A Nugget from New Life Network

Scriptures for the Day (April 30,2018)

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

My wife and I were on the road this weekend and our custom is to read the Word to each other when travelling. She was driving so I read John 4 and Luke 4 to her as she drove. I have preached and written about the woman at the well in John 4 many times but something different jumped off the page at me this time. As Jesus and the Samaritan woman were talking about where to worship, Jesus said this to her:

Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (John 4:21-23, NKJV)

Did you hear that? Jesus told her she did not know what she was worshiping. He then began to tell her things that only the Holy Spirit could have known and she finally understood that He was the Messiah and she went back and told all the people in her hometown about Him.

As I read this account I thought about the current day Christian church. How many people are sitting in church each Sunday worshiping what or who they do not know? I’m not just talking about the unsaved. I’m talking about the saved and the unsaved. Let me ask you. Do you really know Him or are you going to church just because it’s the right thing to do socially or it’s the thing your family has always done? I’m talking about having a close personal relationship with Jesus. I’m talking about knowing His voice, knowing His Word, and knowing His heart!

One of the things that has helped me over the years understand the character, nature, and heart of God has been knowing the names of God and the names of Jesus. Let me explain. There are over 40 different names of Jehovah in the Old Testament. For example, in Psalm 23:1 the Lord is described as “my shepherd” which is “Jehovah-Raah” which actually means “the Lord my Shepherd” in the Hebrew. Now, the following is a just a short list of some of the other various names of Jehovah that reflect the position of God: Creator, Most High, Lord, King, Judge, and Glory. The following names reflect His power: Mighty in battle, strength, sword, shield, defense, and fortress. The following names represent His personal connection to us: My God, my redeemer, my provider, my sanctifier, my deliverer, my healer, my shepherd, my light, and my banner.

Now, let’s look at some of the various names describing Jesus. He is the Alpha and Omega, the author and finisher of our faith, the Captain of Salvation, the Chief Shepherd, the King of Kings, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the Mighty One, the Prince of Peace, the Word of God, the Cornerstone, the Bread of Life, the Truth, the Door, our advocate, mediator, and counselor. The Word says that Jesus came to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, to preach good tidings unto the meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to open prisons to them that are bound, and to comfort all that mourn. He came to baptize us with the Holy Ghost and fire and He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil.

Here is my point! We have a very big God and I would surmise that none of us know Him like we should or could. But 2 Peter 3:18 says we should all be growing in grace and in the knowledge of God. Look at these names. Is there one name that describes a God you are not familiar with and rely on? If so, search His Word. Get to know that particular facet of God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in that area. As long as we have breath, and as long as we are willing to ask, seek, and knock, He is willing to help us grow. We just have to be willing to admit that we might not know as much as we think we know about this great God we worship.

Also, you might want to consider this. In Luke 4:33-34 we see an encounter with Jesus and an unclean devil and this devil (demon) cried out to Jesus in a loud voice, “Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God”. If the demons know who Jesus is, don’t you think we should know Him even more???

 

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