Thor's Day Thunderings | 19 June 2014 - The Names of God

Several years ago I challenged our praise team to find all the names of God mentioned in scripture. It is important to develop a language to use in our worship. I don't mean rote memorization of songs, hymns, or prayers, even though there's nothing wrong with that. What I do mean is when we attempt to express what we feel toward our Creator God, our Father, it helps to have ways of describing those feelings. What if the only way you communicated with your spouse was to say "thank you" and "I love you"? After a while it becomes monotonous and boring. Your spouse wants to hear what you think about them, what they do, how they look, what they think.

Learn some of these names for God and use them when communing with Him in prayer. It doesn't change Him, but it does change us. It builds faith when you are sick and you call Him "healer". It helps you, and others with you, when you ask "The Prince of Peace" to come to a hospital room where someone is dying. It keeps God relevant to our lives. He's not just "God" up in heaven somewhere waiting on us to "check in" with Him. By learning some of the names the He used to communicate who He is through scripture it can help us relate to Him in our everyday activities.

Here's the list that our team composed. There are 199 of them. I searched for 200 just because it looks better than 199. Some have scripture references, some do not. If you find more, or know more through your experience of communing with Him, please share them in the comments.

1. Abba - Rom 8:15
2. Above All - Eph 4:6
3. Adonai (our Master)
4. Almighty God - Deut 10:17
5. Alpha & Omega - Rev 21:6
6. Always Awake - Ps 121:4
7. Ancient of Days - Dan 7:9
8. Anointed One
9. Avenger - Ps 94:1
10. Awesome God
11. Blessed - Ps 144:1
12. Bread of Life
13. Bridegroom
14. Bright Morning Star
15. Calmer of Storms - Ps 107:29
16. Captain of the Hosts
17. Clothed With Honor - Ps 104:1
18. Clothed With Majesty - Ps 93:1
19. Clothed With Strength - Ps 93:1
20. Cloud by Day
21. Comforter - Is 66:13
22. Compassionate - Lam 3:22
23. Conqueror of Our/My Enemies - Ps 108:13
24. Consolation - Rom 15:5
25. Consuming Fire - Deut 4:24
26. Counselor - Is 28:29
27. Covenant Keeper - Ps 89:34
28. Covered With Light - Ps 104:2
29. Creator - Gen 1:1
30. Creator of the North & South - Ps 89:12
31. Crown of Glory - Is 28:5
32. Defense - Ps 94:22
33. Deliverer - Ps 91:3
34. Dew - Hos 14:5
35. Director of My/Our Path - Prov 3:6
36. Disciplinarian - Ps 89:32
37. Doer of Wonders - Ps 77:14
38. Dwelling Place - Ps 90:1
39. El Elyon (the most High God)
40. El Olam (Everlasting God)
41. El Shaddai (God Almighty) - Ex 6:3
42. Emmanuel - Is 8:8
43. Eternal God - Deut 33:27
44. Everlasting Arms - Deut 33:27
45. Everlasting God - Is 40:28
46. Everlasting Strength - Is 26:4
47. Everlasting to Everlasting - Ps 106:48
48. Excellence - Is 28:29
49. Excellent - Ps 76:4
50. Faithful - Lam 3:23
51. Father - Is 63:16
52. Father of Lights - Jms 1:17
53. Father of the Fatherless - Ps 68:5
54. Feeder of the Hungry - Ps 146:7
55. Fire by Night
56. First & Last - Is 41:4
57. Forgiving - Num 14:18
58. Fortress - Ps 91:2
59. Friend That Sticks Closer Than a Brother
60. Gentle - Is 40:11
61. Gift Giver - Jms 1:17
62. Giver of Good Things - Matt 7:11
63. Glorious - Ps 76:4
64. Glorious Lord - Is 33:21
65. Glory - Ps 3:3
66. God With Us
67. Good - Ps 145:7
68. Good Shepherd
69. Gracious - Ps 145:8
70. Great - Ps 145:3
71. Guide - Ps 48:14
72. Habitation - Ps 91:9
73. Healer - Ex 15:26
74. Healer of Broken Hearts - Ps 147:3
75. Helper - Ps 146:5
76. Helper of the Fatherless - Ps 10:14
77. Hiding Place - Ps 32:7
78. High Tower - Ps 144:2
79. Holy - Lev 19:2
80. Holy One - Is 12:6
81. Holy Spirit
82. Husband - Is 54:5
83. Husbandman (Gardener) - Jo 15:1
84. I Am - Ex 3:14
85. In Us All - Eph 4:6
86. Infinite Understanding - Ps 147:5
87. Jealous - Ex 34:14
88. Jehovah (the self-existent one; I AM)
89. Jehovah-Elohim (the Lord God)
90. Jehovah-Jireh (will provide) - Gen 22:14
91. Jehovah-M’kaddesh (the Lord Who Sanctifies)
92. Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our Banner) - Ex 17:15
93. Jehovah-Rapha (The Lord who Heals)
94. Jehovah-Rohi (the Lord my Shepherd)
95. Jehovah-Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts)
96. Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord our Peace) - Jud 6:24
97. Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is Present) - Ez 48:35
98. Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness) - Jer 23:6
99. Judge - Gen 18:25
100. Just - Is 45:21
101. Keeper - Ps 121:5
102. King of All the Earth - Ps 47:7
103. King of Glory - Ps 24:10
104. Lamb that was slain
105. Lawgiver - Is 33:22
106. Lifter of My Head - Ps 3:3
107. Light - Ps 27:1
108. Light of the World
109. Lily of the Valley
110. Living Water - Jer 2:13
111. Longsuffering - Num 14:18
112. Lord - Gen 15:2
113. Lord God Omnipotent - Rev 19:6
114. Lord of Hosts - Ps 24:10
115. Lord of Lords - Deut 10:17
116. Lord of the Sabbath - Ex 20:10
117. Lord on High - Ps 93:4
118. Love - 1 Jo 4:8
119. Lover of my soul
120. Loving kindness - Ps 89:33
121. Majesty - Ps 145:5
122. Maker of Heaven & Earth - Ps 115:15
123. Man of War - Ex 15:3
124. Master
125. Merciful - Eph 2:4
126. Messiah
127. Mighty - Lu 1:49
128. Mighty & Terrible - Ps 93:4
129. Mighty in Wisdom - Job 36:5
130. Miracle Worker - Matt 19:26
131. Most High - Dan 7:27
132. My Only Hope
133. Near - Ps 145:18
134. Never Changing - Jms 1:17
135. Never Weary - Is 40:28
136. Omnipresent - Ps 139:7-10
137. One Who Hides Himself
138. One Who Sanctifies - Num 8:17
139. Our Strength - Ps 46:1
140. Peacemaker - Prov 16:7
141. Perfect - Matt 5:48
142. Physician - Ps 103:3
143. Potter - Is 64:8
144. Powerful - Ps 66:7
145. Prince of Peace
146. Promise Keeper - Is 46:11
147. Provider - Matt 6:31-33
148. Ready to Forgive - Ps 86:5
149. Reconciler - 2 Cor 5:18-19
150. Redeemer - Is 54:5
151. Refiner - Mal 3:3
152. Refuge from the Storm  - Is 25:4
153. Refuge - Ps 46:1
154. Repairer of the Breach - Is 58:12
155. Rescuer - Dan 6:27
156. Revenger - Ps 94:1
157. Righteous - Ps 5:8
158. Rock - 2 Sam 22:32
159. Rock of Our/My Refuge - Ps 94:22
160. Rock of Our/My Salvation - Ps 89:26
161. Rose of Sharon
162. Ruler - Judges 8:23
163. Salvation - Ps 91:16
164. Satisfier of Desires - Ps 145:16
165. Satisfier of the Longing Soul - Ps 107:9
166. Savior - Ps 106:21
167. Shade on Our/My Right Hand - Ps 121:5
168. Shadow from the Heat - Is 25:4
169. Shepherd - Ps 23
170. Shield - Ps 3:3
171. Slow to Anger - Ps 103:8
172. Son of God
173. Song - Is 12:2
174. Soon Coming King
175. Steadfast - Dan 6:26
176. Strength to the Needy - Is 25:4
177. Strength to the Poor - Is 25:4
178. Strong - Ps 89:8
179. Sustainer - Ps 3:5
180. Teacher -  Ps 119
181. The Amen - Rev 3:14
182. The Christ
183. The Door
184. The Head of the Body
185. The Life
186. The Resurrection
187. The Risen Lord
188. The True Vine
189. The Truth
190. The Way
191. Through All - Eph 4:6
192. Trust - Ps 71:5
193. Trustworthy - Ps 144:2
194. Truthful - 1 Sam 15:29
195. Upright - Ps 25:8
196. Walks on Wings of the Wind - Ps 104:3
197. Wisdom - Dan 2:20
198. Worthy - Rev 4:11
199. Yahweh

Wednesday Wit | 18 June 2014 - Steven Wright-isms Part 2

More from my favorite comedian, Steven Wright.

I got a new dog. It’s a paranoid retriever. He brings back everything because he doesn’t know what I threw him.

My school colors were clear. I’m not naked, I’m in the band.

If you didn’t know me, would you think I was a stranger?

Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard drive?

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out.

I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.

The colder the X-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Tuesday Thrombosis | 17 June 2014 – Presumption

Many years ago at the height of the Word of Faith movement, Dr. Frederick K. C. Price wrote a book called Faith, Foolishness, or Presumption?. It rattled the WoF community. I’m not commending or condemning the book or the author, just using it as a backdrop for this installment on the blog.

Whenever we step out and “believe God” we need to be certain that we are acting in faith, and not foolishness or presumption. Today we will look at presumption.

The story Naaman, found in 2 Kings 5, has intrigued me for a long time. It illustrates what happens to someone who steps out on presumption. According to Webster presumption is “an attitude or belief dictated by probability; the ground, reason, or evidence lending probability to a belief.”

When we go to God for a solution we need to be willing to accept His resolution to the problem at hand. Consider this portion of the story.

2 Kings 5:9-12 (KJV) So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

He went to receive a miracle (healing of an incurable disease) but wanted it done his way. Naaman wanted to believe, but he deduced how it would go down. He thought the prophet was going “conjure” up some kind cure, as a witchdoctor might attempt to do. He thought there would be some theatrics involved, some grandiose display that would accompany the miracle.

Instead, Elisha told him to go take a bath in a muddy river, 7 times, and the leprosy would be washed away. “Behold, I thought …” That is presumption. It seemed so innocent. On the trip over to Israel some in Naaman’s entourage began speculating on what would occur. “Perhaps he will pour a magic potion on you.” “Maybe he has an incantation that will make you clean.” “Perhaps he will strike his hand over the place …” At some point Naaman was convinced by the reason given him by others as to what would take place when they met the prophet. He was wrong.

Fortunately for Naaman, this was not the end of the story. He listened to more counsel as they walked away. 2 Kings 5:13-14 (KJV) And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Presumption can be displaced and give way to faith. Naaman must have realized that miraculous does not always come by extravagant or lavish means. Consider Jesus: born in a stable (virgin birth), carpenter by trade (Kingdom builder), kill by an angry mob (spotless Lamb sacrificed for the sin of the world). Yes, Jesus fed the multitude, but He also talked with a woman at a well, ministered deliverance to a demon-tormented man in Gadera, and spoke with an adulterous woman after everyone was gone.

Never miss the miraculous by discounting it as simple. Don’t give place to presumption.

Our prayer: Lord, help me believe Your word. Let me not calculate the probability, but accept Your answer without question. Remove any presumption that might be buried in me by revealing Your Truth. In Jesus’ name.

Monday Moorings | 16 June 2014 - It Is Finished

I know this is a bit long. Read it when you can. I would like to hear your thoughts.

It is Finished

by Dudley Harris

Introduction

When I started Bible school at Agape Church in Cullman, AL, Pastor Mike Harrison challenged us early in the two year program with this: write a paper explaining what Jesus meant by the phrase uttered from the cross, “It is finished” and he would award us with the two year certificate.  Since that time I have pondered this challenge many times, but until now had never taken the time to do the study and write down my findings.  The following is my attempt to respond to the question.

The Question

What did Jesus mean when He stated from the cross, “It is finished!”?  Let's first of all consider the question.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV)

John 19:30  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (NIV)

These were the last words uttered by Jesus before His death.  Since He was not yet dead, “finished” clearly did not include His death.  It did, however, mark the end of something that His life represented.  According to Strong's, the greek word used is teleo which has a root word tello which means “to set out for a definite point or goal; the point aimed at as a limit”.  Jesus was marking this moment, just before His death, as the completion of a goal.  Jesus had spent His entire life with this goal in mind!  This, however, was not the only goal He had, but is was a very important step in completing, totally, His purpose on Earth.

Look at some other statements made by Jesus that used this same word teleo.

Luke 12:50  But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 

“Accomplished” in this verse is the same Greek word as “finished”.  Jesus' mind was focused (straitened) on the mission.  His entire mission would include a baptism; being buried and rising again.  This included everything up to His death, but was much more than that.  Jesus is speaking of something more than He could complete.  Notice “till it be accomplished”.  This appears to speak of something beyond His ability.

Luke 18:31  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Luke 22:37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Again, “accomplished” in these verses is the same Greek word as “finished”.  These speak specifically to the completing of the prophetic words spoken about the Messiah.  Prophetic words were given regarding more than just Jesus' death.

What Was Not Finished

Before answering the question at hand we will first look at a few things that He did not mean.

Some say He completed salvation for mankind.  This cannot be true because He had not yet been raised from the dead.  Dying made Jesus like many other prophets.  Rising from the dead made Him the Son of God.  Also, Christ's ascending into heaven and being seated at the right-hand of God is as much a part of our salvation as His death on the cross.

Others say “It is finished” refers to Satan's head being crushed (Genesis 3:15).  Again, this cannot be true.  It was only after Christ “descended” (Ephesians 4:9-10) and took back the “keys of death and hell” (Revelation 1:18) that the head of Satan was crushed.  The cross was simply the “bruising of the heel” mentioned in Genesis.

Another consideration is that “finished” referred to prophecy.  All of the prophecy regarding Jesus had not yet come to pass so this cannot be what was meant by the statement.  Specifically, the prophecy regarding “no broken bones” (Psalm 34:20), and the resurrection from the dead after three days in the tomb (Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31).  There may be others, but it is outside of the scope of this study.

The establishment of the Church was the ultimate purpose of Jesus' sacrifice.  The church had not been fully established, however, because the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent.  The New Covenant was sealed by the giving of the Holy Spirit.  This occurred the first time after Jesus' death when “He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Ghost.'” (John 20:22).

Another popular belief is that Jesus was referring to the atonement when He stated, “It is finished.”  Atonement means “to be reconciled.”  Jesus' death did not completely bring mankind into right-standing with God.  Additionally, the propitiation of Jesus' blood had not yet been placed on the “true” mercy seat in heaven (Hebrews 9:11-13).  Therefore, the price had not yet been paid for sin.  The atonement for sin was not yet complete.

The last of the “nots” that will be considered is that of restored relationship.  Jesus came to be a bridge of reconciliation to bring man back to right relationship with Father.  The “middle wall of partition”, the curtain in the temple, was not yet torn apart, signifying access to the presence of God (Matthew 27:51).

In all of these things Jesus' death is a key part of the whole, but more had to be done to complete the process.

What Was Finished?

We have looked at several things “It is finished” does not mean, let's now look at a few possibilities of what it did mean.

Jesus “finished” His assignment on earth as the Son of Man.  Everything Jesus did on earth He did as the Son of Man.  If He did anything during His life based solely on His deity then He was not a “human”.  He lived a sinless life as a human, empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the direction of Father God.  He was tempted at all points, yet without sin.

Another objective completed by Jesus at the cross was to fulfill righteousness.  This was stated as an objective when He was baptized of John. (Matthew 3:15)  Jesus fulfilled the law; every jot and tittle.  He fulfilled righteousness and in doing so, His blood became the propitiation that would atone for sin.  He became the Lamb without blemish so that He could become the supreme sacrifice to atone for sin.

The phrase “It is finished” indicated Jesus had completed His assignment as Son of Man, the sacrificial Lamb of God.  There was nothing more that He could do, naturally speaking, to reconcile man back to God.  It was now up to Father God and the Holy Spirit to bring about Ephesians 1:18-21 “... that you may know what is the hope of His (Father) calling, what are the riches of the glory of His (Father) inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His (Father) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His (Father) mighty power which He (Father) worked in Christ (Jesus) when He (Father) raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him (Jesus) at His (Father) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, ...”

Conclusion

Jesus, as the Son of Man, could not directly affect His virgin birth, nor could He bring Himself back from the grave.  Between conception and death, however, He lived a sinless life, became fully aware of His God-nature, and did it all as a man in order to redeem that which was lost in the Garden when man gave away his birthright to Satan.  He finished what Adam started!

Then Jesus was put to death on the cross, took His blood to the heavenly mercy seat, made atonement for sin, “descended” to get the keys of death and hell, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, was seated at Father's right hand, and finally sent the Holy Spirit so you and I could be reconciled to God.  That's when all of the plan of redemption was FINISHED.

Take-aways

Since this is Monday Moorings, the message here is intended to give us something we can use to anchor our life, something that will keep us from drifting. It begins by coming to the same place that Jesus did. Confess to the Father, “It is finished. My effort to accomplish Your purpose in my life is now yielded to You. Do what you desire.”