Partakers Christian Podcasts

Developing Intimacy With God - 2. The God Who Speaks - Revelation

Developing Intimacy With God

2. God Speaks By Revelation

"Then the LORD replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." (Habakkuk 2:2 New International Version)

Last time we looked at the God who speaks and a reason why we should develop our intimacy with Him. He is a God of love and to hear him speak we need to read and understand the Bible. We continue with that today, by looking at the first of 3 words which describe what we mean when we say that God has spoken. The word for today is “revelation”.

The Bible, as God’s written word, is revelation. Revelation is how God has communicated truths to people, who otherwise would not know them. The story of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 is a good example of this. As humanity was not created until the sixth day, it must have been God who revealed the knowledge about what occurred on the first five days to the author of Genesis, or it would not be possible to know what occurred.

We know God spoke to those who wrote the Bible; but how did he speak? Was it in Hebrew? Or Greek? Or some form of angelic language? We do know that God spoke to them in their own language, just as he did to young Samuel in the temple. Samuel at first thought that the voice was that of Eli the priest. (1 Samuel 3:3–9) At other times God spoke through angels, as when the angel Gabriel informed Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:26–38)

In the part of the Bible we call the Old Testament, God often spoke through the “Angel of the Lord”. Some people believe this to have been Jesus before he came to earth as a human (Joshua 5:13–15; 1 Chronicles 21:16). We call those events, a ‘christophany’ – a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus the Son of God.

Another method of communication used by God, is in dreams and visions. An example of this is in the birth story of Jesus Christ, where the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod. (Matthew 2:12). God has also communicated from a burning bush (Exodus 3) and from within a cloud (Exodus 34). God has even spoken through a donkey, as the prophet Balaam can testify (Numbers 22).

Without revelation, we could not learn about God. Unless God reveals Himself, we would not know anything about him. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He (God) has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

We know for certain that this revelation has caused the Bible, the Written Word of God, to reveal Jesus Christ the Living Word of God. WOW!

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Bible Reading - Psalm 77

Psalm 77

For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph.

77:1 My cry goes to God! Indeed,

I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.

77:2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.

My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired.

My soul refused to be comforted.

77:3 I remember God, and I groan.

I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed.

Selah.

77:4 You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.

77:5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

77:6 I remember my song in the night.

I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:

77:7 “Will the Lord reject us forever?

Will he be favorable no more?

77:8 Has his loving kindness vanished forever?

Does his promise fail for generations?

77:9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.

77:10 Then I thought, “I will appeal to this:

the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 7

7:11 I will remember Yah’s deeds;

for I will remember your wonders of old.

77:12 I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.

77:13 Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?

77:14 You are the God who does wonders.

You have made your strength known among the peoples.

77:15 You have redeemed your people with your arm,

the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Selah.

77:16 The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed.

The depths also convulsed.

77:17 The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.

77:18 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind.

The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

77:19 Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters.

Your footsteps were not known.

77:20 You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

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Developing Intimacy With God - 1. The God Who Speaks

Developing Intimacy With God

1. The God Who Speaks

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16

Today we are starting a new series where we will seek to help our relationship with God, to develop our intimacy with Him. We will start with 8 studies about reading and understanding the Bible, where God speaks to us. Then we will go on to prayer, where we speak to God but He also, again, speaks to us.

We start today by looking at the God who speaks and the basis on which we are to develop our relationship with Him through reading the Bible and praying to Him, listening to Him.

Let me know what you think! I won't mind what you say...

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Bible Reading - Psalm 30

Psalm 30

(as read by Adam Skirton)

Pastor of Poulner Baptist Chapel)

A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.

30:1 I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up,
and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
30:2 Yahweh my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me.
30:3 Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. Y
ou have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
30:4 Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his.
Give thanks to his holy name.
30:5 For his anger is but for a moment.
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

30:7 You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong;
but when you hid your face, I was troubled.
30:8 I cried to you, Yahweh.
To Yahweh I made supplication:
30:9 “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust praise you?
Shall it declare your truth?
30:10 Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me.
Yahweh, be my helper.”
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
30:12 To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent.
Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

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Bible Thought - Covenant - Exploring Words In Scripture

Words In Scripture Explored – Covenant

Gday and welcome to Words In Scripture Explored! The word for today is Covenant.

Look at your money! On British money are the words "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of five [ten/twenty/fifty] pounds. In fact you can even take old British banknotes to the Bank and cash them in for modern money! Promises!! That’s what a covenant is – a promise between two parties.

Covenants in the Bible

Covenants were common in all kinds of life, and not just between God and humanity. For instance where a powerful nation had taken over a weaker nation, a covenant was in place to give benefits from the powerful nation to the weaker nation, such as protection as well as sanctions if the weaker nation rebelled.

About God’s Covenants

Each covenant between God and humanity showed God promising to do something and commands for mankind to follow! When an Old Testament covenant ended in failure, it was always due to mankind’s inability to obey God! Such as when Adam & Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thereby breaking the covenant made with God. The Edenic Covenant was therefore terminated and now God needed to make another covenant with Adam (Genesis 3v14-21). In the Old Testament we have six covenants between God and humanity: Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and the Davidic. They all had several things about them:

• God always took the initiative.
• God always gave His solemn promise to fulfil His promise.
• God always waited for a free response from humanity, without coercion or force.

New Covenant

As a Christian Disciple today, you are living under the the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31v31-34)

Four features of this covenant are: God transforming you; God being your God and you being His; God living inside you and leading you; your sins are forgiven and removed

This new covenant is sealed only through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. His blood ensures the truth of this New Covenant. There is no other way for this New Covenant to be sealed except through Jesus’ blood alone. This New Covenant finalizes what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of God living in a righteous life conforming to God's holy character.

Whenever you celebrate Communion or the Lord’s Supper, you celebrate this New Covenant between God and yourself, for it symbolizes this New Covenant, which guarantees salvation! So go tell somebody else today about how God will make them new, forgive them, live inside them, and transform them, if only they come to Him in repentance.

Bible Reading - Psalm 114

Psalm 114

As read by Heather aged 8

1 When Israel came out of Egypt,

the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,

2 Judah became God's sanctuary,

Israel his dominion.

3 The sea looked and fled,

the Jordan turned back;

4 the mountains skipped like rams,

the hills like lambs.

5 Why was it, O sea, that you fled,

O Jordan, that you turned back,

6 you mountains, that you skipped like rams,

you hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,

at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8 who turned the rock into a pool,

the hard rock into springs of water.

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Bible Thought - Forgiveness

 

Christian Disciple and Forgiveness

 

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G!day! The Apostle James wrote: 'When all kinds of trials and tribulations crowd into your lives my brethren, do not resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends. Realise that they come to test your faith and produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until your endurance is fully developed and you will find you have become men of mature character, with the right sort of independence. ' James 1:2-4

 

It is often said by psychiatrists that 90% of people with emotional related psychiatric problems would be cured, if only they knew forgiveness. Forgiveness of course is a major part of Christianity, both in the way that God forgives us when we come to Him in penitence and repentance, but also in the way Christian disciples forgive others and themselves! Does that surprise you that people may need to forgive themselves? How does that work?

The two major causes of emotional problems, involve forgiveness.

• Failure to receive forgiveness. Many people try to pay for their sin or to atone somehow for their sin or as AW Tozer out it: "The perpetual penance of regret." Some people even try to punish themselves for they're past sins.
• Failure to give forgiveness. There are always people who hurt us by what they say and do. If forgiveness is not offered, a root of bitterness resentment and anger may spring up in our lives. There are 'significant others' - parents who hurt us, siblings who fail us or tease us, and friends who betray who reject us.

Now you may well be asking yourself, why does God allow these irritations and offences to take place?

 

We need to understand that God's ultimate purpose for allowing irritations and offences to occur in our lives is to give us an opportunity to become more like Jesus Christ His Son (Romans 8;28:29). There are some irritations we can control and we are responsible to see us take sensible steps to do so. There is no point in complaining we are overweight if we are not prepared to diet.

 

There are many sources of irritations and offences we can't control.

 

• People. Personality traits, inconsistencies, rejection etc.
• Environment. Inconveniences, natural elements, pressures.
• Ourselves. Frustrations with our deficiencies, limited abilities, failures, illnesses etc.

God uses these circumstances, experiences and irritations to shape us and mould us like a gem cutter, cutting and polishing a stone to make it valuable. However, whether God requires 'sandpaper' or a 'sledgehammer' sometimes depends on our willingness to be involved in the process. God is concerned not just about what is happening to us, but also what we are learning and how we are responding in His workshop of life.

 

How do we respond to irritations and offences?

a. Wrong Responses (Human way)

• Defend yourself.
• Accuse somebody else and pass the blame.
• Hold anger in instead of dealing with the problem.

b. Right Responses (God's way)

• Be honest with yourself - Am I in the wrong?
• Be willing to admit when you are wrong - Ask forgiveness.
• Be willing to forgive.

Asking for forgiveness can be one of the hardest things we need to do. This is particularly so when we have been betrayed by a friend or someone who has been unfaithful. We need to stop and consider Christ and the enormity of His forgiveness.

 

Failing to co-operate with God's purposes, has two frequent results

• Insensitivity: Ignore, shut off, withdraw and avoid.
• Oversensitivity: Resentment, bitterness, hatred, anger and revenge.

Remember!! Forgiveness deals with our emotional response/s toward an offender. Pardon deals with the consequences of the offence; we may not be in a position to offer pardon. Forgiveness enables us to have the same openness toward the person after they offend us, as before. Lastly, when we forgive the offender, the hurt and the wound will start to diminish. This is helped when we realise Christ understands and can use these experiences for our eternal advantage.

For more to think about please do read for yourself James 2v1-4… Give yourself the following tests, and see how you respond or react to them. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so you can pray over any issues together.

Tests to see if there is someone I need to forgive

• Resentment test - Is there anyone you resent?
• Responsibility test - Do you find yourself thinking, "If only they (parents, friends, colleagues, God) had done this, things would have been different!" and therefore blaming others?
• Reminder/reaction test - Do you find yourself reacting against a person because they remind you of someone else?

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Bible Reading - Psalm 127

Psalm 127

 A Song of Ascents. By Solomon

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

² In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat

- for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

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Bible Thought - Spiritual Armour

 

25. The Christian Disciple and the Armour of God

Paul writing in Ephesians 6v13-17: “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We have learnt previously something of satan’s strategy. Satan wants you, as a Christian disciple, to compromise your faith. He wants you to be fearful. He wants you to have doubts and blasphemous thoughts. He wants you to be a hedonist that only thinks of themselves and living a materialistic life. He wants you to put off till tomorrow what you can do today. He wants you to be an individual, instead of being involved in your local Christian community. At times we feel like giving up being a Christian disciple with the pressure applied on us by sin & temptation. The thoughts that satan implants in our minds like “Did God really say that?” or in the insatiable thoughts of lust, revenge or pride. Doubts set in. Guilt appears constant.

To help His people, God has designed spiritual armour for us to wear during our constant battle with sin & temptation. This armour is what God wears according to Isaiah 59v17, when He goes out to battle! What are the hallmarks of this spiritual armour? Cast all thoughts of a Roman soldier out of your mind!

• · Truth - know, understand and live truth. Our lives are to be controlled by truth as revealed in Scripture. When we know truth so well, we can recognize the lies that we are told!

• · Righteousness - live a righteous life. Live the truth! When we started as a Christian disciple, before God we were given the righteousness of Jesus! But that righteousness needs to be lived out in the lives of Christian disciples. If it isn’t, then satan will attack!

• · Gospel - be ready to share it and rely upon it. Because we have peace with God, we are able to withstand without fear the attacks of the enemy! We have peace with God, but we are also to exhibit peace with others. Where peace is, the discord of our enemy cannot prevail!

• · Faith – show total trust in God for your life. The faith we have is a defensive weapon against the mistruths that come into our head: lies, blasphemy, lust, greed, selfishness are all little darts thrown at us by satan. By maintaining our trust in God’s promises and God’s power, these little darts are extinguished.

• · Salvation - assurance of salvation. Be assured! Let your mind be controlled by the Holy Spirit, so that you are not led astray. Your salvation rests in nothing apart from God’s promises and Jesus’ righteousness!

• · Bible - read and study God’s Word. The Word of God, the Bible, is our attack weapon! That is why we are to study it and learn from it, trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead and reveal it to us! We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus according to 2 Peter 3v18 and that is only achieved through studying the Scriptures! Then when we hear that nagging little voice that says “God didn’t say that”, we can say “Oh yes, He did!!”

• · Prayer – talk to God. This is how we are energized! Fighting in our own power is useless! When we talk to God, we strengthen our relationship with Him! When we ask other Christian disciples to pray for us, the Church unity is strengthened! A solo Christian is an anomaly. Except in extreme circumstances, there is always a way to ask for prayer and help.

How do we put on the armour? It is not through some mystical, deep and secret process that the spiritual armour is put on. If it were, not many of us would be wearing it! It is revealed, whenever we resist the works of satan, and don’t listen to the lies he tells us in our head. When our marriages, reflect the sacrificial love that Jesus has for the church, our spiritual armour is displayed. When children are taught the Gospel and instructed in the Lord, our spiritual armour is being worn. When we are diligent in the workplace, our spiritual armour is exhibited. When God is glorified in your life, you are wearing the spiritual armour! When are living fruitful lives for God, and giving all glory and honour to Him without compromise, we show we are wearing our spiritual armour! We can stand up for Jesus and say with honesty and integrity that He is our Lord and our master. When we meditate on God’s word, we nourish our minds with the truth of salvation! When we tell others of this message of peace with God, our enemies flee!

 

When we ask others to pray for us, as Paul did, we show we are part of the Church, the beautiful bride of Jesus! All these and more, reflect that as Christian disciples, we are clothed in spiritual armour. It is our own responsibility to wear it and use it with confidence. We are to be alert to the prowling of our enemies and relying solely on God’s power to overcome sin and temptation. In our own strength we will surely fail, but by using God’s strength and clothed in His armour, we will prevail and overcome. The Christian disciple prevails and is an overcomer when reliant solely upon the God they seek to serve wholeheartedly.

For more to think about please do read for yourself Psalm 1. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

 

Q1. What are the contrasts between the ways of the godly and the ways of the ungodly?

Q2. In what ways am I bearing fruit in my life for God and showing I meditate on His word?

Q3. What can I do this week, to stop somebody walking down the path that leads to destruction?

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Bible Reading - Psalm 27

Psalm 27

By David.
27:1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
Yahweh is the strength of my life.
Of whom shall I be afraid?

27:2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh,
even my adversaries and my foes,
they stumbled and fell.

27:3 Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear.
Though war should rise against me,
even then I will be confident.

27:4 One thing I have asked of Yahweh,
that I will seek after,
that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life,
to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.

27:5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me secretly in his pavilion.
In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me.
He will lift me up on a rock.

27:6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me.
I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent.
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.

27:7 Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice.
 Have mercy also on me,
and answer me.

27:8 When you said, “Seek my face,”
my heart said to you,
“I will seek your face, Yahweh.”

27:9 Don’t hide your face from me.
Don’t put your servant away in anger.
You have been my help.
Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me,
God of my salvation.

27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
then Yahweh will take me up.

27:11 Teach me your way, Yahweh.
Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.

27:12 Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
such as breathe out cruelty.

27:13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.

27:14 Wait for Yahweh.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
Yes, wait for Yahweh.

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