“Follow Me” Luke 5:27-32

About 60% of the human body is water. We lose water simply by breathing. We lose water by sweating. We lose water when we use the bathroom. We are constantly losing water.

That’s why health professionals tell us that the average man needs to drink 13 cups of water a day; the average woman needs to drink 9 cups of water a day. That’s 3 liters of water a day for men; 2 liters of water day for women! That’s a lot of water!

If you don’t take in that much fluids, you could be dehydrated. Let’s say you only drink 1 cup o water a day – 8 ounces. That would be 56 ounces of water a week, when you should have drank as much as 700 ounces a week!

When we talk about following Jesus, being a disciple of Christ, we are not talking about worshipping Jesus for 1 hour each week. Being a disciple of Christ includes worshipping Him, but it is so much more. And studying the word of God on a daily basis is a part of that discipleship too. Jesus designed us to feed on His word regularly; remember He said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

If you do not read the Bible during the week, the 30 minutes of Bible you get from a Sunday morning sermon is not going to be enough to sustain your spirit. No wonder many Christians leave worship feeling like their spirits have not be uplifted. It’s because you came to worship already “dehydrated” and 8 ounces of water is not enough to sustain you.

Following Jesus is a daily decision that also includes daily choices.

We want to look at one example of a disciple of Jesus, whom Jesus will make into an apostle and this man illustrates to us what it means to become a disciple of Christ.

LEVI BECOMES A FOLLOWER – Luke 5:27-28:

Jesus is in the area of Capernaum, and he is walking on the road and came across a booth for collecting taxes and there was this man sitting there, collecting taxes. “Levi.” And Jesus says, “Follow Me.” Notice in verse 28 that the text says Levi “left everything” and got up and followed Jesus. That verb “to leave” carries the idea of “abandoning everything.” Levi decided that he was going to do more than be an honest tax collector. He was going to stop being an honest tax collector and he was going to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.

LEVI BECOMES AN EVANGLELIST – 5:29-32:

The first thing Levi does, according to Luke’s account, is to throw a huge reception – a fantastic dinner – with Jesus as the honored guest in his house. But this party is not just for Levi. He invites a “great crowd” of tax collectors and many other people to join him. He is introducing his friends and family and neighbors to meet Jesus. In Matthew’s account (9:10), Matthew tells us there were “sinners” in this crowd!

LEVI BECOMES A METAPHOR – 5:33-39:

Keep in mind that Levi carries the name of the tribe of priests from the OT. Could it be that God wants us to see Levi as being a metaphor for leaving the tribe of Levi behind and that priesthood (the “OT”) as we move into the new covenant of Jesus Christ? Levi has another name, you see, Matthew, which he is known as even in Luke 6:15. Once he becomes a follower of Christ, he leaves the “Levi” behind – the OT forms – and he takes on a new identity, a follower of Christ, which is symbolized by him using a new name: Matthew. And, being led by the Spirit of God, Matthew writes for us the Gospel according to Matthew so that he can continue introducing the world to His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

LEVI IS AN EXAMPLE – Luke 14:25-33:

So Levi became a disciple of Christ, a “follower” of Jesus. He left his job and his old religion and he followed Jesus with his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Levi is an example of the dedication and commitment that Jesus actually demands from all of us. Let’s conclude by reading Luke 14:25-33…

Follow Jesus with everything you are, every where you are, with all that you are.

Paul Holland

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Heavenly Minded Colossians 3:1-10

The expression “get your head out of the clouds” refers to someone who has such lofty hopes and dreams and aspirations that he or she might not have their feet planted in reality. You can’t have hopes that extend beyond your ability to fulfill them. A person might not be psychologically prepared, or emotionally prepared, or financially prepared, or spiritually prepared to fulfill what dreams he or she might have. “Get your head out of the clouds.”

But as Christians, Paul tells us here in Colossians 3 that we need to “put our heads into the clouds.” Let me suggest to you that it was not any easier to live the Christian life in the 1st century than it is in the 21st century. In some ways it might be easier, in some ways it is likely harder. But Paul’s intention in the letter of Colossians, as in all his letters, was to encourage Christians to stay faithful to Christ. And staying faithful to Christ begins with knowing the right things, theological facts that come from the heart and mind of God. And staying faithful to Christ means that our behavior, our lifestyles, need to be lined up with those facts. We need to live what we know.

SEEK AND THINK – 3:1-4:

Baptism (2:12; Rom. 6:3-4) shows: 1) Our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Christ; 2) Our union and identification with Him spiritually. This latter concept is a strong theme behind Paul’s subsequent words in this text.

Our “life” in Christ will end in a glorious body like our Savior’s when He is “revealed.” See also Philippians 3:20-21.

PUT TO DEATH – 3:5-7:

“Therefore” refers to the previous motivation. The “members of our earthly body” refers to parts of the old man of sin which have been crucified with Christ when we were united with Him in baptism: Romans 6:6.

When we go back to those old sinful behaviors after we have become Christians, we are, in essence, living lives of spiritual zombies – bringing the dead back to life. And dead flesh is ugly, gross, and stinks extremely badly!

Pagan religions don’t discourage this type of behavior; rather, it typically encourages this behavior. That’s why people create idols, so they can live the way they want to live.

But, Paul writes that the wrath of God is coming over people who practice these behaviors. Let me point out to you that the wrath of God “is coming” (present tense).

PUT ASIDE AND DO NOT LIE – 3:8-10:

Earlier, Paul talked about what we might say was “unholy love.” Here, he talks about “unholy hate.” Hatred of sin is holy and is required in the Word.

Paul is still talking about behaviors that are part of the “members of our earthly body.” We “put on” Christ at baptism (Gal. 3:26-27), but this also means we need to “take off” certain other behaviors.

Our spirits are being renewed toward knowledge, better knowledge, according to the image of Jesus Christ who has created our new spirits in His image. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul talks about this renewal happening every day.

Once we have been “renewed,” the behavior that should characterize us is found now in 3:12-14…

To grow, we have to “shrink:” put off sinful habits.

Paul Holland

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JESUS PROCLAIMS THE KINGDOM Matthew 4:23-25

Jesus has just begun His public ministry. Our text is one of many in which Matthew gives a quick summation of His work (see, for example, 9:35). Let’s discuss a few points from the text and draw some applications.

  1. Jesus Taught in the Synagogues. Synagogues most likely developed in the time of the Babylonian captivity. They became the center of Jewish religious life. The common practice seems for there to have been a reading from the Law or the Prophets and then a discussion of it to follow. Sometimes the synagogue ruler would call on a visiting rabbi (teacher) to speak (see Acts 13:15; Lk. 4:16-17). Jesus began using this as an opportunity to address the Jews (later, the apostles would do the same). We should also point out that though Jesus certainly did minister to the Gentiles, His focus was clearly upon “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 15:24).
  2. Jesus Proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom. Notably, though Jesus taught from the Law and the Prophets, He continued the story from there. Remember that the OT is very much a part of God’s plan to redeem man. However, the completion and fulfillment of that plan is in Christ and His kingdom. Worthy of note is that Matthew gives emphasis to Christ preaching the kingdom. In 4:17 Matthew states that Jesus preached saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In our text, verse 23, Matthew alludes to Jesus preaching “the gospel of the kingdom.” Clearly, Jesus believed that the kingdom (or, the church – see Mt. 16:18), was (and is) significant! Jesus and the kingdom cannot be rightly separated. No one can have Christ without the kingdom since He Himself serves as its’ head (Eph. 5:23).
  3. Jesus Healed Every Disease and Affliction. We know that Jesus had deep compassion for those who suffered (see Heb. 4:15) and surely that had something to do with His healing ministry. It is clear in our text that these healings resulted in His fame and led people to follow Him. Of course, following Him merely for physical blessings was very inadequate. They were designed to show that He indeed was “the bread of life” (Jn. 8:35). Perhaps this is amplified by the text pointing out that He healed “every disease and every affliction.” His power reigned supreme. This authority and power ultimately pointed to His supremacy and the divine source of His message.

APPLICATIONS

  1. Jesus Had a Mission; He Had a Target – So Should We! All of us have a “circle of influence.” Take the Gospel wherever you go; and use the opportunities the Lord provides.
  2. Jesus Preached the Kingdom – So Should We! Salvation and every spiritual blessing is in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Be thankful for the kingdom and teach others about it!
  3. Jesus Had Great Compassion – So Should We! Have compassion for the needs of people and show love for them. But make sure to have love for their souls’ as well!

CONCLUSION

In our text, Jesus went preaching the kingdom. In chapter 9:35, Jesus went preaching the kingdom, and He said to His disciples in verses 37-38, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Let’t pray fervently and let us also answer the call of Jesus to follow Him, and thus be fishers of men (see Mt. 4:19) proclaiming Him and the good news of His Kingdom!

Daren Schroeder

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“Searching For Lost Time”

Years ago, my sons and I went hiking at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia.  They were teenagers at the time with more energy than me, so I waited as they explored an extension of the trail.  They returned with excitement, having found an expensive watch someone had lost.  After several months, the park gave the watch to our sons after no one claimed it.

Darick Langos of Illinois doesn’t stumble upon lost watches; he goes looking for them.  He has combined his love of metal detecting with scuba diving and has found more then 200 Apple Watches in the lakes of that region.  He also looks for wedding rings, glasses, and other items that people may lose while out boating.  It’s his large collection of watches that caught my attention, however.

Langos has a word of advice to owners of Apple Watches: if you are around water, replace the sports bands that come with many models; they don’t stay on.  His advice should be considered “expert advice”, considering the stash of watches pictured with him in the UPI article.

I have never lost a watch while on the water (though I did once lose a pair of glasses).  But I’ll have to admit, I have lost time on numerous occasions. I don’t believe Darick Langos could help me with that.

God’s word declares that our lives are rapidly passing by.  Job said it this way in Job 7:6,7: “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.  Oh, remember that my life is a breath!”  James 4:14 used similar imagery to make the same point: “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Moses also mused on the nature of mortal life in Psalm 90:10: “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

The obvious lesson is then stated by Moses in verse 12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  Just now I have (literally) numbered my days: I have lived 25,502 days since the day of my birth.  But that’s not really what Moses meant, is it?  He meant that we are to use our time wisely, knowing that our days are limited.

Ephesians 5:15-17 states our challenge when it comes to time management: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Too often I have wasted my time with trivial pursuits.  I will never be able to retrieve that lost time, not even with a metal detector.  But with God’s help and guidance I can make better use of my time from this moment forward.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

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Christianity in Community 1 Corinthians 12

Several weeks ago now I wrote about one of my ministry “mantras”: At the center of Christianity is a cross. Another personal mantra says, “God designed Christianity to be done in community.”

The first portion of the statement honors God’s prerogative to determine what form our faith should take. God planned to send the Son even before He created the earth (1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:10; 3:9). Jesus is the head of the church, His body (Eph. 1:22–23). Though some deny this “blueprint hermeneutic,” the Bible affirms that God’s designs always have a purpose (cf. Heb. 8:5).

We further see God standing behind the design of Christianity in passages like Matt. 16:19 and 18:18, where Jesus tells the apostles, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” The text literally says, “shall have been bound in heaven” (see BLB, NASB, LSB, etc.). In other words, the decisive, authoritative decisions made by the apostles in leading the early church reflected what God had already decided in heaven. Truly God designed Christianity.

The second half of the statement points to an important aspect of Christianity that our Western culture makes it harder to appreciate and practice. Our culture places an emphasis on the individual and finding one’s worth in individuality. Other cultures find value and identity in community.

Practically speaking, Christianity being done in community means we can’t do it alone. The church is not optional. A Christian separate from or outside of the church is like an amputated body part (cf. 1 Cor. 12). While a Christian may worship God at any time and in any place, the “five acts” of worship we have identified and spoken of often are those that we practice in community or communally.

Further, many other necessary biblical actions of Christians are communal in nature: encouragement, accountability, confession, bearing one another’s burdens, hospitality, etc.

Thank God He designed Christianity to be done in community! We are truly blessed to belong to the same body, the family of God, the pillar and buttress of the truth, God’s church.

Clay Leonard

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Wake Up! Romans 13:8-14

Jesus will come back unexpectedly… Matthew 24:36, 42, 44, 50; 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10. Jesus could not be any clearer. There are no signs of His return.

Let’s keep this in mind as we move into our study of how the Gospel gets us prepared for the return of the Messiah, our Savior…

WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND LOVE – 13:8-10:

When God sets a opportunity in front of us to do good – feed the hungry, give water to those who are thirsty, clothe the naked, etc. (legitimate needs) – then we are obligated to do that to the best of our ability. It is sinful not to do that. We owe love to those who need love.

In verse 9, Paul quotes from a few of the Ten Commandments, especially those relating to interpersonal relationships. On the flip side of the coin, in verse 10, Paul says, “Love does no wrong.” Don’t do anything wrong.

WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” BECAUSE SALVATION IS NEARER – 13:11:

Paul tells Christians “wake up!” Why? Because time is marching on and the time when  Jesus returns is actually getting closer and closer. Do we know when Jesus is coming back again? No, but the time of His coming is actually getting closer and closer.

WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS – 13:12-13:

The “night” that is almost gone is the night of our ignorance; it is the night when we were unprepared for the coming of Christ. It is the time when we were non-Christians and living in sin. The time of darkness, of sin reigning in the world, is almost gone. The day, when Jesus returns, is almost near.

So, Paul warns us to “wake up” and lay aside the “deeds of darkness,” the works of darkness. These are behaviors that associate us with Satan and his demons, not with the holy God, His holy Child Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and His holy angels.

“Carousing” – lewd and immoral parties.

“Drunkenness” – We’re talking about something that is far more important than crashing a car or even killing someone, as awful as that is. We’re talking about sinning against Jesus Christ and throwing our souls into an eternal torment. Just what does it take to get us to stop playing around with the “devil’s brew”?

“Sexual immorality” – sexual behavior that is unrestrained.

“Strife” – arguing which usually ends with division.

“Jealousy” – a strong desire to have what someone else has.

WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT – 13:14:

For non-Christians, “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” would refer to immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins: Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12.

For those who are Christians but are living more like the world than they are Jesus, to “put on Jesus Christ” means to wear His teachings in our lives, as Paul mentions in Titus 2:10.

Family, Christ calls us to wake up and be prepared at any moment for Him to return.

Paul Holland

 

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Pray for Wisdom to Avoid War

Otto von Bismarck, in 1850, was a 35-year-old deputy in the Prussian parliament. Germany was divided into several smaller, weaker states and were threatened with war by Austria, to their south. Prince William wanted to go to war. War fever was high, but King Frederick William IV and his ministers did not want war. They preferred to appease the Austrians.

Bismarck was passionate and patriotic. At the height of the pitch for war, he gave a speech before parliament. He warned, “Woe unto the statesman who makes war without a reason that will still be valid when the war is over! After the war, you will all look differently at these questions. Will you then have the courage to turn to the peasant contemplating the ashes of his farm, to the man who has been crippled, to the father who has lost his children?”

Bismarck’s speech had an effect; the clamor for war turned and war was averted. Within a few weeks, the king made Bismarck a cabinet minister. Later, he became Premier. Eventually, he would lead the Prussians into war against Austria and win. He would go on to establish a unified German state and Prussia would be its leader.

We do not always know how to respond to people. We can have a disagreement with a spouse, with our children, with our co-worker, with fellow-Christians. Disagreements are a part of life; unfortunately, severe disagreements can also be a part of life. If we are not careful, we can go to war with those around us without thinking through the consequences of our actions.

It can only take a few mistimed words or misspoken words or a tone of voice that was inappropriate and we have started a war. Human relationships can be extremely fragile.

James wrote that if we need wisdom, we should pray for it: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (1:5-6).

James, of course, will go on to talk about “war” in chapter 4:1. But in chapter 3, he will spend much time discussing the proper use of our tongue. Let’s pray regularly that we’ll use our tongues properly and avoid war with those around us.

Paul Holland

 

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THE LORD WILL GO BEFORE US

In Deuteronomy 1, the Israelites are standing on the doorstep of entering into the Promised Land. Moses is explaining the Law that God had given to him and to Israel. He explains in verse 8, that God said, “See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.”

That all sounds good until things become a little scary. The Israelites are frightened by the wilderness (Dt. 1:19), so Moses gives them a “pep talk.” He says in verse 21: “See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

It didn’t work. After the spies return from seeing the good land, they say in essence: “Nope. There’s no way. Those people are giants” (see v. 28). Moses said in verses 29-33, “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes  and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ 32 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God, 33 who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.”

Fear often causes us to forget. Faith enables us to forge onward! But faith is not always the complete absence of fear. Sometimes faith is having enough courage even when it is fearful. In Israel’s case, God had made a promise. He was going to give the land to His people.

Let’s skip forward just a little bit now to Deuteronomy 9. Moses says there in verses 1-3: “Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ 3 Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.”

Moses (or, God) assures Israel that they are not going to overtake the inhabitants of the land because of their own righteousness nor will they do it based upon their own power.

And then in Deuteronomy 31:7-8, the text says, “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

The Lord went before Israel. The Lord went with Israel. The Lord did not leave nor forsake Israel. What about us? Has the Lord made a different but yet similar promise to His people, spiritual Israel today?

Of course, Jesus promised to be with the apostles as they went into all the world preaching the Gospel (Mt. 28:18-20). He said that He would be with the twelve apostles specifically, but since His mission continues as long as this world stands, His promise stands as well. Though He is not with us in a miraculous way today, He is with us in a providential way, and that doesn’t mean anything less. Perhaps it is even more astonishing to consider. God can and will work behind the scenes. Sometimes it may be completely hidden from our sight. Sometimes it may be so thinly veiled that we have no doubt of His working.

In Philippians 4:13 Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The word “all” does not mean all in a comprehensive way. It does not mean that we have the capability of doing whatever we want to do. It does mean that Christ will provide the strength we need to do everything He wants us to do.

We don’t have to fear the work of our Lord. He will go before us!

Daren Schroeder

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“This Is Paradise?”

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a vacation destination.  In fact, it’s listed as one of the top ten destinations in the entire U.S.  It is completely surrounded by the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, the most-visited National Park in the U.S.  Gatlinburg, about two hours from where I live, is where my wife and I honeymooned many years ago, and it holds cherished memories for many.

Now Gatlinburg has another reason for many to visit: the “Eggo House of Pancakes”, a chalet made to appear like a stack of pancakes drizzled with syrup.  The manufacturers of Eggo Waffles (and now pancakes, too) have designed and furnished this house, and those lucky ones who are chosen will “be transported into a pancake paradise from the moment they step inside.”

If you’ve been to Gatlinburg, you know there are an abundance of pancake houses.  I suppose there’s something in the mountain air that stirs one’s appetite for a plate of flapjacks.  Eggo is using that fact to promote their product.  For pancake lovers this may be regarded as “paradise”.

“Paradise” is a familiar word to most of us; it refers to something wonderful, an object of our dreams.  We have different ideas of what paradise might be: some might envision a mountain retreat, while others prefer an oceanfront scene.  Still others think of a golf course, or maybe an English garden.

In Genesis 2:8-10 we get our first glimpse of paradise: “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden …”  “Garden” is paradeison in the Greek translation of that passage, and that’s where our first ideas of paradise originate. People can design lovely gardens, but could anything come close to this?

Jesus told the penitent thief that “today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).  Though we aren’t given details of what that place was like, we easily imagine that it was a place of comfort and rest (based on information Jesus gave in Luke 16:19-25).  In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 Paul wrote about a visit to “the third heaven”, or “Paradise”.  Again, details are lacking, but Paul made it clear it was a place of bliss and peace.

So, what will God’s Paradise be like?  We don’t know about the presence of syrupy pancakes, but here’s what we do know from John 14:1-3: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Note these two facts about the true Paradise: (1) It’s where God and Christ dwell, and (2) it has been “prepared” for us.  Isn’t that enough for us to know?  If the Lord is there and if He has prepared it for us, then absolutely, count me in!  He wants me to come home and has made it possible for me to come.  This is Paradise in its fullest and most glorious manifestation!

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

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Our Awesome God The “Godhead”

Every person who reads the Bible and meditates on its message becomes a theologian. When you read Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” – you automatically either believe that some God exists, or you think that this book is just a bunch of fairy tales. Even if you believe that “a” God exists, you then have to meditate on what type of God exists. What is His nature? What is His character? Just who is God?

In this series of studies, I am helping us answer that question, as God reveals Himself and describes Himself in the Bible.

Before we go further, let me define the word “person” for us: It means someone who has: 1) Feelings; 2) Intellect, and; 3) Will. When we look at the three persons who are Jehovah, we see each person with divine feelings, divine intellect, and divine will.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS JEHOVAH:

We start with the Holy Spirit because the Israelites were introduced to the second member of the “Godhead” immediately in Genesis 1:2.

The phrase “Spirit of God” is used 12 times in the Old Testament. The phrase “Spirit of the Lord” is used 24 times. But He is mentioned by just the word “Spirit” or “Spirit of holiness” or other similar expressions between 75 and 85 times, perhaps even more.

We can’t spend much time going through every verse that mentions the Holy Spirit, but He did empower the judges to lead God’s people to freedom. The Spirit inspired God’s kings to lead God’s people as well. But what is most significant is that the Spirit guided men in the OT times to speak the word of God so that Israel would know what God wanted Israel to know (2 Sam. 23:2).

THE WORD IS JEHOVAH:

Isaiah 40:3 predicted a messenger who would prepare the way before the “Lord” (which is “Jehovah” in Hebrew). John the baptizer was the messenger and Jesus Christ is “Jehovah” for whom John prepared the way.

Staying in Isaiah, we see in Isaiah 7:14 that the prophet predicted a virgin would give birth to a child and His nature, His name, would be “Emmanuel” which translates as “God – who would be Jehovah – with us.” The Messiah would be “Jehovah God in the flesh.”

Let’s use two more examples from the OT, first Psalm 110:1, 4. The Jews understood David to be speaking of his descendant, which was correct, but how could Jehovah God say to David’s son that He has the right to sit at Jehovah God’s right hand and reign over His enemies? The Jews debated that question. Additionally, if you look at verse 4, Jehovah swears an oath that this “Son of David” will be a priest forever. Yes, the Jewish rabbis debated who exactly this Messiah would be. Jesus will tell them in John 10:34-38.

One more example is found in Psalm 45:6. Here, Jehovah God is speaking to the Son and says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” I know the Father is speaking to the Son and referring to Him as “God” because the Hebrew writer tells us in Hebrews 1:8!

THE NEW TESTAMENT CLARIFIES THE GODHEAD:

First, the NT teaches that One member of the Godhead is identified as “Father:” John 6:27; Rom. 1:7 Gal. 1:1.

Secondly, the NT teaches that the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead. I really just want to point this out from Acts 5:3-4.

Thirdly, the NT teaches that One member of the Godhead is identified, once He came to earth, as the “Son:” For example, please observe John 1:18: “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” This “only begotten God” was in the beginning with God and He was God (John 1:1).

Now, take a look at these passages:

Romans 9:5 – “whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

Titus 2:13 – “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”

Colossians 2:9 – “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD:

First, let’s talk about our response to the Holy Spirit. Specifically, His role in the plan of salvation is to reveal God’s will to us, which He has done through the inspired apostles and prophets. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:10-13.

Second, let’s talk about our response to Jesus Christ. Specifically, Paul uses the deity / humanity of Jesus to illustrate humility and he calls on us to imitate that humility. Let’s look at Philippians 2:1-11.

The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God and Jesus is God. Let’s listen / obey Him!

Paul Holland

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