Editors' Note:
The New Testament has appeared in this blog formatted to reflect its version as The Amplified Bible. Chelsa and I discussed that version's use in our blog. We realized that instead of revealing The LORD'S Glory we have caused confusion with our use of The Amplified Bible. We confess that we may have hidden The LIGHT we wished to illuminate. To rectify that, the New Testament scriptures now included will appear in the New Living Translation. Chelsa and I have also concluded that the appearance of footnotes from within the biblical text need to be included but in an altered manner from those previously added to the blog lessons. Any footnotes from the biblical text, such as further biblical cross references will remain within the appropriate lesson, but they will now be shown at the end of each blog entry. Each footnote, now an end-note will be as this example: [*a, *b, etc.] corresponding to its place in the text; the Old Testament in the New International Version and the New Testament in the New Living Translation.
How Does GOD Work On Our Behalf
- GOD is omnipresent...GOD is everywhere.
- GOD is omniscient...GOD knows all and sees all
- Through all of history, GOD has revealed HIMSELF to mankind in different ways.
- In the Old Testament, how did GOD make HIMSELF visible?
Before the fall, HE walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.
After the fall but before JESUS walked the earth:
- The LORD appeared as Fire.
The Burning Bush
Exodus 3:2 NIV
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
The Pillar of Fire leading the Israelites in the wilderness
Exodus 13:21 NIV
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
- The LORD appeared as Smoke.
Revelation 15:8 NLT
The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues. [*a, *b, *c]
- The LORD appeared as a Person to:
Abram
Genesis 18:16-19 NIV
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." [*d]
And to:
Jacob
Genesis 32:24-30 NIV
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel [*e] , because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
So Jacob called the place Peniel [*f] , saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
- In the Gospels, JESUS became flesh and lived among humanity.
John 1:1-5, 9-14 NLT
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
In the beginning the Word [*g]already existed./The Word was with God[*h],/and the Word was God [*i]./He existed in the beginning with God.[*j]/God created everything through him,/and nothing was created except through him./The Word gave life to everything that was created,[*k]/and his life brought light to everyone./The light shines in the darkness,/and the darkness can never extinguish it.[*l]
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. [*m] He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human[*n] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[*o] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
- From JESUS'S Ascension into heaven, The HOLY SPIRIT lives and makes HIS Dwelling Place within the believers and followers of HIS BEST FRIEND, JESUS CHRIST.
Romans 8:9-11 NLT
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[*q] because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
- And since The SPIRIT lives in believers, how important is it to really know Who HE Is?
Very Important!
- What does HE do?
What does The HOLY SPIRIT do and how does HE work?
What is HIS Purpose, especially in relation to Who HE is?
[*a]I Kings 8:10 (When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.); [*b]Isaiah 6:4 (At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.); [*c]Ezekiel 44:4 (Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling the temple of the LORD, and I fell face down.)
[*d]Or will use his name in blessings (see Genesis 48:20 He blessed them that day and said, “In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.)
[*e] Israel probably means he struggles with God. [*f] Peniel means face of God.
[*g] Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,/to us a son is given,/and the government will be on his shoulders./And he will be called/Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,/Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.; [*h] Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything. [*i] Or and the darkness has not understood it. [*j] Isaiah 56:4-5 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,/who choose what pleases me/and hold fast to my covenant—/to them I will give within my temple and its walls/a memorial and a name/better than sons and daughters;/I will give them an everlasting name/that will endure forever.[*k] In John's vision, he sees Christ returning as Warrior-Messiah-King, and "the title by which He is called is The Word of God... and Lord of lords." Revelation 19:13, 16 [] [*l] Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: "God" appears first in the Greek word order in this phrase, denoting emphasis--so "God Himself." [*m] Isaiah 49:5-6 And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant/to bring Jacob back to him/and gather Israel to himself,/for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD/and my God has been my strength—/he says:/“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant/to restore the tribes of Jacob/and bring back those of Israel I have kept./I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,/that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” [*n]Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,/and all people will see it together./For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” [*o] Greek became flesh. [*p] Or grace and truth
