October 13, 2019

Back To The Future - Part 2

Genesis 1:1 - 2:4

Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.  Then God said, " Let there be light," and there was light.  And God saw that it was good.  Then he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light "day" and the darkness "night."  Together these made up one day.

And God said, "Let there be space between the waters to separate water from water."  And so it was.  God made this space to separate the waters above from the waters below.  And God called the space "sky."  This happened on the second day. 

And God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky be gathered into one place so dry ground may appear."  And so it was.  God named the dry ground "land" and the water "seas."  And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, "Let the land burst forth with every sort of grass and seed-bearing plant.  And let there be trees that grow seed bearing fruit.  The seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came."  And so it was.  The land was filled with seed-bearing plants and trees, and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind.  And God saw that it was good.  This all happened on the third day.

And God said,  "Let bright lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night.  They will be signs to mark off the seasons, the days and the years.  Let their light shine down upon the earth."  And so it was.  For God made two great lights, the sun and the moon, to shine down upon the earth.  The greater one, the sun, presides during the day, the lesser one, the moon, presides through the night.  he also made the stars.  God set these lights in the heavens to light the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.  And God saw that it was good.  This all happened on the fourth day.

And God said,  "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life.  Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.  So God created great sea creatures and every sort of fish and every kind of bird.  And God blessed them, saying, "Let the fish multiply and fill the oceans.  Let the birds increase and fill the earth."  This all happened on the fifth day.

And God said, "Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal - livestock, small animals, and wildlife."  And so it was.  God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to reproduce more of its own kind.  And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves.  They will be masters over all life - the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." 

So God created people in his own image:  God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.  Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.  And God said, "Look!  I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.  And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food."  And so it was.  Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way.  This all happened on the sixth day. 

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.  On the seventh day, having finished his task, God rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from his work of creation.

This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.  

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 Thoughts....

Let me say, before I even get started, that I am giving you things to think about.  Pray about.  Listen to THE Holy Spirit about.  You will 'hear' things you haven't 'heard' before.  You may 'hear' things that you haven't thought of before, or dug deep enough to find.  You may find things completely contrary to what you have been taught.  It does not mean it is wrong, it may be right, but until, and unless, you spend time with THE Holy Spirit, you may never know which is which, or the path you should go, or the prayers you need to focus on.  Or what he wants YOU to learn.   

You have ONE Savior, Jesus Christ...I am most assuredly not anyone's savior, nor can I be your holy spirit....there is only ONE Holy Spirit.  And ONE God.  So, as you read through these Back to the Future 'parts', or anything on this site, realize the thoughts are meant to cause you to open your hearts and minds and dig in to the Word of God, and, spend time with Holy Spirit to ensure you are getting THE truth.  So let's get started for this week.

So we left off last week wondering who ELSE God was talking to in Genesis.  Let's now look at John 1:1-18.

'In the beginning, the Word already existed.  He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn't make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light, he was only a witness to the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.  

But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came.  Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn!  This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan - this rebirth comes from God.  [See also John 3:5-8 and 1 Peter 1:23.]  

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John pointed him out to the people.  He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'"

We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us - one gracious blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God.  But his only son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart, he has told us about him. '

So, this seems a little confusing.  As we read further, and we learned a couple weeks ago, we learned the WORD is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, who had the Holy Spirit descend and rest upon him; the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit; the Son of God who was a teacher; THE Messiah....Christ Jesus; the person Moses & the prophets wrote about; the Son of God - the King of Israel; the Son of Man.  

Still confused?  Ya, me, too. some days. So how can Jesus be God, be in and with God?  Back to verse 18, Chapter 1 of John....'No one has ever seen God.  But his only Son, who is himself God."

So, it appears God may have been talking to JESUS.  Or was it himself?  Was he?  

Stay tuned.      

Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit it seems we are along for the ride of our lives and have much to learn.  Open our hearts and minds to the truth that lies within the pages of YOUR written word that we may know you better, and learn all we need to know to grow into who we need to be for you, and for ourselves, and others who need to know who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, so that we may spend all of enternity in your arms of love.  Forgive us our sins, heal us and make us whole.  In Jesus' name I pray to you, dear Heavenly Father, God, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit.  I praise you.  I thank you.  I love you.  Amen.  

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 More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Respect....Embrace....Encourage!

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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Continual Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you ! 

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  One last thing....

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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