• Section 1 – What people say and think about God 

Exodus 5:2    (no God)

Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD,  that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 

^^^Agh! The arrogance! Can’t you hear it?!?

Psalm 14:1 & 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Mark 10:35   (genie in a bottle)

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 

Matthew 25:14-30   (cruel or someone to hide from)

Parable of the Talents – Only the last servant said the master was a hard man. The other two servants did not share his opinion of the master, they were able to partake of the master’s joy!  The master ended up treating the wicked servant harsh, just like what the servant thought of him. His thoughts of the master became his reality. 

Genesis 3:10  

And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Matthew 16:13-19      (a prophet, something to gawk at, come see the miraculous)

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

^^^Think about it! Even to this day many Jews and even Muslims say that Jesus was just a prophet. But, on the other hand, the man that had the true revelation of Jesus became the first preacher of the early church and his message is still what is looked to to understand the born again message Jesus spoke of in John 3! 🙂

Acts 9:5     (Lord, or so we think)

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

^^^Paul thought he knew who God was, but when he had a face to face encounter with his Lord, he realized he didn’t really know and he needed to ask and find out!

Psalm 18:25-26    (what we need/want) 

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 

^^^I love this verse because it truly demonstrates that God will make Himself seem to be what we think.

People can say all sorts of things about God. Doesn’t mean they’re true. Yet, God will allow our own mind determine our reality of God. Even being in the church for 26 years, God has shown me so much these past few years that what I thought was true about Him, really wasn’t. Oh! And I’m so thankful!!! Because, truly, I just want to know Him!

• Section 2 – God’s Heartbeat!

Genesis 2:7  

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

^^^This is intimate. No other part of creation involved this level of intimacy. 

Genesis 6:5-6  

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

Grieved = to worry, to pain, to anger, to displease, grieve, hurt, make or be sorry

^^^This so pierced my heart the first time God “showed” me this. Oh, how my heart broke for God!! His most beautiful and prized creation had turned away from Him and chose wickedness.

And yet, still, He gave them a 100 year window of opportunity to return to Him. It took Noah 100 years to build the ark and we know he talked to people during that time. 

Genesis 12:1-3  

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 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.” 

^^^It’s not written in the black and white here, but reading between the lines, God was longing to be a Father to His creation again. To enter into a covenant, intimate relationship with His creation. 

Exodus 25:8 

(The LORD spoke to Moses) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 

^^^This was not man’s idea, this was God’s. Can you not see/feel His heartbeat for His most valued and beautiful creation!?!?!?

Too many to count and name instances in the Old Testament where God came through for His people in a HUGE way! Constantly returning to them, after they had forsaken HIm so. many. times!

Luke 13:34 (read with much inflection)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 

^^^Again, can’t you hear the cry of God’s heart?!? 

Hebrews 11:16

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.

• Section 3 – “God is not who you say He is. God is who He says He is!”

A father of the fatherless – Psalm 68:5    (to be lonely, a bereaved person, orphan. Applies spiritually too)

The father of all them that believe – Romans 4:11   (to have faith, credit:entrust, commit to trust)

The father of mercies – 2 Corinthians 1:3   (pity, mercy)

The father of glory – Ephesians 1:17   (dignity, honor, glory, praise, worship)

One God/Father of all – Ephesians 4:6   (all, every, any, the whole)

Father of spirits – Hebrews 12:9   (current of air, breath)

Father of lights – James 1:17   (to shine or make manifest)

Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32

*20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

^^^What an amazing picture of the love of the Father!!

Matthew 7:11 

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

James 1:17  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

“God is…”

• with you
• not a man
• a consuming fire
• a jealous God
• faithful
• in your midst
• He who goes with you to fight your enemies
• your dwelling place
• among you
• greater than all other gods
• gracious and merciful
• for good on all who seek Him
• greater than man
• Mighty
• Exalted
• Great
• Clothed with awesome majesty
• A righteous judge
• With the generation of the righteous
• The Lord
• Refuge and strength
• King of all the earth
• My helper
• For me
• Our salvation
• Good to those who are pure in heart
• Strength of my heart
• My Portion forever
• A sun and shield
• Holy
• In the heavens
• Merciful
• My song
• An everlasting rock
• Righteous in all His works
• Able
• Greater
• Near
• True
• Spirit
• For us
• Wiser than men
• Stronger than men
• Really among you
• Not of confusion
• Of peace
• Good
• Not unjust
• Not ashamed to be called our GOD!
• One
• Light
• Perfect
• Greater than our heart
• LOVE
• He who formed you
• Redeemed you
• Called you by name
• Your savior
• Loves you

The Lord is…

• In this place
• In the right
• My strength and song
• My banner
• Holy
• With us
• Slow to anger
• Abounding in steadfast love
• Mighty
• Peace
• A God of knowledge
• My rock, fortress, deliverer
• Righteous
• Able to give you much more than this
• Stronghold for the oppressed
• Stronghold in times of trouble
• Refuge
• My chosen portion and my cup
• Perfect
• Sure
• Pure
• Clean
• My shepherd
• For those who fear Him
• My light and salvation
• Stronghold of my life
• Powerful
• Full of majesty
• Upright
• Good!
• Against those who do evil
• Near to the brokenhearted
• Upholder of my life
• Gracious
• Love from everlasting to everlasting
• At my right hand
• On my side
• My helper
• To be praised
• My portion
• My keeper
• Good, great, high
• Faithful
• Kind in all his works
• Near to all those who call on Him
• Hears the prayers of the right
• Safe
• Our righteousness
• Near
• Slow to anger
• Great in power
• Compassionate and merciful
• Not slow to fulfill His promise

Jesus is/has…

• Lord
• Revealed from heaven
• Able to do
• The bread of life
• I AM
• Will be with you
• Here
• Door of the sheep
• The resurrection and the life
• The way
• The truth
• The life
• Unwilling to send them away hungry
• Working
• The first and the last
• Alive forevermore
• Alpha and omega
• The almighty
• The beginning and the end
• Compassion
• Savior
• God with us

Back in May of 2014 I remember Pastor preaching a couple of services and talking about miracles. You know, we all love the idea of miracles, when God comes through in amazing unbelievable ways! We do. But, as Pastor preached, he talked about miracles only happen for those who need them. We can’t expect God to work miracles in our own lives, if we have no need for one. I so vividly remember these messages, because I remember thinking I had no need of one.  Little did I know, 2 short months later I found myself in the most devastating situation I’ve had to date. At this point in time, I desperately needed a miracle! And, Jesus came through for me in a HUGE way. Not everything in my situation changed overnight, or even over the past six plus years, but what changed was me. He truly became my counselor, my comforter, my strong tower, my life-line, my healer, my rock, my shield, my dwelling place. And, just so you don’t think it’s only inwardly He works miraculously, He has worked miraculously in the natural/tangible realm as well for me. I can truly say, HE IS AMAZING!!! I stand in awe of HIM! 

Psalm 18:1-6 – This may have been written thousands of years ago, but it’s absolutely 100% true for me today. 

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. 

Psalm 91 – *I will say of the LORD* MY refuge, my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. 

Exactly what David needed and expected of the Lord is what God made Himself to David. Is it any wonder GOD said of David that he was a  man after God’s own heart! Of course he was. He made God his everything! 

Jeremiah 29:11-14 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the LORD

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.  

Matthew 9:28-29

When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”  Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

I Peter 2:7a kjv – Unto you therefore which believe, HE is precious!

I’ll conclude with this verse:

Malachi 3:10  “Put me to the test!” says the LORD.

I know God in this particular instance was talking about money and substance. However, I have found that it’s God’s desire in all aspects of our lives.

The old saying is true for me, “you don’t know like I know what He’s done for me!”

“When we put everything in God’s hand, we begin to see God’s hand in everything.” 

Will you let Him be the Father He desires to be to you??

The Proof is in the Fruit

How do we know if someone is walking in the Spirit?  As stated in Galatians 5:25

If praying in tongues is the determining factor, but yet primary prayer is supposed to be done in private (as Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 – But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret), what are we to do?

The word “fruit” is mentioned 207 times in the ESV. “Tree” is found 171 times in the ESV.

Proverbs 1:29-31; 11:30; 12:12; 14:14; 18:20-21

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. 

Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 

From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Isaiah 3:10

Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

Matthew 3:8; 7:16-20; 12:33-37

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Luke 6:43-45; 13:9

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.

John 15:1,2, 4-8, 16

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

Galatians 5:22-25

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 

Ephesians 5:1-10      

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Philippians 1:9-11

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.