We must keep God as Adonai always before us. It is then and only then that we come to realize that any gift we might have, any talent we have acquired, the way we look, the sound of our voice, indeed all that we are and will ever be, is there to serve His purpose and to glorify His name. It shows only His grace to broken vessels like us that we might have any talent at all and we have a responsibility (not just a choice) to use what we have to serve our Master’s purposes.
Let’s take a quick look at God’s words to Satan (the accuser) as the
dark angel presents himself before God. “Have you considered my servant Job?
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God
and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8) Job was such wonderful servant that God picks him out as
an example to the fallen angel of the obedience of at least one man on earth. For
this he receives special attention, and a book in the bible.
What was special? He served God in his heart, in his mind and with his
strength. He prayed for his children, he shunned evil and had a healthy level of holy
fear for God. In short, Job knew his place in the ultimate scheme of things. That he
was a man, a servant of the Most High God. That all his wealth, health, family and
friends were from God, and he did not think for a moment about his own greatness.
At no time does it appear that he himself thought he was the greatest man in the
East – he left that up to the narrator! (see Job 1:3)
May we serve our Heavenly Master, Adonai, with the same level of holy fear and never forget our place as His servants!
Will you accept the following Commission to Faith?
Lord, today I accept my calling. Not to perfection or performance. My calling is to faith. I have been chosen for this generation. I have a place in the heritage of faith. I’m going to stop wishing and whining. I’m going to start believing and receiving. What Your Word says is mine. I won’t let others steal my hope. I will not argue with the Pharisee. I will believe, and therefore speak. For You, my God, are huge! Nothing is too hard for You. Our world needs Your wonders, Lord. Rise up from Your throne, O God. Renew Your works in our day. I confess the unbelief of my generation. And I ask You to begin Your revival of faith. In my own heart. For you are who You say You are. You can do what You say You can do. I am who You say I am. I can do all things through Christ. Your Word is alive and active in me. Enemy, hear me clearly. My Father is the Maker of heaven and earth. And you are under my feet! Because for today and the rest of my days, I’m believing God!!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Adonai Invites Service
Adonai invites service, because if Jesus is our Adonai, then He is our master and we are His servants. With that in mind, read these words from Richard Foster’s incredible classic, Celebration of Discipline.
“As the cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service. When Jesus gathered His disciples for the Last Supper they were having trouble deciding who was the greatest. This was no new issue for them. (Luke 9:46). Whenever there is trouble over who is the greatest, there is trouble over who is the least. That is the crux of the matter for us, isn’t it? Most of us know we will never be the greatest; just don’t let us be the least.
Gathered at the Passover feast, the disciples were keenly aware that someone needed to wash the other’s feet. The problem was that the only people who washed feet were the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they were not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least. Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness.
Having lived out servanthood before them, He called them to the way of service. ‘If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you’ (John 13:14-15). In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus’ call to deny father and mother, houses and land for the sake of the gospel than His word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. If we forsake all, we even have the chance of glorious martyrdom. But in service, we must experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial.
The risen Christ beckons us to the ministry of the towel. Such a ministry, flowing out of the inner recesses of the heart, is life and joy and peace. Perhaps you would like to begin by experimenting with a prayer that several of us use. Begin the day praying, ‘Lord Jesus, as it would please You bring me someone today whom I can serve.’”
“As the cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service. When Jesus gathered His disciples for the Last Supper they were having trouble deciding who was the greatest. This was no new issue for them. (Luke 9:46). Whenever there is trouble over who is the greatest, there is trouble over who is the least. That is the crux of the matter for us, isn’t it? Most of us know we will never be the greatest; just don’t let us be the least.
Gathered at the Passover feast, the disciples were keenly aware that someone needed to wash the other’s feet. The problem was that the only people who washed feet were the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they were not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least. Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness.
Having lived out servanthood before them, He called them to the way of service. ‘If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you’ (John 13:14-15). In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus’ call to deny father and mother, houses and land for the sake of the gospel than His word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. If we forsake all, we even have the chance of glorious martyrdom. But in service, we must experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial.
The risen Christ beckons us to the ministry of the towel. Such a ministry, flowing out of the inner recesses of the heart, is life and joy and peace. Perhaps you would like to begin by experimenting with a prayer that several of us use. Begin the day praying, ‘Lord Jesus, as it would please You bring me someone today whom I can serve.’”
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Just a Little Praise!!!!!!!!
Hey to all! Becky posting here... I just wanted to take a minute and give a big Praise The Lord! About a week ago, Pastor Randy received a notification from the Alabama Baptist Convention letting him know that they had nominated him for "Pastor of the Year" in one of the three catagories. Thursday, he received a call letting him know that indeed he had been selected as "Pastor of the Year"!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't God so incredible! Just another confirmation that His hand is on Randy and He has annointed Ran to preach the Word with power and clarity! Another confirmation that God has His hand on The Church @ Ross Station as well! Hallelu-jah! May God be glorified!
For His purpose, God has blessed Pastor Randy's service to Him and our service to Him as well. God has chosen this week to teach us that He is Adonai, Our Lord and Master! We are called to serve our Master, and this award for Randy confirms that He blesses those who are obedient and available to Him!
Praise the Lord and we are so very proud of you Randy and are thankful to serve Christ under your leadership!
For His purpose, God has blessed Pastor Randy's service to Him and our service to Him as well. God has chosen this week to teach us that He is Adonai, Our Lord and Master! We are called to serve our Master, and this award for Randy confirms that He blesses those who are obedient and available to Him!
Praise the Lord and we are so very proud of you Randy and are thankful to serve Christ under your leadership!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Know Him by name
“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”
1 Timothy 1:17
As we have read this week, it is clear that the practice of naming someone based on that individual’s personal characteristics is in keeping with the biblical concept of the significance of a name. I find it fascinating that in the Hebrew language, the term for “name” (shem) most likely meant “sign or distinctive mark”. In the Greek, name (onoma) is derived from a verb that means “to know”.
A name is much more than a label. In ancient times, a person’s name depicted something important about his identity. Just look at Moses’ name for example; it means “to draw out (of water), Abraham means “father of multitude”, and Hannah means “grace”. When God spoke from the burning bush, Moses asked Him to reveal His name. Moses realized that if he knew God’s name, he would know a lot more about this unfamiliar deity who was speaking to him in such a powerful and unusual way.
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:13
When the LORD revealed this name to Moses, he learned that God was unlike the other gods worshipped in Egypt or Cannan. The name Yahweh indicated that the LORD was different from all other gods. His name set Him totally and completely apart.
If we look throughout scripture we see that the personal name of Yahweh reveals that God is a divine being who is self-existent (John 5:26), self-sufficient (Acts 17:25), self-directed (Job 36:22-23), eternal (Rev. 4:8), and consistent (Ps. 102:26-27). 1
After hearing Randy's message this past Sunday, and reading the devotions this week, how does the fact that the LORD is “I AM” impact you? Think about that today; reflect on it as you go about your day.
I hope as you reflect on how that fact impacts you, that it will lead you to praise Him. You see, Yahweh is the most significant name of all the names we attribute to God. It is the name by which God instructed us to remember Him throughout all generations. The Jews used the abbreviated form of Yahweh in song when they sang Hallelu-jah – Praise Yah. Throughout Scripture, we are commanded to praise Him. So because He is I AM spend time praising Him today.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
1 Mary Kassian
1 Timothy 1:17
As we have read this week, it is clear that the practice of naming someone based on that individual’s personal characteristics is in keeping with the biblical concept of the significance of a name. I find it fascinating that in the Hebrew language, the term for “name” (shem) most likely meant “sign or distinctive mark”. In the Greek, name (onoma) is derived from a verb that means “to know”.
A name is much more than a label. In ancient times, a person’s name depicted something important about his identity. Just look at Moses’ name for example; it means “to draw out (of water), Abraham means “father of multitude”, and Hannah means “grace”. When God spoke from the burning bush, Moses asked Him to reveal His name. Moses realized that if he knew God’s name, he would know a lot more about this unfamiliar deity who was speaking to him in such a powerful and unusual way.
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:13
When the LORD revealed this name to Moses, he learned that God was unlike the other gods worshipped in Egypt or Cannan. The name Yahweh indicated that the LORD was different from all other gods. His name set Him totally and completely apart.
If we look throughout scripture we see that the personal name of Yahweh reveals that God is a divine being who is self-existent (John 5:26), self-sufficient (Acts 17:25), self-directed (Job 36:22-23), eternal (Rev. 4:8), and consistent (Ps. 102:26-27). 1
After hearing Randy's message this past Sunday, and reading the devotions this week, how does the fact that the LORD is “I AM” impact you? Think about that today; reflect on it as you go about your day.
I hope as you reflect on how that fact impacts you, that it will lead you to praise Him. You see, Yahweh is the most significant name of all the names we attribute to God. It is the name by which God instructed us to remember Him throughout all generations. The Jews used the abbreviated form of Yahweh in song when they sang Hallelu-jah – Praise Yah. Throughout Scripture, we are commanded to praise Him. So because He is I AM spend time praising Him today.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
1 Mary Kassian
Thursday, November 6, 2008
YAHWEH; He is Exalted
Father God,
Today I praise You. You are YAHWEH and I acknowledge You as the One True God. Before you no God was formed, nor will there be one after You. You are Eternal. You are worthy of being exalted! I praise You for being active and present in my life as the I AM. Help me to lean on you today and know that you are guiding me. Help me to trust in the path you have for me. Help me to be obedient to you. After all you have done to show your love for me, may I live my life showing others how much I love you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I AM WHO I AM
Why do we feel we have to have all the answers at our fingertips? Straight answer: Pride. Pride says, "If I don't have a ready comeback, if I say, 'I don't know,' they'll laugh at me." But that's not true at all. Intelligent throughtful people won't laugh; they'll realize that no one has all the answers.
When Moses gave God that first miserable excuse and said, "I won't have all the answers," God had an immediate reply: "Perhaps not, but you will have all of Me."
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the
sons of Isreal, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14)
What does that mean? English readers of an English Bible run their eyes across those words and wonder why in the world that answer was significant and why it seemed to satisfy Moses.
Probing a little deeper into the original language, we discover that these words, "I AM WHO I AM," are the very characters in Hebrew that spell out the name YAHWEH. Here is what God was saying, "The only self-existent, infinite Being in all of the universe has dispatched you, Moses. You represent Him. I AM has sent you. You tell them that."
The word "Yahweh" is the most intimate term of the living Lord in the Hebrew vocabulary. God was saying, "Moses, when you stand before those elders of Israel, you let them know that the intimate God of Isreal has sent you to be His representative."
God went on to give Moses two promises, to aid him in his introduction to the elders, and then to Pharoah himself. In verse 18, God tells Moses that the leaders of the Israelites, "will pay heed to what you say." Moses had God's promise on that. And when it came time to deal with Pharoah, the Lord made a second promise: "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go" (vs. 20).
What assurance! It was already a done deal. The Lord told Moses, "Not only will the elders of Isreal hear you and believe you, but Pharoah himself will fall in line and unlock the gate to freedom. It's going to happen; He'll let Israel go. So you've got My promise to stand on, Moses. I won't let you down. You feel as if you don't have all the answers, but you'll have all of Me. You represent I AM, and you represent my unfailing promises."
Taken from Charles Swindoll's book, Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication.
When Moses gave God that first miserable excuse and said, "I won't have all the answers," God had an immediate reply: "Perhaps not, but you will have all of Me."
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the
sons of Isreal, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14)
What does that mean? English readers of an English Bible run their eyes across those words and wonder why in the world that answer was significant and why it seemed to satisfy Moses.
Probing a little deeper into the original language, we discover that these words, "I AM WHO I AM," are the very characters in Hebrew that spell out the name YAHWEH. Here is what God was saying, "The only self-existent, infinite Being in all of the universe has dispatched you, Moses. You represent Him. I AM has sent you. You tell them that."
The word "Yahweh" is the most intimate term of the living Lord in the Hebrew vocabulary. God was saying, "Moses, when you stand before those elders of Israel, you let them know that the intimate God of Isreal has sent you to be His representative."
God went on to give Moses two promises, to aid him in his introduction to the elders, and then to Pharoah himself. In verse 18, God tells Moses that the leaders of the Israelites, "will pay heed to what you say." Moses had God's promise on that. And when it came time to deal with Pharoah, the Lord made a second promise: "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go" (vs. 20).
What assurance! It was already a done deal. The Lord told Moses, "Not only will the elders of Isreal hear you and believe you, but Pharoah himself will fall in line and unlock the gate to freedom. It's going to happen; He'll let Israel go. So you've got My promise to stand on, Moses. I won't let you down. You feel as if you don't have all the answers, but you'll have all of Me. You represent I AM, and you represent my unfailing promises."
Taken from Charles Swindoll's book, Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Sacred Name of God
God has many names in the Bible. In our English texts, the different names don't stand out as much or strike us as odd; their meanings are hidden in a different language and time. "Jehovah Jireh" we sing during worship, and wonder what that really means. Or we say, "So what? What's the big deal?"
Names are very significant in ancient times. Parents carefully chose names for their children, because names revealed the inner qualities and unique characteristics of the person. Later in life, a person might receive a new name as a result of some new accomplishment or new revelation from God. In some ancient cultures, names were so special that to know someone's personal name was to know their secret source of strength or life. When people revealed their personal name to others, this was a very intentional step toward relationship. They made themselves almost vulnerable by revealing their true identity.
To know someone's name was to know-really know-that person. So what does it mean that God revealed the name of YHWH - yoh,hey,vah,hey - YAHWEH, to Moses on lonely Mt. Horeb? What does it mean that the creator of the universe, the Almighty God, confronts a shepherd in the wilderness and tells him - the Name? It means a lot. God, through a burning bush that would not burn up, initiated relationship with a human. God revealed something of the divine mystery to a humble shepherd. "I Am that I AM." The Name is so sacred that today many religious people do not even say that Name. Some Jewish rabbis postulate that the four letters - yoh, hey, vah, hey -almost sound like breathing when spoken together. The name of God is the very breath we take to sustain life!
Does God become vulnerable to Moses, to us, in the giving of the Name? Does God give us a hint of the divine nature by the meaning of these letters? I AM. I AM. Forever fully present. The One who makes all other things be.
Post taken from www.ymroadtrip.com
Names are very significant in ancient times. Parents carefully chose names for their children, because names revealed the inner qualities and unique characteristics of the person. Later in life, a person might receive a new name as a result of some new accomplishment or new revelation from God. In some ancient cultures, names were so special that to know someone's personal name was to know their secret source of strength or life. When people revealed their personal name to others, this was a very intentional step toward relationship. They made themselves almost vulnerable by revealing their true identity.
To know someone's name was to know-really know-that person. So what does it mean that God revealed the name of YHWH - yoh,hey,vah,hey - YAHWEH, to Moses on lonely Mt. Horeb? What does it mean that the creator of the universe, the Almighty God, confronts a shepherd in the wilderness and tells him - the Name? It means a lot. God, through a burning bush that would not burn up, initiated relationship with a human. God revealed something of the divine mystery to a humble shepherd. "I Am that I AM." The Name is so sacred that today many religious people do not even say that Name. Some Jewish rabbis postulate that the four letters - yoh, hey, vah, hey -almost sound like breathing when spoken together. The name of God is the very breath we take to sustain life!
Does God become vulnerable to Moses, to us, in the giving of the Name? Does God give us a hint of the divine nature by the meaning of these letters? I AM. I AM. Forever fully present. The One who makes all other things be.
Post taken from www.ymroadtrip.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
