God doesn't speak merely
to fill up our heads with ideas. While His Word does
enlighten our minds with spiritual understanding, it also
demands action, obedience. Read Heb. 11. In every case, the
emphasis was upon what men did as a result of what they
believed. What if their believing had been in error? What if
they had heeded a different voice?
In Revelation, Chapters 2 and
3, we find messages directed to seven churches. Each message
was specific and designed to meet the need of the local
congregation. Each message revealed their condition and
commanded appropriate action, coupled with a promise to
overcomers. One exhortation was common to all seven
churches: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches" (Rev. 3:22, for example).
There are far too many voices
in our day and eternal issues hang in the balance. What's
the Spirit saying? What's our condition? What's coming upon
the earth? What should we be doing to prepare? These
questions matter!
When the disciples asked
Jesus concerning his coming and the end of the world (Matt.
24:3-4), the very first words were, "Take heed that no man
deceive you." Let's ponder that. Let's wake up and realize
that the time of the greatest manifestation of evil and
spiritual darkness the world has ever known is marked by an
unprecedented spirit of deception, religious and otherwise
(Matt. 24:23-24, II Thess. 2:9-11). Let's not just take
things at face value. Let's seek God and His direction!
God's Divine Characteristics
( Selected )
God Is Omnipresent...
God's not "localized". The
Hebrews were always in danger of thinking of God as a "God
of the land". Their neighbors could hardly conceive of a God
who ruled over all and who could manifest Himself anywhere.
Naaman may have had these ideas in his mind. In marked
contrast to "tribal-god" thinking, God is everywhere. He
fills both heaven and earth. Man can't escape His presence.
He's always near. In Him "we live and move and have our
being". God inhabits eternity. Yet He dwells with man. The
Eternal God dwells in the high and holy place, yet "earth is
His footstool" (Isa. 66:1) How was God made manifest on
earth?
To individuals... Certain men
were aware of God's presence. (Psa. 2:4) Six examples
illustrate this truth:
(1) Jacob (Gen. 28:16, 17)
(2) Joseph (Gen. 39: 2, 3) (3) Moses (Exod. 33:14) (4)
Joshua (Josh. 1:9) (5) David (Psa. 23:2, 4) (6) Jeremiah
(Jer. 1:8, 19)
To Israel... The Hebrew
people rejoiced in the certainty of the presence of God. God
went before them (Deut. 1:30). Isaiah told his contempories,
"God is with us". The exiled Israelites were told that God
was with them. Ezekiel saw the chariot-throne of God in
Babylonia. He's not confned. His presence is said to fill
heaven and earth, yet He walked with the Isrealites. (Deut.
23:14)
To Believers... Christians
are assured that God is with them. The promise made to
Joshua is repeated to Christian people (Heb. 13:5). New
Testament epistles close with "the God of Peace" is with
every believer. (Rom. 15:33) God dwells "with him who is of
a contrite and humble spirit".
GOD IS:
OMNIPOTENT---He
Has Limitless Power
OMNISCIENT---He Knows All Things
OMNIPRESENT---He Is Everywhere
