Understanding God Better
Glenn W. Worthington
Copyright 2012 by Glenn W. Worthington
Smashwords Edition
Understanding
the trinity -- Part 1 of 3
It
is hard for us to understand how we have just one God but we know Him
in three ways--as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever stood in front of a three-sided mirror? You see three
images of yourself. You see your left side, the straight forward
view, and your right side. Similarly, God is one person, but there
are three, different ways of seeing Him.
Understanding
the trinity -- Part 2 of 3
We
have just one God but we know Him in three ways--as the Father, as
the Son, and as the Holy Spirit. The same is true with water. We can
know it as ice, as liquid, or as steam. It is all just water but we
just know it in three, different forms.
Understanding
the trinity -- Part 3 of 3
We
have just one God but we know Him in three ways--as the Father, as
the Son, and as the Holy Spirit. The same is true with an egg. We
recognize and egg, but we are just looking at the shell. If you break
it open, there is also egg white (albumen), and egg yoke. The egg
shell, egg white, and egg yoke are all egg but we just know it in
three, different forms.
The Dead Sea Scroll Mystery
Do you like the challenge of trying to solve a good mystery like I do? Let's take a minute to uncover some clues from the past and see if we can reveal an important secret.
In 1947, a boy was looking for some lost goats near the Dead Sea in Israel. He came across the entrance to a cave and threw a rock into the darkness. He heard the sound of breaking pottery. He entered the cave to investigate and found leather scrolls hidden inside of clay jars. They became known as The Dead Sea Scrolls and were one of the greatest archaeological finds of the twentieth century. The scrolls had ancient writing on them that gave clues to a centuries-old mystery.
The largest scroll discovered was originally written about 700 years before Christ and has now been translated into English. This is what a portion of it says:
“Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming…He is coming to save you. And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!”
"But He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
So, here is the mystery you need to try to solve: Who was this man described in these ancient writings?
Here are some more clues for you to consider: Another scroll found in a different cave near the Dead Sea gives us some more clues. It was originally written about 1000 years before Christ. Here is some of what was it says, "All my bones are out of joint. A band of evil men has encircled me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. People stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."
Now, if you think these ancient texts decribes Jesus' death, then let me ask you this: “How could these writers record such accurate descriptions of a man's sufferings hundreds of years before he was even born?” Is it not because the writers were inspired by God, and God knew that His Son, Jesus, would have to suffer a torturous death on the cross to pay the debt owed for our sin? Since this is obviously the case what should our response be? We should pray, "God, I admit that I have done wrong things in my life that have separated me from friendship with You. I believe it has been your plan for a long time that your Son, Jesus, would suffer an agonizing death on the cross so that the penalty for my sins could be paid in full. I accept the forgiveness that your Son, Jesus, purchased for me at such a high, personal expense. Please forgive my sins and come live in my heart so that there will no longer be any separation between you and me."
Now, let me share with you another ancient text that says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." And, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
Jesus himself said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death to life."
So,
why did I go to the trouble of sharing this mystery with you?
It is because I care what happens to you. If we were both in a
burning building and I got out safely without telling you, what kind
of person would I be? So, please pray that prayer right now.
*****
Do you know what "sin" means? In the original Greek it is an archery term that means "to miss the mark." We have all missed hitting the exact center of God's perfect bullseye plan for our lives. It doesn't matter how close or far from the center we've shot. A miss is a miss. But Jesus is the only one who has made a perfect shot with His sinless life. We can admit that we have missed the mark and accept His precise bullseye as a substitute for our sinful life.
The word "repent" means "to turn around." Some of us have known God's way is in one direction but have chosen to "shoot our arrows" by our lifestyles, so to speak, in the opposite direction. We need stop our rebellion, repent (turn around) and begin striving to hit the bullseye. We will, by nature, still miss the precise center but God wants us to aim for His target with our lives.
"Repent (turn around) then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out and so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Acts 3:19
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
Jesus warned us to, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13)
Jesus continued in the next verse, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Determine to be among the few who see the warning sign that the bridge is out ahead, realize that the broad road will end in destruction, repent (turn around) and take Jesus' narrow path that leads to life.
By
nature we bear bad fruit, but God changes our nature. "If anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away.
Behold, all things have become new." II Corin 5:17
Jesus
said, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a
tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its
fruit." (Matt 12:33)
BEAR
FRUIT FOR GOD's GLORY
"Every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit....Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire." (These are the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:17 &
19)
“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 So then, we ought to, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Spread the reality of God in your life by bearing His kind of fruit.
The last words Jesus spoke just before He ascended were, “…And you will BE my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) We live at the other end of the earth from Jersusalem, and we can BE witnesses for Jesus daily by bearing the fruit of His Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” These are the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5:14-16.
One of the trees we planted in our orchard was called a "Fruit Cocktail Tree." It has limbs from various, different fruit trees grafted in so that it can bear many, different fruits on the same tree. If you are lacking some of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, pray and ask God to supernaturally graft in branches so that you can bear all the fruit of the Spirit as He desires.
God has planted you where you are. His plan for you is that you will grow and bear fruit for His glory. Do you wonder what kind of fruit? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
*****
We do not wrestle not against flesh and blood, but (we do wrestle) against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:12-17
*****
Compare these New Testament and Old Testament verses: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8 And "You will tread on the lion and the cobra: you will trample the great lion and the serpent." Psalm 91:13
*****
Jesus said, "I have given YOU authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:19 And "Greater is He (the Spirit of Jesus) Who is in you than he (the devil) who is in the world."
*****
Mel
Fisher searched the ocean floor for years hoping to find the sunken
treasure from the Spanish ship "Atocha." Every morning he
would say, "Today is the day (that we will find it)." That
day did finally come and he became extremely wealthy when he
discovered the hidden treasure even though it took more than fifteen
years longer than he expected.
Similarly,
we are waiting for Jesus to rapture us and take us to heaven to be
with him. Today could be the day. One day all the true believers in
Jesus will be snatched away from this earth which will be much more
valuable than any earthly treasure. Jesus promised that day will
come, and it will come one day even if it takes fifteen years longer
than you have expected.
*****
Take a close look at this drawing of Jesus. His life is shown here. His birth is depicted in his beard. Angels herald His coming at the right side. He is praying in the mountains at the top, and is hanging on the cross at the left side.
*****
Flood Testimony
God woke me up one morning in 2005 and put this scripture from Isaiah 43:2 in my heart, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” It was such a strong impression that I wrote it out and sent it to my mom and sister. At that time we were living in a home we had built along the Little Missouri River which would get out of its banks a couple of times a year. We built on higher ground, but water would still sometimes get close to our home. A week after I wrote down that scripture promise the local and national weather forecasters predicted that the powerful remnants of a hurricane would come up from the Gulf of Mexico. A cold front from the north was expected to cause that storm to stall out right over us in Southwest Arkansas.
Weather forecasters were predicting we would get SIXTEEN INCHES OF RAIN!!!! If that happened, our home would be flooded. We had never received even half that much rain at one time in the ten years that we had lived there. We had no flood insurance. The predicted weather event would be devastating to us. The threat was so real that nearby Hot Springs, Arkansas, put out sandbags to prepare for the flooding. But there was nothing we could do at our home to prevent the coming devastation but wait….and pray. The expected storm DID come and begin dumping a lot of rain on us and the river basin upstream. After the heavy rains began to stall out over us and dump their heavy load of moisture, the storm unexpectedly was blown to the northeast and scattered its load over a much wider area. All of the weathermen were surprised. Their computer models had not forecast the storm to move in that direction. We did not suffer any damage. We know it was God protecting us as He had previously shown me that He would in His written word. I remember His hand of blessing on our lives at that time and want to publicly thank Him for it. “Forget not all His benefits.”
*****
Have you ever thought, "If I just knew God's will, I would do it."? God's reply to you is found in Micah 6:8. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
*****
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future."
*****
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." I Thess. 4:11&12
*****
How to share God's plan of salvation
Jesus said we are to BE His witnesses. As we live out our Christian life around others, they will notice His light in us shining out in this dark world. Eventually it may make friends and coworkers curious enough to ask about our relationship with Jesus and to explain to them how they, too, can be saved. Most believers would be caught off guard by this opportunity and not know how to accurately present the gospel.
Please allow me to I share with you the simple walk through a few scriptures that clearly explains God's plan of salvation through Jesus so you will be able to "make the most of every opportunity for these days are evil."
Underline I John 1:8, put a book marker there, and keep your Bible handy. When you have a chance to share God's plan of salvation with someone, start here to establish common ground. This verse reads, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Most people will admit the obvious--that they have sinned.
At the bottom of that page in your Bible write, "Romans 6:23" so you will know where to turn next.
After establishing that all of us have sinnned, explain that the problem with that is the wage we deserve to be paid for our sins is death. Read Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Now have Romans 5:8 written as a reference at the bottom of that page you will know where to turn next.
After dealing with the bad news that we are all sinners and the payment we deserve is death, it is time to share the good news of the gospel. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Now have I John 1: 9 & 10 marked at the bottom of that page of your Bible. That is where you will want to go next.
Although Jesus died for everyone each of us must individually accept and receive His forgiveness for our sins. I John 1: 9 & 10 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives."
While turning to John 1:12 explain that Christianity is a faith that involves believing AND RECEIVING. Then read the verse, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." Now you will want to ask the person you are sharing with if he/she would like to pray and receive Jesus as their personal savior.
You can offer to help them by saying, "I could pray and you could repeat after me." Then pray something like, "God, I admit that I have sinned. I understand the penalty I deserve for my sin is death. But I ask you now to forgive my sins because I believe that Jesus suffered that penalty for me. I invite You to come into my heart and show me how You would like me to live."
After praying together, ask the person you have shared the gospel with what they think or feel and if they have any questions. When the discussion is over, explain that feeling forgiven is great but your faith needs to be based on fact. And that is found in God's written Word--His book of promises. Someday you may wake up and not "feel" saved, but God's Word never changes.
Now turn in your Bible to some assurance verses. Read and discuss them one at a time. The first is Romans 10: 9 & 10, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Now read another assurance verse by turning to John 5:24. Stress that these are words that Jesus Himself spoke. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
The last assurance verses I suggest you share are found in I John 5: 11 to 13: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life."
Just as you wouldn't leave a new born baby out on the sidewalk to fend for themselves, so a new Christian needs some help and attention. After leading someone to the Lord Jesus, check up on them. Help them get a Bible they can understand. Encourage them to read it, and help them get in the habit of going to a good, Bible preaching church.
*****
David was anointed king over Israel, but he lived in caves for many years until the time was right for him to claim his throne. Many faithful followers abandoned many comforts and pleasures to live with him and stand by the man they believed would be kind someday. When he finally did become king, he promoted his faithful followers to positions of authority in his kingdom. Likewise, Jesus is our rightful king but the day has not yet come for him to sit on His throne in Jersualem. When that day comes, we who are his faithful followers now, will be promoted to positions of authority in His kingdom.
*****
Jesus said, "Not everyone who says unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven." Why not? God explained, "They honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." Most Americans will say they believe in Jesus, but that is just a mental agreement that He is real.
The true meaning of the word "believe" in the Bible means "to trust in, cling to, and rely on Him." Most people know the truth in their minds, but their hearts are far from God. Don't deny God by the way you live but fully trust in Him.
*****
For thirteen years I operated Spread The Word as a tract-distributing ministry. Hundreds of thousands of tracts went into all fifty states and several foreign countries including The Philippines, Ireland, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Canada, Germany, Australia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, The Netherlands, and Iceland. But paper, printing, and postage was expensive. Now this ministry has gone paperless through ebooks and we have a Facebook page called “You Spread The Word.” We make daily posts so that Christians across our nation and around the world will be strengthened, encouraged and comforted. This is also our new media for extending the gospel, God’s good news about Jesus, to unbelievers around the world.
***END***
Glenn W. Worthington is author of the ebooks, “Eagerly Desire to Prophesy,” “God-Inspired Visions and Dreams,” “Wrestling With Depression,” and “Spread The Word Began in a Silo.” You can read the first half of each for free on Smashwords dot com. If you decide you would like to read the entire ebook, you may purchase each for just 99 cents. You may read all of “Wrestling With Depression” and “Spread The Word Began in a Silo” for free. This author also makes daily posts on his Facebook page “You Spread The Word.” Please visit that page each day to be strengthened in your Christian walk, encouraged, and comforted. You can share the posts and help spread God’s word across our nation and around the world.
Glenn W. Worthington is also the author of the book, “Genuine Diamonds Found in Arkansas” and host of the DVD “How To Find Genuine Diamonds in Arkansas.” He posts news of diamond finds on the Facebook page “Diamonds in Arkansas,” and has a website. He also has numerous ebooks about diamond hunting available through Smashwords dot com for just 99 cents each.
