either our hearts, mouths or minds and God’s response to that has been to make a way for us to be reconciled to God in the person and work of Jesus Christ – so that the two-fold movement that occurs is that we get Christ’s righteousness and He takes upon Himself our rebellion and sinfulness so that when God then looks at us He sees Christ and deems us as perfect and spotless and blameless ~ Matt Chandler
The commands of God are given, not to rob me of joy, but to lead me into the fullness of joy ~ Matt Chandler
“God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so. He loves you when you don’t feel lovely. He loves you when no one else loves you. While we may theologically and intellectually understand the transaction, motivated by love, that took place at Calvary, the reality must reach our hearts in order to complete its course. We are loved. Let the words linger in our ears. We are loved.” ~ Max Lucado
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14
God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. Colossians 1:19-22 CEV
In communion we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and all it has won for us.
I can’t get past how Colossians 1 says it:
God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.
And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God.
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. (Colossians 1:19-22)
Before we were lost.
Now we are found.
Before we were separated from God because of sin.
Now we are able to stand in His presence, holy, clean, new, innocent.
Before we were rejected.
Now we are accepted.
Before we were sinners.
Now we are family.
Not because of anything we have done or could do. But all because of what Jesus did.
At communion we remember that Jesus stretched His arms out upon the cross – after being beaten, whipped, mocked, spat on, unjustly convicted – He stretched His arms out as a declaration of Love. I Love you this much!
His death makes the way – makes us found, holy, acceptable, family.
We know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 peter 1:18-19
In Revelation 5 the elders and angels are declaring the wonder of who Jesus is, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, the one who is worthy, the mighty glorious awesome powerful one… and they worshipped Him “because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9
At communion we remember that Jesus died and won. That He died and won a great victory over satan and sin and death! He won the victory that sets us free to be holy and righteous! He sets us free to know our Heavenly Father and to belong with Him forever beginning right now!
Let us remember what He died for and lets LIVE in the reality of the victory! Knowing God. Being loved by Him.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, Hebrews 10:19-23
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
Usually communion is quite solemn as we come and Jesus’ sacrifice, but yesterday as I was praying about what to share and say a particular song was playing – and my heart was just again overwhelmed with awe and love and rejoicing at what Jesus won for us – so I invite you to come and and CELEBRATE communion with thankful hearts – with thankful lives – rejoicing in all that Jesus died for – our redemption – our restoration – our reconciliation!
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. Genesis 3:1-4
"Did God really say ….?" ooooh what a question! this one seemingly simple question plants the seed of rebellion, it plants doubt. did God REALLY say? It is the same question that is whispered every time there is a choice to follow God’s purposes or follow your own.
did God really say? talk about sneaky and crafty… the weapon the enemy often uses – still uses – is getting us to doubt the Word of God – doubt His promises – doubt His revelation – doubt His will – doubt His goodness. our relationship with God is founded on faith and doubt corrodes that faith.
don’t listen to the did God really say? fight back with THE WORD OF GOD SAYS… have a but God says in your heart that is ready to fight back and counter the lie. this is why knowing the truth and the Word is really important… because it plants the Word in our heart ready to defend and strike!
Why is it so important to spend time with Jesus every day? Because He will give us the exact instruction and comfort we need to handle all He sees coming our way—how to act and, even more challenging, how to react in every situation. It is the perfect measure of His peace, packaged up just for us. With great expectation, we can stick it in our pocket and carry it with us. Lysa TerKeurst
We need to read the Word and store it in our hearts – it keeps us from sinning and living selfishly and to remind us of His promises and love and kindness…
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Jesus when He was in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil used the Word of God to rebut his schemes and devices. each time Jesus was presented with a “did God really say?” He rebuked the devil with a THE WORD OF GOD SAYS.
“The Scriptures call the Evil One the "father of lies." We see that right away in Genesis 3:1. Our first introduction to him as a character in God’s story already includes him setting out to deceive Eve.” youversion note
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world – just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. Colossians 1:3-6
as a housegroup leader i know this feeling. i thank God often for our housegroupies and for the work that God is doing in and through their lives. its such a privilege to be a part of their lives and an honour to be their housegroup leader. the greatest thing, apart from that they’re awesome spunky fun cool people, is seeing them grow closer to God and step out into the plans and purposes that He has for them. reading this it encourages me and challenges me to pray more for those i lead, expectant that God will do incredible things in their life, that they will be fruitful and mature, and know Him and make Him known.
i’m so glad for the people in my life that have prayed for me, that have believed in me and extended grace to me in the times when i was “learning to walk.”
i’m so grateful for the people that came alongside me and helped me to grow and bear fruit, and bore with me in my seasons of rebellion and ignorance.
what a fantastic commendation Paul gives the Colossian Christians – that they are known by their love and faith. the hallmark of their lives is their tangible practical real love and tangible real practical faith.
For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God’s consecrated ones), Colossians 1:3 AMP
i love the way the AMP describes faith – the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness – i always say FAITH ISNT A WHAT BUT IT IS IN A WHO – faith is IN God, in His goodness, in His greatness, in His ableness and power and wisdom and glory
its not about us. but its about HIM.
He saves us, He rescues us, He restores us, He transforms us.
and i put my hand up and say YES PLEASE. and even in that my response is usually because He has opened my eyes to His wonderfulness and stirred my spirit towards Him.
the one universal unchangeable Gospel which was made known to you, even as it was carried throughout the world, approving itself by its fruits wherever it is planted. For, as elsewhere, so also in you, these fruits were manifested from the first day when you received your lessons in, and apprehended the power of, the genuine Gospel, which is not a law of ordinances but a dispensation of grace, not a device of men but a truth of God. LIGHTFOOT
which is present with you even as also it is in all the world constantly bearing fruit and increasing, just as it is also among you from the day when you heard it and came to know experientially the grace of God in the sphere of truth WEUST
faith and love and Christian living is all about experience – experientially knowing the grace of God – more than a mental assent or head knowledge, but a heart level knowledge that is then translated and expressed in the very way we live our lives
It is important to remember that the gospel is not a stagnant system of ethics but is living, dynamic and growing truth. The living gospel is the power that transforms lives. As it does so, the witness of those transformed lives produces fruit, including new converts. So as the gospel produces fruit in individual lives, its influence spreads. Perceptastim
i so like the last part of verse 6 – the day you truly understood God’s grace. there is a difference b/w understanding and, how do i put it, thinking we understand. true understanding results in change and response and love and transformation and fruit. it permeates who we are and what we do. so often we have a checklist in our head of what things good Christians do and what things good Christians don’t. but underlying that all, the reality is that God loves us with an everlasting love and He sees not our own righteousness but Christ’s righteousness.
“God’s perspective on us is remarkable, almost unbelievable. He delights in us and loves us as a caring Father. He’s running toward us, ready to embrace and forgive us. He’s for us in all the pain of life and can sustain us in every challenge. as i learn to see from God’s perspective, my perspective on everything else shifts. i realize that my failures don’t disqualify me. i’m aware of the security i already have in God’s grace. i trust that nothing will separate me from the love of God in Christ.” Jud Wilhite
awesome eh. that’s what grace is. that’s what living by grace is. when we understand it we’re free. we can fly (okay i’m watching how to tame your dragon at the same time as doing this and totally inspired by the flying dragon!) and really live. we live in response to God’s great love and abundant grace, lavished upon us. that’s what inspires us to change, motivates us, from the inside out. because God is awesome and worth it.
* colossians has been one of my most favourite books for a few years now. i quote from colossians 1 usually every time i preach. yes seriously. so thought i would dig in a bit more…
· 1Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to take a census of Israel. 2Samuel 24:2 So David told Joab and the army officers, “Go to every tribe in Israel, from the town of Dan in the north all the way south to Beersheba, and count everyone who can serve in the army. I want to know how many there are.”
Now Job actually tries to talk David out of this – there is actually a God rule that the leader of Israel was not allowed to take a census except at the order of God. But David refuses to change his mind and sends Joab and his soliders out to number the people.
· 2 Samuel 24:5-10 They crossed the Jordan River and began with Aroer and the town in the middle of the river valley. From there they went toward Gad and on as far as Jazer. They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. Then they went to Dan, Ijon, and on toward Sidon. They came to the fortress of Tyre, then went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah. After they had gone through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It had taken them nine months and twenty days. Joab came and told David, “In Israel there are eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army, and in Judah there are five hundred thousand.” After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told the LORD, “What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. LORD, please forgive me.”
Did you notice in verse 10 that David felt guilty about what he had done…. It took him a while to get there, but his conscience awoke and he was convicted about what he had done. He comes to God and I love how my CEV puts it… “What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. LORD, please forgive me.”
Sin is stupid and terribly wrong. It is rebellion against God. Louie Giglio says that sin puffs us up and makes God smaller in our eyes.
Sin says my way, not his ways. It separates us from God. It hurts us and it hurts others. Sin makes us dirty and unclean and unacceptable to God. Sin makes us guilty.
So…. You might be saying… this is all a bit doom and gloom sin stuff….Have you read what the bible says about sin and how God feels about it????
· Job 18:5-21 The lamps of sinful people soon are snuffed out, leaving their tents dark. Their powerful legs become weak, and they stumble on schemes of their own doing. Before they know it, they are trapped in a net, hiddden along the path. Terror strikes and pursues from every side. Starving, they run, only to meet disaster, then afterwards to be eaten alive by death itself. Those sinners are dragged from the safety of their tents to die a gruesome death. Then their tents and possessions are burned to ashes, and they are left like trees, dried up from the roots. They are gone and forgotten, thrown far from the light into a world of darkness, without any children to carry on their name. Everyone, from east to west, is overwhelmed with horror. Such is the fate of sinners and their families who don’t know God.
I think sometimes we think that God’s response to sin is a slap on the hand and a “don’t a naughty girl or I’ll have to put you on the naughty step…” But sin is sin is abhorrent to God. Sin is the greatest disease we face – but there is a cure! There is good news! Back to the David….
· 2Sa 24:11 Before David even got up the next morning, the LORD had told David’s prophet Gad to take a message to David.
The prophet went to David with the choice he had to make… the consequences of his pride and sin….
· 2 Samuel 24:15-17 So that morning, the LORD sent an angel to spread a horrible disease everywhere in Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. And before it was over, seventy thousand people had died.
The right there and then consequences of David’s sin was the death of 70,000 of his people. The end result consequences of our own sin is eternal separation from God. I always say that eternity is just like real estate – its all about location location location.
We’re coming up to the exciting bit now… Now David went to the threshing floor and saw the angel of the Lord, his sword held upward, ready to strike! He met with the owner, Araunah, and negotiated buying the land. Araunah wanted to give it to David, his king but David says this really interesting awesome quote that always inspires me · 2 Samuel 24:24″No! I have to pay you what they’re worth. I can’t offer the LORD my God a sacrifice that I got for nothing.” So David bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver. ·
1Chronicles 21:23-28 . David built an altar and offered sacrifices to please the LORD and sacrifices to ask his blessing. David prayed, and the LORD answered him by sending fire down on the altar. Then the LORD commanded the angel to put the sword away. When David saw that the LORD had answered his prayer, he offered more sacrifices there at the threshing place,
Now – heres something really cool… did you know that the threshing floor belonging to Araunah is believed to be the where the temple of Solomon – the temple of God was built and also, wait for it, and was in time before that the mountain where Abraham offered his son Isaac, and in the future is the mountain where Jesus Christ was crucified and was the sacrifice that takes our sins away? The place where David met with God and made an altar and where God stopped the punishment for his sin is the place where God intervened into history and eternity and where Jesus sacrificed himself so that we might be made innocent and pure and holy and clean and new and forgiven and righteous!
· Colossians 1:20-22 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
The bible says that we all sin. We’ve all fallen short of the standard of righteousness God sets. We all make mistakes and act selfishly and do things wrong – by accident and by intention. Sin is the greatest disease we all face. But there is a cure. The cure is Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and bore the punishment we deserved. He purchased the cure for us.
· John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.
Because of love Jesus paid the punishment for us. Because of love God rescues us. Because of love he made a way for us to be forgiven and acceptable and innocent. You see, we are created to know God – to be his children. These are not nice words or nice ideas but real tangible reality. We are spiritual beings, not just alive to breathe. But without the mercy of God and without having our sin forgiven we are separated from God eternally, we have a criminal record according to God.
Today that can change. Today you can be innocent and forgiven. Just as God stopped punishing David on that hill so 2000 years ago he made a way for us to be forgiven. On that hill outside the walls of Jerusalem the price was paid for each one of us to know God.
My challenge to you is this… if you were to drive out of here tonight and be hit by a boy racer speeding around the corner and died – would you open your eyes into eternity and be met by a loving God that welcomes you as his child because you have faith in Jesus and believe that the only way to God is his way, by being forgiven.
Today you can be like David who prayed and came before God saying Sorry, I was stupid and terribly wrong, forgive me. There is a cure. Sin does not have to be terminal. Again…. Colossians 1:20-22 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
To finish up, lets pray, and I’m going to pray the words that David himself penned, which we know as Psalm 51….
· Psalm 51:1-12Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I confess my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight; that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Colossians 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation.
Colossians 1:16 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God’s Son, and everything was made for him.
Colossians 1:17 God’s Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.
Colossians 1:18 He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others.
JESUS IS EXACTLY LIKE GOD
Jesus is exactly like God. The visible of the invisible. He makes the invisible seen. Jesus shows us what God is like. He reveals to us who God is and how he would act. Jesus is God with flesh who came and dwelled on earth.
a likeness, that is, (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance: – image.
ILUUSTRATION:
My husband and I have two kids – a son, who is nearly 7 and a daughter who is 3 ½. Both in some way are like us, their mum and dad. our son is more change reluctant and some would say shy, like his dad…. our wee girl though loves to sing and dance and be centre stage… remind you of anyone… our son has eyes like his dad and if you compare my baby pictures to my daughters you’d be hard to tell the difference – my own dad couldn’t! our son rolls his r’s like a proud southlander and our daughter believes tomato sauce is the perfect addition to any meal, just like her dad….
In my family stubbornness and determination are classic family traits. You can pick someone from my family in any crowd, cos we’re the short ones… I have my dad’s hammer toes….
Our kids are like us in many ways, but neither totally reflects us exactly because they are their own little people. We can tell people about our parents but we never fully represent them exactly.
Jesus perfectly represents God. He IS God! He is exactly like God – he makes the One who is unseen, seen.
When we see Jesus and how he acts we can be assured that he is acting exactly like God.
LIFE APPLICATION: Sometimes God seems very far away and we cant work him out. In these times we can look at how Jesus lived and reacted and interacted with people in the bible and know that though God is invisible that Jesus was visible and reveals to us God with flesh.
Feeling convicted and condemned – Jesus didn’t throw the first stone - he said I forgive you – go and sin no more.
Need healing – Jesus had compassion on the sick and healed them.
Weary and burdened by the stress of life – Jesus said come to me and I will give you rest.
Jesus shows us how God really does deal with people. Jesus makes God personal.
EVERYTHING – ALL THINGS
Everything. All things.
Back about 10 years ago, back in the days before esword and before bible.com I did a word study with my 25tonne Strongs Concordance on the word ALL. I discovered something shocking and unsurprising and wonderful and deeply revelatory…. That the word ALL means…. Wait for it… hold onto your seats… are you ready… got your pens ready to write… this is deep…. The word ALL… means all.
All means all. Everything. Any. Every. The Whole. All. The whole shebang!
All means all. So when we read in Colossians 1 that EVERYTHING and ALL THINGS were created by Jesus we can be totally sure and confident beyond shadow of a doubt that… wait for it… hold onto your seats… are you ready…. That everything and all things were created by Jesus. All things were made by him and for him. There is nothing that was made without Jesus.
LIEF APPLICATION: Because of this we can have great confidence that God is in control and sees all and orders all and is involved in all. He made all and created all and is over all and rules all. In case you didn’t get it – You and I are part of that all. Everything in my life and my family is part of that all. Everything in your life and your family is part of that all. I am part of the all that Jesus reigns over and created for his purposes and his glory. Practically this means that we can trust God in the difficult times. In the times of darkness we can remember that Jesus is the light of the world and that in the darkness before creation God said let there be light and there was! We can be fully confident that no matter what forces – seen or unseen – assails us that God is fully aware of this…. And we can have faith in his power to work all things out for good.
This is our God – mighty and all powerful. Ruler and king of all! Glorious and awesome! Creator of the stars and the suns and the universe and the angels and the flamingo and the tiger and the dragonfly and the Persian cat and the kauri trees and the frangipanis. God is creative and we cant even find words to measure his power.
Doesn’t that give you confidence to live our lives knowing that we are called children and friends of this God! This is our God!
FOR HIM
Before I finish up I want to show you two little words that say lots! For Him. All things were created BY Jesus and FOR Jesus.
Its funny when you look up on esword at the meaning of a word, even small inconspicuous words, how you can get a whole paragraph that adds colour and richness to a word… like for….
The word for means: to or into, of place and time and purpose – it carries with it intent and purpose – planning and will if you will. We are not created for “just creation sake”… we are not accidental. Nothing is. All of this around is is by design and purpose and destiny – by Jesus and FOR Jesus.
Everything on our planet and in our universe and in the seen and unseen realm is created for a purpose and that purpose is to glorify God and bring joy to him. The heavens declare the glory of God and likewise we have a function – we, created in the likeness of our God – are created to know God and make him known.
CHALLENGE: Today are you living FOR Jesus with purpose and passion? Today are you surrendering to the King of all Kings, Ruler of all Creation, Almighty God, the I AM, Jesus Christ? Today are you living to know Him – Jesus, the one who reveals God to us at such a personal level? All things were created BY Jesus and FOR Jesus – and this is where sin comes into it – sin makes us live for ourselves, in rebellion to the almighty God. Sin rebels against the purpose of God for our lives – to be his children, to worship him. Today I want you to first put yourself right with God – to make sure that you are relating to him rightly aka saved and assured of your salvation…. And secondly I want you to rest in that confidence that knowing Jesus gives… knowing that because he created all things for his glory and purpose – that you are safe with him. Jesus never promised an easy life, but he did promise to walk with us through everything and that our faith overcomes all things. Have faith in Jesus, our God, the first born Son, superior to all creation, creator of all things.
this is an awesome song by misty edwards… see the link in my blogroll to get a free worship cd with this on… by IHOP (international house of prayer) – this is the first song on the cd and it is beautiful and inspriing and hope filling… is from Numbers – a prayer that Aaron prayed… that the Lord would make his face shine upon us… is a blessing, that we would know God, face to face, in relationship, in peace, in glory, in knowing. that God would not be far away but near. That we would see him and walk with him and know him and make him known. God is not far away but personal and delights in us knowing him. he calls us to draw near. his Spirit dwells within us to reveal God to us. Jesus came and dwelled on earth as a human that we would know God and see who God is. God isnt indifferent or far away or a grumpy bum. he is loving, compassionate, holy, righteous, merciful, relational, near, great and good. do you know God? is your heart beating faster with teh possiblity that God is real… and that you might dare draw near to know him…. this is what Jesus did… he made the way. he opened the door. he unlocked the gate. he ripped the curtain between the most holy place and us from TOP to bottom at his death. this shows, this was a physical illustration that he has made a way to our holy God. Colossians 1:22 says “But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.” that is awesome eh. that is truth!
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