God is Omnisapient (all-wise)

Another good definition of wisdom is "that perfection of God whereby he applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most." (Louis Berkhof).

Once again we see that God is not like humans. Humans can be knowledgeable but not very wise and they can be wise but not very knowledgeable. God is both, fully and completely. All knowing and all wise.

The awesome news for us is that the goals of God for his glory also includes our good. (Rom. 8:28). We can be sure that God's decisions which will accomplish ends that bring him most glory are also decisions that are in his creatures best interests.

There are no passages that say, "God is all-wise", but there are plenty that talk about the wisdom of God (e.g. Jude 25, Rom. 16:27, 1 Tim. 1:17, Job 9:4).

The wisdom of God when looked at with his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence is wonderful news that shows a great BIG God who knows all things, is everywhere at once, has the power do all that he pleases, and has the wisdom to bring about his perfect goals in the perfect ways.

Lastly, it is encouraging that not only is God all wise, but he also is willing to to share his wisdom with us that we may be wise (Proverbs 2:6-7, James 1:5). For all matters pertaining to life and godliness (which is everything) through his divine power and the knowledge of him through His word we can handle any situation and problem (2 Peter 1:3).

God is Faithful

Isaiah 28:16 says, "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."

"The point here is that if you trust Christ, God's corner stone, you will not be disappointed. This stone will not prove faulty. If you build your life on this stone, your life will not crumble in the storm. If you hide behind this stone, you will be safe. If you stand on the truth of this stone, you will not be ashamed. If you join with others in the spiritual house built on this stone, you will be proud of your foundation and your fellowship will stand. 'Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.'" (John Piper)

God is faithful. He can be trusted without hesitation. When he says "Follow me" we can leave our lives and follow him without restraint.

Isaiah 26:3, "You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you."

Keep in mind, when thinking about God's faithfulness, His immutability. Like all of God's attributes together these are related. If God is unchanging then it follows that he could not be unfaithful because that would require him to change. God is always worthy of our trust. He never lies. His promises always come to fruition.

Once again remember that God is not like us. He is not human.

"Men become unfaithful out of desire, fear, weakness, loss of interest, or because of some strong influence from without. Obviously none of these forces can affect God in any way. He is His own reason for all He is and does. He cannot be compelled from without, but ever speaks and acts from within Himself by His own sovereign will as it pleases Him." Tozer

Our hope rests solely on God's being faithful. Peace and rest come from trusting God and believing that what he says about himself and about our world is true. If we stop and questions God's faithfulness we open up ourselves to the opportunity of being led away from God and His word down a path of believing lies about who God is and who we are.

Trust that God is faithful. Spend some time this week looking at all the ways God was faithful to His people in the Old and New Testament. And this is easy because anytime God acts he is acting in faithfulness. Why? Because contrary to humans "faithful" does not describe his actions alone, but describes his nature.

Rejoice and take heart, God is faithful.

Grace

In Him we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7.

Any personal righteousness that we have is like "filthy rags" to God. If we try to bank on our own righteousness or good works all we will earn is hell. We cannot earn God's mercy or eternal salvation through our own works or righteousness and if we try then all we do is deny and devalue the way of forgiveness in the cross of Christ. All we have is God's grace.

Jerry Bridges in his book "The Great Exchange" says this,

"There is only one condition to warrant our salvation and it is designated by the two little words "in him." These words have great weight and consequence because they assign us to a new representative, one that perfectly redeems sinners through his own...blood.

All of this - our redemption, our forgivenss, and the blood of Christ through which it is provided - is bestowed on us 'according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us with all wisdom and insight.'

From the beginning to end, it is grace -God's blessings in Christ to those who deserve his curse- by which we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). This grace is copious, bountiful, and abundant. It is never lacking. It never wanes. It is freely provided in the new covenant, sealed forever in blood by the God who cannot lie."

What amazing grace. God's glory is displayed in his grace. Our response to this indescribable grace should always be praise and worship to the almighty God.

God is Patient

Note from Justin: Check your e-mail for this Sunday's attribute study. My apologies for failing to get it into your hands this past Sunday. If you do not get it just give me a call at the church.

"And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.'" Numbers 14:17-18.

A.W. Pink (Attributes of God)-
How wondrous is God's patience with the world today. On every side people are sinning with a high hand. The Divine law is trampled under foot and God himself openly despised. It is truly amazing that he does not instantly strike dead those who so brazenly defy him. Why does he not suddenly cut off the haughty infidel and blatant blasphemer, as he did Ananias and Sapphira? Why does he not cause the earth to open its mouth and devour the persecutors of his people, so that, like Dathan and Abiram, they shall go down alive into the Pit? And what of apostate Christendom, where every possible form of sin is now tolerated and practiced under the cover of the holy name of Christ? Why does not the righteous wrath of heaven make an end of such abominations? Only one answer is possible: because God bears with 'much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.'

And what of the writer and the reader? Let us review our own lives. It is not long since we followed a multitude to do evil, had not concern for God's glory, and lived only to gratify self. How patiently he bore with our vile conduct. And now that grace has snatched us as brands from the burning, giving us a place in God's family, and has begotten us unto an eternal inheritance in glory, how miserabley we requite him. How shallow our gratitude, how tardy our obedience, how frequent our backslidings! One reason why God suffers the flesh to remain in the believer is that he may exhibit his 'long-suffering to usward' (2 Peter 3:9).

Since this Divine attribute is manifested only in this world, God takes advantage to display it toward 'his own'"

I pray your meditation on God's patience will cause you to overflow with thanksgiving, be quick to obey, and willing to be patient toward others. God give us much grace so that we may be patient as you are patient.

God is Merciful

"The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands...'" Exodus 34:5-6

God is merciful. Everything we have that is good is due to God being merciful towards us. Consider John Piper's words,

All we will get from God this year as believers in Jesus is mercy. Whatever pleasures or pains come our way will all be mercy. This is why Christ came into the world – "in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:9). We were born again "according to his great mercy" (1 Peter 1:3); we pray daily "that we may receive mercy" (Hebrews 4:16); and we are now "waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" (Jude 1:21). If any Christian proves trustworthy, it is "by the Lord's mercy [he] is trustworthy" (1 Corinthians 7:25). In the end, when all is said and done, we will confess, "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy" (Romans 9:16). So as we enter the new year, let us humble ourselves and take the position of the blind man, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Luke 18:38).

Mercy is not something we have a right to or deserve (otherwise it would not be mercy), but it is something given to us by a merciful God. As sinful humans we deserve wrath (like we saw last week).

God is both just and merciful. Both of these attributes are seen in Exodus 34:5-7:

"The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children."

Is God's mercy sometimes abused? Many people abuse this attribute and presume that God will only show mercy and not wrath. (Sin that grace will increase). They presume too much. God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy (Exodus 33:19). Our God is both wise and just.

God's mercy towards believers. How great the mercy that God has given his children. "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness' has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." God has opened our eyes to see how great and glorious He is in Christ.

The End for Which God Created the World

Here is a free online version of Jonathan Edwards' book The End for Which God Created the World (placed inside of John Piper's book God's Passion for His Glory). In our discussion on God's sovereignty and goodness there have been great questions come up that are worthy of study and discussion.

I am posting this book because although you have to read and think slowly through it I think it would benefit anyone looking to know God in a deeper way and ultimately love God more.

This is by no means required. Only check it out if you are interested.

Put your thinking caps on and go HERE.

God is Wrathful

"God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow, he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts." Psalm 7:11-13

God is a God of wrath. A.W. Tozer writes, "God's justice stands forever against the sinner in utter severity."

John Piper defines wrath from Romans 12 by saying, "the wrath of God is God’s settled anger toward sin expressed in the repayment of suitable vengeance on the guilty sinner."

Wrath as I wrote in the "Attribute Focus" is God's eternal detestation of all unrighteousness. It is God's perfect response to rebellion against authority. Wrath is connected with God’s response to something that deserves vengeance (Romans 12:19-21). And if God's wrath is not poured out on sin then our God is not good. Sin must be punished. And because God is just sin is always punished. Perfectly.

The very nature of God makes Hell as real a necessity as Heaven is. A.W. Pink

In Ephesians, Paul calls those who were once unbelievers "children of wrath."

In Colossians 3:5-6, Paul says, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you, sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming."

God's wrath is coming and will be poured out on a sinful world. This message must not be ignored. That God's wrath is coming is part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there were no wrath of God then there would not be a need for the cross.

Paul, after calling all mankind "children of wrath" continues,

"BUT God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

When meditating on God's wrath at least two things should happen:

1. We should take our eternal future and the eternal future of others very seriously. "The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. It hushes their fears and allows them to practice all pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws every day nearer and the command to repent goes unregarded. As responsible moral beings we dare not trifle with our eternal future." Take the way you live seriously (Col 1:21-23).

2. We should overflow with thanksgiving. After giving a colorful description of God's wrath against sinners in Psalm 7 the Psalmist ends with thanksgiving. "I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness."

How thankful we should be. We have been saved. Saved from what, you ask? Saved from God's wrath. We, who were once far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. May we proclaim with Paul:

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

God is Good.

Jeremiah 32:40–41.

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

Our God is good. This is why we can have peace and comfort in God's sovereignty over all things. If God were not good (which would really be saying 'if God were not God') then we could not trust Him.

There are many who believe that God can be either good or Sovereign but cannot be both. Rabbi Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, in trying to make sense out of a tragedy in his own family concludes by reading the book of Job that Job was "forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful, or a powerful God who is not totally good. (as quoted in Jerry Bridges' book Trusting God). In the Rabbi Kushner's view It is too difficult for God to keep bad things from happening.

It is surprising to see how many Christians will agree with the Rabbi. Many Christians will frequently speak of things happening by chance and by circumstances outside our (and God's) control. According to Jerry Bridges, the implicit assumption from this is that "If God is both powerful and good, why is there so much suffering, so much pain, so much heartache in the world?"

Can we have it both ways? Can our God be both sovereign and good? The Bible teaches us we do have it both ways.

As we saw last week God is sovereign over all things. Not even the smallest bacteria escapes His control. But there is a two fold objective to God's sovereignty. God's glory and the good of His people.

God has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together. - Jerry Bridges

Can we trust God? Can God always care for us (is he sovereign?), and Does God always care for us (is he Good)? The Bible clearly affirms both that God is good and God is in control.

We can learn to trust God in adversity when we believe that nothing can frustrate God's plans for His glory and nothing can spoil his plans for the good He is working out in us and for us.

Along with the Key Scripture in your notes check out Romans 8:28-30 (and if you are really motivated the book of Job) and spend some time meditating on the fact that God is sovereign and that God is good.

Response to Question on How God's Sovereignty relates to 2 Peter 3:9.

If you are interested in seeing how God's sovereignty in Salvation and 2 Peter 3:9 relate then check out John Piper's article "Are There Two Wills In God?".

God is Sovereign

(I provided a lot of material for you to read in your One God packet so I will keep the blog as brief as possible.)

Here are a couple of quotes by A.W. Pink from his book The Sovereignty of God.

"The sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the Godhood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to decalre that God is God...the most high, doing according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What have you done? (Daniel 4:35).

"The sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. When we say that God is sovereign, we affirm His right to govern the universe, which he has made for his own glory, just as He pleases. We affirm that His right is the right of the Potter over the clay: (in order that) he may mold that clay into whatsoever form He chooses, fashioning out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor. We affirm that he is under no rule or law outside His own will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself, and that he is under no obligation to give an account of His matters to any."

Though your world, my world or your teenager's world be falling around us God is not alarmed. He is never surprised. There are no unexpected emergency's to which God must react. God "works all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). All things are subject to his immeadiate control. God is not a distant spectator nor an impotent creator whose plans are always foiled by us or Satan. God never has a plan B. There is only His plan. His purpose and plan cannot be "thwarted by the creatures of His own hands."

One last quote by Pink as to our attitude towards God's sovereignty.

"The sovereignty of God is something more than an abstract principle which explains the rationale of the Divine government: it is designed as a motive for godly fear, it is made known to us for the promotion of righteous living, it is revealed in order to bring into submission our rebellious hearts. A true recognition of God's sovereignty humbles as nothing else does or can humble, and brings the heart into lowly submission before God, causing us to relinquish our own self-will and making us delight in the perception and perfomance of the Divine will...Truly to recognize the sovereignty of God is, therefore, to gaze upon the Sovereign Himself."

Connect Team Leader Meeting

Come get connected at the connect leadership meeting, November 18 @ 4:PM in Carpenter's Cellar. The theme of this meeting is "Connect Four: Getting Connected with Students." Bring some ideas on how you can connect with your students outside of church.

We will also talk about the "One God" Bible study and a bunch of other things.

God is Holy

Who will not fear, O Lord and glorify your name? For you alone are Holy. Revelations 15:4

Stephen Charnock once said that "Power is God's hand or arm, omniscience his eye, mercy his bowels (heart), eternity his duration, but holiness is his beauty."

There is no one like our Holy God. He is uttery different and separated from us. Holiness is the chief characteristic that they ascribe to God in heaven (Is. 6, Holy, Holy, Holy). Holiness is God's greatness. And God is ultimately so great and holy that when we encounter God all we can say is "You are Holy."

All of God's attributes only begin to be seen and understood when his holiness is seen and understood. God's abhorrence of sin and his sending Jesus to die on the cross only makes sense when you see God as holy. As A.W. Pink says, "God's holiness was made manifest at the Cross."

Because God is holy, he hates sin. And sin is never looked over or swept under the rug but is always punished. Think about that. Your sin was not forgiven. In Christ YOU are forgiven, but your sins were punished on the cross. Sin's path always leads to God's wrath.

God has often forgiven sinners, but he never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of Another having borne his punishment; for "without shedding of blood there is not forgiveness." A.W. Pink (Attributes of God).

How enormously great is our God. He sent his son to die for our sins so that we may be in Christ and may enter into his presence. There is nothing we could have done on our own to make peace with a Holy God.

Because God is holy, acceptance with him on the ground of creature-doings is uttery impossible. A fallen creature could sooner create a world than produce that which would meet the approval of infinite Purity. The best that sinful man brings forth is defiled....But blessed be His name, that which his holiness demanded his grace provided in Christ Jesus our Lord. Every poor sinner who has fled to him for refuge stands "accepted in the Beloved" Hallelujah! - A.W. Pink

God is Immutable.

Note - If you go down to June in the blog archives you will find additional info on the Immutability of God from a blog I wrote this past summer.

(Remember this week: Students (and adults) desperately need to see who God is so that they can see themselves for who they are in relation to Christ)

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock" Psalm 18:2
Our God "The Rock" Deuteronomy 32:4

In the Bible God is often compared to a rock. He is called "the rock" in Deuteronomy 32. Why? Because God remains immovable though all else around him changes.

God is immutable. God never goes from better to worse or good to great or immature to mature. God cannot change for the better. He cannot become more holy because he has been perfectly holy from all eternity. God is not man. Man is in constant change.

Read what A.W. Tozer wrote concerning God's immutability:

The immutability of God appears in its most perfect beauty when viewed against the mutability of man. In God no change is possible; in men change is impossible to escape. Neither the man is fixed nor his world, but he and it are in constant flux. Each man appears for a little while to laugh and weep, to work and play, and then to go to make room for those who shall follow him in the never-ending cycle.

We find permanence with God.

Why is this important? Does it matter that God is immutable? What does this mean for my life?

It matters because when everything is changing around us (jobs, homes, friends, families, abilities, circumstances, finances, churches, attitudes) God remains the same.

God is not like man. If you mess up (sin) he does not give you the cold shoulder treatment for 2 weeks. We can go to him anytime. His promises are always true.

God's attributes always stay the same. He is always perfectly loving and perfectly just. He is the same in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. We can find comfort in God because we can rely on Him.

The immutability of God is comfort and strength for believers and terror for non-believers. Those who love God find comfort in that his promises toward them will never change. Those in rebellion against God will find that God's promises of wrath for those who defy him and ignore him in their life on earth remain unchanged in the day of judgment.

The immutability of God "insures the executions of his threatenings, as well as the performance of his promises." Rejoice that you know our Great and Holy Immutable God.

God is Omnipresent.

You can run but you cant hide. This is literally true with God. We can run from God. Ignore God. Curse God. But you can never hide from God. Adam and Eve tried but were unsuccessful. How similar we are to the first male and female. If we sin we do our best to hide. Shame and Guilt always lead to the temptation to hide from God. But hiding from God is impossible for us to do because he is Omnipresent.

Omnipresent. Present means here, close to, next to. Omni means all, therefore giving the word universality.

God is everywhere here, close to everything, next to everyone. (Tozer)

God is our environment. Think of it like a fish in the sea or a bird in the air. God is always present. He surrounds. He hems us in. There is no place beyond God.

THE BIG PICTURE
What this means then is that there are bigger things going on in our lives than the rent. The fact that God is and that God is here screams to us, "Hey, you are not alive for yourself, but for me. Everything you do and say is connected to what you believe about me." This means that all we do; our total existence is taking place in God's presence.

Setting your mind and heart on the Big Picture of things will change your life. (Col 3:1-3). For example, life is short and eternity is long, or all the temporal things we strive for on earth will not be with us in eternity (Matt 6) or that God is always near us. Actively directing our thoughts towards these truths will change the way we live our lives.

Are you there God?
A man named Canon Homes of India tells of Hindu worshipers tapping on trees and stones whispering, "Are you there? Are you there" to the god they hoped might reside within. The answer is "Yes God is there", but he is not refined to a tree or stone, but is everywhere all the time and through Jesus Christ immediately accessible to every loving heart. (Tozer)

Take heart, the all-powerful and all knowing God is here and you are never alone. Stand in awe of him.

God is Omniscient.

"He knew all men" (John 2:24). "You, Lord, . . . know the hearts of all men" (Acts 1:24). "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, 'Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?'" (Matthew 9:4).

One way that we can see that God knows all things is by seeing in the New Testament that Jesus (God in the flesh) knows all things. He knows all things that will come to pass. "Jesus, [knew] all the things that were coming upon Him" (John 18:4). On the basis of this knowledge, he foretold numerous things that his friends and enemies would do. "[Jesus said] 'There are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him" (John 6:64). "From now on," he said, "I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am" (John 13:19).

John Piper writes,

The greatest thing that can be said of Jesus' knowledge is that he knows God perfectly. We know God partially and imperfectly. Jesus knows him like no other being knows him. He knows him the way an omniscient Person knows himself. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Matthew 11:27). No one but Jesus knows the Father immediately, completely and perfectly. Our knowledge of the Father depends wholly on Jesus' gracious revelation; it is derivative and partial and imperfect.Nothing greater can be said about the knowledge of Jesus than that he knows God perfectly.

God is amazing. The Triune God knows all things past, present, and future. He doesn't just know events but he knows people. He knows things about you and me that we do not know and may never know.

Nothing can be concealed from God.

Nothing escapes his notice, nothing can be hidden from him, nothing is forgotten by him....His knowledge is perfect. He never errs, never changes, never overlooks anything. A.W. Pink

Here are some more passages of Scripture that talk about God's knowledge:

Hebrews 4:13 "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Ezekiel 11:5 "For I know the things that come into your mind"

Psalm 90:8 "You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence."

How Great and worthy of worship and honor our God is. Our knowledge of God's omniscience should fill us with amazement, awe, and adoration. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."

This week think about what this means for our lives. What are the implications for your life?

God is Omnipotent

In Exodus 6, God calls himself God Almighty. This is another way of saying God All-Powerful or God Omnipotent or God with unlimited power. Listen to Stephen Charnock talk about God's omnipotence,

The Power of God is that ability or strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever his infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. . . . (God's) power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power His mercy would be but feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, His threatenings a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature. (quoted by Pink in "The Attributes of God")

God has in himself the power to do all that he pleases. He has the power to fulfill all that he ordains to come about. He has the power to bring all his promises to fruition.

Omnipotence is not a name given to the sum of all power, but an attribute of a personal God whom we Christians believe to be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And since God has at his command all the power of the universe the Lord God can do anything as easily as anything else. All his acts are done without effort. He expends no energy that must be replenished. His self-sufficiency makes it unnecessary for Him to look outside himself for a renewal of strength. All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being. - Tozer

God cannot be stopped from accomplishing his purposes. He does whatever he pleases. His power is Superior to all other powers. He is the great "I AM". He spoke the world into existence. By the power of his word this world was created. He created from nothing.

What implications does God's omnipotence have for our lives? According to A.W. Pink it should do three things:
1. It should cause his to tremble. Think of the most awesome display of power you have ever seen; A mighty storm, thunder and lightening filled tornado, a terrible hurricane, devastating flood or earthquake. The power of a strong army or government. The power of the human body to withstand disease, cold, and heat. The power of the human mind to think and act and reason. It should cause us to tremble to know that God holds all these in the palms of his hands. We do well to walk carefully and live purposely in order that we might please such an all powerful God.
2. It should cause us to adore God. Think of all the things you adore and why. What do you worship? What do you want most in your life? If we took time to see God's attributes including his omnipotence we would find ourselves adoring our creator above all other things created.
3. It should cause us to trust God. Nothing is too hard for him. What great hope this brings for our lives, our problems, our relationships, our fears, our weaknesses. God can do all things. Nothing is impossible for him. His promises always stand true because he has the power to keep them.

Spend time this week thinking about and meditating on God's omnipotence. If we think of God as limited in what he can do we would lose hope. But hope remains. "No prayer is too hard for him to answer no need to great for him to supply, no passion too strong for him to subdue, no temptation too powerful for him to deliver from, no misery too deep for him to relieve (Pink)." And I would add no teenager or adult too immature, too stubborn, too distant for God to get a hold of and change by his grace for his glory.

We can trust him without hesitation because he is Omnipotent.

Attributes of God, Knowledge of the Holy, and Knowing God.

These are the books that I am using for the One God Bible Study.

Connect Videos

Here are two connect videos to check out: The first is the introduction to Connect and answers the question "What is Connect?" and the second video is a short advertisement for the One God Bible study we are doing through March.

God is Self-Sufficient

What does it mean that God is self-sufficient? One thing it means is that God does not need anything.

"The problem of why God created the universe still troubles thinking men; but if we cannot know why, we can at least know that He did NOT bring His worlds into being to meet some unfulfilled need in Himself...The word "necessary" is wholly foreign to God.

The picture of a nervous, ingratiating God fawning over men to win their favor is not a pleasant one; yet if we look at the popular conception of God that is precisely what we see. So lofty is our opinion of ourselves that we find it quite easy (almost enjoyable) to believe that we are necessary to God." - A.W. Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy)

How often we go about our lives thinking that God needs us to do this or that. God does not need our worship nor our obedience; he deserves it, desires it, and commands it, but never needs it. God is not a busy or frustrated God seeking help to carry out his plan for the world.

God gains nothing from us (Job 35:7-8).

Think about it. Our lives, our joys and pains are in the hands of God who is not needy. He has in himself all power and knowledge to bring about what is the greatest plan that would accomplish our joy and bring him the greatest glory.

Then why did God create us? It is true that God could have "continued alone for all eternity, without making known his glory unto creatures" (Pink). So why did God create the world? He was pleased to create us and so he did. Not out of need but out of his own pleasure.

"He sustains all, but is himself independent of all. He gives to all, but is enriched by none." - Pink, Attributes.

Where does this leave us? It should leave us in a fear (in awe of his greatness) of God and in great humility. And it is great news that the God who needs no one will when faith is present work through anyone. This news should stimulate us to obedience and "holy endeavor." It should increase our faith. God does not need things outside himself to accomplish his purposes. We should rejoice in this because the God who does not need us, loves us still and desires to work in us and through us for his good pleasure.

"This truth...when viewed in its biblical perspective will lift from our minds the exhausted load of mortality and encourage us to take the easy yoke of Christ and spend ourselves in Spirit inspired toil for the honor of God and the good of mankind. - Tozer, Knowledge.

A Great Word on Small Groups

If you are interested, check out this message (it is typed out and really easy to read) by John Piper about small groups. It is really helpful in relation to our Connect Groups. The message is called Encouraging Each Other at the End of the Age. Also don't forget the additional "One God" material for the second week below.

Do I Know God or Just Know About Him?

What a crucial question. Do I really know God? There are so many things we can know about but still not know God.

We can know all the right answers to all the good questions such as, "If you died tonight and stood in front of God and he asked you 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would you say?" All sorts of people know how to answer this question the right way. Chritians and Non-Chritians. But do they really believe it with their hearts?

People (including ministers, ministers wives, missionaries, evangelists, deacons, and etc.) go for years thinking they are born again believers in Jesus Christ only to find out that they were not. (How gracious God is to open our eyes). This begs the question, "What does knowing God involve?" What is the difference between knowing God and just knowing about Him?

In the book, Knowing God, J.I. Packer puts forth some points on what it means to know God. (These points will be what I teach on Sunday morning so I will only briefly explain each)

1. Knowing God is a matter of personal dealing. Interaction between you and God. Dealing not just with theology or biblical facts but with God, himself.

2. Knowing God is a matter of personal involvement. This involves the mind, the will and emotions. Personal relationship.

3. Knowing God is a matter of grace. All the initiative is with God. Our knowing God is a consequence of God's taking knowledge of us. We know Him by faith because he first singled us out by grace. (Gal 4:9, Jn 10:14-15, 27-28)

Packer goes on to make a great observation. He says, "What matters supremely is not the fact that I know God, but the larger fact that underlies it--the fact that He knows me."

Take note of these last comments by Packer---

This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort...in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me so that no discovery now can dillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disallusioned about myself, and quence his determination to bless me.

How great is our God. He knows us through and through yet still loves us. Think on these things this week and be ready to share with your students your thoughts on Knowing God.

Why Study God?

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understand and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercies lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for I delight in these thngs', declares the Lord" Jeremiah 9:23-24.


Why should we do a study on the attributes of God? Whats the difference? I am already a Christian. What good will it do me to know God in a deeper way?

Some people might find a study like this boring. Or unnecessary. They say, "Surely I can get by with what I know now. Can't I make it without knowing all this 'extra' stuff about God?"

Allow me to let J.I. Packer answer this question:

-A fair question!--but there is, I think, a convincing answer to it. The questioner clearly assumes that a study of the nature and character of God will be impractical and irrelevant for life. In fact, however, it is the most practical project anyone can engage in. Knowing God is crucially important for living of our lives. As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London and, put him down without explanation in London Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it.

The world becomes a strange, mad painful place, and life in it is a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul. "Knowing God" pg 18-19.

This is God's world. Our environment is God. He is everywhere. He sustains our lives.

Knowing who God is and knowing what he is like from Scriptures is absolutely crucial to the way we life everyday. The way you think about God and who you believe Him to be flows out into your thoughts, behavior, attitudes, and motivations.

There is nothing more satisfying to the soul than knowing God. There is nothing that matters more than Him.

In your study this week let me challenge you to write some examples of how knowing a specific attribute of God would effect our everyday life. For example, How would believing that God is immutable change the way we think and live? Think of some examples and come prepared to share some with your students.

Update:
From A.W. Pink's Book The Attributes of God:

A spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every human creature. An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshipped.

One God

On September 16th we will begin a new FUEL bible study on the Attributes of God. This study will be called "One God" and will run from September through February.

We will be having a FUEL leadership meeting on September the 9th at 4:30 to talk about the bible study and the vision for FUEL. If you are or want to be a table leader, assistant leader, or a sub leader then you need to be at this meeting.

If you are new to FUEL and to this blog then let me just say we are excited to have you with us. The next few months are going to be really exciting and beneficial for you and the students. Thank you for your willingness to serve and pour out your life to show students how great our God is.

Ruins That Have Been Rebuilt

There is a lot to cover in Acts 15:1-35, but the focus of this short blog article is Acts 15:13-19.

Jesus came into the world and began to gather a true believing remnant of Israel. First there were 12 apostles; then there were 5,000 converts in Jerusalem. This spread as God began to fulfill his promise to rebuild the dwelling of David and repair the ruins of his people.

The purpose of these rebuilt ruins in v. 16 is to open up a way for men to call upon the name of the Lord.

As we put our faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with Him. We are new creations in Christ. We live during a time of not tearing down but a time of building up. The ruins are being rebuilt.

Our purpose in being restored it to point all those who have not seen Christ and believed in Him for salvation to Christ as the Messiah, Savior and Lord of Creation.

God has restored you. You have been made new. Go and tell it on the mountain tops what Jesus has done.

Paul and Barnabas

According to Acts 4:36 Barnabas' real name was Joseph and the apostles called him "Barnabas" because it means "son of encouragement." Barnabas was one who felt compassion for those who were outsiders. He loved people. We see this in his relationship with Paul.

If anyone was an outsider to the early church it was Paul. No one would touch him. He was the enemy. "What if he just wanted to infiltrate the church and carry us all to prison." Though many would dare not believe Paul had put his faith in Christ, Barnabas believed.

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:22). Barnabas was one who encouraged and loved others because he was a man of faith and full fo the Holy Spirit. He remembered that Christ had loved and accepted him. He saw the powerful love and compassion of Christ in Paul's life. He knew God's unconditional love. Faith feels the wonder of being accepted into God's family. He was once cut off. But now he is family.

Encouraging others and loving others is commanded in Scripture. We are to be people full of faith. The story of Barnabas and his relationship with Paul challenges us to remember what God has done for us and to know that he has the power to do that in the lives of anyone he pleases.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Paul and Barnabas did just that. And they loved every second. Not because of success or comfort or attention, but because they knew God and were joyful to proclaim the wonderful news of Jesus Christ.

Prison Break

In reading Acts, we notice two main themes. The first is that Jesus is alive. The second is that Jesus is in charge. In Acts 12:1-19 we see the second point with 20/20 vision.

The FUEL material does a good job of sculpting the background info on the story of Peter's prison break so I will not repeat all of that. What I want to point you to is the fact that Jesus is in control and he changes things.

Peter is in a seemingly hopeless situation. He is being imprisoned by a ruthless king. He is being guarded by four squads of soldiers (16 soldiers). And he is chained to two soldiers in a cell that is also guarded by two soldiers. Wow. He is doomed right? Is there any way out of this situation?

How often do we ask ourselves that? Is there any way out of this situation? Often we get in a rut and think that things will always be the same and things will never change. My parents will never change. My job will never change. My spouse will never change. My life will always be this way. That is just the way I am. I will never change. But as John Piper says, "We breath God ignoring air." There is a God working all things for your good and for His glory. How often do we enter into a tough situation and think God is in control and he is using this to make me more like Christ for his glory? Instead we ask, "God, why is this happening to me?" How quickly we forget that God is working to change us and that he can change situations in the blink of an eye. Peter is in a tough situation, but Christ easily changes it for Peter's good and God's glory.

Jesus is a game changer. He is always in control and is never surprised. He is always at work in our situations changing us to be more like Him. Trust Him.

In you shall all the nations be blessed

There are huge things going on in God's kingdom in Acts 9-11. Not that there aren't always big things happening, but in this passage we find something especially significant.

In Genesis 12:3 we find that God makes a promise to Abraham. He says this

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

In Acts 9-11, God is fulfilling this promise. Until then the chosen race were the Jews. What is important in this passage is that the chosen race becomes all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Jews and now Gentiles as well.

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:7-9)

You and I are sons of Abraham. And in this passage (Acts 9-11) we see the beginning of the new covenant in which all those who put their faith in Christ, Jews and Gentiles, shall be saved.

What great news! God could have excluded us be he chose, in his infinite wisdom, to include us into his family.

God is in the heavens and he does all that he pleases. Thank Him that he was pleased to save us for his glory.

Saul's Conversion

The conversion of Saul/Paul is a wondeful story given to us as a hope for ourselves and for those we pray for to be converted.

In 1 Timothy 1:15b–16, Paul says, "I am the foremost of sinners; (16) but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."

Saul was a strong opponent against Christianity. After his conversion he called himself the foremost of sinners. But Paul received mercy. Why? So that in him Christ might display to us his perfect patience. Paul's conversion was to glorfiy God by putting on display his perfect patience and kindness for us (those who were to believe for eternal life)to see.

Today a person like Paul would be considered the last person that would ever become a Christian. He hated Christianity. He "breathed murderous threats" against followers of Christ. But God saw fit to save him and his conversion is a huge event in which God shouts a very loud, "HEY, the chief of sinners was converted. Trust in me, I can do the impossible!"

In Paul's conversion we see among other things that God is two things:

Patient
and
Powerful.

We can trust our God who loves us and is powerful enough to do all that he pleases.

God is Holy

This Sunday we will look at four ways we see God's holiness:

God's holiness is seen in his works. - Ps. 145:17 - Everything that God does is perfect and without any blemish or hint of sin. Holiness is the rule of his actions. Every action that God takes is pure and perfect. He is completely just and righteous in all his works. His ways are incomparable.

God's holiness is seen in his law. - Romans 7:12, Ps. 19:8-9 - The law leaves no room for sin. It demands holiness; perfection. God's law deals not only with actions, but also demands pure motivations. Because God is holy; his commands demand holiness.

God's holiness is seen in his hatred of sin. - Proverbs 15:26, Romans 6:23 - Sin only earns us the wrath of God. God hates it so much that He demands punishment for those who sin. Even just one sin earns us the an eternity in Hell, separated from God.

God's holiness is seen in the cross of Christ. - John 3:16, 2 Cor. 5:21, Romans 3 - The price for sin is so costly that only God's son could pay the price. An eternity of good deeds on our part would never pay the price for sin. A.W. Pink said, Because God is holy, acceptance with him on the grounds of creature-doings is utterly impossible. The best we can give is filthy rags. But Christ gave his life, took upon himself our sin, and made for us peace with God. (Romans 5).

This is the basic outline (taken from A.W. Pink's book Attributes of God) of what I will be talking about this Sunday. I will try to keep it as short as possible so that you can have the time you need with your students.

Comments on Attributes of God

Take a minute and share what you thought about the Attributes of God study this past Sunday. Also as a way of testimony share how your students responded to the "Immutability of God."

Immutability

Here are some additions to the material that you will be discussing with the students this Sunday: (I will be sharing some of this during my teaching time, but it would be good for you to study it in order to discuss it a little more in depth with the students.)

A.W. Pink said that you can say that God is immutable in three different ways:

He is immutable in his essence.
He is immutable in his attributes.
He is immutable in his counsel.

This means that God's nature, unlike ours, is unchangeable. God is the I AM (Ex. 3:14). He always has been and always will be. He is fixed. Pink states that God has never grown nor improved. God does not grow or become more holy or more loving. God is. Period.

Malachi 3:6 "For I the Lord do not change." He is unaffected by anything outside himself. He cannot be changed by anything. For example, God's love cannot be changed. His love for you is based in his nature and not in your actions. The fact that God is love is a fact that always has been and always will be.

It is absolute truth that God is love.

God's attributes are a part of his being. God not only shows love; he is love. God not only give justice; he is just. God not only shows mercy; he is merciful.

His attributes will not change. He is powerful, supreme, sovereign, holy, faithful, good, patient. It is a very glorious and joyous thing that God is unchanging.

God's counsel and his purpose are unchangeable (Hebrews 6:17, Ps. 33:11, 1 Sam, 15:29, Num. 23:19). Because God is all-knowing and all-powerful he is not does not get surprised by anything. He knows what he wants completely and will bring it about. His will does not change. There is never a need for God to have a plan B. God's thinking does not change and therefore he does not have to amend his words.

God does not change. His truth remains the same. His ways remain the same, his attributes remain the same (the fact that he is immutable will never change), his purpose is solid, like a rock. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Encourage the students to apply this to their life. When they see that God does not change and that his promises to them do not change no matter what they will be moved to trust God and his promises. God is not human. His promises do not fail. We can trust our lives to our Father who is immutable.

Philip

In this weeks Fuel we read about Philip. Philip was one of the seven men chosen along with Stephen by the church in Acts 6. And just like Stephen we see Philip used greatly by the Lord in the midst of a tough time of persecution of Christians.

The study takes us through Acts 8:4-8 and 8:26-39. There are many things that will be valuable for you to study in order to prepare for this weeks lesson but I want to draw your attention away from Philip and to our wonderful and great God. Notice the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Out of all the tens of thousands Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans that need Christ, God rests his favor on this man from Africa.

This was God's plan. He chose this man. He set up the meeting between him and Philip. God, in his sovereignty and grace, molded the situation in such a way that the timing was perfect. Philip, not knowing where he was, what he was doing, or who he was going to encounter chose to be obedient to the Spirit. The timing was perfect because as Philip approached he heard the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah. This provided a perfect opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

There are two points to this story in Acts 8. The first I think is that God is sovereign. He is in complete control of all things and he is the one who plans and makes things happen. The second point is that the story of Philip is an example of one of the ways God uses to evangelize the world. There is no doubt that evangelism should be planned and carried out (look at all the planning in Acts), but this story emphasizes that we should also be sensitive to the leading of the Lord in personal evangelism as well. God is good and as we abide in Him and his word he will lead us by His Spirit to the right people at His perfect time.

Did Stephen waste his life?

Stephen is a great example of one who gave his life to advance the gospel. In a world where students give their lives to be with a girl or boy, the story of Stephen screams at them to give their lives to know Christ. In a world where teens spend much of their time living in a dream world facilitated by video games, ipods, movies, and a host of other things, the story of Stephen points them to live in the real world where people die every day and leave this world only to spend an eternity separated from God.

We waste our lives and do not love people if we are not pointing them to the good news of Jesus Christ in the cross.

Stephen pointed to the cross. He boldly proclaimed the message that Jesus is our mediator to God and is the only way to heaven. He proclaimed the message that Jesus has satisfied his soul more than riches, relationships and life. He died with the good news of Christ being shouted with this last breath. Stephen did not waste his life. He lived it to the fullest. For God's glory.

Ananias and Sapphira

This weeks FUEL is about a husband and a wife who try to get one past the Holy Spirit. But we see that this does not work out the way they had planned. And you can be sure that Ananias and Sapphira did have this planned (Acts 5:4). But as we have learned and what Ananias and Sapphira seemed to have forgotten is that the "eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good (Pr. 15:3).

There are many things that can be said about Ananias and Sapphira. They loved this world more than God. They desired the praise of men rather than honoring God. They were hypocrites...representing themselves as one thing but in reality were something totally different. They wanted to seem more generous than they really were. They lied to God. All these things I am sure you will look at and study, but really quickly I want to point you to Proverbs.

I wont take the space to type it, but read Proverbs chapter 16. If Ananias and Sapphira had only taken the time to read this small chapter they might have done things a little different. For example, verse 2 says, "All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weights the spirit (motives in other translations)."

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is told in contrast to the story of Barnabas contained in chapter four. During my time in Fuel I am going to ask the students to compare and contrast Barnabas with Ananias and Sapphira. There are some major differences between them so if you get a chance check it out.

Lastly, we see that God used Ananias and Sapphira to warn the church that this is what always happens to phony Christians, sooner or later.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Where did Peter and John's power come from?

Peter and John had changed. There was something different about them. They had spent the last three years with Jesus, but were relatively weak with in their faith during that time. They questioned Jesus numerous times. Jesus often rebuked them for lack of faith (i.g. Matt. 8:26). But in Acts we see different men. They were powerful. They were bold and full of faith. They seemed almost...fearless. What had changed?

Two words. Holy Spirit. They had been clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Peter and John's power and boldness didn't come from themselves, but came from them being "filled with the Spirit." Look with me at the emphasis of being filled with the Holy Spirit in the Acts:

Acts 1:8 "And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."

Acts 4:8 "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit," spoke to the rulers of the people. And they saw the boldness with which he spoke (v. 13).

Acts 4:31, "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness."

Acts 6:5, 10, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and the Jews could not withstand the wisdom with which he spoke.

Acts 7:55, "Stephen filled with Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

Acts 11:24, Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith; and a large company was added to the Lord.

Acts 13:9, "Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at Elymas and said."

Do you see the importance of the Holy Spirit in the work of God's people? Without him we have zero power to proclaim the riches of God's grace.

There is so much more that can be said about the Holy Spirit and his power in our lives, so I would encourage you to spend some time looking at the following verses:

Ephesians 3:14-18, 5:18, and 6:17.
Romans 15:13

Praise be to our Creator that he did not leave us to live for him on our own power! Have a great week.

Pentecost

The word Pentecost means "fiftieth", referring to the fiftieth day after the Passover. When we talk about Pentecost we are referring to what happened in Acts 2 with the coming of the Spirit. This is a very significant event. The "Background for the Bible passage" section in your notes provides a good description of what is going on at Pentecost. I want to call your attention to a passage in the Old Testament about Moses. Check out Numbers 11:24-30:

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, But they did not continue doing it.
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth said, "My lord Moses, stop them." But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for me sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

Moses is pointing to a time when all of God's people would have the Holy Spirit. And that time is Now. No longer does the Holy Spirit rest on certain individuals, but we live in a time that Moses and Joel both longed for; a time when the Holy Spirit indwelt all of God's people. At Pentecost we see this happen in a BIG way.

How does this work in your life? God has put the Holy Spirit inside you and wants you to be a prophet. Not in the sense that you know the future, but in a sense that you are so filled with the knowledge of Him who has saved you that you constantly talk about his greatness.

The promised Holy Spirit has come. This promise is for you and has been kept by God. He has poured out his Spirit on you in order that you might be empowered to glorify Him. Rejoice in the promises of God! Have a great week.

How important were the Eye-witnesses of Jesus' resurrection?

This week we are studying the Post-Resurrection Appearances of Christ in Luke 24 and John 20. There are many who claim that the resurrection of Christ did not take place, but eye-witness accounts have been recorded that prove otherwise. How important are these eye-witnesses? Pastor John Piper says,

The early Christians were keenly aware that eyewitnesses were crucial in verifying their claims about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Their earliest writer, the apostle Paul, who was a contemporary of Jesus, said, “ Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. . . . he was buried . . . he was raised on the third day . . . Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Why did Paul say “most of whom are still alive”? Because he was not afraid to have his claims put to the test. He knew they could be verified by eyewitnesses. In other words, Christianity was spreading during the very decades when eyewitnesses could have most easily proved it false. But the basic claims stood the test. The events had happened.

God provided a way that we can verify that the resurrection really took place. Jesus revealed himself to hundreds of people after he had been raised from the dead. These eye-witness accounts bear the truth that "Jesus has been raised" and therefore our faith is not in vain.

John Piper shares more about these eye-witness accounts especially the Muslim reaction in his sermon "The Great Offense: Was Jesus Really Crucified?"

I hope you all have a great week.

Is Our Faith in Vain?

This week FUEL is on the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our main passage is John 19:31-20:18. Around Easter there is always a few people who set out to prove (unsuccessfully I might add) that the resurrection of Jesus did not take place. And there seems to always be someone who says, "Well even if he was not raised from the dead, I will still believe and continue in my faith." How would the apostle Paul respond to this statement? First Corinthians has the answer:

1 Cor. 15:12-20 - Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have no hope whatsoever. "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." Our faith would be worthless if Jesus is not raised from the dead. Think hard on these verses in First Corinthians as you study John 19-20.

The resurrection is absolutely necessary. Without it our faith is in vain.

This Sunday I will have postcards that you will be able to write to the students you haven't seen in a while. Pray hard for your students. You guys are great. Have a wonderful week.

Pierced for our Transgressions

"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6 (emphasis mine).

This week Fuel is focused on the Crucifixion of Christ from Matthew 27 and Luke 23. The "fanning the flame" question is "Tell me about a person you would sacrifice your life to save?" Instead of fanning the flames with this question think about another one such as, "Why did Jesus have to die?" or What was the purpose of Jesus' death?" These might be better questions. Challenge the students to think about why Jesus had to die.

Reflecting on some on these verses will help: Isaiah 53, 1 Cor. 15:1-7, 2 Cor. 5:21, Hebrews 2:9, Eph. 5:25-27, Romans 5:1-11, and Romans 8:1-31-39.

God is in control.

This weeks session is about the Arrest and Trial of Jesus from Matthew 26. The question that our Fuel lesson asks is one about betrayal, but I want to take you in a different direction.

In John 7:25-32 we find that Jesus is proclaiming himself to be the Christ. He is crying out that he has come from God, but the Jews do not know the one from whom Jesus came and seek to arrest Jesus. Verse 30 says, "So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." The Jewish leaders had sought to arrest Jesus 6 times (7:30, 32, 44; 8:20, 10:39, 11:57) but never succeeded. Why? Jesus time had not yet come. Jesus could not be arrested until it was time and God was in charge of the timetable. In Matthew 26 we see that Jesus' time had come. "The hour is at hand" (v.45). Jesus knew God's plan and knew that these plans were centered on the cross. Christ obeyed, even to the point of death, knowing his Father was in control.

In no matter what situation or circumstance we are called to obey and trust our Father (1 Cor. 10:13). God is faithful. God is in control.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and please let me know if you need anything.

Propel: The Beginning

In an effort to make Propel as attractive as possible and to give myself an opportunity to experience what it is to "blog" I have started this blog entitled appropriately "Propel." The purpose of this blog is two-fold. First, to provide a means of contact with Fuel Leaders. Second, to offer insight into upcoming Fuel lessons and announcements for upcoming Fuel events. Lord willing, I will have a new blog every Tuesday by 4:00 and will send out an email letting all Fuel Leaders know that it is available. You guys are awesome and see you on Sunday.