International Ministry – Page 2

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide

Published on February 13, 2023February 13, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Genesis 24

When I read the story of Abraham offering Isaac in Genesis 22, I noticed in verse 8 that Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the Lamb for a burnt offering” and then in verse 14 that Abraham called the place, “the Lord will provide.”

“The Lord will provide” is the Hebrew name of God, “Jehovah Jireh.”

It really clicked in my mind, though, when I was teaching an ESL Beginners Bible class early this morning. We were learning about Matthew 6:26-33.

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Well, that reminded me of Philippians 4:4-6

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

So, when I read Genesis 24 later in the day, I kept thinking about how Abraham trusted Jehoveh Jireh, the Lord WILL provide. Abraham was willing to offer up his only son, Isaac, because he had full confidence that God would provide. And again in Genesis 24, Abraham trusted that God would provide a wife for that very same son.

This, friends, is FAITH. Faith is trusting that God will provide whatever we need, whatever is best for us.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father,

You own the cattle on a thousand hills. You are all-powerful and You are good. You see us. You hear us. You know our every need. You are a good Father who delights in giving Your children good gifts.

Again and again you force us to rely on You. Truly, Father, this is a severe mercy. We are thankful for our neediness, so that we can recognize our desperate need to rely on Your power.

We are such a weak and needy people. We need Your strength. We need our daily bread. We need breath and food and rest. We need wisdom. We need forgiveness. We need peace and hope and comfort and joy.

But what we need most, Father, is Your presence. Please, stay close to us, Father. Walk with us. Hold our hand. Abide with us and guide us by Your Spirit.

Thank You, Father, for providing everything that we need according to Your riches of glory in Christ Jesus.

It’s in His matchless name we pray. Amen.

Do Not Worry by Rain for Roots

God Disperses the People + Psalm 16

Published on February 5, 2023February 4, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Genesis 11, Psalm 16

Remember when God told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Well, Noah’s family multiplied, but they didn’t want to spread out to fill the earth. They didn’t want to be dispersed. They wanted to stay in one place and make a name for themselves.

But God …

Like we read yesterday about God’s sovereign purpose and wisdom in the lives of Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, God again carries out His good plan of mankind filling the earth. God confused the people’s language … for their good and His glory!

Can you image how that must have felt to suddenly not be able to communicate with your own family and friends? I’m sure that was very frustrating! It reminds me of the times I’ve spent in China, Hungary, and Russia.

But God …

I’m so thankful that God scattered those first people all over the world, and so thankful that God sovereignly ordained for Christians to be scattered all over the world so people from every tribe and tongue might know and worship Him — we’ll get to that again later but if you can’t wait take a peek at Acts 8:1-4 for a taste of how persecution caused the early believers in Christ to be scattered.

Let’s praise the Lord together from Psalm 16 –

Preserve me, O God. I take refuge in You.

You are my Lord. I have no good apart from You.

Protect us from the dangers and sins or running after other gods.

Lord, You are my chosen portion and my cup.

You hold my lot. You are my inheritance.

Even when things seem bad to me, You are working in my life, bringing good out of the ashes.

I bless You, Lord, for You are the One who gives me counsel.

You are always before me.

Because You are at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Strengthen me to turn to You when I don’t know what to do.

Strengthen me to trust and obey Your every word.

In You my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices.

In You my flesh dwells secure.

In You there is fullness of joy.

In You are pleasures forevermore.

You are my hope and life.

You will not abandon me.

You have made known to me the path of LIFE.

You are all I need.

Be glorified in me.

In the powerful and good Name of Jesus, Amen.

Give Me Jesus

When Your Children are Walking in Truth

Published on January 27, 2023January 27, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 John and 3 John

Once again John doesn’t sign his own name, but this time, he’s simply “the elder.” What a sweet title to give himself.

Once again John talks about TRUTH and LOVE – twin pillars on which the gospel rests. Jesus is the truth. The truth abides in the elect and will be with us forever (2 John 2). God’s grace, mercy, and peace will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 3).

"I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father." - 2 John 1:4 ESV

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." - 3 John 1:4 ESV

John rejoiced greatly at the good news that the elder woman’s children were walking in the truth and that his own children were walking in the truth. What greater joy is there? Whether it’s the children I’ve raised in my own house, or children I’ve discipled in the faith, or grown women I’ve walked with and helped them grow, what JOY it is to watch them walk in truth!

Who are you discipling? Who are your children in the faith? Who are you watching grow and walk in truth?

Everyone should have someone who they can pour into. You don’t have to wait until you’re an elder like John. Learn a little, teach a little. The walk is always nicer when you have someone to share it with. You’ll be amazed at how much it blesses YOU, how much JOY you receive, when you’re teaching someone else. How can I help you?

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father,

We pray that You will use us to equip the body for the work of ministry. Help us to work together with arms linked as one to grow Your church. Help us to be disciple makers, scattering seeds where we go and helping those little seedlings grow into mighty trees of righteousness that bear much fruit.

We pray for those who are young in their faith and that those elders will come alongside them to encourage them and minister to them. We pray for those who are elders in the faith to not lose heart or quit the fight. Help them to finish the race well, pouring out the last drop of their lives in the service of their king.

We pray for the children that are still in our homes. Lord, strengthen us to strengthen them. Draw them into a living relationship with You that they will walk in truth and love to the glory of Your name.

In the Name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

When Not Seeing is Believing

Published on January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 years: John 20

"Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:24-29 ESV

As an atheist, I refused to believe in anything I couldn’t see with my eyes.

Now I see the many contradictions in my own worldview. Why did I believe my world history teacher when she taught about things that happened hundreds of years ago? Why did I believe my chemistry teacher when he taught about how chemical elements worked?

Now I see the irony in my faith in evolution – how that was as much a leap of faith as faith in Jesus is – but at the time I believed that the images of fossils and ape men I’d seen in my science textbooks and on TV were “scientific proof” of evolution.

Reading John 20, I noticed how John and Peter and Mary and Thomas believed because they saw.

I have such empathy for Thomas when I think about how much he had just been through. He just couldn’t fully trust his friends’ testimonies when they said, “We have seen the Lord.”

Judas, a fellow apostle, had just betrayed Jesus. Jesus, their messiah, had just been publicly beaten and executed on a Roman cross. And now Thomas has to figure out what is next for his life. How can you be a full-time disciple of someone who’s dead? Is this whole “Jesus is risen from the dead” thing real or just a hoax?

So Thomas demands, “Unless I see in his hands, the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Strong words. Strong demands. It’s not enough just to see the mark of the nails on Jesus’s hands. He has to place his own finger in those nail-pierced hands and place his own hand on His spear-pierced side. Merely seeing, apparently, is not believing, either.

Oh, that Jesus then appeared to the disciples again when Thomas was there … And went directly to Thomas and give him what he had requested.

How is it possible? Why didn’t Jesus rebuke him? How can Jesus say, “Put your finger here. See my hands. Place your hand on my side”?

Such grace. Such mercy. Such love.

Will you pray with me?

Jesus, we are not worthy. I am not worthy. Thomas was not worthy. We cry with Thomas, my Lord and my God.

Jesus, You are not only our Messiah and Savior and Lord, but you are God. This is the gift of faith, the precious, priceless gift to those who have not seen and yet believed.

Remembering the words of Hebrews 11:1, that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, We ask that you will open our eyes to have faith to be sure what we hope for and fully convinced of the things that we have not seen, but what we have read in your word. Help us to believe these eyewitness testimonies that have been passed down and preserved for us. Help us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, that by believing we may have eternal life in his name.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Behold the man … Behold our God

Published on January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 years: John 19

“And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.” – John 19:2-3 ESV

When I was growing up, I was such a sarcastic person. I regularly poked fun at others to get laughs and attention for myself at their expense, so reading this passage breaks my heart. I see now the cruelty of these soldiers as they mock Jesus, pressing a crown of thorns on his head, dressing him in a purple robe, saying “Hail, King of the Jews,” while they slap his face.

In verse 4, Pilate says, “Behold the man,” then moments later in verse 14, Pilate says, “Behold your king.”

Yet the chief priests – the Jewish chief priests – say, “We have no king but Caesar,” and my heart again breaks again.

My heart breaks for all those people in our world who have turned their backs on the king who came to save us. My heart breaks for the Jews who missed their Messiah who came for them, His own people. And my heart breaks for all of those Christians who are too busy to behold their king.

But my heart also breaks for Jesus Himself.

Can you imagine how it would feel to come into the world that you yourself had made, to take on human form and be born as a baby, to live among your own chosen people, and speak to that weak after week from more than 2 years, to perform miracle after miracle to really prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you indeed are the long awaited messiah, only to hear your own people say not only “Crucify him,” but “We have no king but Caesar.”

They did not say, “We have no king but Almighty God.” They said, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Who is your king? The reigning president of the United States? The previous president of the United States? Maybe a president of another nation of the world?

Maybe money? Fame? The news media?

Your kids? Your stomach? Your couch? Your bed? Your phone?

What do you live for and serve and obey?

Let’s say together, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. As for me and my house, we will have no king but Jesus.”

Will you pray with me?

Oh, Heavenly Father,

How I long to behold you, to see you face-to-face, to gaze upon Your glory. Hold me close to you. Bind me to you. Let me not wander away out of fear of the disapproval of man. May the fear of God be stronger than the fear of man in my life. Help me to remember that You are for me and if You are for me, what can man do to me?

Keep me from having a biting, sarcastic tongue. May my words be apples of gold in a setting of silver, full of grace and mercy and seasoned with salt.

I pray for the leaders of my nation and the leaders of all the nations of the world. I pray that they will bow the knee before King Jesus, that they will humble themselves before You. Lord, I praise You as Daniel did so many years ago – You are who changes times and seasons; You are who removes kings and sets up kings; You are who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21 ESV) Make our nation’s leaders like King Nebuchadnezzar who said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”” (Daniel 2:47 ESV)

Let us behold You, seated on Your throne. Let us worship and adore You alone, for nothing compares to You.

In the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

Behold Our God

Behold our God in Chinese

Behold, Our God!

VERSE 1

Who has held the oceans in His hands

Who has numbered every grain of sand

Kings and nations tremble at His voice

All creation rises to rejoice

是谁曾用手心量海洋？

是谁数算大地的尘埃？

万国万民听主声战栗，

宇宙万物心扬声高唱。

CHORUS

Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our Kingnothing can compare

Come let us adore Him!

仰望我神，坐在宝座上，

我们来敬拜祂！

仰望我王，无人能相比，

我们来敬拜祂！

VERSE 2

Who has given counsel to the Lord

Who can question any of His Words

Who can teach the One who knows all things

Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds

有谁能作上帝的谋士？

有谁能与我的主商议？

有谁能够教导全能神？

有谁能够测度祂心意？

VERSE 3

Who has felt the nails upon His hands

Bearing all the guilt of sinful man

God eternal humbled to the grave

Jesus, Savior risen now to reign!

是谁的手被钉十架上？

担当我罪，为我受鞭伤？

永恒的主谦卑受死亡；

耶稣救主今复活作王！

TAG

Men: You will reign forever!

祢掌权到永远！

Women: Let Your glory fill the earth!

祢的荣耀满全地！

Happy Children’s Day

Published on June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 by kendraskeLeave a comment

In China, June 1 every year is Children’s Day. Here in the U.S., it seems like every day is Children’s Day. 😆

Have you ever heard the phrase, “We’re all God’s children?” It’s a pretty popular saying and somewhat accurate in that we are all God’s creation, or that we are all created in the image of God. Every man, woman, and child, born or unborn, has been created by God, after the image of God, for the intentional purpose of God. In that way, yes, we’re all God’s children.

But, today, as I was reading Ephesians 2, verses 2 and 3 jumped out at me. They say that we were all once by nature sons of disobedience and children of wrath. Verses 4-10 go on to explain that because of God’s rich mercy and love and grace, we have been saved from His wrath by faith in His Son, Jesus.

In order to be God’s children, we must be born again and be made new by the Holy Spirit. In order to call on God as our Father, we must be adopted as His sons and daughters.

I pray that today, as Children’s Day is being celebrated on the other side of the globe, you will call out to your Creator, that you will receive Him as Your Father, confessing your sins to Him and asking Him to welcome you into His family, coming to Him by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. I’d love to call you my brother or sister and welcome you into the household of God.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 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 in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1‭-‬10 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:9‭-‬13 ESV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:14‭-‬17 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Galatians 3:26 ESV

The Knowledge of the Holy – God is Transcendent and Omnipresent (Chapters 13-14)

Published on March 29, 2021 by kendraskeLeave a comment

I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 9. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!

In the past two months, we have already discussed that God is eternal, unchanging, all-knowing, all-wise and omnipotent.

Today we will be studying chapters 13 and 14 of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” where A.W. Tozer teaches that God is transcendent and omnipresent. How wonderful to study God’s transcendence and omnipresence on the same day!

God is transcendent. The word “transcend” reminds me of the more common words “ascend” and “descend.” Ascend (a+scend) means to climb up, while descend (de+scend) means to go down. We can ascend and descend ladders or stairs or mountains.

In Genesis 28:12, Jacob saw a vision of angels ascending and descending on a ladder, and in John 1:51, Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see heaven opened and see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

But transcend means “to rise above or go beyond, to exceed.” A man or a book or a movie might transcend other men or books or movies, yet there will always be a better man, or a better book, or a better movie.

We might think of a goldfish as transcending a single cell amoeba.
We might think of a dolphin as transcending a goldfish.
We might think of young boy transcending a dolphin.
And a grown man transcends a young boy.
Surely the glory of an angel transcends the glory of a man.

But the gap between a single cell amoeba and an angel is small compared to the gap between angels and the Almighty God. Even the most wise, powerful, glorious angel is still a created being. God created the amoeba, the goldfish, the dolphin, the man, and the angel. God designed them in His own creative mind. God created each of them for His purposes. All of these created things are “that-which-is-not-God and can never be God.”

Tozer wrote, God is “exalted far above the created universe.” To exalt means to lift high, to praise, to glorify. In our modern world, people often praise and lift high worldly things.

Who are some people or what are some things that people today wrongly exalt?

God is the only one worthy to be exalted. God is the only one who is worthy of worship and praise. Before building a temple for the Lord, King Solomon said,

“The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him?
Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?” (2 Chronicles 2:5-6 ESV)

“我所要建造的殿宇甚大；因为我们的　神至大，超乎诸神。
天和天上的天，尚且不足他居住的，谁能为他建造殿宇呢？我是谁？
能为他建造殿宇吗？不过在他面前烧香而已。” 历代志下 2:5-6

When Solomon had finished the temple, he worshipped the Lord before all the people of Israel, saying,

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven
cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27 ESV)

“神果真住在地上吗？看哪，天和天上的天尚且不足你居住的，何况我所建的这殿呢？”列王纪上 8:27

In our pride, we want God to fit into a little box. We want to live as if God is merely a man, limited in His power, limited in His knowledge, living far away and unconcerned with our lives.

Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, telling her to eat the forbidden fruit. Satan told Eve that if ate the fruit, her “eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) We, too, want to be “like God.” But none of us can truly be like God, because God is transcendent.

Only God is perfectly transcendent. God rises above everyone and everything. God transcends space and time. God transcends wisdom and knowledge. As His faithful children, we must humble ourselves and worship Him.

Think of this – this Almighty, Eternal, Unchanging, Self-existent, Self-sustaining God hears our prayers!

In Psalm 34, Solomon’s father, King David, worshipped God saying,

“My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:2-3

How can you praise and exalt God today? Let’s pause right now to praise and exalt God together!

This almighty, eternal, unchanging, self-existent, self-sufficient, transcendent God is also close and personal. God is omnipresent. Omni- means “all,” and “present” means “here, close to, next to.”

No matter where you go – in the middle of the greatest desert, at the top of the most remote mountain peak, at the deepest depth of the ocean, to the farthest reach of outer space – God is there. God is with me here in my little town in America and God is also with you in your big city on the other side the globe.

As Tozer writes, “there is no place in heaven or earth or hell where men may hide from His presence.”

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10 ESV)

‘我往哪里去躲避你的灵？我往哪里逃、躲避你的面？我若升到天上，你在那里；
我若在阴间下榻，你也在那里。我若展开清晨的翅膀，飞到海极居住，
就是在那里，你的手必引导我；你的右手也必扶持我。” 诗篇 139:7-10

“The knowledge that we are never alone
calms the troubled sea of our lives
and speaks peace to our souls.”
A.W. Tozer – The Knowledge of the Holy – Chapter 14

Let’s sing and pray together.

The Knowledge of the Holy – God is Omnipotent, All-powerful, Almighty – (Chapter 12)

Published on March 13, 2021March 12, 2021 by kendraskeLeave a comment

I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 7. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!

In the past few weeks, we have already discussed that God is eternal and unchanging as well as all-knowing and all-wise. Today we will be studying the twelfth chapter of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” where A.W. Tozer teaches that God is omnipotent.

God is omnipotent. Omni- means “all” and potent means “powerful,” so omnipotent means “all-powerful” or “almighty.”

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.” (Psalm 147:5-6 ESV)
‘我们的主为大，最有能力；他的智慧无法测度。耶和华扶持谦卑人，将恶人倾覆于地。 ‘ 诗篇 147:5-6

God has created man in His image, so people have some wisdom, and some power, but only God is all-wise and all-powerful. The BEST way that we can have wisdom and power is to ask God! God can give us His wisdom and power.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV)
‘我还有末了的话：你们要靠着主，倚赖他的大能大力作刚强的人。要穿戴上帝所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。 ‘ 以弗所书 6:10-11

Last week, when we were talking about wisdom, sister Beth encouraged us to be faithful to obey all that God tells us to do. She also encouraged us that we must trust God, even when we do not reach those wise goals.

Sisters, even if we make the right choices, we may not reach our goals. We can apply for 100 jobs, but not get hired for any of them. We can study five hours every night and still not get a perfect 100% score on the college exam.

We can read the Bible to our children every morning and night, pray with them before every meal, take them to church every Sunday, and memorize hundreds of Bible verses with them, and yet still we cannot guarantee that they will give their lives to Jesus. We are not all-powerful. Only God is ALMIGHTY. Only God can open the eyes of the blind and save those who are dead.

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”” (Mark 10:27)
“耶稣看着他们，说：「在人是不能，在上帝却不然，因为上帝凡事都能。」” 马可福音 10:27

It is so important to remember that God is ALL-POWERFUL! God is OMNIPOTENT. God is ALMIGHTY!

If God was all-knowing and all-wise, but not all-powerful, then we could not fully trust Him.

If God knew what the best plan was, but He didn’t have the power to complete that plan, then we could not fully trust Him.

• What if God wanted to create the world in six days, but He wasn’t strong enough to do it? (Read Genesis 1-2 and Romans 1:20)
• What if God wanted Sarah to have a baby in her old age, but He was unable to conceive the child in her womb? (Read Genesis 18:13-14)
• What if God wanted to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, but He couldn’t part the Red Sea? (Read Exodus 14)

But, sisters, God DID create the world in six days. God DID give Sarah a baby when she was long past the age of bearing a child. God DID part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land!

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 ESV)
‘「我是耶和华，是凡有血气者的神，岂有我难成的事吗？ ‘ 耶利米书 32:27

Can you think of a time when God did something that looked impossible?

When has God answered your prayers that your faith grew?

We put our faith into practice by praying for our needs, trusting in God’s perfect wisdom and infinite power.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
“两个麻雀不是卖一分银子吗？若是你们的父不许，一个也不能掉在地上；就是你们的头发也都被数过了。所以，不要惧怕，你们比许多麻雀还贵重！」” 马太福音 10:29-31

How can we pray for you today?

How can we trust our cares to our Father who cares for us with all wisdom and power?

Let’s sing and pray together.

How Great Thou Art sung by Alan Jackson

Oh, Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rollin’ thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great thou Art
How great thou Art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God, to Thee
How great thou Art
How great thou Art

When Christ shall come,
With shouts of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart?
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God
How great Thou Art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God, to Thee
How great thou Art
How great thou Art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God, to Thee
How great thou Art
How great thou Art
How great Thou Art
How great Thou Art

The Knowledge of the Holy – God is All-Wise (Chapter 11)

Published on March 12, 2021May 26, 2021 by kendraskeLeave a comment

I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 6. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!

In the eleventh chapter of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A.W. Tozer teaches that God is all-wise.

Last week we talked about the idea that God is all-knowing or “omniscient.” How is all-knowing different from all-wise? Wisdom and knowledge are not the same. A person can be wise, but not knowledgeable, and a person can be knowledgeable, but not wise. God is both all-knowing and all-wise.

“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:20-21
”但以理说：「上帝的名是应当称颂的！从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他。他改变时候、日期，废王，立王，将智慧赐与智慧人，将知识赐与聪明人.” 但以理书 2:20-21

Tozer defines wisdom as “the ability to devise perfect ends, and to achieve those ends by the perfect means.” Wisdom is knowing the best way to reach the best goals. In the Bible, true wisdom is always used to describe what is pure, loving, and good, while knowledge can include both good things and evil things.

“… I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” (Romans 16:19b)
“…我愿意你们在善上聪明，在恶上愚拙。” 罗马书 16:19

Who is the wisest person that you know? What makes them so wise? Can you give an example of their wisdom?

Believing that God is both all-knowing and all-wise helps us to trust Him. God knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him, whether good or bad. God knows everything in every city and every country and every person and animal and insect all over the world! And God is also perfectly wise! God always knows what will bring Him the most glory and achieve the highest good for the greatest number of people for the longest time. WOW!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)
“敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端；认识至圣者便是聪明。” 箴言 9:10

Things here on earth often seem wrong to us. We think that God isn’t watching. We feel like God has forgotten us. We think that we would have a better plan.

I would have pulled Joseph out of the pit, but in God’s perfect wisdom, He had a better plan.

I would have pulled Jesus off the cross, but in God’s perfect wisdom, He had a better plan.

Sometimes I want to force my husband to do whatever seems right
to me. I need to remember that God is all-wise, but I am not.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
(Proverbs 14:12)
‘有一条路，人以为正，至终成为死亡之路。 ‘ 箴言 14:12

When has something seemed wrong to you, but later you found out it was good? Or when has something seemed right to you, but later you found out it was wrong?

To study more about wisdom, you can read through Proverbs, one chapter a day. There are 31 chapters, so you could read one chapter for every day of the month! While you read, look for how the words “wise” or “wisdom” are used. What do you learn from your study?

http://www.zanmeishi.com/song/42051.html

Jesus Strong and Kind by City Alight

Jesus said
That if I thirst
I should come to him
No one else can satisfy
I should come to him
Jesus said
If I am weak
I should come to him
No one else can be my strength
I should come to him
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind
Jesus said
That if I fear
I should come to him
No one else can be my shield
I should come to him
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind
Jesus said if I am lost
He will come to me
And he showed me on that cross
He will come to me
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind