I am the God of Love

Ephesians 3:17-18

"…We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love…”
(1 John 4:16, NIV).

Why people avoid God

• Fear #1: I will have to give up my fun. 1 Timothy 6:17; Matthew 11:19
• Fear #2: I will become a fanatic. John 10:10; Matthew 23:27-28
• Fear #3: I will lose my freedom. John 8:36; 1 John 4:18

God’s love

Ephesians 3:17-19

• Includes everyone Psalm 145:17; John 3:16
• Lasts forever Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 89:2
• Is everywhere Romans 8:39; Psalm 139:7-10
• Meets your need Psalm 40:11; Deuteronomy 33:27; John 15:13; Romans 5:8
• "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper." --Betsie Ten Boom

Pastor Charlie

Jehovah-roeh – God, the Shepherd

Psalm 23

The word shepherd (roeh) is used primarily to mean the feeding of domestic animals. The verb literally is “to pasture.” The noun means shepherd or pastor.

The Lord is my shepherd

• Your personal shepherd - “The Lord is MY shepherd.” Isaiah 53:6; Romans 6:23; John 10:11; Ephesians 1:3-5; 13-14; Romans 8:15-16; John 1:12
• Is Yahweh a Shepherd to you or can you say, “Yahweh is MY Shepherd.”?

 I shall not want

• Yahweh, your shepherd, will fully provide for all your needs. Psalm 34:10; Philippians 4:11-12
• In Exodus 16 – manna from heaven and everyone received exactly what they needed
• In Deuteronomy 8 – new land of plenty where “you will lack nothing”
• Proverbs - used 13 times to warn the readers about lacking wisdom
• Provide for your physical necessities – green pastures and quiet waters (v.2) Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:15
• Provide for your Spiritual vitality – “He restores my soul” (v.3) Galatians 5:22-23
• John 21 - This is what Jesus did for Peter.
• John 15 - God is the Gardener that tends the vineyard.
• John 10:10 – live abundantly
• Provide directions for living - “He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” (v.3) Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 28:18-19
• Verse 4 - direction for walking through life’s valleys.
• Provides hope and a future (v.6) John 14:3; 1 Peter 5:4; Isaiah 40:11

Pastor Charlie

The God Who Heals Through Restorative Grace

"Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to You again!
Give us back the joys we once had!" (Lamentations 5:21, NLT).
 
Why you need God’s Restorative Grace Mark 14:27-72

• Your tendency to Edge God Out – EGO (v.29) 1 Corinthians 10:12; Proverbs 16:18
• Your tendency to treat your relationship with God casually (v.37-38)
• Your tendency to Fall prey to the “What would people think” syndrome (v.54) Proverbs 29:25
• Your tendency to want a comfortable faith (v.54)

 
God’s Restorative Grace in Action

• His continual love for you Lamentations 3:22; Romans 8:38
• His on-going salvation by grace not works Titus 3:5
• His righteous judgment put on Jesus instead of you 1 John 2:2
• His lasting patience with your human frailty Psalm 103:13-14; Hebrews 4:15
• His refusal to hold a grudge Psalm 103:9-10,13; Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 15:19; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:12

Pastor Charlie

Jehovah-rapha – The God Who Heals

Exodus 15:22-27
 
Word Usage:

• Rapha – (raw-faw) occurs 60x in the O.T.  It means to restore, to heal, or to cure.
• 2 Kings 2:22 - Rapha is used to describe God healing the water, turning contaminated water into drinkable.
• Psalm 147:3 - “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.”
• Isaiah 57:18 – Rapha is used to describe the God Who heals a heart from its willful ways, turning it into a contrite heart with the result being praise on the lips.
• Isaiah 53:5 - “…He was pierced for our transgression, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

Context:

• “Grumble” literally is to rebel. But it is describing a certain way of rebelling. It means to complain in half-muted tones of hostile opposition. Matthew 15:18-20; Exodus 16:2-3; Exodus 17:3; Exodus 17:7; Numbers 14:2-3

 

• Jehovah-rapha heals you of sin’s control through deliverance from death and bondage. Exodus 15:1-3, 13; Acts 1:6; Romans 6:20-23; Romans 8:37-39
• Jehovah-rapha heals you of self reliance by allowing your needs to go unmet for awhile. Verse 22 – “without finding water”
• Jehovah-rapha heals you of reliance on others through disappointing experiences. Ecclesiastes 12:13
• Jehovah-rapha heals you when you listen and follow Him. Verse 26. James 1:22-25; Philippians 2:14

Jehovah-jireh – The God Who Provides

Genesis 22:1-19

Context: Genesis 22:14; Matthew 6:25ff; Hebrews 10:32-34; Hebrews 11:35-39
 

• Jehovah-jireh means the God Who provides what is needed for Him to fulfill His promises in your life. Hebrews 11:17-19
• Choose to believe God’s promises over your current circumstances.  Hebrews 13:5; Romans 10:9; John 16:33; John 14:3; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
• www.365promises.com
• Jehovah-jireh means the God Who provides what is needed for you to fulfill His will in your life Romans 12:1
• Maintain a life of surrender to HIM.
• v.12 – “now I know you fear God”
• Fear:  to revere, to be in awe of, to hold in the highest regard.
• Allow the trials of life to develop your trust in HIM.
• v.1 — “Some time later God tested Abraham.” Deuteronomy 8:2-6; James 1:2-4
• Follow HIS directives without hesitation. James 4:17
• Continue doing what HE has told you to do until HE tells you otherwise. Matthew 25:14ff – commends the faithful servants
• Don’t allow anyone or anything to distract you from following HIS will. Luke 10: 38ff - Mary and Martha

I Am YAHWEH--Always personally present in life.

Psalm 139:7-12

Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:27b-28

How Yahweh’s Presence Benefits Your Life

• When You Are Lonely, Yahweh Is Your Companion. Psalm 25:16; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 16:11
• God’s presence can fill you with JOY when you are lonely!
• When You Are Worried, Yahweh Is Your Confidence. Isaiah 42:2-3; Psalm 16:8-9; Psalm 23:4
• God’s presence can CALM you when you are anxious!
• When You Are Tempted, Yahweh Is Your Counselor. 2 Corinthians 10:13
• Our temptations are common.
• God is with us when we are tempted.
• God will help us stand up to temptations. Job 13:27
• God’s presence can help you say NO when you are tempted!
• When You Are Discouraged, Yahweh Is Your Comforter. Psalm 34:18; Psalm 116:8-11
• God’s presence can see you through when you are discouraged.       
• How to "Practice God's Presence"
• Invite Jesus into your life, if you have not already done so Ephesians 3:12, Col. 1:22
• Be quiet before the Lord Psalm 46:10, James 4:8
• Talk to God about everything 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 62:9
• Develop the habit of praise Psalm 100:4

I Am YAHWEH

Exodus 3-4

“I am the LORD (Yahweh), that is My Name!

I will not give My glory to another,

or my praise to idols”

(Isaiah 42:8, NIV).

Original – YHWH
Add vowels – YAHWEH
Old English translation – JEHOVAH
NIV – LORD (all caps)
 

• Yahweh is personal (vv. 1-4).
• Yahweh is holy (vv. 5-6). 1 Peter 2:9-12
• Yahweh is a caring rescuer (vv. 7-9).  Jonah 4:2; Matthew 9:36; Deuteronomy 15:15; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 1:18-19
• I have seen the misery…
• I have heard them crying…
• I am concerned…
• So I have come down to rescue them…
• Yahweh is purposeful (vv. 7-10).
• Yahweh is patient (vv. 11-13).
• Yahweh is powerful (vv. 4:1-17). Ephesians 3:20

I Am El Shaddai

“…I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless” Genesis 17:1, NIV

"Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for You" Jeremiah 32:17, NIV

• Evidence of God’s Power
• Creation: Psalm 19:1-2
• Jesus:
• Jesus has power over nature (Mark 4; Matthew 21; John 2).
• Jesus has power over illness and death (Luke 5 and 7).   
• Jesus has power over Satan (Luke 8).
• Word of Caution: Even in Scripture God does not perform visible miracles frequently, except in the case of the life of Jesus. Why? Because God understands the heart of man and what is at stake. John 2:23-24; Luke 16: 31
• Purposes of God’s Power in your Life Ephesians 1:20
• Power to live life God’s way. Romans 7:18; Philippians 2:13
• Power to continue following God when tired or discouraged. Psalm 6:2-3; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Isaiah 40:28-31
• Steps to God’s Power Flowing in your Life
• Step 1 – Admit your own lack of power. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• Step 2 – Trust God for the impossible. Mark. 9:23; Matthew 9:29; Luke 5:12
• Step 3 – Act in faith. Joshua 3:13; Ephesians 3:20-21