PRAISE
February 25th 2004, 03:51 AM
I knew that the Lord wanted me to talk about witnessing today, but it appears that I had to go to church first, so that I could get a better backround on what He REALLY wants me to say!
I would lke to take a look at Isaiah 42:6-9:
"I, the Lord, who has called you in righteousness, I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you & make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord: that is MY NAME! I will not give My glory to another, My praise to idols. See the former things have taken place, & the new things that I declare; before they spring into being, I will announce them to you."
Before we can be good witnesses, we have to 100% realize the one who called us to BE witnesses-GOD! Look at these verses closley: Who called us into righteousness through the sacrifice of His Son-THE FATHER! Who will hold our hand when we witness-the Father! Who will make us a convenant to the people-The Father!
And then, look at what he says next! "I AM THE LORD!" Here, we see God telling us who is the real power behind our witnessing-HE IS! "THAT IS MY NAME!" Again-defining who truely gives us the ability to witness-HE DOES! Look at how God declares His Name to be above all else! Remember when Moses asked God who shall I say sent me? What was God's answer-I AM! Also note that He is a jealous God-'I will not give My glory to another, or My praise to idols! All throughout Scripture, we see how God refers to Himself as a jealous God: Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 5:9, Deuteronomy 6:15 . We may think that this is being somewhat pompus, but remember-THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAN OUR GOD! Our God is God above all gods! According to our pitiful human standards-He has every right to make these kind of statements!
But then: look at what God says-"See, the former things have taken place...", meaning that we can't change the past. "& the new things I declare...." (why do I hear II Corinthians 5:17, here ), " before they spring into being, I announce them to you." Isn't this EXACTLY what has been happening to a lot of us here at PWAB?!!!!! WOW! Isaiah had been writing stuff that is coming true right now & right here at PWAB!
This is the kind of God we serve, my brothers & sisters! PRAISE GOD! The God above all gods! A God who speaks as powerfully to us today, as He did to the prophets of old! The truth of Hebrews 13:6 is never truer for those of us who have been Born Again, because we have the great "I AM" on our side! We have the great "I AM" holding our hand! We have been made righteous by the great "I AM!" The great "I AM" has revealed to us things that the world doesn't even know will hapen yet, but "I AM" has revealed these things to us who are His Children! What do we possibly have to fear? "SO WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?'"
Let us pray.
"Lord, God. Heavenly Father-you ARE the great "I AM", You have chosen us to be your witnesses to te world! You hold our hand! You have made us righteous in Your sight, by the death of Your Son, & our Savior, Christ Jesus! You are the great "I AM", & there is no other! There is NO FEAR, because "I AM" is with us! We praise Your name, "I AM"! We worship You! We glorify the great "I AM!" For there is NONE like you! In Jesus Name! & !!!!
In Jesus Name!
Bill
_________________
"Through the Power of the Blood of Jesus!"
I would lke to take a look at Isaiah 42:6-9:
"I, the Lord, who has called you in righteousness, I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you & make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord: that is MY NAME! I will not give My glory to another, My praise to idols. See the former things have taken place, & the new things that I declare; before they spring into being, I will announce them to you."
Before we can be good witnesses, we have to 100% realize the one who called us to BE witnesses-GOD! Look at these verses closley: Who called us into righteousness through the sacrifice of His Son-THE FATHER! Who will hold our hand when we witness-the Father! Who will make us a convenant to the people-The Father!
And then, look at what he says next! "I AM THE LORD!" Here, we see God telling us who is the real power behind our witnessing-HE IS! "THAT IS MY NAME!" Again-defining who truely gives us the ability to witness-HE DOES! Look at how God declares His Name to be above all else! Remember when Moses asked God who shall I say sent me? What was God's answer-I AM! Also note that He is a jealous God-'I will not give My glory to another, or My praise to idols! All throughout Scripture, we see how God refers to Himself as a jealous God: Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 5:9, Deuteronomy 6:15 . We may think that this is being somewhat pompus, but remember-THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAN OUR GOD! Our God is God above all gods! According to our pitiful human standards-He has every right to make these kind of statements!
But then: look at what God says-"See, the former things have taken place...", meaning that we can't change the past. "& the new things I declare...." (why do I hear II Corinthians 5:17, here ), " before they spring into being, I announce them to you." Isn't this EXACTLY what has been happening to a lot of us here at PWAB?!!!!! WOW! Isaiah had been writing stuff that is coming true right now & right here at PWAB!
This is the kind of God we serve, my brothers & sisters! PRAISE GOD! The God above all gods! A God who speaks as powerfully to us today, as He did to the prophets of old! The truth of Hebrews 13:6 is never truer for those of us who have been Born Again, because we have the great "I AM" on our side! We have the great "I AM" holding our hand! We have been made righteous by the great "I AM!" The great "I AM" has revealed to us things that the world doesn't even know will hapen yet, but "I AM" has revealed these things to us who are His Children! What do we possibly have to fear? "SO WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?'"
Let us pray.
"Lord, God. Heavenly Father-you ARE the great "I AM", You have chosen us to be your witnesses to te world! You hold our hand! You have made us righteous in Your sight, by the death of Your Son, & our Savior, Christ Jesus! You are the great "I AM", & there is no other! There is NO FEAR, because "I AM" is with us! We praise Your name, "I AM"! We worship You! We glorify the great "I AM!" For there is NONE like you! In Jesus Name! & !!!!
In Jesus Name!
Bill
_________________
"Through the Power of the Blood of Jesus!"