Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Bible Thought - A God of Wonder - Genesis 1v1-19 & John 1v1-14

A God of Wonder - Genesis 1:1-19 & John 1:1-14

We read Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”

This is that moment in time when God, who is outside of time and space, created the universe which is 90 billion light years across. Within this universe, He created galaxies, including our own, the Milky Way. Within the Milky Way, God created a Solar system which contains our Planet Earth. God created the planet Earth and placed it so that it would always be just the right distance away from the Sun in order to support life. Never too close and never too far away as the Earth orbits the Sun. Just right. Though I am sure there are some people here who think that in the past couple of weeks it has got a bit too close for comfort.

We see in this story from Genesis 1, that Almighty God created, hovered, separated, made, let be, gathered, called, saw, commanded, set, gave and blessed. He said let there be light, and there was! A great God of Wonder is He! Do you know this God?

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Christmas - Who is Jesus- 7. Messiah’s Leadership

Messiah's Leadership

10:1 Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time, Yahweh who makes storm clouds, and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field. 10:2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd. 10:3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle. 10:4 From him will come forth the cornerstone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. 10:5 They shall be as mighty men, treading down muddy streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them; and the riders on horses will be confounded. (Zechariah 10:1-5)

During the time of Zechariah, the Temple was being rebuilt.  The Temple was central to Jewish worship.  But who would help give advice and solve the multitude of problems they were facing? Who cared about them?  Well, Zechariah speaks into their situation with wise words.  He has already likened the nation of Israel as being like sheep, and that God is their shepherd (Zechariah 9:16) "Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land. ".  Throughout Chapter 10, it is repeated again and again, that God will care for and bless them.  But in order to receive the blessing and care, the nation of Israelites must seek, turn and follow.

Seek God

If the people need advice and help in times of trouble and need, the first place they should look, is to the Lord their God.  They must seek and ask of Him! (10:1)! God can provide all things! He can control the weather, but these people need to stop being so independent, self-sufficient and start to rely on God and His infinite wisdom and resources.

Turn to God

In 10:2, Zechariah reminds the people of Israel, that following idols and false gods is foolishness.  These idols are self-seeking, liars and deceivers.  Israel needed to turn back to the One True Almighty God! Instead of following the glory of the Almighty God, they were turning to idols for worship, advice and listening to superstitious nonsense. And of course idols and false gods are mute! They cannot speak or give advice because they are not Gods at all!!  The sin of idolatry particularly broke the second commandment!  The people were to turn away from false gods and return to worship the One True Almighty God. They were also to listen to the true prophets of God instead of the false prophets who deceived by speaking words they wanted to hear.

Follow Me

These sheep, the nation of Israel were to follow God.  Instead of wandering around aimlessly, they were to follow and obey God Almighty.  The Jewish leaders and teachers were supposed to be leading the nation in worship of Almighty God, but were not doing so.  Hence God in 10:3 being enraged at those who were in positions of trust who were deceivers, liars and only looking out for their own interests.  Ezekiel 34 expounds this out in much further detail! 

So who were the people of Israel to follow?  They were to follow the coming Messiah.  Not only was the Messiah a King, Prophet Servant and Disciple but He would also be a Shepherd: the Good Shepherd!  From the lowliest tribe of Judah, will come this Good Shepherd "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Messiah Cares

This Good Shepherd will be utterly reliable, responsible, faithful and being the sure foundation that the people of Israel need, particularly in a time of crisis. In 10:4 God will send this Good Shepherd to also be a cornerstone, nail or tent peg, battle bow and a source of all ruling authority. Cornerstone:  all ancient buildings needed a chief cornerstone to ensure a sure foundation so that the building could not fall down easily.  It held two walls together.  The imagery fits in well with the building of the Temple.  If you want to continue worshipping God, then you must get the foundations right. 

The chief cornerstone of the building holds the building together.  Not only that, it gives the building shape, strength and all other stones are adjusted by it. Nail: Another translation is that of tent-peg. Just as the chief cornerstone holds the building together, so does a tent-peg ensure that the tent stays fastened down during storms!  This Good Shepherd would ensure that everything is held together if they stick to Him. Battle-bow:  Probably referring back to 9:13, Zechariah now likens this Shepherd Messiah to a battle-bow!  This Good Shepherd will fight to keep the wolves from harming His sheep.  He will battle for them.  This Good Shepherd will be brave, courageous and strong as he leads his people to victory!

How is Jesus this Messiah?

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened."  In other words, ask of God your heavenly Father and your needs will be supplied!  That was how Jesus lived and obeyed, by being in constant communication with God the Father.  That is how he could live a life of utter obedience to God, because He always asked, sought and knocked.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, hence Him saying in John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Again in John 10:14-17 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own; even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again."

Jesus is the Good Shepherd only through the sacrifice he must make for His sheep. Here Jesus is looking ahead to the sacrifice He makes on the Cross. His love for all of humanity compels Him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Just as all shepherds will endanger themselves for the safety of their sheep, so too will Jesus endure the pain and suffering of the Cross, so that people can be led into safety of God's kingdom. It is in this role of the Good Shepherd, that Jesus exhibits true leadership, which is self-less and sacrificial. Ezekiel 34:11 tells of God searching out for his sheep among all nations, and this is fulfilled through Jesus.

Through His perfect, obedient and voluntary sacrifice on the Cross, not only will salvation be available to the Jews but also to those of other nations. And Jesus is willing to fight for His people! He gives spiritual armour for all those who follow Him to wear.  Christians are in a spiritual battle reminds Paul in Ephesians 6, and as the Good Shepherd, Jesus will fight and battle for us through His indwelling Holy Spirit!  For as the Bible says in 1 John 4:4 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world."

Jesus Christ is, as Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:8, the Cornerstone of faith - referring back to Isaiah 8:14.  Jesus Christ is the dependable, sure foundation that all faith is to be ground upon.  All Christians are living stones, but should be living on the dependability of Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone alone!  It is only Him, who can give direction, assurance and be relied upon.  It is Him that calls all people everywhere to seek for, turn to and follow obediently. Jesus Christ, Servant King, Servant Prophet, Servant Disciple, Servant Shepherd.  Follow Him as the great leader He is and victory is assured!  Whatever you are struggling with today, turn it over to God and ask for His help!  He has promised to help! Remember that the battle belongs to the Lord!  Amen!  Just as Jesus said to Peter in John 21:19 "Follow Me!", so Jesus calls all those willing to follow Him, to follow Him for life.  Follow and be led by Him and Him alone, regardless of what and where that might be.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 21

Psalm 21

(as read by Richard A)

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

1 The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4 He asked life of you, you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.

7 For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
8 Your hand will find out all of your enemies. Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
12 For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.
13 Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power.

 

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 20

Psalm 20

20:1 May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.

May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,

20:2 send you help from the sanctuary,

grant you support from Zion,

20:3 remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.

Selah.

20:4 May He grant you your heart’s desire,

and fulfill all your counsel.

20:5 We will triumph in your salvation.

the name of our God, we will set up our banners.

May Yahweh grant all your requests.

20:6 Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed.

He will answer him from his holy heaven,

with the saving strength of his right hand.

20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,

but we trust the name of Yahweh our God.

20:8 They are bowed down and fallen,

but we rise up, and stand upright.

20:9 Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!

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Bible Reading- Psalm 71

Psalm 71

71:1 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.

71:2 Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.

71:3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

71:4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

71:5 For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.

71:6 I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.

71:7 I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.

71:8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all the day. 71:9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

71:10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 71:11 saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”

71:12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.

71:13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

71:14 But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

71:15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure.

71:16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

71:17 God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

71:18 Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.

71:19 Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?

71:20 You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

71:21 Increase my honor, and comfort me again.

71:22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

71:23 My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

71:24 My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

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Bible Reading - Psalm 128

Psalm 128

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

¹ How joyful are those who fear the Lord-

all who follow his ways!

² You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.

How joyful and prosperous you will be!

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,

flourishing within your home.

Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees

as they sit around your table.

⁴ That is the Lord's blessing

for those who fear him.

⁵ May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.

May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.

⁶ May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.

May Israel have peace!

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Bible Reading - Psalm 12

Psalm 12

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.

12:1 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases.

For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

12:2 Everyone lies to his neighbor.

They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

12:3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips,

and the tongue that boasts,

12:4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail.

Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

12:5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says Yahweh;

“I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

12:6 The words of Yahweh are flawless words,

as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

12:7 You will keep them, Yahweh.

You will preserve them from this generation forever.

12:8 The wicked walk on every side,

when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

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Bible Reading - Psalm 101

Psalm 101

As read by Destiny

 

¹ I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

² I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house with blameless heart.

³ I will set before my eyes no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

⁴ Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will have nothing to do with evil.

⁵ Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;

whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

⁶ My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;

he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

⁷ No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;

no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

⁸ Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;

I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.

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Bible Reading - Psalm 145

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God and King,and praise your name forever and ever.
² I will praise you every day;yes, I will praise you forever.
³ Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!No one can measure his greatness.
⁴ Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;let them proclaim your power.
⁵ I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour and your wonderful miracles.
⁶ Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;I will proclaim your greatness.
⁷ Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and compassionate,slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
⁹ The Lord is good to everyone.He showers compassion on all his creation.
¹⁰ All of your works will thank you, Lord,and your faithful followers will praise you.
¹¹ They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;they will give examples of your power.
¹² They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
¹³ For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.You rule throughout all generations.The Lord always keeps his promises;he is gracious in all he does.
¹⁴ The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you in hope;you give them their food as they need it.
¹⁶ When you open your hand,you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in everything he does;he is filled with kindness.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to all who call on him,yes, to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He grants the desires of those who fear him;he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
²⁰ The Lord protects all those who love him,but he destroys the wicked.
²¹ I will praise the Lord,and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 126

Psalm 126

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 When the Lord brought back

his exiles to Jerusalem,

it was like a dream!

2 We were filled with laughter,

and we sang for joy.

And the other nations said,

"What amazing things the Lord has done for them."

3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!

What joy!

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,

as streams renew the desert.

5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with

shouts of joy.

6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,

but they sing as they return with the harvest.

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