"God of... Peace"

    The description of God we are looking at this week is one that is only used in the New Testament: God of peace.

peace is the Greek word, eirene (Strong’s #G1515), means to join together into a whole, wholeness.

‘God of peace’ means that the Lord is the author and promoter of wholeness.

    Used six times* in the N.T. this description of God may, at first glance, seem insignificant and simply a term Paul (and the Hebrew writer) liked to use, but if we take a closer look at each usage I think we will discover something of significant value.

*Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:20-21, and “Lord of peace” found in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, which I decided to include in this study, as it is used only once.

    This is what I have learned from these verses:

When will our God of peace act?   

• When we need to withdraw from disorderly (idle, undisciplined, unruly) brethren who do not walk as the apostles gave example/instruction (context of 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Matthew 18:15-20)
• When we note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine and need to turn away from (avoid) them (context of Romans 16:20)
• When we obey the command to “be of one mind and live in peace” and humbly hear correction, learn to acknowledge our sins, and seek God with repentant hearts (context of 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• When we give our anxieties to God, ask for His help, train our minds to focus on thankfulness and whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy, and follow Paul’s example and instruction (as he followed Christ, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 John 2:3-6, context of Philippians 4:9)
• When we need to do our part and also patiently help those who are unruly, fainthearted, and weak (context of 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Romans 12:1-2; 9-21)
• God has done, and continues to do, His part and He wants to bless us when we do our part in humble, submissive obedience (context of Hebrews 13:20, John 3:14-21)

What will our God of peace do?

• He will give you peace always and in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16, Philippians 4:6-7)
• He will crush Satan under your feet shortly (Romans 16:20)
• He will be with you (1 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:9)
• He will sanctify you completely; our whole spirit soul, and body preserved blameless at Jesus’ coming (set you apart, 1 Thessalonians 5:23)
• He will make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21)

    We serve a God who is whole and wants us to be whole in Him. When we do what He asks we can be at peace with Him and in following His instructions we can, as much as depends on us, live in peace with our brethren and our neighbours. God has provided all we need to do this! Let’s be of one mind, follow His commands, and learn to live in the wholesome peace He grants us.

You can do it! So can I!! 

"God of... My Salvation"

    Continuing in our “God of…” study, I would like you to consider our God described as “God of my salvation,” although this term sometimes includes “our,” “your,” and “his” in place of “my.” This description only appears in the Old Testament and while “my salvation,” in reference to God, first appears on the Bible pages in Exodus 15:2, the first appearance of this particular description, “God of my salvation,” does not show up until Psalm 18:46 (Note: ‘God of our salvation’ is found before this, in 1 Chronicles 16:35). “God of ___ salvation” is found 11 times in the Scriptures.

    Looking at each reference we find people either declaring the glory of the God of salvation (Psalm 18:46-49, 65:5), making known the hope one has in Him (Psalm 24:5, Habakkuk 3:18), or calling out to Him for rescue from both physical troubles (1 Chronicles 16:34-35, 88:1, 27:9, Micah 7:7) and spiritual (Psalm 25:4-5, 51:14).

    Salvation in all these verses simply means physical rescue from external evils, with the benefit of then being able to continue in our service toward Him. Read and think on 2 Thessalonians 3:1-4.

    We serve the God who rescues and saves! God created us that we may seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-17), He redeemed us with the blood of Jesus that we may be saved from our sins (John 3:16-21, I John 4:10), and so that we would joy in the God of our salvation, telling others of His greatness (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 34:1-3)!

    Do not be like those to whom Isaiah spoke, who had forgotten the God of their salvation, who planted foreign seeds in their gardens (took worldly wisdom/ideas into their heart and put them into practice), whose efforts came to a “heap of ruins” (Isaiah 17:10-11). Do not turn from salvation to something so unworthy and ruinous, appreciate the salvation you have from God, both physical and spiritual! Appreciate it and praise Him for it! Call Him ‘the God of your salvation’ to remind yourself of your once forlorn state and of the blessed help you received – and continue to receive – from our Creator.    

    Do you trust in God as your salvation? Do you run to Him for help and comfort in your physical troubles (mental/emotional upset, health concerns) and in your spiritual needs, confessing your sins to Him (1 John 1:8-9)? Look to Him and lean on Him! Trust Him to rescue you (1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Peter 2:9), He is the God of our salvation!

You can do it! So can I!! 

"God of... Heaven"

    The second most used term referring to God is found 17 times in the Old Testament and only twice in the New. It’s probably the first fact we learn about God in childhood: “God lives up in heaven;” we sang songs about being careful with what we do and say because “the Father up above is looking down in love,” and that simple fact is as complicated as this term for God gets.

God (Strong’s #H430) – elohim – means divine being

heaven (Strong’s #H8064, Hebrew/O.T.) – shamayin – means the abode of God

  (Strong’s #G3772, Greek/N.T.) – ouranos – means the highest heaven, the dwelling place of God

    You may be thinking, ‘I already knew all this, what more is there to say on the subject?’ Well, I have found through my own personal studies that anytime a term/phrase is mentioned more than once in the Bible each usage is enveloped in a little bit more information so that when we look at each one we learn a bit more and end up with a rather complete picture when we are done!

Side study: Try this for yourself in studying, for example, the phrase “the fear of the LORD” (throughout the Bible) or in studying the passages that mention Joseph of Arimathea (in the New Testament gospels).

    What can we learn from the 18 references to the “God of heaven” in the Bible? Here’s what I have summarized:

We should…

          …seek Him (Daniel 2:17-18, also consider Acts 17:26-27)

…pray to Him (Ezra 6:10, Nehemiah 1:4-5; 2:4, Daniel 2:17-18, also consider 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

…obey His commands (Ezra 1:2, 7:23, also consider 1 John 2:3-6)

…offer sacrifices to Him (Ezra 6:9-10, also consider Romans 12:1-2)

…trust Him (Nehemiah 2:20, Daniel 2:44, also consider Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

…give Him the glory and praise Him (Nehemiah 1:5, Daniel 2:37, Revelation 11:13, also consider Psalm 103:1-5)

…thank Him and bless Him (Psalm 136:26, Daniel 2:17-23, also consider 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 1:3)

…confess our faith in Him (Jonah 1:9, also consider Matthew 10:32)

…do good for those who fear Him (Ezra 7:21, also consider Galatians 6:9-10)

…not be like those who blaspheme Him because of their pains and troubles and refuse to repent of their evil deeds (Revelation 16:11, also consider what we should do: trust in His help Psalm 34, be faithful to Him, Romans 12:12, and repent of our wrongdoings, 1 John 1:9, 2 Peter 3:9)

 

    From its first mention in Genesis 24:6 to its last in the book of Revelation, our study of the “God of heaven” is a good reminder to us that He is not simply ‘a being up in the sky’ – He is the very God of heaven! The One to whom we can run to at any time (Hebrews 4:16) and who we can always count on! Let’s follow the Bible examples we have taken note of in this study and seek the God of heaven, pray to Him, obey Him, offer ourselves to Him in daily service, trust Him, praise and magnify Him, give Him all the glory with hearts full of thankfulness for all He has done for us! Let us confess our faith in Him, in word and conduct, be a benefit to those who fear Him, seek His solace when we are suffering, and His forgiveness when we sin!    

You can do it! So can I!!   

"God of... Hosts"

    I would like to take some time now to better understand God, so our faith can flourish, by looking at bible verses that declare/describe God to be the “God of” something. What that something is, or rather what those somethings are, as there are many, is what this study will help you come to know. I hope it will draw attention to aspects of God that you may not have known or focused on and also refresh your heart’s appreciation for the ones you may already be familiar with.

    Let’s begin with “God of hosts” as it is the most used “God of…” phrase in the Bible, appearing 40 times in the Old Testament, 9 of which are found in Amos. It is often written as “LORD God of hosts,” “Lord GOD of hosts,” a few times as “the LORD, the God of hosts,” and twice as “O God of hosts” (in Psalm 80:7, 14).  

Side notes: The term “LORD of hosts” is used 245 times in the Old Testament, but we will limit our study to only the mentions of “God of…” in the Bible. Also, both “God of hosts” and “LORD of hosts” are phrases only found in the Old Testament.

    God declared Himself to be “the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts” (Amos 5:27), so what exactly does it mean? Who are the “hosts”?

    Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance/Hebrew Dictionary shows “hosts” (in every instance we are looking at) to be the Hebrew word: tseba’ah (H6635) This word, tseba’ah, is from the primitive word ‘tsaba’ (H6633*) and means ‘a mass of persons (or figurative things), especially regularly organized for war (an army); by implication a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically hardship, worship): - appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war (-fare).’

*tsaba (H6633) to mass (an army or servants) assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war

    This term draws our attention to God’s power and authority. He is able to do what He has said. He has a host at His command and servants ready and waiting to obey His command. He is almighty and He will accomplish all that He has declared!

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” (Psalm 89:7-8 NKJV)

    We can see the term “God of hosts” and leave it at that, just a term, but let your mind dwell on that for a moment. Considering it is like looking up into the night sky. You look up and see maybe a handful of stars at first, but then as you continue to look and your eyes adjust, more stars seem to come out of nowhere, tiny points of light suddenly fill what was moments ago simply a canopy of darkness and your mind fills with wonder as more and more stars continue to come into view.  

    Grab your Bible and turn to 2 Kings 6:14-17 where the King of Syria was making war against Israel. The prophet, Elisha, had a servant who was quite anxious about the enemy’s army surrounding them and so Elisha prayed that the LORD might open the young man’s eyes to the truth of the matter, then told him, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who with them” (v16). What did he see when the LORD opened his eyes? “…behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v17).

    This is our God, the very God we serve. He is the LORD God of hosts! ‘With God you are the majority’ is not a platitude, but the plain truth. He is the God of hosts. You can trust that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! We have no need to fear any person, for with our God, the God of hosts, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-37, be sure to read this reference – it is SO good!)!!

    God is able. He is the God of hosts, a description of ultimate power, ability, and capability – vast, untold resources and might – this is the God you serve! Do you trust Him? Are your eyes opening to His magnitude? Pray that they might be so that you can confidently put on His armour each day and stand strong in Him and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-18), knowing without doubt that the very God of hosts surrounds you!

You can do it! So can I!! 

"The Purpose of Your Good Deeds" - Sermon

    This week, to finish off our lesson series on good works I've attached a sermon link and I really hope you will make time to listen to it, with an open bible and an open heart!

    The sermon is titled, "The Purpose of Your Good Deeds," it is presented by Andy Cantrell and was part of a Youth Series at Embry Hills church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia.

    The things I would like you to focus on while you listen:

1. Good works are not about magnifying you, they are to magnify God! (Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:8-10)
2. As Christians, your behaviours/actions/words directly influence what the others perceive about God (Matthew 5:13-16)
3. You cannot be lukewarm! (Revelation 3:15)
4. You are the lens by which the world sees God - do you increase His greatness (make Him look magnificent) or do you decrease/minimize His greatness?

    God's reputation is on the line! You represent Him to the world!

    Throughout this week, if the Lord wills, take time to read and study the book of Titus! Ask God to help you "maintain good works," open your eyes and heart to the opportunities that are all around you. Be a beautiful representative of God!!

"...these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." (Titus 3:8 NKJV)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to listen to sermon "The Purpose of Your Good Deeds":

https://embryhills.com/listen-study/all-sermons/2010/05/01/purpose-of-your-good-deeds