Tag: knowledge of God
Divine Power to Know, Be, and Do
“Ignorance is bliss” — perhaps this is true for children of the world, but not for the children of God. Our Heavenly Father desires children, and sires us into His kingdom by the divine power of His Spirit. By the same power, He continues to show us, teach us, and lead us in the truth of His Word and will, as He is preparing us for eternity with Him ~ by His grace, for His glory and our joy.
According as his divine power hath given unto us
all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5
The Lord’s Day
This being the Lord’s Day, what should our main prayer be? This being the first day of the week, the day our Lord and Savior rose from the dead, to prove His Lordship over all things—for Whom should our prayers be, on this day?
“Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
let all the peoples praise Thee.”
Psalm 67:3
Father, direct our hearts, these new hearts, to you, today especially; seeking the honor of Your Name, Your Kingdom, Your Will, here on earth. Unite our hearts to fear Thy Name (Psalm 86:11) that you receive the honor due to You, our great Father, God, and Creator.
As we have been given a vision of true worship in Revelation 4, open heaven to us today and by Your Spirit, give us a new glimpse into Your sanctuary of glory, seeing Christ sitting at Your right hand. Raise us up to sit in heavenly places with Him, today.
While it is today, reveal Your glory to us, that we may increase in the knowledge of You.
Have mercy upon us, in our spiritual blindness, for we cannot see You as we ought. And if we cannot see, how can we worship as we ought. Send the light into our darkness—the light of the knowledge of Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Let us not be led by our own spirits, nor by those who are blind; give us shepherds on this day, who know You, who love You and care for Your sheep, those who would teach us of You and lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.
Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit to reveal “the way, the truth, and the life” that is in You. Let us not be deceived in following the traditions of men, but direct us into all truth by the power of Your Spirit of grace, according to the commandments of Your Holy Word.
Pour out Your Spirit upon Your people today, where You have chosen to place Your Name; upon Your preachers; that Your Word may be spoken through them.
Bring Your Spirit to honor Your Word as it is read and preached today. Let it, by Your power, fill our hearts and authorize Your commandments in us. Put the fire of Your Spirit in Your Word, and consume our dross. Let it penetrate cold, stony hearts; permeate our whole being and the life of Your church. Let it perpetuate the life of Christ, our Lord, and Savior in and through us. Then shall we bring others to Your house on Your day for Your worship—as You, in Jesus, call us to this Holy Day each week.
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”
Hebrews 2:12
I want to see You today, to experience the glory of Your presence as You revealed Yourself in times past. Make today a supernatural event for history, for a remembrance, for a record. You did not live a righteous life for us, give that life as a sacrifice for our sins, and ascend to the Father’s right hand, as a last mighty act. You have taught us in Your Word that You did all this that You might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, (Hebrews 2:17) to bring us to Him.
You have taught us how You are the mediator of our worship. Greater than Moses, You bring us to Mount Sion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22).
“This is the day You have made
(for yourself, a day to remember and celebrate YOU)
we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
Do Your work in us today, as it pleases You. Let us be filled with the Spirit; speaking to each other of You, and with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our heart to You.” Ephesians 5:18-19
“Inhabit our praises.”
Psalm 22:3
Holy Spirit, I pray for Your power today to reveal the Father and the Son of glory as we gather with all the saints, here or earth and in heaven before Your presence.
“Let us comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height;
and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge,
that we might be filled with all the Father’s fullness.”
Ephesians 3:18-19
Intercede for us, today, for we know not how we ought to pray.
Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, feed us with that manna from above as we seek You today.
Have mercy on us as poor sinners. Forgive our iniquities.
Humble us in Your presence and keep us from temptation, especially this day.
Let us celebrate at Your Table today, knowing You are holy, good, and gracious, as we look forward to that great Lord’s Day to come.
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory,
and honor, and power,
for thou has created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
Bring us to deny ourselves today, to set aside our own pleasures (Isaiah 58:6-14) to do Your pleasure. Teach us Thy way, O Lord. Show us the way to the old paths, wherein is the good way.—for Your glory and our joy.
“For Thine is the Kingdom,
And the Power,
And the Glory, Forever.
Amen”
What the Holy Bible Says about The Word of GOD
Second in the series What the Holy Bible Says is available on Amazon.
What the Holy Bible Says about The Word of GOD follows What the Holy Bible Says about LIGHT, published two years ago.
Both are devotional studies using references from Strong’s Concordance with questions and suggestions for discovering what God has to say about these topics. The first study on LIGHT is a ten-week study.
The second study on The Word of GOD is a twenty-six-week study. It not only involves a longer time than the first book but will produce a greater understanding of who God is, what He spoke and reveals about Himself. Going through this study twice, I have experienced a deep humility and relationship with God which I did not have before. This devotional study starts slow but quickens its pace and brings the reader to a greater knowledge of the Word of God. It ends with fullness and joy, giving the student a bountiful love for God and His Word.
(The third study, not published, is What the Holy Bible Says about LIFE.)
The first two books are in paperback and Ebook with others on Amazon.
We began publishing two years ago as a means to archive our work in proclaiming the legacy of God’s kingdom to future generations. Profits from sales are designated for missions and charity. Free copies of any book are available to those who cannot afford to buy.
Dear Father in heaven, we praise you for another opportunity to share the truth of your Word. We pray for your Holy Spirit to lead readers to know you through this study. In Jesus’ name, we pray, thank you and praise you. Amen.
Grace and the Beast
“So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.” Psalm 73:22
Why am I so foolish?—because I am ignorant. Why am I ignorant?—because I do not know God. Without the knowledge of Him I am but a sinful creature, no different than the other creatures that He has made. How many times, through the means of His grace, has my heart been”grieved” at the revelation of my beastliness beofre HIm and before men.
In this Psalm Asaph sees himself in the middle of sinful humanity. He sees himself as one of the whole of humanity, identifying with the pride of the wicked. Envious of their prosperity his “feet were almost gone.” His steps had “well nigh slipped.” But, he goes on to speak of God’s relationship to His people—to those whom He has delivered by His grace.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NEVERTHELESS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What a blessed word is this to me and those who are being tamed by the grace of our Father, and His Spirit—to those He has brought to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ
“I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.”
Which is greater—the Father’s wisdom, or my foolishness? Which is dominant—the Father’s knowledge, or my ignorance? Which is the overwhelming and overcoming factor in the life of God’s children—His grace, or our sin?
“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
Psalm 73:23-24
“Father, you know that we have none in heaven but you, that there is none upon earth that we, as your children, desire beside you. Our flesh and our hearts fail in our own endeavors, but you are ‘the strength of our hearts, and our portion forever.” This is all the power of the working of your grace within us. We praise you for all things, and for this day of grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, and thank you.”
Grace to Learn and Live
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:2-3 ESV
“Live and learn” is one of those ho-hum expressions I grew up with. It is etched in my mind, with the understanding that most of life is trial and error; that we learn most of what we know from our mistakes. How do we turn this around, so that we “learn and live?” How soon do children learn of God and His Son, Jesus Christ?—by this, I mean, not just a hint, here or there, of God’s existence, or that Jesus is somehow connected to Christmas and Easter; but, children learning, as they are brought up by fathers in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
To be brought up in a Christian home is a gift and act of God’s grace—by this I mean, not just taken to Sunday School and church, but a Christian home where the principles of “life and godliness” are modeled, lived before and with them. How much of His Word, wherein is found this “knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord,” do we as parents have within our own hearts and minds?
It is by His mercy and grace that we can be “transformed by the renewing of the mind” and so “prove His good, acceptable, and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2) for ourselves and for our children.
What does this life look like in reality? Paul described it in Titus 2:11-14:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior jesus Christ, 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.”
Only His “divine power” of grace can do this work in us—for His glory and our joy.
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.“
John 17:3
God's Grace ~ God's Glory! 