Encouragement
J.B. Phillips wrote a book entitled, "Is Your God Too Small?" That is a great question.
I'm not questioning your conversion...unless the Holy Spirit does that.
I'm talking mainly about your concept of God...
and the degree of your commitment to know Him better...
and follow Him more closely.
Phillips emphasizes that your God is too small if: (the comments are mine)
1) He is only a resident policeman-
Slaps your hands, but does not save.
2) Parental hangover-
Hand-me-down convictions....and not your own.
3) Grand old man-
Spoils you, but no discipline.
4) Meek and mild-
Good words, but God is more than that.
5) Heavenly bosom-
You can not hide from life, for life is real!
6) God in a box-
Too small of a concept...and letting Him out only on Sunday.
7) Managing Director-
He not only directs, but goes before us to direct our way!
8) Second-hand God-
Never made Him our own...hearsay only.
9) Perennial Grievance-
Gripe, but no grip on life.
10) Pale Galileon-
Too weak to help much.
All of these fall short and God is out of focus.
God MUST be made real by faith experience and faithfulness in expressions.
In other words, believe in Him and tell others about Him.
God can not be defined in words only, but E.Y. Mullins did as good a job as I've seen.
"God is the Supreme Personal Spirit perfect in all His attributes; Who is the source, support and end of the Universe; Who guides it according to the wise, righteous, and loving purpose revealed in Jesus Christ; Who indwells in all things by His Holy Spirit, seeking ever to transform them according to His own will and bring them to the goal of His kingdom."
David needed the God of Psalms 23, the Shepherd Who was with him and led to his confession in Ps. 51.
Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going, but he knew Who would go before and prepare the way and be with him all of his life. (Lived to be over 100 yrs. of age)
When Elijah was troubled and all alone, God gave him rest and peace in his heart.
(I Kings 19)
When Joseph was sold into slavery and many difficult things happened to him...
God still had a plan. (Gen. 50:19-20)
When Paul was shipwrecked, he knew it would work out like God said it would.
(Acts 27:25)
When Peter was prejudiced, God convicted him not to call anyone 'unclean'. (Acts 10:28)
They (and we) believe Jehovah God is more than adequate....
however for God to be adequate, our religion must accomplish 4 things.
1) Have a high concept of God
2) Bring peace to the human heart
3) Give power over sin in our lives
4) Satisfy our heart and soul in death
For further study, see website article on April 2, 2005.
In Acts 17, Paul was in Athens and on Mars Hill, he proclaimed Jehovah God to the agnostics, atheists, and worshipers of education, philosophy and pleasure.
He said, "You have an inscription to the unknown God. I will proclaim Him to you".
1) GOD IS CREATOR (Vs. 24)
He has a plan for everyone...it is everyone's responsibility to FIND this plan.
When found, God takes care of you.
We are to trust and not worry.
We are to be faithful and leave the results to Him!
Henry Morris wrote: "Creation is a non-negotiable doctrine. What a person believes about origins will surely influence what he/she will believe about meaning and purpose in life."
2) GOD IS THE WORSHIPPED ONE (Vs. 25)
In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas worshipped at midnight in prison and God was present in a personal and powerful way.
I feel today that worship (private and public) is neglected to the detriment of people.
You may feel that Winston Pearce exaggerated when he said, "The world can be saved from political chaos and collapse by one thing only....and that is worship."
Bishop William Temple of England gave this great definition of worship:
"Worship is:
To quicken the conscience by the Holiness of God
To feed the mind with the truth of God
To purge the imagination by the beauty of God
To open the heart to the Love of God
To devote the will to the purpose of God"
John 4:24:
"God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth".
How real is your worship?
3) GOD IS THE ONE WHO RECONCILES (VS. 26-27)
One blood of all, saved by the blood of Jesus.
I like vs. 27 that emphasizes "God is the near One". (Ps. 139:7-11)
God is as near as your knees are to the floor.
As Christians, we have God in us by the Holy Spirit (called the Paraklete)...
the One called along side of us and the Comforter...
Who can comfort anyone, anytime, anywhere!
God does reconcile us, but He wants us to help others to be reconciled to Him.
(II Cor. 5: 17-24)
Paul said, "You should seek the Lord and find Him though He be not far from everyone of us. For in Him, we live and move and have our being for we are His offspring".
Paul's conclusion in verses 30-34 is one that we need to hear...and heed.
He said that God commands every person to repent.
Jesus said the same thing in Luke 13:3: "Except you repent, you shall perish"...
and then He repeats it in verse 5 for emphasis.
Paul tells us Acts 20:19-22 that salvation is:
repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
When this happens, then we are to be 'bound in the Spirit' in our living. (Vs. 22)
CONCLUSION:
Paul was surely disappointed at the conclusion of his message on Mars Hill.
Some mocked...and some said "We will hear you again"....
but thank God, some followed Paul.
That's what WE must do.....share Jesus (Crucified, Resurrected, Coming Again)....
and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
Verse 31: "God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world."
Before that day, we must accept Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord.
Our worship OF God and our work FOR Him must involve the Scriptural doctrine of God.
While some accept the priceless gift of salvation with great joy and total commitment, others approach it with a 'give me just a little' attitude.
This is best expressed in a poem by Ken Holland entitled "Three Dollars Worth of God".
"I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.
I would like to try just a little of the Lord.
Not enough to explode my soul..or disturb my sleep.
Not enough to take control of my life;
I'll keep just enough to equal a cup of warm milk.
Just enough to ease some of the pain from my guilt.
I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.
I would like to find a love that's pocket-sized.
Not enough to make me love everyone...
Not enough to change my heart.
I can only stand just enough to take to church when I have the time,
Just enough to equal a snooze in the sunshine.
I want ecstasy, not transformation...
I want the warmth of the womb, but not a new birth.
I would like to purchase a pound of the eternal
In a paper sack guaranteed or money back.
You see, I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please...
I would like to hide some for a rainy day.
Not enough to make people see a change in me,
Not enough to impose responsibility...
Just enough to make church folks think I'm ok.
Just enough to exhibit once a week on Sunday.
I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please."
In the light of this paper and this poem, let us make The Cross a part of our life and love.
That puts things in proper perspective, especially God.
The proper perspective of 'why' we are here can become priority.
God bless you and your's and your work for God.
If you find our 'work' useful, please share it with others.
We appreciate SO much your prayers and your faithfulness to this website!
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Our God I guess you might say, is as big as we make Him. My God is the mighty God and there is nothing that is too hard for Him. I know that Your God is Mighty too and He is Mighty in you, and in your articles. Blessings, Sharon
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