Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Who is God?



Dictionary: a god is one that is worshiped, idealized, or followed.



So... who or what do you worship?  Who or what do you idealize?  Who or what do you follow?  

Drugs
Alcohol
Yourself
Money
Pornography
Fame
Sexual Perversions
The Culture
Movie Stars
Secret Sins
Social Status
Lie's
The Devil 
Tradition
Unforgiveness
Hatred
Self-Righteousness
Self-Condemnation
Religion
Your Own Opinions
Your Parents Faith
Your Career
Spirits
Agnostic
Denominations
Liberal Opinions that DO NOT line-up with God's Word
Status Quo?

Or, do you follow the One true God of the Universe? 
AND... 
Do you "do" what He says to do?


Luke 6:46 says, "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?"  So MANY people today are claiming to know "God," but they are not in a right relationship with Him.

So, who is God anyway?

He is holy. 
He is just. 
He is perfect.
He is righteous.
He is judge over all.
He is mighty.
He is majestic.
He is all-powerful (omnipotent).  
He is all-knowing (omniscient). 
He is present everywhere at the same time (omnipresent).  
He is above all others with supreme rank, power and authority (sovereign).
He is the CREATOR... the originator and RULER of the universe.
... And, yes He is love.

So why does His creation (mankind) constantly try to redefine who He is? Why do we claim to believe "this" or "that" as being truth? Shouldn't we ASK the One who made it all?  Shouldn't we search Him out with our "whole heart?" Shouldn't we approach His ways with a humble spirit? Shouldn't we confess our sins to Him and ask Him to forgive us and wash us clean?

And, what is sin - anyway?

According to the dictionary, sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.  Who's divine law?  Answer: God's law!!! 

How can we know God's law? Answer: He has defined His law in the Holy Bible.

And for those of you who think that the Jewish religion, Muslim religion, Buddhism and others have a different standard... think again.  It is "people" who change laws to make them what they want. If we take the time to really research the origins of these other religions we will find that most all of them go back to Abraham and/or creation (from the Bible). This is evidence that "people" have been adamant about changing God's divine Word to say what they want it to say since the beginning of time. Hence, more ways to God... and more religions.

As babies are born into various cultures who practice such other religions, most of these offspring will follow traditional practices without ever really questioning God for the absolute TRUTH; claiming their way to be the truth but not "humbly" seeking God Himself for the answer.

And nowadays, the American culture has made it quite en vogue to pick and choose which religion to follow. There is no humble seeking of the One True God.  There is no desperate need to be free from the stain of sin.  Instead, culture says you can have your sin and your religion, too, because God is so good that He doesn't care. Nothing could be further from the truth. God wants us free from sin because the wages of sin is death! (Romans 6:23)  God does not want us to die, that's the devils evil scheme.  God wants us to have LIFE and to have life more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Isn't it strange how the Bible can be interpreted differently between 2 different people? That's because one of them - or both of them - is choosing to read it through their tinted glasses of pride, rebellion and hidden sin.  When the Bible is read with a "humble" heart, the Holy Spirit will teach all people the same thing.  Granted each humble soul will be at a different level of understanding on their journey of faith throughout their lifetime of growing in the knowledge of God; BUT, these humble souls (Christ followers) will not be at odds with each other about the basic fundamentals of WHO JESUS IS... WHAT SIN IS... HOW TO GET TO GOD... ETC.

No matter where I have traveled in this world, I have found that when I start to "humbly" talk about Jesus and the Word of God - people listen!  Deep in the heart of all humanity there is a longing to know the one true God of the universe.  I have shared my testimony with Muslims and Jews alike, and I have seen the voice of God touch their heart as the Holy Spirit of all Truth revealed Himself to them at that very moment.  Even though religion, pride and sin will keep many people from knowing the One true God, the truth is that most people really do want to know and understand their Creator. Deep in their heart they know there is more than what their religion (or the lack thereof) has taught them.  While they may not earnestly seek after Him, when He is spoken of they recognize His voice, recognize His nature, recognize His ways and recognize His holiness.

So, getting back to the definition of God, it grieves me (really it grieves God) to hear of so many "so-called" Christians and ministers of the gospel who live in, and practice, known sin such as child molestation, adultery, homosexuality, drug addiction, alcoholism, pornography, cheating, lying and so on.  The question is, "Who is REALLY your god?"  "Who do you serve?"  "Who (or what) gets most of your attention?"  "Who (or what) do you rely on when tormenting thoughts bombard your mind?"

James 1:15 says, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

The Bible is clear that we all have bad thoughts.  We all have lusts.  We all have sinful inclinations.  The difference in that of a sinner who is lost in his ways (separated from God) and a true child of God is the grace (POWER) that they have been given by God to "obey" the Holy Spirit and not ACT upon their perversions.  So, the thought itself is not sin, but once we conceive a thought as being our own and then act upon that thought - we sin.  When we make that thought, that desire, that thing our god - we agree with sin!

1 John 4:20 says, "If a man say, “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a LIAR. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"  

Do we honestly believe that someone who commits adultery against their spouse really loves their spouse?  Do we honestly believe that someone who takes advantage of a child through sexual perversion loves that child?  Do we honestly think that someone who kills them self with drugs or alcohol really loves them self... or their family?  Do we honestly think that someone who lives a bald face lie really loves others? 

James 1:22-25 says, "But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

A god is one that is worshiped, idealized, or followed.

So, today's questions remain:  Who or what do you worship?  Who or what do you idealize?  Who or what do you follow?  Who or what do you esteem as absolute truth?  Who or what voices do you listen to?

Do you follow the One true God of the Universe... AND, do you "do" what He says to do?

Matthew 7:21-23(ERV) says, “Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God’s kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that last Day many will call me Lord. They will say, ‘Lord, Lord, by the power of your name we spoke for God. And by your name we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ Then I will tell those people clearly, ‘Get away from me, you people who do wrong. I never knew you.’”

Now, we have all heard that God is love... and this is true!  But do we also know that He is just? Sadly, this world has chosen to only believe that He is love, but they have rejected the fact that He is just.  They have neglected to see that love does not allow someone to kill them self... or others.  Love always gives warnings, boundaries and guidelines.  Think about how a parent loves a child.  Will they let their child do things that they know will harm them?  No.  A good parent sets boundaries for their children so that they can grow in safety and a wholesome environment.  A good parent wants their children to respect authority.  God is the same with us.

So this particular article is not about the love of God (which is very important), but rather it is about the righteousness of God (which is also very important).  Because, He is!  He is God!  He is our Creator! And... He makes the rules for living a GOOD LIFE on this earth and in the life to come.

Will you seek Him with your whole heart today?  Will you ask Him to reveal the truth of who He is according to His word?  Will you believe His word (the Bible) and take it for face value (not twisting it to make it conform to your sinful lusts)?

If you are Jewish, will you read the New Testament to see what it says about this good man Jesus?

If you are Muslim will you read the Injeel to see what it says about this prophet Jesus?

If you are of any other faith would you humbly read the Bible and ask God to let you know if this is for real or not?

If you are struggling with addictions, homosexuality, pornography, rage or any other perversion, would you dive into the Bible to "humbly" see what God has to say about these conditions?  I know there are many "so-called" churches who teach that these things are "just the way you are" but friend, that is a lie from the pit of hell.  You were born to be like God - holy and righteous.  You were born to be free from the bondage of sin.  Would you ask Him to set you FREE by the power of the blood of Jesus?  He wants to!

If we really want to know the One true God... ASK HIM TO REVEAL HIMSELF!  
                                                     
                                                Because... HE WILL!



John 14:21 

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."



John 17:3 
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."