Tag: Outstretched Arm

5.j. In him we live and move and have our being’

 

Job 12:7  “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you: or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Jeremiah 8:7     Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the LORD.  Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

1 Samuel 2:7    The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.

Jeremiah 27:5-6    “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

Romans 11:36    For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Acts 17:28   for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’

God is in control of all things at all times.  We would do well to plant this firmly in our mind and water it frequently with our heart seeking to honor Jesus Christ.  I like how Job says to his friends; “who among these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” He said this to say to his friends that he knows this is at the hand of God.  His point is that God, creator of all there is and the one who is in control of all things can do as He plans and purposes. He is the creator!  It is through Jesus Christ that we live, move, and have our being.  We and all of creation.  Yet, we seem to go days on end without giving thought to the Creator or giving thanks to the Creator or honoring the Creator, or clinging to, relying on, and trusting in the Creator.  Why is this?  Why is it we live day after day, and week after week with shallow commitments to Him?  Are we too busy?  Are we occupied by other things more important than the Creator?  Is He not worthy of all of our time?  Can we go about our day and have him first on our minds?  Jesus Christ is our living water and bread of life.  He is the one who will fill the void we have from shallow complacent commitment.  Jesus Christ is so much more than worthy of our honor, glory, worship, and praise.  It is time to start living each moment of every day intentionally for Him.

4.x. O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Job 5:27  Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”

Job 8:8-10    “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.

Psalms 111:2    Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.

Proverbs 2:3-5    yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Psalms 104:24    O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Jeremiah 32:17-19    ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.  You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,  great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

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

This song seems to search out things of God in a way that should move our heart, mind, and soul to humbly bow with raised hands and worship, honor, and glorify Him.

God of creation, There at the start, Before the beginning of time, With no point of reference, You spoke to the dark, And fleshed out the wonder of light

And as You speak A hundred billion galaxies are born In the vapor of Your breath the planets form.  If the stars were made to worship so will I

I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made, Every burning star, A signal fire of grace, If creation sings Your praises so will I. God of Your promise, You don’t speak in vain, No syllable empty or void, For once You have spoken, All nature and science Follow the sound of Your voice.

And as You speak A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath. Evolving in pursuit of what You said. If it all reveals Your nature so will I.

I can see Your heart in everything You say, Every painted sky. A canvas of Your grace. If creation still obeys You so will I. So will I.  So will I.

If the stars were made to worship so will I. If the mountains bow in reverence so will I. If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I. For if everything exists to lift You high so will I. If the wind goes where You send it so will I. If the rocks cry out in silence so will I. If the sum of all our praises still falls shy, Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times.

God of salvation You chased down my heart Through all of my failure and pride. On a hill You created The light of the world Abandoned in darkness to die.

And as You speak A hundred billion failures disappear. Where You lost Your life so I could find it here. If You left the grave behind You so will I. I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done. Every part designed in a work of art called love. If You gladly chose surrender so will I.

I can see Your heart Eight billion different ways. Every precious one A child You died to save. If You gave Your life to love them so will I. Like You would again a hundred billion times. But what measure could amount to Your desire. You’re the One who never leaves the one behind

182. How long will you limp along?

2 Kings 17:24   And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the Lord, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. The Lord made a covenant with them and commanded them, “You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them, but you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner.

So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

1 Kings 18:21    And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

How close do we resemble “limping along between God’s word and what the world/culture/society approves”?  A heart and mind divided on how to worship, honor, follow, obey, and trust God will take paths in life that do none of these.  To honor, serve, follow, obey and trust God requires faith, an undivided faith.  It is a faith that does not look to luck, fortune, or fate but sees all things in and through God’s hands, God’s plans, and God’s purposes. Their faith is built on and continues to grow through their time in His word with seeking and desiring heart to know more and more of His holiness, grace, and mercy.

I fear we limp along in our walk with God because we share our time, thoughts, and actions with Him and what the world has to offer, committing to the one deemed most important at the time.  We can not have it both ways.  We either serve God with our whole heart, mind, and soul or we don’t.  There is no half or partial way that is recognized by God as sufficient.

40. There is none like you, O LORD

Deuteronomy 3:24   “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘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?

Nehemiah 9:32     “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us,

Psalms 106:2     Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise?

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

Psalms 145:6     They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

Deuteronomy 11:2    And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,

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?

Jeremiah 32:18-21    You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,  great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.  You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.  You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.

Psalms 71:19    Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

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

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.

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

Isaiah 40:18     To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

If you were asked who is God or what is God how would you reply?  Our understanding of Him starts with; Romans 1:19-20  For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  Psalms 19:1-6  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

We would answer the question based on our understanding and knowledge of Him, our relationship with Him, and our closeness to Him.  Time with Him and time spent seeking Him and time spent desiring Him and time spent worshiping Him, and time spent praying to Him, and time spent relying on Him, and time spent trusting Him and time spent hoping in Him, and time spent clinging to Him, and time spent following Him, and time spent obeying Him, and time spent listening to Him, and time spent in His word all develop, grow and nurture how we would answer these questions.

Think how hard it would be to answer these questions if you neglect or become complacent in your walk with Him. Even if you have a close walk with Him we seem to be limited in an adequate reply.  All the words of the world would not scratch the surface of who God is.  That is how awesome He is. 

These lyrics of a song by Natalie Grant explain how we limit God by how we think of Him:

I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind. I try to keep you safely in between the lines, I try to put you in the box that I’ve designed. I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye.

When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small? When you’re the one who holds it all. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?

Just a whisper of your voice can tame the seas. So who am I to try to take the lead. Still, I run ahead and think I’m strong enough. When you’re the one who made me from the dust. 

When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small? When you’re the one who holds it all. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?

Oh, you set it all in motion. Every single moment. You brought it all to me. And you’re holding on to me.

When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small? When you’re the one who holds it all. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? You will always be the king of the world

21. Broken Spirit

Exodus 5:22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 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. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

We can easily see why the people would not listen to Moses.  He, through Aaron, had gone before the people and proclaimed what God had told him.  He had done signs in sight of the people and they believed, bowed their heads and worshiped.  Then after Moses spoke to Pharaoh their slavery became immediately worse.  They thought they were being delivered from their bondage but ended up worse.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.  What is it that diminishes your hope and faith?  We have all been there, where we have are close to God, He speaks to our heart through promises in His word, and we find hope, peace and rest in what He revealed to us.  Then what happens?  Time happens.  Our anticipation, hope, peace, and rest in the promises of God got tested by time.  Our expectation left no room for time to happen.  Our expectation of God’s promises left no room for His purpose and plans.

Our dependence and reliance on God’s promises are not dependent of our expectation of the time when we expect our situation to change.    The moment God speaks promises into our heart and soul nothing changes from the aspect of what God will do.  Nothing. 

Now add time to our situation and soon we think God has changed.  Our faith was wasted.  Our hope was wrong.  Our thought of what He can and will do was abandoned.  Yet, God never changed, He will never leave us or forsake us, He will guide us, He will strengthen us, He will bless us, He will lead us, and He will give us courage for each new day. 

The next time doubt enters your mind say this “forgive my doubt, I TRUST YOU.  If you have to say this a thousand times do it and you will find the doubts soon turn into praises of faith and hope.

Hear and Learn

Deuteronomy 31:12  Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Psalms 78:4-8     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.  He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,  that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,  so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;  and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Proverbs 22:6     Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4   Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 11:2     And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,

We have an awesome responsibility and privilege to speak of God and live for Him so that others might hear and see the hope we have in the power, might, strength, grace, love, and mercy of God.

We should not take this lightly for each day gives us opportunity to bring glory, honor and praise to Him.  God’s word spoken will not return void, our prayers will not be unheard, and a softening of their heart can take place.  Yet at the end of the day it each persons choice to believe in God and through faith come to salvation through Christ.

When we believe, and are saved, redeemed, forgiven and have heart, mind, and soul deep knowledge and understanding of God and the everlasting light He has opened up to us, it is hard to make sense of how we lived and believed before.  We are born again, a new creation, where all things are new and morning by morning new mercies we see.

God’s word in our lives each day will have purpose for growing our love for Him and faith in Him.  Many will try to make sense of the world through wisdom of man, denying God.  Be mindful we too were once lost and without hope.  Live to bring light of God to those still living in darkness.  You never know who those  who choose to live in darkness will have their heart softened by God through you.  Tell of all of his glorious works, wonders, might, and ever lasting love for those who call upon Him.

Strength of His might

“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

John 11:38  Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.  Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead  four days.”  Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”  So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

2 Chronicles 20:20    And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Romans 4:20  No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

2 Corinthians 4:6    For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some things are hard for us to understand when concerning the power and might of God.  A small child would say God can do anything, but as we grow older and become established in life we seem to lose this child like faith.  God has not changed.  He can do all things.  Our thoughts change, life happens and we sometimes limit what God can do.  There are examples of faith that I love to think about.  In Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Their faith statement “God can and is able – but even if He doesn’t”  Leaves room for God’s sovereign plan and purpose.  The same was true the night Jesus was betrayed when He said – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  Our faith is not a magic wand we shake out actions of God at our command. I don’t know why some faith prayers God answers and others He does not.  Leaving it in His loving hands takes faith.  Leaning not onto our own understanding takes faith.  Trusting the outcome is in His plan and purpose takes faith.  Our Creator has plans and purposes beyond out ability to know and we do well to trust in, rely on, and cling to His promises of love, grace, and mercy.

God’s Mighty Arm

for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm.

Joshua 4:24
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

1 Kings 8:41
(for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm)

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

Psalms 8914
You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
For you are the glory of their strength

Isaiah 52:10
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God

I am so encouraged by reading this today.  God’s mighty arm, His mighty hand, and His strength.  This chapter of Joshua we have seen how in God’s power He stopped the Jordan River so the people could cross over.  After this feat it is recorded that all people should know how mighty God is.  This same God of old – is our God, who never changes, and His promises never fail.  I love the verses from Deuteronomy and Psalms that speak of His mighty hand and am reminded of Paul speaking of God “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Nothing can separate us from God and His promises.  What limits us is our belief that He is able.  Purpose to know and trust in His mighty power.  His outstretched arm is there for you!