1) Seeing God within Me (Kyle Pope)
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Seeing God within Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kyle Pope Ultimately, all sound concepts about God must be drawn from the Bible. \u201cIt is not in man who walks to direct his own steps\u201d<\/strong> (Jer. 10:23b, NKJV). So, it cannot be that we simply tap into an inner \u201cGod-Force.\u201d Yes, the God of the Bible is said to \u201cfill heaven and earth\u201d <\/strong>(Jer. 23:24), but that is not because He is all things (the doctrine known as pantheism<\/em>). Instead, it is because He sees and sustains all things\u2014\u201cThe eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good\u201d<\/strong> (Prov. 15:3). The God of the Bible is transcendent,<\/em> that is, \u201cexisting apart from and not subject to the limitations of the material universe\u201d (New Oxford American Dictionary<\/em>). What may be known of God is available to us because, \u201cthe LORD revealed Himself\u201d<\/strong> (1 Sam. 3:21), to the inspired writers of Scripture. Thus, the Bible has, \u201cgiven to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him\u201d <\/strong>(2 Pet. 1:3). Through it we may, \u201cbe complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work\u201d <\/strong>(2 Tim. 3:17). That doesn\u2019t mean we know every conceivable thing about God. He tells us, \u201cMy thoughts are not your thoughts\u201d <\/strong>because, \u201cas the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts\u201d<\/strong> (Isa. 55:8-9). God has given us all we need, but we must learn to be content in the recognition that, \u201cThe secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever\u201d<\/strong> (Deut. 29:29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Bible is the true source of what may be known about God, as Paul acknowledged, \u201csome do not have the knowledge of God\u201d<\/strong> (1 Cor. 15:34). So, how will they ever \u201ccome to the knowledge of the truth\u201d<\/strong> (1Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 3:7)? Many hymnals include the beautiful song written by Annie Johnson Flint, entitled \u201cThe World\u2019s Bible.\u201d Its second stanza reads: In Shirley MacLaine\u2019s miniseries, she first demonstrated a resistance to saying, \u201cI am God,\u201d feeling it would be arrogant or delusional to say such presumptuous words. Her hesitation was fitting. It is arrogant and delusional to imagine that we are God. Although we are His offspring (Acts 17:28-29) and bear His image (Gen. 1:26-27) we are not God! What was said of the Egyptians is true of all of us, we \u201care men, and not God\u201d <\/strong>(Isa. 31:3). 1) Hear\u00a0<\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street Wednesday: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Bible Classes<\/p>\n\n\n\n evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Seeing God within Me (Kyle Pope)——————– -1- Seeing God within Me Kyle Pope In 1983, actress Shirley MacLaine authored […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2226,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions\/2226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In 1983, actress Shirley MacLaine authored a book entitled Out on a Limb<\/em> (New York: Bantam Books, 1983). Five years later, on January 18 and 19 of 1987, the book was adapted to a two-part, five-hour television mini-series of the same title which was broadcast on ABC. The book and mini-series portrayed MacLaine\u2019s personal spiritual journey to accept a mix of Eastern religious beliefs and extraterrestrial mysticism that came to be known as the \u201cNew Age Movement.\u201d At a pivotal moment in the mini-series, MacLaine (playing herself) sits on a beach with one of her spiritual advisors (played by actor John Heard) who urges her to recognize that all things are a part of God\u2014a core belief of Hinduism. The two eventually stand, with arms outspread shouting to the sea, \u201cI am God!,\u201d \u201cI am God!\u201d
While I absolutely reject New Age concepts such as this that argue that all souls have a \u201cGod-Force\u201d within them that must simply be unleashed, as the title of this study suggests, I would like to explore the Biblical sense in which each of us should realize the importance of allowing others to see God within us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe God of the Bible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome Do Not Have the Knowledge of God\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner\u2019s Gospel,
We are the scoffer\u2019s creed;
We are the Lord\u2019s last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
What Flint writes about the Bible may apply equally to God Himself. God does not personally reveal Himself<\/em> today, as He did to inspired writers in the past. For some, before they ever even look to the pages of Scripture the concepts they form about God will be drawn from what they see in the lives of Christians. Consider how this can happen.
Children.<\/strong> A child learns about God from what he or she is taught by parents, grandparents, and teachers. Simple truths, such as \u201cGod is love\u201d <\/strong>(1 John 4:8, 16) or \u201cGod is faithful\u201d<\/strong> (1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18) will be etched into children\u2019s hearts and minds by what they see in us about love and faithfulness.
Our Spouse.<\/strong> Whether both husband and wife come from backgrounds of faith, one is new to faith, or one has no faith, there are few relationships that have more impact on our spiritual welfare than our relationship with our spouse. Although we should strive to be \u201cheirs together of the grace of life\u201d<\/strong> (1 Pet. 3:7) or that even if one does \u201cnot obey the word\u201d<\/strong> the other \u201cmay be won by the conduct\u201d<\/strong> of the other (1 Pet. 3:1), what my spouse sees in me can shape concepts about God and a willingness to be faithful to Him.
Neighbors and Co-Workers. <\/strong>People are always watching us. They know we are Christians and they see just how true we are to our faith. God\u2019s nature doesn\u2019t change when we are hypocrites, dishonest, immodest, or unkind, but all too often what others see in us shapes what they think about God. This is surely why an elder is to be a man who has \u201ca good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil\u201d<\/strong> (1 Tim. 3:7). Wives are to obey their husbands, \u201cthat the word of God may not be blasphemed\u201d<\/strong> (Titus 2:5). When people speak against God\u2019s word they are speaking against Him. Believers generally are commanded to, \u201cWalk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time\u201d <\/strong>(Col. 4:5).
Unbelievers. <\/strong>When Paul instructed the Corinthians about the proper use of spiritual gifts, he emphasized the need to guard their actions because of what it could communicate to the \u201cuninformed or unbelievers.\u201d <\/strong>Improper action could lead them to think Christians are out of their minds.\u00a0<\/em> Proper action could lead them to recognize \u201cGod is truly among you\u201d <\/strong>(1 Cor. 14:23-25). Like children, our behavior can shape what others think about God.
Fellow Christians.<\/strong> Concerning the impact that sin and falsehood can have on other believers, Paul warned, \u201ca little leaven leavens the whole lump\u201d<\/strong> (1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9). Again, one person\u2019s wrongdoing doesn\u2019t change who God is, but sadly, as our brothers and sisters look at us they often either grow in their love for God and confidence in His word, or start to ask themselves, \u201cWhat\u2019s the point in serving God?\u201d \u201cWhy should I stay faithful?\u201d What they see of God living (or not living) in us can influence their own concepts of accountability to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cGod\u2019s Fellow Workers\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is it then equally arrogant and delusional to imagine that what others see in us can shape their own concepts about God? Well, perhaps if we allowed it to stop there. When Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, when the residents imagined that they were gods, they at once declared, \u201cMen, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them\u201d <\/strong>(Acts 14:15). They used that as an opportunity to explain to the people the truth about the true and \u201cliving God.\u201d<\/strong> I am not suggesting that we encourage others to shape their concepts of God on us. Instead, I am challenging us to recognize that our actions can help move people closer to the knowledge of the God revealed in Scripture, or move them further away from ever even considering Him.
The Bible teaches that as we obey Him, we participate in His work. Paul told the Corinthians \u201cwe are God\u2019s fellow workers\u201d<\/strong> (1 Cor. 3:9). Christians are \u201cfellow workers for the kingdom of God\u201d<\/strong> (Col. 4:11). As Christians, while we have no innate \u201cGod-Force\u201d within us, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are said to dwell within us (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9). We are led by His Spirit as we set our minds on the \u201cthings of the Spirit\u201d<\/strong> (Rom. 8:5)\u2014i.e., the things revealed in Scripture. His word \u201ceffectively works\u201d<\/strong> in those who believe (1 Thess. 2:13). We strive to be \u201cimitators of God\u201d <\/strong>(Eph. 5:1), recognizing that His power works within us in ways beyond our understanding unto His glory (Eph. 3:20-21). We are \u201cworkers together with Him\u201d <\/strong>(2 Cor. 6:1). This leaves no place for arrogance or delusion. In doing His will we realize, \u201cit is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure\u201d<\/strong> (Phil. 2:13). Like Paul, our attitude must be, \u201cI have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me\u201d<\/strong> (Gal. 2:20a). In this spirit, may each of us work diligently to allow the world to see a sound picture of God within the hearts and lives of each of us.
\u2014 via Faithful Sayings, <\/em>Volume 24, Issue 43 (October 23, 2022)\u00a0\u00a0
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe\u00a0<\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent\u00a0<\/strong>of sins.\u00a0 For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).\u00a0 For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith\u00a0<\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized\u00a0<\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).\u00a0 This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).\u00a0 For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Sunday: 9 a.m. <\/strong>Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service.\u00a0 We also have a Song Service<\/strong> at 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/strong>Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
<\/a>https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm\/<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>(This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but <\/strong><\/strong>with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)
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