“The Key To Trusting Is Loving”
1^st  John 4:16 – 5:3

    So far in this series from Jesus teaching in John chapter 15 on the “vine and the branches” we have learned that the key to maintaining and living the abundant life that Jesus came to give, is bearing fruit. The second key teaches us that the only way we can bear fruit is to abide in the vine. Then we found that the key to abiding is found in trusting, which is the foundation for obedience…The song says “Trust and Obey” or we could say “Trust THEN Obey” because it follows in that order. Today we shall see that “Love” is the key – or the motivation for – obedience.

    In order to appreciate this more, let’s first consider the different levels of obedience; First, there is the level of “Fear.” At this level we obey because we know what will happen if we don’t. In my opinion, this is a level that is missing from many families today. I used to tell my kids that disobedience will not be good for their “sitdown”!
    The level of “fear” can also be a motivator. It can initially motivate us to turn to God. Not to many years ago, the “fear of hell fire and brimstone” caused many people to turn to God. While there is a place for a proper fear of the Lord, this is not a good motivation for obedience or salvation. Fear can also motivate us to serve God, but I don’t think that is the attitude of “servanthood” that Jesus was looking for in his teaching. When “fear” is the motivating factor of obedience, it borders on abuse.
    In John 15:12 Jesus indicated that he desired our relationship to be much closer and loving; “My command is this” he said, “love each other as I have loved you”… He’s not looking for a slave, he’s looking for a friend; “you are my friends if you do what I command”…a friendship based on love…Fear can rob us of the real joy that God wants us to experience in the abundant life.
    The second level of obedience is based on “selfishness.” We obey because we want something in return. The difference between fear and selfishness is clearly demonstrated in children or the immature; Some children obey in order to avoid discipline and consequences; others obey in order to find favor and get reward. The sad truth is that many Christians never rise above these two levels of obedience.
    However, there is yet a higher level of obedience…the level that God desires… It’s the level of love. It’s at the level of love that we find the abundant life. On the shore of the sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?”...and three times Peter answered in the affirmative. But, what Jesus was doing was trying to get Peter to the point of “Agape” love… The first time he used the word which meant “Do you have feelings for me?”... The second time he asked “Do you desire to be my friend?”... Then the third time he asked “Do you ‘Agape’ me?”... In other words, are you willing to commit your life and trust and obedience – in an unconditional love – to serve me?  At this level of love, we trust and follow and obey no matter what the circumstances or the outcome…motivated by love.
    Not only is love the highest level of obedience, but it is also the key to the true obedience that brings the abundant life. Suppose things are going so well that we are not mindful of God’s impending judgment…We will not likely to be motivated by “fear”;  Suppose things are going so well that we have no sense of need from God…We will not likely be motivated by selfishness. It’s only when we are motivated by Agape love that we will be fruitful in good times and bad…in all circumstances…at all times. We will be fruitful and faithful, and obedient because we are abiding in the vine! Here we will consistently experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give.
    The key to experiencing this kind of love motivated fruitfulness is found in “knowing”… The more we know him, the more we will love him…

 “The Key To Abiding Is Trusting”
John 15:1-17

     Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly”. So far we have seen that the real key to living the Christian life as well as the abundant life is “bearing fruit.”  We have learned that the key to bearing fruit is consistently abiding in the vine. And, today we will find that the key to abiding… the key to remaining in Christ, is trusting.

    Now, I know that the scripture says in verse 9 that if we “obey” we will remain or abide in the vine… But, I am going to take you to a video series I used at Wednesday evening group with Andy Stanley (Son of Charles Stanley) who pointed out the fact that we will not “obey” someone we do not trust. Therefore, he says “obedience is a manifestation of trust”…“Trust and Obey” or we could say “first comes trust then comes obedience.” Andy Stanley also pointed out that if we truly believe that God is who He says He is; and if we really believe that God can do what He says He can do…And, if we believe that according to scripture, God always has our good – our best interest – in mind; then why don’t we trust Him?  If God has our best in mind, then why don’t we trust Him with our finances? Why don’t we trust Him with our circumstances? Why don’t we trust Him in every area of life? After all, He is God and He is all knowing, ever-present and all powerful! Able to do all things! There is nothing impossible with God! His Word is truth…absolute truth! Right? So, why don’t we trust and obey? For if we really trusted God, we would obey him…and the Word says that when we obey…when we trust and obey…we abide, we remain…in his love. So, the key to abiding is in trusting.
    John must have been paying close attention to Jesus because he repeats this in a little different way in 1^st. John 3:24 where he says - “Those who obey his commands live in him and he in them.” This principle of abiding through obedience governed the life of Jesus himself and his relationship with the Father; “You will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father and remain in his love” says verse 10…
    There are other scriptures that relate to this principle as well; for instance, John 4:34 – “My food”, said Jesus, “is to do (obey) the will of him who sent me…and to finish his work.” Isn’t that exactly what we should be thinking and doing as his church? John 5:30 again, Jesus says “For I seek not to please myself, but he who sent me”…and one more in John 6:38 – “For I have come down from heaven” ( a testimony of his Deity ) “not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me.”… And finally, in 1^st John 2:3 we read “We know that we have come to know him”…and later in that same scripture it says “this is how we know we are IN him”…this is how we know we are abiding… “if we obey his commands.”
    The importance of trust and obedience was stressed in the Old Testament with God dealing with the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 10:12 – “what does the Lord ask of you, but to fear the Lord your God and walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve him, with all your heart and soul, to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees I am giving you today, FOR YOUR OWN GOOD”… “Trust me!”
    The importance of trusting and obedience is also stressed in the New Testament. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said; “not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father” (that’s obedience) which is a manifestation of trust, which comes from (abiding in the vine.)
    In the giving of his great commission, Jesus said “Go and make disciples…teaching them to (what?) Obey everything I have commanded you”…Why did Jesus say that?...Because he came to give us life and life more abundantly! And, we can’t read much of God’s Word without realizing that obedience is essential if we are going to enjoy life as God desired it to be. It only makes sense then, that we consider some of the things – some of the commands that Jesus gave his disciples;
    I used to have a board game that was called “The Commands of Christ”…In that game there were 54 command cards…so I would think that there were about …Um… 54 commands! Or things we are told to do or obey as followers of Christ… Here are just a few;
1. We are told to repent of our sins.
2. We are told to be baptized. ( usually go together )
3. We are told to “believe on the name of Jesus Christ” for “there is no other name in heaven or on he earth or below the earth by which we must be saved”.
4. Peter also taught us that “we ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to his coming”.
5. We are told to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.
6. We are “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together”…”Remember the Sabath…”
7. We are told that “whatever we do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks”… Make sure God gets the glory in all that we do.
And, finally, - ( I could list all 54 but I think you get the point…) Finally, let’s not forget that Jesus said;  “This command I give to you, that you love one another”… Then he gave us all the “one another’s” in scripture so we would know how to do just that. However, none of this is possible if we are not abiding in the vine. Obedience is a manifestation of our trust in who God is and what God can do…and trust comes from abiding…”Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way”…
The key to trusting is “Love”…

 “The key To Bearing Fruit Is Abiding”
1^st John 4:7-17 and John 15:1-17

    We are in a series about the “Keys To Abundant Life” and, last time I spoke about the fact that living the abundant life involves “bearing fruit”. In fact, the whole purpose of life – especially the Christian life – is bearing fruit…“fruit that will last.” The scripture says that any branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off. Now, there are two kinds of branches that we can say - from our limited knowledge of vines and trees – that get cut off; branches that are dead…and branches that may be living, but produce no fruit. Once again let me remind you that the law of scripture that “if the scripture applies to the individual Christian…it also applies to the church.”

    In our scripture, verse 4, Jesus says; “Remain (Abide) in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me”… The Key to bearing fruit in our lives is abiding in the vine! In fact, in ten verses Jesus uses the word “abide” ten times. Branches draw life giving, fruit-bearing nourishment from the vine. In the Christian life, we first experience a “union” with Christ, and then we experience a “communion” with Christ.
    The communion or the “common-union” or the relationship is the result of abiding. The branches have a common-union with the vine, and we receive spiritual, physical, and emotional nourishment from the vine. Another thing we receive is strength. The vine is the strong part of the plant as Christ is the strength of the church and the Christian. He gives the strength to do that which we cannot do on our own… “I can do all things through Christ – who gives me strength” says Paul. The key to all this is “abiding.”
    We need not wonder if we are abiding in Christ and He in us…for if it is true, there will be several things that will manifest themselves in our life; First, and the most obvious, is that we will consistently bear fruit. If there is a lack of fruit, and especially a lack of the fruit of the Spirit, it may indicate that either there never was a “union” with Christ, or there was a union - but not a communion …there is no real relationship.
    Second, we can expect that there will be pruning taking place. The Father will be pruning away the things that would hinder development so we can be more fruitful.
    Third, we will know we are abiding when there is a growing dependence on God and His Word. We will seek knowledge and understanding; food and strength that only He can give, and we will realize that we are truly powerless without Christ in our lives.
    Fourth, will be the evidence of our love for God and our compassion toward others. 1^st. John 4 tells us that “God is love, and if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” Indeed, Jesus commanded us to love one another as His love and compassion for others flows through the branch that is connected to or abiding in the vine.
    Fifth, and certainly not least, we will know we are abiding when we have joy and enthusiasm concerning spiritual things. One of the first signs that we are not abiding as we should is a lack of joy and enthusiasm within the Christian or the church.
    It is good for us to examine ourselves often to see if we are abiding in the vine.  If we are then these things will be evident and ever increasing.
    Five keys to the abundant life that Jesus said He came to give… “I came that they may have life!...And have it more abundantly”!  The key to abundant living is bearing fruit. The key to bearing fruit is consistently abiding in the vine. The key to abiding – the key to remaining in the vine – and communing with the vine – is “trust”…

“The Key to Living Is Bearing Fruit”
John 15:1-17 and Matt. 7:16-20

    Consider for a moment with me the possibility of a life that is guaranteed to give you joy that is greater than any other joy you have experienced; and happiness in it’s fullest measure; and the assurance of eternal life as well as a meaningful life here and now; and, along with all that, a peace that goes so deep it’s beyond understanding…a peace that knows that no matter what is going on around you – or what is happening to you – you can have a peace that God is in control and no matter what my eyes may see; no matter what my ears may hear; no matter what my understanding may or may not be; God is God and I am not! God knows the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning, and therefore I can fully trust and put my faith in Him! Wouldn’t you be interested in that kind of life? That’s exactly what Jesus said he would give us.

    The abundant life does not consist of money or material things…Those things mean nothing if we don’t have peace of mind and  heart, or if we are not happy and lack joy in our lives. Jesus said; “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full!”… He also said in the previous chapter; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, do not let your hearts be troubled”…And, again he said, “What good is it if a man gain the whole world, but lose his soul ?”
    It is through the teachings of Jesus then, that we can learn what it really means to live an abundant life. One of those teachings is found right here in our text from John 15…where Jesus pictures himself as the “vine” and his followers as “branches”.  It is just common knowledge that “dead” branches on any tree or vine are simply cut off – they are useless – they are dead. But this scripture tells us that branches that are alive, but don’t produce fruit, will also be cut off or “pruned” so that the nourishment from the vine will go to the branches that are living and fruit producing. Of course, there are different kinds of fruit we can bear…which is what we will look at this morning and why they are important.
    First, and foremost, there is the fruit of a disciple. By that I mean, like an apple tree produces apples which produce more seeds, which produce more apple trees that produce more apples…and so on… Those who are living, connected to the vine Christians, ought to be bearing the fruit of more living, connected to the vine Christians!  Jesus told his disciples; “Go and make disciples of all nations…” One fruit of a disciple is more disciples. One thing I have often said is that the rule of scripture is that anything we can apply individually, can also apply to the church.
    Another fruit of a living, connected Christian is spoken of by Paul in Romans beginning at 15:25 – “Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have complet-ed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.”
    Notice that what they are sharing from their material blessings, Paul calls “fruit” not “gift” but “fruit.” Perhaps we could call this the “fruit of Compassion”…1^st. John 3:17 says “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” Part of the natural fruit of a living, connected to the vine Christian, is compassion for those in need…and especially a “brother or sister in Christ!”
    Of course, you can’t talk about “fruit” in the life of a Christian without talking about the “Fruit of the Spirit”. If we are truly connected to the vine, we will display the fruit described in Galations 5 – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”…Not just once in a while… not just when we are around one another…not just when it suits us and our mood at the time…but all the time! It will be a natural flow of the abundant life we receive from the vine! These are not “fruits” in which we can pick and choose or say well I have this one or that one but not that one…They are the “Fruit” – of the Spirit, and they will be every increasing and overflowing from our lives. So much so, that they are noticeable  (even when they are lacking.)
    Third, the author of Hebrews describes another fruit that he calls the “fruit of our lips”… Hebrews 13:15 – “Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of the lips – that confess his name.” This is the fruit of testimony and witness of all the blessings of God in our lives. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” There are more… but, let’s just consider the important benefits of bearing these three “fruit” as part of the abundant life;
      First of all, there is no greater joy, no greater blessing, than that of leading someone to Christ and watching them grow in their faith and become fully devoted followers. Jesus himself said “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous who do not need to repent”… The Apostle Paul called his converts his “pride and joy” in the Lord! There is great joy in seeing lives changed and transformed because of the difference Christ makes.
     There is happiness and blessing beyond measure in sharing and giving of what God has given us. Paul quotes Jesus in Acts 20:35 when he says “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…(And, you thought somebody just made that up)… There is great blessing and joy to be found in helping and serving someone in need. If you have ever done that, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And, this is especially true when the only motive is LOVE!
     2^nd. Peter 1:8 tells us that if we add to our faith the fruit of the Spirit, in ever increasing measure, it will “keep us from being ineffective and unproductive”…and it goes on to say in verse 11 that it “assures us of a rich welcome in the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” When we see the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in our life, it gives us that assurance, and it causes our witness and our testimony to be effective and productive. Of course, when the fruit of the Spirit is not there, the opposite is true; we are ineffective and unproductive when it comes to the overflow of the abundant life that wins people to the Lord.
     Finally, through the fruit of praise and thanksgiving, we have the “peace of God that passes all under-standing”… and, the peace that will “guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”… Peace of mind and heart from God; peace with God; and the peace of God that helps us through the storms of life.
     Surely this is the abundant life that Jesus came to give! The key to abundant living is bearing fruit! And, the key to bearing fruit is Abiding…

“Abundant Life in Christ”

    Although we don’t tend to see it much… mostly because of the tendency of the church to be “separated” from the world, rather than “in” the world but not part of the world… the truth is that our world is full of unhappy and dissatisfied people. People everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. We will try anything, if it might bring us some sort of satisfaction or happiness. Maybe this explains why there are so many single parent homes, and divorce, suicide, drug dependency, alcohol abuse, crime, prostitution, depression, pornography, eating disorders, and emotional, and psychological disorders… We are messed up! America is a wonderful, blessed country, but we are messed up!  
    So, what is the solution? Materialism and wealth? Power and prestige? Is it Religion? What will make people happy and content?  Everybody has an answer. But I happen to believe the Bible when it says, "There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end, it produces death," (Proverbs 14:12)…I also believe there is an answer to the eternal question, "How do I find happiness and satisfaction in life?" Jesus stated it in John 10:10 - He said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" or “have it more abundantly.” What did Jesus mean when he said that we can have "life to the full?" What really is an “abundant life?”
   A good dictionary will define the word "full" as "complete, perfect, being at the highest or greatest degree, the maximum". So when this word is in reference to one’s life, it would mean a life that is complete, not lacking in anything essential; reaching our maximum potential of happiness and satisfaction and quality. The good news is that not only did Jesus come to save us, but he also came to give us an abundant life! This is kind of like an added blessing: eternal life, plus "life to the full. It amazes me to think there are so many Christians not living life to the full – life in abundance – Perhaps it is because they don’t know what it is! Or, they think it is only available to a select few that God chooses to “bless.” That simply is not true… It is God’s will for all Christians to live an abundant life.  We just need to find out what it is, and how to live it.
    First  of all,  Abundant living is a life that is not filled with “good things” but with the things that are good for us.
    People who enjoy the abundant life will possess all of the following qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, All these things are good for us!  What is that? (The fruit of the Spirit.) In other words they will have allowed the Holy Spirit to flow into them – fill them – and overflow through them to others!  They will have compassion, purity, humility, modesty, a strong faith, and character. They possess wisdom and enthusiasm, dignity, optimism, confidence, honesty, and a strong relationship with God. In other words, the abundant life is full of all the things money can’t buy. No matter how much money you have, you can not buy any of these qualities. And yes, you can possess all of these qualities! You can get everyone of these things from God.
    Second  -  The "abundant life" is free from the things that are bad for us. Everyone who lives the abundant life avoids the negative qualities of: Selfishness, hatred, lust, unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, fear, drunken-ness, sexual immorality, discord, fits or rage, dishonesty, greed, malicious gossipping, slander, pessimism and despair. People with these issues often spend lots of money on therapy and counseling in order to keep it from destroying them and their relationships with their loved-ones. The more these negative qualities are a part of a person’s behavior, the farther they are from obtaining this thing called "abundant life." And by the way, yes, God can remove all of these negative character-istics from a person’s life… Every one of them! God is greater than all these things!
    Most of this comes from 1& 2 Corinthians…At one time, the people of Corinth, lived a life full of wickedness and evil, but when Jesus was introduced to these people, by the power and grace of God, many were able to free themselves from these wrong and sinful traits and actions. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6:11 "And this is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." If the Corinthians were able to get free from these destructive behaviors, by the grace of God, this means that you and I can, too.
    It doesn’t matter that you are hot-tempered, for example, God can change that! So it’s no longer an excuse to say, "This is who I am and I can’t change that. You must accept me as I am!" No, we don’t!  People who are living the abundant life that Jesus came to give do not walk around like a warm can of soda-pop that is about to explode at any minute. Everyone can be free from their personal weaknesses causing pain to others and embarrassment to themselves. That’s just one of the benefits of seeking and living the abundant life.
    The “Abundant Life" is found in Christ and no where else. Everyone who does not have Jesus in their life, will not be able to experience true abundant living. While many non- Christians experience some happiness and satisfaction in their lives, when you think about it, it is usually because they practice these qualities that make up the abundant life, such as patience, integrity, and compassion and kindness… And, they also avoid many of the things that destroy the abundant life like those I mentioned earlier. However, we must realize that no matter how much happiness a non-Christian experiences, it is unfortunately limited in quality and it’s only temporary. The facts are that anyone without the saving grace of Jesus is spiritually dead. A person cannot live the "abundant life" if they are spiritually dead…there is still something missing in their life. We have heard many testimonies about this over the years from many of the “rich and famous” of the world.
    This is a hard concept even for many Christians to accept. Many assume the abundant life depends on one’s circumstances, or fate or luck, or their bank account, or their status in life, being born to wealthy parents. No doubt, these things are highly valued in our lives, but in reality, wealth, power, status, and worldly pleasure have nothing to do with living the abundant life.
    So, how do we identify the "Abundant Life?" The "Abundant life" life means that there is an abundance of something. Such a person is getting the most out of life. They are living it to the fullest. They are not just merely existing, or simply "trying to make a living." They have learned to see what life is really all about. These people quietly go about their lives full of meaning and hope, happiness, satisfaction, health, vitality, and peace of mind. They enjoy quality friendships, have good family relations, and a strong faith in God. Their life becomes an adventure worth living.
    But, I must also tell you what abundant life is not. It is not necessarily a life of comfort and ease. Some-times we need to "go through the fire" in order for it to melt away the impurities inside us. This is how God refines us. It is not dependent on outside circumstances. It’s not what happens to you that is nearly as important as how you respond to it. It also  is not glamorous, flashy or outwardly impressive. The abundant life is much like that small gate and narrow road that Jesus told us about in Matthew 7:13. The reason why so few will find it is because it takes effort to even notice it; and even more effort to live it! It has no flashing lights, or bells and whistles. It is not necessarily obtained quickly. It is a process that often takes time. For the next few days I am going to focus in on the scripture from John 15:1-17 which is the teaching of Jesus about the vine and the branches. This is the key to living the abundant life. This key scripture has within it five other “keys” that are all a part of the abundant life Jesus came to give....

I pray that this will be a blessing to all who are following my blog.

Names of God - 7
"Abba" Father

Perhaps the most familiar Christian concept of God is as Father, for God is addressed in the Lord’s Prayer as "Our Father, who art in heaven...." When we look at Jesus’ own terminology, "Father" is by far his most frequent term for God. If we are to understand the term "Father" in the Bible, we must be willing to explore a different culture than our own. Though twenty-first century America stresses gender equality and the rights of women, this is relatively new. A century ago women couldn’t vote or inherit property in some states. For most of history and in most cultures of the world, fathers have been the primary figure in families.
    "In the patriarchal societies, the father figure is endowed with two particular characteristics. On the one hand, the father rules as head of the household and the person to whom most respect is due, having absolute authority over his family. On the other hand, he has the responsibility of guarding, supporting, and helping the other members. Both these characteristics are also present when a deity is described or addressed as “father."
    In the Old Testament, God is referred to as Abba in the creative sense only twice;  "Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?" (Deuteronomy 32:6, NIV)
    In a single Messianic passage the Child is referred to in terms suitable to only God himself: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonder-ful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
    That’s it, the sum total of the use of Father as a title or metaphor for God in the Old Testament. Notice the relative formality of these references. God is Father of the nation, Father of the people. I make this point to accentuate how new and different was Jesus’ revelation of God as Father -- his Father, Abba, our Father, the Father we can pray to.
    As I began to examine the ways Jesus introduced us to God as Father, the most commonly known is “Heavenly Father” or Father in heaven:
"... That you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:45)
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...." (Matthew 6:9, NIV, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)
"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
    In Biblical Hebrew .ab is "father." But in Aramaic .abbā. is a word derived from baby-language. A small child "learns to say .abbā. (daddy) In the pre-Christian era the usage of the word broadened so that .Abbā. as a form of address to one’s father was no longer restricted to children, but also used by adult sons and daughters. The childish character of the word ("daddy") thus receded, and .abbā. acquired the warm, familiar ring which we may feel in such an expression as "dear father.”… "Abba, Father,’ he said, ’everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’" (Mark 14:36)
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ’Abba, Father.’" (Romans 8:15)
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ’Abba, Father.’" (Galatians 4:6)
Jesus introduced us to God as our Father in a way unheard of in the Old Testament.
    The implications of Jesus’ reference to his Father were abundantly clear to his opponents. Jesus’ relationship to his Father as Son was unique.
"’My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’ Jesus expressed his very close relationship to the Father, but it was difficult for them (and for us today) to understand it fully.
"Jesus answered, "’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ’Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ’Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.’" (John 14:6-10)
"In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (John 16:26-28)
    The Old Testament knew him as God. We know him as both God and Father, revealed to us through Jesus Christ. He is the one who gives us access to the Father (John 14:6). Consider Paul’s statement to counter belief in the many "gods" and "lords" in the Greco-Roman world:
"For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6).
    Do you know God as your “abba” Heavenly Father?

Names of God – 7
God Our Savior and Redeemer – ( yāsha ) = Yeshua = Joshua
    We’ve looked at God through many prisms in this study. This one is God our Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer. Of course, we’ve seen glimpses of this aspect of God’s Person, in all of God’s names or descriptors. But we need to look at how God has gone out of his way to rescue – to save - his people from bondage and set them free.
    The first title or descriptor we’ll consider is Deliverer. It only occurs six times in the Old Testament and not at all in the New. The title is a participle of the verb pālat, which means “deliver."…“Yasha palat” (Psalms 144:2 ) "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer.”   
    A second title or descriptor is Redeemer. While "redeem" is translated by two Hebrew words pādā and gā.al, only gā.al is used as a title or descriptor of God. It means "redeem, or ransom, as in “kinsman redeemer.” If a close relative lost his property to a debtor, it was the responsibility of his kinsmen to redeem it. If a relative was murdered, his kinsmen were responsible to avenge his death. If a relative was in prison or in slavery, a kinsman was obligated to pay whatever was necessary to get him released.
    The Bible has a number of examples of this. Probably the most endearing story in the Bible that illustrates this is the relationship between Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz (Ruth 1-4). Naomi and her husband travel to Moab during a famine. During the interim, both Naomi’s husband and both her sons die. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth return as poverty-stricken widows to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem. Ruth is reduced to gleaning the fields behind the harvesters, picking up whatever stray wheat stalks are left. "It just happens" that she is gleaning in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s husband. In various translations he is called "kinsman-redeemer" or "next-of-kin" Boaz loves Ruth, and takes on this role of kinsman-redeemer, not only purchasing back Naomi’s dead husband’s property, but also marrying Ruth.
Let’s look at a few of the many verses that call God our Redeemer:
* "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalms 19:14)
* "the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth." (Isaiah 54:5)
* "You, O LORD, are our father; our Redeemer from of old is your name." (Isaiah 63:16)
In (Job 19:25) a remarkable passage that points forward to Jesus the Messiah and Redeemer, Job calls out in faith:
* "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.", NIV)
    Depending on the translation, the title "Savior" is used of God 25 to 30 times in the Old Testament. The descriptor is yāsha, or "save.” It is no accident that Jesus’ own name, in Hebrew yeshua, is derived from yāsha. "to save." The angel told Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, (Yeshua) because he will save his people from their sins."    
    Several times in the New Testament the phrase "God our Savior" ( Yaweh Yasha ) or "God my Savior" appears in much the same way as it does in the Old Testament. While the Old Testa-ment tended to see salvation for the nation of Israel, the New Testament broadens the focus from one people to all peoples! "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ( Yaweh Yasha ) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." "We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior.  (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
    Twice in Titus we see the work of the Father and Son merging together to save their people from sin: First in (Titus 2:13-14) "We wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."…( Yaweh – God and Yeshua – Jesus Christ.)

Names of God 5
“Jehovah-Shalom”
    "Peace" in the Old Testament is shālōm. It is a rich word that far outshines our English word "peace." In English it means a state of tranquility and quiet; a lack of conflict or hostility. But, shālōm at its root is the idea of "completion and fulfillment, of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship." While shālōm can mean "absence of strife," the true concept of the word is better expressed by "completeness, wholeness, harmony, or fulfillment. Found within the term shālōm is the idea of unimpaired relationship with others and with God; a complete peace. It carries the same kind of full, rich meaning in the New Testament.
    Paul opens many of his letters with a salutation of "grace and peace" to his readers. "Grace" (or "favor") was the common greeting among Greek-speakers. "Peace" (or "Shalom") was and still is the common greeting among Hebrew speakers.
    In Isaiah we read of the promise of a Child who will bring Peace. The names by which he is called can only rightly be given to God himself, pointing to the divinity of the Child. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
This Prince, when he comes in all his glory, will bring true shālōm to this wounded and fallen world. When he comes and restores a "new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells" our fallen nature will be no more.
    "But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea." It is a peace – a shalom - that will be brought about by God, who will end oppression and unrighteousness and pain and suffering and usher in a brand new age. A world of perfect “shalom.”
    The Letter to the Hebrews concludes with this benediction: "May the God of peace, (Jehovah Shalom,) who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
    The God of Peace, seeing that there was no other way to bring a state of peace with us humans, sent his own Son, Jesus, to be a sacrifice for our sins. He has done what he can to make peace with us. It’s up to us to receive the peace of God and have peace with God (Jehovah Shalom.)

Names of God 4
    This morning I want to look at the LORD our Provider (Yahweh-jireh), and explore the metaphors of God which demonstrate his willingness to help, assist, and provide for his people. One of the best known of these is the Lord Our Shepherd (Yahweh-rohi, Psalm 23), who leads us and supplies our needs.
(Genesis 22:13-14) - “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide (Yahweh-yir.eh). The King James Version uses "Jehovah-jireh."
    In the New Testament we see this translated in different ways: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
    Abraham’s experience on Mt. Moriah was just the beginning. There were a number of ways, God revealed himself to Israel as their Provider.
The best known and loved passage about God as provider is the Twenty-Third Psalm. It begins identifying Yahweh as "my shepherd." Let’s examine some of the ways in which God cares for us:
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
The basic premise is that since Yahweh is my shepherd, then I shall never be in need for anything. I once said in a sermon on this Psalm that we need to insert the word “If” in front of this Psalm… Or, the word “because” the Lord is my Shepherd….
The Shepherd Provides Food (Psalm 23:2)
The Shepherd is a servant leader, leading to help the sheep find rest, pasture, and water to meet their physical needs. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." (Psalm 23:2)
The Shepherd Provides Restoration and Refreshing (Psalm 23:3a)
"He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:3a). "Restore" means figuratively, "refresh," literally, "repair." For a person, it might include rescue from a messed up life, and the gradual restoration to wholeness through loving care. God is in the restoration and wholeness business. He wants us to be refreshed and restored and repaired, as we rest in him.
The Shepherd Guides in Righteous Ways (Psalm 23:3b)
"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake" …"Guide" and "lead" with the idea of conduct-ing one along the right path….or “straight paths.” We are tempted get off the trail by taking short-cuts, but our Shepherd leads us in paths of righteousness.
Protection and Assurance in Fear (Psalm 23:4)
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
    The shepherd will sometimes need to lead the flock through uncomfortable places to get them to the next pasture.
    The psalmist now strays from the sheep analogy, but Yahweh is still the subject of his thoughts: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5) We find that God has gone before us and prepared the “table” ahead of time.
     "My cup overflows," is a symbol of abundance. The host doesn’t just pour it almost full, but overfull -- it’s figurative, of course, not literal. God’s love for us and provision for us is not meager or stingy, but liberal and abundant. He desires for us to have an abundant life. We are the ones who limit God’s blessings.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23:6).
What a positive, hopeful, wonderful promise. The psalmist is not a bitter pessimist, but faith-filled, in-awe-of-God. Hebrew really has no synonym for "eternity" and "forever." But the phrase "to the length of days" found here can be used to express the psalmist’s experience during his natural life ("all the days of my life"), and the second line ventures into the life beyond -- ("I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever").
Jehovah-Jireh’ – God is my provider!

Names Of God – Part 3
So far we have looked at “El Elyon” = God Most High ( Highest )
“El-Ohim” = Plural form ( God the three in one = ( Trinity )
“El-Shaddai = God Almighty ( All Powerful )
Today, we will look at “Yahweh” = I AM and it’s related name - (.El .Olam) = Eternal God.
One aspect of God’s nature that fascinates and comforts us is his eternity. Ancient of Days; Alpha and Omega; the First and the Last; the King eternal, immortal, invisible; the Living God; the One Who Inhabits Eternity; and the One Who Lives Forever.

Let’s begin by hearing God’s revelation of his name to Moses at the Burning Bush.

Moses, as you will recall, was saved as a baby from death by exposure by being adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was educated in the palace and raised as a noble. When he was about 40, he sought to help his fellow Israelites by killing an Egyptian. For that he had to flee into exile. He had an education, but he didn’t know God.     "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." (3:1) One of the things we lose tract of in the Bible is time…Now this is about 40 years after fleeing Egypt, Moses is an old man of 80. No longer a prince of Egypt, he tends sheep, a menial task by Egyptian standards… And not even his own sheep, but those of his father-in-law Jethro, "the priest of Midian." As he leads the sheep to pasture in this dry land, Moses travels to Horeb, "the mountain of God," (3:13) – Moses ask for God’s name, as if to say if he doesn’t know God’s name then he won’t have any authority with the people. "Moses said to God, ’Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What is his name?" Then what shall I tell them?’" (3:13) - God reveals to Moses his name in a new way: "I AM”.  The idea of eternity is clearly present also. Since the idea of “I Am” can refer to God’s indefinite existence in the past, present, and future, as we see in the Book of Revelation: "’I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, ’who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. ( El-Shaddai )’"…Jesus’ audacious claim to the Pharisees clearly uses the "I AM" statement in a striking way: "’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ’before Abraham was born, I am!’" (John 8:58). They were so offended by his assertion and use of the Divine Name they picked up stones to stone him. But the statement, "I AM" is not to be disconnected from the context. It is the Name by which God reveals himself and gives the Israelites new insight into the name Yahweh, which is used in the next verse. For in verse 15, He continues: "God also said to Moses, ’Say to the Israelites, "The LORD (that is, Yahweh), the God of your fathers -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob -- has sent me to you."     Another way in which he is known is as the Everlasting God, the Eternal God (.el .ōlām). .Ôlām means, "forever, ever, lasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, over 60! Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God (.ēl .ōlām)." (Genesis 21:33) Other uses - "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God (.elohi .ôlām), the Creator of the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 40:28) "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal (.ôlām) King." (Jeremiah 10:10)     This same idea of the Eternal God is present in the Ancient of Days in Daniel’s vision: "As I looked, ’thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.”

At Your Name, the mountains shake and crumble

At Your Name, the oceans roar and tumble
At Your Name, angles will bow; the earth will rejoice;
Your people cry out…
Lord of all the earth we shout Your Name, shout Your Name
Filling up the skies with endless praise, endless praise
Yahweh! Yahweh! We love to shout Your Name oh Lord!

Names of God - 2
"Almighty God" (.El-Shaddai) is the next great title by which God reveals himself to Abraham. The term appears as ".El Shaddai" ("Almighty God") seven times, and standing alone as "Shaddai" ("the Almighty") 41 times in the Old Testament and 9 times in the New Testament. This would also be the name we would give God when we speak of His Omnipotence – “all powerful”.
    God first revealed himself as .El Shaddai to both Abraham and Jacob. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; ( El-Shaddai ) walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." (Gen. 17:1-2) "And God said to him, "I am God Almighty;
( El-Shaddai ) be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.” (Gen. 35:11)  In both cases God is deliberately revealing something personal about himself and his name.
    (Joshua 5:13-6:2) takes place just before the march around Jericho. Though the Israelites have defeated Kings on the East side of the Jordan, Jericho is the city they must take if they are to conquer Caanan. It is a fortified, walled city, and its king had spared no effort to prepare its defenses against the Israelites who have been camped a few miles East of the Jordan for a few months. To take this stronghold will require a miracle of God…(Read this scripture)
   The Commander’s words are nearly identical to those of God to Moses out of the burning bush a full forty years before (Exodus 3:5). The Commander is none other than God himself -- ( El-Shaddai ) When Joshua challenges him with, "Friend or foe?" why does he answer, "Neither"? Isn’t he for the cause of Israel’s army? No. It’s just the other way around…Israel’s army must be enlisted in His cause. He is the Commander, not they.
    When things are difficult we wonder, "Is God on my side?" Wrong question. The more appropriate question is, "Am I on God’s side?"
    Scripture isn’t specific in this passage, but clearly it is God’s presence Joshua feels and he knows it full well. Like his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God had now appeared to him and he lies face down on the ground before his God. When Joshua gets up from the ground the “Commander” is gone. But Joshua can now go into battle assured, because he knows that God will be with him… the one who told him, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go" (El-Shaddai)
    Did you realize that he said the same thing to you and I in the New Testament, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). But sometimes we doubt. Where are you God? Where are you when I need you? Have you left me? Will you save me from this thing I am going through?
    El-Shaddai - was at the Battle of Jericho with Joshua. And though unseen, he crumpled the walls, destroyed the city, and crushed the army! The LORD of hosts is not just an expression of greatness, but of armed might willing to punish evil and uphold righteousness. The message of this passage in Joshua, and the entire Bible, for that matter, is that God is an Almighty Warrior who will judge righteously and will punish wrong. If God (El-Shaddai) be for us; who can stand against us?

 

Names of God
    Knowing God is like carefully examining a diamond, polishing it so that we can peer into it, and then looking at it from all sides and through its many facets, enjoying its colors, being delighted by its sparkles, and learning to appreciate it fully. But God is not a beautiful but lifeless diamond, He is the Living God. I have learned that as I learn his names and meditate on them, I come to know him more intimately; I begin to trust him more fully; and find my heart drawn ever more passionately to do his will here on earth as it is in heaven. So I invite you to undertake a journey with me to explore God by means of his names.
    The word "God" is a generic noun used to designate a divinity. It is not a name or title. The Judeo-Christian God has really only one name -- Yahweh or Jehovah. He has several titles…and beyond the titles, many metaphors and descriptors that help us to know Him. Here is how Webster describes it:
Name -- "A word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing."
Title -- "An appellation of dignity, honor, distinction, or preeminence attached to a person or family by virtue of rank, office, precedent, privilege, attainment, or lands." Such as; "Reverend” or "Doctor.” (One of God’s titles might be "King of kings," that is, king over all other kings that there might be.)
Metaphor -- "A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them." For example, (God is referred to as our “Rock” or our “Hiding Place.”)
Descriptor -- "Something (as a word or characteristic feature) that serves to describe or identify." Many metaphors of God could also be called descriptors. In English we have what we call an adjectival phrase, a noun together with an adjective modifying it…such as "Merciful God." However, I will try to stick to names or titles.
1. God Most High (.El .Elyon), the Exalted God
We’ll begin our study of the names and titles of God with Abraham, the Father of Faith, to whom God revealed himself. Abraham would have known the generic name for God (.ēl or the plural .ĕlōhīm). But perhaps the earliest specific name by which Abraham worshipped the true God was as the “Most High God” (.El .Elyon).
    The place to begin Abraham’s understanding of God is with his family. Abraham’s ancestors were idolaters and polytheists (worshippers of many gods). Joshua reminds the people, "Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods" (Joshua 24:2). Jacob’s wife Rachel, who probably grew up with Terah’s religion, stole her father’s "house-hold gods" read about it in - (Genesis 31:32-35; 35:2-4). Sumerian culture in southern Mesopotamia had seven gods in its pantheon. Nanna, the moon-god, was the main deity of the Sumerian city of Ur in Lower Mesopotamia and of Haran, where Abraham had migrated with his family.
    Abraham’s faith grew as God revealed himself. By the time we meet him in Genesis 12 he is a worshipper of one God. He began with the basic word for God, the generic Canaanite name for the cosmic deity, ’El. Of course God calls himself (Jehovah, I AM THAT I AM) to Moses in Chapter 3. But, for now, let’s consider the other ways in which Abraham began to know God.
    Abraham’s monotheism contrasts sharply with the polytheism of his forebears. He believed God to be the Lord of the cosmos (Genesis 14:22; 24:3), supreme judge of mankind (15:14;18:25), controller of nature (18:14; 19:24; 20:17), highly exalted (14:22), and eternal (21:33). Whenever God spoke to him, he obeyed immediately in faith.  His relationship with God was personal rather than formal. However, Abraham and the other patriarchs practiced various forms of worship, including building altars, offering sacrifices, calling on the name of the LORD, circumcision, prayer, making vows, and tithing -- as well as planting trees and setting up monuments…all ways of worshipping ‘El the one God.
.El and .Elohim are found in the Old Testament in three main forms: .ēl, as well as .ĕlōah, and the plural .ĕlōhīm. Together they appear 2,600 times in the Old Testament compared to Yahweh, which appears 6,828 times. The basic meaning of the root word seems to be "strong," having to do with "power." .El, then, is the strong and powerful One. Most often in the Old Testament, however, .ēl appears in its plural form .ĕlōhīm, usually reserved for the Israelites God. Christians tend see in this plural term .ĕlōhīm a testimony to the plurality of persons in the godhead, which is revealed more fully in the New Testament. Most celebrated, perhaps are verses where the pronouns referring to God are in the first person plural: "Then God (.ĕlōhīm – plural ) said, ’Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26)
    God revealed himself to Abraham as that Supreme King, God Most High. Thus Abraham no longer worshipped other gods but the Most High God only. The Ten Commandments require: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Later God of course reveals full-blown monotheism, that these other so-called gods are not gods at all and have no power and that the LORD is the one and only God:
• "You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:35, cf. verse 39)
• "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
* "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me." (Deuteronomy 32:39)
• "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD -- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:18)
• "This is what the LORD says-- Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
• "So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one." (1 Corinthians 8:4)
    The term "Most High" is found a number of places in both the Old and New Testaments, especially in the poetic books. Most often the phrase "Most High" stands alone as the title of God. Here are a few other well-known passages you may recognize, where the title occurs:
* "You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty...." (Psalm 91:1)
* “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David ...”
* “The angel said to her, ’The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God’" (Luke 1:32, 35).
* "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways...." (Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1:76)
* “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; (Luke 6:35)
    As we worship God, we ought never forget his supremacy and the fact that He is El’Elyon ( Most High )  The strutting kings, princes, and politicians of this earth are mere men. Satan is not God’s equal, but merely a created and rebellious angel. There is no god or demon that can begin to match our God. He is over all. And he is exalted! He is the Most High God! ‘El-‘Elyon!

    Its funny – what we think is going to save us – often destroys us – while what he think will rob us – ends up saving our lives. In fact, Jesus said this very thing. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
    It’s ironic what we discover from Esther’s decision. When you learn what you are willing to die for, then, at last, you have found what is worth living for.
    In the recent movie, "About Schmidt" 66-year-old Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has retired from his job as an insurance actuary. He is miserable, and after his wife suddenly dies, he is also lost. He travels the country in his RV hoping to stop his daughter’s marriage and to find purpose to his life. Throughout the movie, he writes his personal thoughts to a 6-year-old African child, Ndugu, that he sponsors for $22 a month.
    As Warren is traveling back home in his R.V., he begins contemplating the meaninglessness of his life. (He shares he thoughts in letters to his 6 year old foster child). You hear a voice over -
"I know we’re all pretty small in the big scheme of things. I suppose the most you can hope for is to make some kind of difference. But what kind of difference have I made? What in the world is better because of me?"
    He briefly explains how he failed in trying to stop his daughter from marrying a loser. Then he says, "I’m weak, and I’m a failure. There’s just no getting around it."
    He arrives home and picks up a stack of mail. The voice over continues: "Relatively soon I will die. Maybe twenty years. Maybe tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Once I am dead and everybody who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone? None that I can think of. None at all. Hope things are fine with you. Yours truly, Warren Schmidt."
He sees an international envelope and opens it. The voice over changes to the voice of Sister Nadie Guchier (pronounced Goo-chee-ay).
"Dear Mr. Warren Schmidt. My name is Sister Nadie Guchier of the Order of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. I work in a small village near the town of Enbaya in Tanzania. One of the children I care for is little Ndugu Emu - the boy you sponsor. Ndugu is a very intelligent boy and very loving. He is an orphan. Recently he needed medical attention for an infection of the eye, but he is better now. He loves to eat melon, and he loves to paint. Ndugu and I wanted you to know he receives all your letters. He hopes you are happy in your life and healthy. He thinks of you everyday, and he wants very much your happiness. Ndugu is only six years old and cannot read or write, but he has made for you a painting. He hopes you will like this painting. Yours Sincerely, Sister Nadine Guchier."
    Warren unfolds the paper and stares at it. We then see it. It is a drawing of two stick figures of a boy holding the hand of a man.
    Warren stares at it and begins weeping. His tears of grief turn to tears of joy, knowing that his life mattered to a little African orphan boy. The movie ends.
    Ultimately, this is how hope is derived in times of hopelessness. Not only are you, your time or your circumstances not an accident – if you will not give in to selfishness or give up to despair – God will use you and your circumstances, to do something great for the Kingdom of God.
    In the end, does it really matter HOW that happens? It may happen through some wonderfull experience where everyone has flowers, and ice cream and goes home with a prize. But, most of the time, that is not how it happens. It’s often in a time of seemingly hopelessness that the greatest demonstration of the power of God is revealed – and the lives of other people are transformed because YOU chose to do something great for the Kingdom of God with your life. THAT is where hope comes from – today, tomorrow, forever until the end of time….there is always hope.