#6 Ocean of God's Love: God speaks through Nature

God's Voice • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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mothers day

All female adult humans please stand up. I we have now now something no leftist could do to day - I have identified the women in this room! For a “what is a woman”).

In honor of mothers and motherhood we honor all woman today.

we have some small token of our honor and appreciation.

After church please come get your flowers and honey sticks.

Blessing:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

24 The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Announcements

Journey to Mt Sinai part 2 - May 17 (wed)

print the score card… watch part1 before the movie day.

7 tickets (3 extra right now)

Paula, Ken, Leila, (maybe Leila friend)

'Do You Want Your Faith Encouraged?' Encouraging the faith of believers is perhaps the main reason to see the upcoming release of Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mount Sinai II, as Director, Tim Mahoney explains. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – (1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) the Bible is the most impactful book for the Christian faith, and attacks are continually against it. As we see Movies like the Patterns of evidence series, we see the truths of the bible researched and validated, the credibility of the Bible increases in our eyes. That in turn encourages our faith! This is the main reason for you to get your tickets to see our next film releasing in just a few days Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mount Sinai II in theaters on May 15th and 17th only!

CHANGED MEN 2023 - May 19,20- Men’s Conference Video THIS WEEK!

Ticketed: myself, Ben, John, Dana, Jerry (need ticket)

Need tickets: Jerry, Brandon, Dallas?, Mark?

Jamie Winship’s Testimony - one communicator 4 entire session

True identity, and removing the lies, and operate at the potential of the Holy Spirit. How to hear Gods voice, real transformation

CHANGED MEN 2023 $75 each.

https://agncn.ticketspice.com/2023-changed-men

Destiny Christian Church, 6900 Destiny Dr., Rocklin, CA 95677

Mini Men’s Conference is free for boys grades 1st-5th grade. Parent/guardian must be present and attending Men’s Conference.

Friday 6:30 - 9 pm Saturday 9 am - 2:30 pm Bring $ for Onsite Food Trucks (cost not included in ticket price)

Youth update (pray) - Nathan?

8 Young men there this last Friday.

Great sharing and insight into the Word. Yet learning to be aware, of what respect and love of others looks like is still a challenge.

Consider FASTING from all social media & certain Video games- is there any chance they will be better for spending time on social media? or are they most likely to regret the time they spent on it. we need to start thinking about this like smoking, alcohol, drugs, it is that dangerous.

Please pray. the following verse over them?

1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 ESV

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

HEART… 2023 Legacy Celebration - May 21

Sunday May 21, 2023, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The Ridge Golf and Event Center, 2020 Golf Course Rd, Auburn, CA

"Empowering the People of Africa to Survive and to Thrive Beyond the HIV/AIDs Pandemic"

gathering to celebrate HEART’s Christ-favored 23-year legacy, and the inspiring dedication of HEART founder, Vickie Winkler. Well over a hundred friends, volunteers and supporters will be there, along with members of our Kenyan Executive Staff and Trustee Board.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet or reunite with Kenya’s amazing leaders, Nicholas Kamatu, Isaac Mzee, Wambui Namu, and our very own Vickie!

Tickets are $50 and limited less than 100 left.

Linda’s Memorial

We were in the midst of grieving ourselves!

I realize though that we did not get as much time as we needed to do our own grieving and support.

I acknowledge going on without Linda is hard. it just is. I still ache at moments over missing Mary Jane and Maurice.

This is the way separation is. It hard its not the road we choose it is one that we get when we have loved well.

that's why God gives us a blessing in it. Blessed are those that morn.

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Grieving and sorrow are important, and we are blessed when we seek God’s presence in the midst of the grief.

I am convinced that verse goes far deeper than the surface reading.

she meant so much to all of us - some of us much more than others, and I know that it is HARD. I want to hug every one of you.

We are not to be intimated by DEATH - just not. (nor by fear) -

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 ESV

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Suicide Intervention Skills training - May 25&26

Course Information

Course: ASIST Date/Time: 5-25-23 & 5-26-23 8:30-4:30 Location: PCOE - Nobili Room - 365 Nevada Street, Auburn, CA 95603 Username: ken.geer@protonmail.com Password: Not shown for security purposes ( Click here to Reset your password.)

Hello! Your trainers are committed to upholding the fidelity and design of this training curriculum. Therefore, participants should plan accordingly with their personal schedules and MUST COMPLETE BOTH FULL DAYS of training (8:30-4:30 both days). Please do not ask if you can leave early, and please do not arrive late. Participants arriving late will be turned away, and requests to leave early and retain course completion credit will not be granted. Thank you for your part in staying true to the design of this important curriculum. If you cannot commit to both days or are no longer able to attend, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will remove you from the list of participants. This training may be full, and we have a wait list of other interested participants who can fill your spot. There is also a possibility that class would need to be cancelled if your withdrawal would bring the class attendance below the number required to maintain training fidelity. Payment ($25) is required before the start of the training. Payment can be made in the form of check or purchase order made out to Placer County Office of Education. Please submit all payments to PCOE, ATTN: Jessica LeFohn - 360 Nevada Street, Auburn, CA 95603. If you are unable to pay before the training, you can email a purchase order to: jlefohn@placercoe.org OR pay at the door with a check or credit card. If payment is a difficulty at this time a scholarship may be available for your participation. To apply for the scholarship please submit an email to Jessica LeFohn, jlefohn@placercoe.org (one to three paragraphs) stating your hardship and need for scholarship. Your email will be reviewed and notification of available scholarship will be sent to you within 10 business days. Light breakfast refreshments, and lunch (typically a salad, and sandwiches or wraps) are provided both days. If you have questions about the training itself, please contact one of your trainers below: Ali Murphy: amurphy@placercoe.org 916.206.9514 Jammie Herl: jherl@placercoe.org 916.415.4435 If you have questions about the registration process, or need to cancel your registration, please contact: Jessica LeFohn 530.745.1467 jlefohn@placercoe.org Tara Neilsen 530.745.1482 tneilsen@placercoe.org Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the training. PCOE is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals and remaining compliant with the American with Disabilities and Fair Employment and Housing Acts. As part of this commitment, PCOE will work to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Persons with disabilities who wish to request reasonable accommodations or who have questions about access, please contact Jessica LeFohn, Prevention Supports and Services, 530.745.1467 jlefohn@placercoe.org If you have any questions throughout the registration process, please feel free to contact: Tara Neilsen or Jessica LeFohn 530-745-1482 or 745-1467

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#6 God speaks through Creation

An excuse for not coming to Church?

“I connect with God in nature, I don't need to go church. Nature is my cathedral.” I have heard that by many people, most often when I ask if they go to a church.

I have to wonder, why are they calling it nature? If they are communing with God so well why have they not changed their vocabulary and redeemed the the term Nature back to Creation? Is that not the first thing they would learn in their cathedral? But they often Go on…

“I don't need a church…the church is filled with hypocrites”

as if the rest of the world is not filled with hypocrites?

At least in the church there is an acknowledgement that we are hypocrites, and our Sin needs a savior. The first step is to realize you have a problem, the second step is to get help. sounds like a Church might be the very best place to be. Assuming the Church is pressing into the HEART of God.

Sola Scriptura

The TRUTH is GOD does speak to us through Creation. BUT...

This is a concept that has been large lost on Protestant Christianity I think because of the reformation. Martin Luther was use mightily by god to return us to Scripture. A key element of his reform was to return to the Word of God, because the Pope and the church were creating entire doctrines out of thin air that had no basis of truth in the scriptures. He refused to recant unless they could prove he was wrong using the Word of God. This focus on the word of God became known as “Sola Scriptura ” The Scriptures/BIBLE (scriptora) ALONE (sola) - Meaning the BIble alone has infallible authority. Yet It seams like the devil has twisted this in the minds of many Christians to the idea we can only learn matters about faith and practice using the Bible alone, plus nothing else.

Of course this is itself completely unscriptural. and is a horrendous lie.

On the face of it it is a logical impossibility because obviously God had to speak to moses and all the prophets and disciples, to inspire them to write scripture.

Of course the bible it's self teaches us that God is speaking to us in many many ways…

Love Speaks Series

This sermon series is roughly following the amazing Video series, and book by Carl Wesley Anderson, that highlights 21 ways we can recognize God’s multi-faceted voice.

What have we covered so far?

#1 The Established Word of GOD (LOGOS)

#2 The living Word (Rhema)

#3 The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit

#4 The Still, Small Voice of GOD

#5 The Desire of our Hearts

#1 The Established Word of GOD (LOGOS - Jesus! the word became flesh!)

Bible memorization - Ling Logos.

Of course we started this series of how to hear gods voice with the “The Established Word of GOD” as it is foundational and the anchor and measuring line that ensure we do not loose our way as were attempt to listen to all the other ways God speaks to us. BUT to say that it is the ONLY way GOD speaks is

#2 The living Word (Rhema) fresh and daily.. like the manna from heaven

#3 The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit(spirit of Truth giving us check/peace)

#5 The Desire of our Hearts (last week - God has put inside you Desires and skills that are designed to help you fulfill the plan he has for your life, if you delight yourself in the LORD first. ) Psalm 37:4 “4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

God Speaks to all humanity through Creation

If we are putting Scripture first as our authority, I cant just claim God speaks through creation — i need to prove that “teaching” (Doctrine) to you through scripture… it must be in agreement with what I am teaching or I am a false teacher.

First off, Who created everything?

- Jesus “The Word”

Who caused it to be created?

- God the Father who Spoke the “WORD”

that is why we often think that it is God the Father that is speaking to us through nature — but since there is such unity of purpose and mind among the trinity is it not a critical distinctive I think.

Holy Spirit brought the power.

Jesus was the spoken Word

The Father spoke the word.

they were all materially involved in creation!

Genesis 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

So we should expect that Creation is one way in which God the Father is speaking to us.

Romans 1:18–20 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

All people who experience Gods creation are “without excuse” they have been given a measure of revelation (knowledge) of God.

ever since creation began it has been preaching a message extolling the invisible attributes of God.

Romans chapter 1 then describes the inevitable consequences of ignoring that message, and the moral truths that are reviled in nature. Yes god’s creation even teaches moral truths. For the example “Fairness” is consequence of natural law. You can’t have your cake and eat it two. In creation there is not an infinite supply of valuable stuff, there is a law of supply and demand, and an equality becomes a obvious “natural” moral law. It causes us to judge each other. That’s not fair, you got more than me. than’s not right! We don’t try to explain the rightness of that. it is assumed because it is an objective moral law of nature. So we judge each other.

The danger of ignoring God’s Voice in Creation

Romans 2:1 ESV

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

this verse uses the word Judge in it’s negative sense, I call it Judging down, but it is a critical judgement that is clear from the passage.

This is why we can say we are all hypocrites, for we are all guilty of this. I have recently come to believe the church today has no greater concentration of hypocrites than the rest of the word.

we are dangerously close to following a rabbit trail here, but the voice of God in Creation God (sometimes called natural revelation by theologians) has led us to this issue directly to this point, and because it is such a great Pastoral teaching point, I must spend a few minutes here.

Christian Hippocratic - Yet there is a particular form of hypocrisy that those who go to church are particularly susceptible. I would be remiss to not point it out. Some call it a “religious spirit”. But it is simply spiritual Pride. But, if you are suffering from it, you will rarely be able to see it in yourself. Ironically it is very easy to detect in others. Therefore we need each other to help us stay on track. If you find yourself becoming critical of many people around you, (Christians and non-christians alike) that is a sign you may be struggling with it. It is a terrible sin because the Spiritual Knowledge we gain after being Christians for a while tends to “Puff” us up. we can start to look down on others, and heave less patience for others that are struggling with sin. Worse yet, we may actually have the same sin, but simply be better at covering it up in public. None of this escapes God’s notice, and if we start to hold a double standard, one for us and one for others we are in danger of hell. the solution is simple, remember how much mercy and forgiveness God has extended to you. How great a debt God has canceled on our behalf, how can we then go on condemning (judging down) others? If we cannot forgive others, God will not forgive us. The great fairness of this whole thing that is self-evident in nature will condemn us on Judgement day, for on that day our own words will come back to judge us. and we will stand condemned unless we have chosen to love Jesus and accept his ability to take the condemnation for us. The same measure we use will be used for us. that fits so well with the moral law of fairness every human can sense as they study creation.

So What if one of us Christians stumble? Restore in a spirit of gentleness. - the same way you would want to be restored. This requires a measure of judging to see the error of someone way and come to them and point it out. But this judging is what i call Judging “up” it is not condemnation, it is healing. It is not hypocrisy in the least. I must say I fail at this. many times. and I ask your forgiveness. It is tempting to be impatient and expect others to straighten up and fly right faster than yourself.

Galatians 6:1–5 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Please note this corrective action is only appropriate for fellow Christians that share the same Jesus. If you try to do this with someone who has not chosen to follow Jesus they will no doubt find your efforts quite hypocritical. your approach with non-christians must be different. The reason is they have not chosen to live under The rule and reign of the Holy Spirit, and will not have made any commitment to be Holy. YOU don’t have any general Authority to poke into their life, unless they have given some to you in the context of friendship. Failing to understand the context of this verse has caused great harm to many.

WHAT IF YOU (A Christian) is THE ONE DOING THE SUMBLING? To those that stumble. do not harden you heart and double down on your stumble… please move forward in a spirit of teachable humility. do not take up offence when someone attempt to restore you. If they do it harshly and are not as gentle as you would like, please overlook them that fault. Restoring a brother or sister is scary intimidating stuff and we all are a bit out of practice I think. What is more please learn how to test yourself. (by asking for the Holy spirit to examine you and be open to being wrong.)

If you are a hypocrite. you must repent, and ask God for forgiveness. For God’s judgement will rightly fall upon all hypocrites that stand apart from the a life hidden inside Jesus.

I find it interesting that the world has tried to avoid the “hypocrisy” label by being tolerant. the call out “don’t judge me!” Pardoxically, they have become increasingly more intolerant of anyone that does not think exactly like them. Precisely fulfilling the scriptures prophetic announcement against them.

The tolerance cry of the 2000’s “Don’t Judge Gays”, drag queens, trans,etc … has now become, “if you do not approve of them like us, you must hate them” (completely illogical - since we can clearly love people who do wrong. Example: parents love disobedient children). Because they believe their own lie that we hate, they feel therefore justified in turn to dehumanize us and to “hate” us, slander us, take away our lively hood, lock us into prison. We see the serious tragedy of this today in the news the past few weeks… as we have people like

Riley Gaines who has had the courage to suggest that is is unfair for for biological males to dominate the NCAA women’s swim competitions (she lost to a transgender who tied with her to the 100th second - the judges showed favoritism to the transgender) - and now people who consider her a Hater feel justified to attack her and yell obscenities at her and force her to barricade herself into a room till police escort her to safely and hold back the angry mob.

Clarence Thomas, (left wing hit pieces implying scandal were there is only virtue)

https://www.theepochtimes.com/another-attempt-to-manufacture-a-scandal-friend-of-clarence-thomas-hits-back-at-new-report-targeting-the-justice_5242192.html

These two recent examples of the a hypocrisy is of a kind and a level that is just as bad as any that was ever seen in the church. they are in clear violation of the Natural law that Romans 1 & 2 is speaking about, they are hypocrites and without excuse. Am I being harsh and judgmental? I must say it is very tempting to be exceedingly harsh and to fall into sin here. And I have in cases like this. I am so angry at the double standard. But i must not hate them, but rather pray for them. I will however, desire to see that the Law of the land correct the injustice, punish the crimes, so that these assaults do not happen to more innocent people. We are seeing stuff like this play out in news headlines each day in our country. The remedy for worldly hypocrites is the same as it is for church hypocrites “to repent of our sin and ask forgiveness”

Thankfully many non-Christians still recognize and see some of the God’s voice in creation that is teaching the moral law. we see this also in Romans 2

Romans 2:14 ESV

14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

They may yet see the full light of god. Rom 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

I must say I am concerned that so many people in our nation are no longer listening to God’s voice through nature and are descending into greater hypocrisy and tyranny.

Our great hope is the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah..

We hold these truths to be self evident

Speaking of Tyranny… Lets move on to the next practical application of the Voice of God in Creation.

Our nation was founded in a revolution against tyranny. And the authority we claimed to make that revolution was based on the fundamental truth of Creation.

We can read it in the declaration of independence.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Do you see it? the authority they were using was from the Voice of God in nature, “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, “ they referenced this authority because it is universal, spoken to all humanity through the voice of God our Heavenly Father.

they did not hold up a bible, and pound a pulpit in this declaration. (although they could have.as they had many ministers), instead they used the stronger argument to be made in this case that could be understood by all Humanity regardless of their religious background per Romans 1.

they go on to this next part… and you can say it with me… Satan’s influence on culture and our pubic school system corruptions has not yet fully erased this from most minds… many still remember today this part word for word:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

isn't that beautiful? and it is more than that. It is truth. Without a Creator, and His laws, we have nothing. this is echoing Romans chapters 1 & 2.

Creation reveals “Natural Law”.

Bible doctrine defines Natural Law

Natural law is the ethical or moral structure that God has revealed to humans in creation (both within their consciences and in the providential unfolding of history) and which is discerned through reason and experience.

Romans 2:14 ESV

14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

That section of the declaration of independence is called a preamble, AND it was critical and foundational to establishing the authority by which we claimed the right to break our bonds with England and become our own nation. the rest of the declaration is not nearly so memorable, as it is rarely thought, and it specifically lists each action that made the king of Great Britain a Tyrant. essentially listing his sin’s of hypocrisy.

My point… God speaks to all mankind through Creation.

God used this voice in Creation to found our nation. USA

Now, Our nations only hope to once again Hear his voice and be saved from the tyranny that our nation has fallen into. Can Our nation still hear God’s voice? most no longer know the Bible or recognize it’s authority in any way. But they cannot hide from His voice in Creation. Will we be the light bearers that bring attention once again to God’s Natural Law? SO they can hear the Voice of God calling us to repentance?

Examples in Gods Word

Lets get specific for a moment.

Because most of us are living busy lives of distraction that don’t recognize the significance of this form of God’s speaking to us. This is not a new voice of God, it is the Original voice of God. Gen 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

there are so many examples, I will just like to overwhelm you with a few...

God’s Creation to reveal His character.

He spoke to Moses out of a Burning Bush.

He was with the Israelites as a Pillar of Smoke and Fire as they crossed the desert, and spoke to them.

At Mt Sinai he made his presence felt in a cloud over the mountain with thunder, and the lighting, and a loud trumpet blast. so much so that they trembled in fear Ex 19:16 “16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.”

Jeremiah 10:13 ESV

13 When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

God spoke from heaven, but when God spoke in this incident, some people who stood nearby thought they were hearing thunder.

John 12:27–30 ESV

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

The Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus as a dove. (in Ireland they did not have doves and early translations were “goose” imagine how hat changes the perceived nature of the HS! - SO you can see that the way God has created things and given them a particular disposition can color our perceptions)

Like a mighty waterfall

Revelation 1:15 ESV

15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

The Lord is Our Rock - can you take lessones from a ROCK yes you can!

Psalm 18:1–2 ESV

1 I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 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.

Isaiah 51:1 ESV

1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Pick up a rock and listen to God teach you through it.

Again a sanctified mind, that is in tune with God. is required.

rocks - unique - utterly unique none are alike.

Each human is unique, but we are all cut form the same Human DNA that God created in Adam, we are children of Adam. HE knew us before we were born. how soon before we were born.

The path of our life - the History of our life what has brought us to this point, having a journey to reach the unique place we are.

Spiritual heritage

Consider your future. - it will be hear long after we leave.

God uses Creation to teach spiritual truths

I could literally spend weeks on this topic alone. God has created the Word in such a way as to pre-pack it with so many powerful spiritual lessons. the Physical world has perfectly made to teach us spiritual lessons. You know so some of them them. Because Jesus used them in his parables to teach us spiritual truths. They are not limited to just the creation, but the way the creatures of creation operate

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed (plant Biology)

The Kingdom of God is a man scattering seeds (horticulture)

The Kingdom of God is like a Man settling accounts(economics)

The Kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for pearls

The Kingdom of God is like a a net thrown into the sea

The Kingdom of God is like being born again

The Kingdom of God is like a wedding feast

The Kingdom of God is like yeast mixed into the flour

Jesus then Goes on to use so many more metaphors and connections with the real world

Like a good Father, Like Good Shepherd, Like a Lamb, Like a Lion, like a thirsting in a dry an weary land, like the lilies of the field, like the ravens of the air, like the

Everything has a spiritual lesson to teach us, if we are wise enough through the Holy Spirit to correctly understand it.

One of my favorites for it’s uniqueness is the lessons of the Ostrich - mentioned in several places in the bible.

Lam 4:3 “3 Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.”

Job 39:13-19 “13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? 14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, 15 forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. 16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, 17 because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. 18 When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. 19 “Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?”

We must be careful though, for the Devil can play this game well. and I has trapped not a few well intentioned Christians with fine sounding parables.

like “all paths lead up to the top of mountain” to make it sound like all religions are valid. The truth is there is but one way to God and that is through the Name of Jesus. all other paths to God lead to destruction.

Another example the book “The Shack” was greeted with high praise form many Christians because it was well written and powerful story. But it mixed with the truths cleaver lies designed to liberalize Christians away from staying true to the word. I would not be surprised that if a few of you still feel that book is a good book. I feel there were a number of Heresies being taught in that book and when you find something like that it falls into the wolf in sheep's clothing category. It is not worth reading - I think there is more to loose than gain.

We are to look deeply at creation and consider it for the Lessons that Our Father God will teach us.

Jesus in his preaching would ask us to consider aspects of Creation.

Consider the lilies

Also mentioned in Mathew

Luke 12:27–28 ESV

27 Consider the lilies, 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. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Luke 12:24 ESV

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

to consider v. — to give careful thought or consideration to something.

ponder, think do not do so causally but think deeply, and consider the meaning this requires thinking skills and health. not just logic, but understanding about various things.

do you take the time to do this? or are we devoting to much time to entertainment and social media, or goofing off and hanging out.

How long would it take you looking at a lilies or raven before you would realize what this means in relationship to God as a creator?

Perhaps your not thinking about God as a creator.

what does it mean that God created a universe so phenomenally big?

What does it mean that God made a world filled with so much beauty and ability for us to perceive it?

what does it mean that God has made so much complexity in the word?

What does it mean that god allows so much diversity in the world, but also that life must still follow a template?

I think there are many many powerful ways for us to connect with non Christians if we start to think and talk more like Jesus does, in relating moral teaching to the real world we can all observe.

therefore we should be looking and Creation and learning from Creation about creator.

God uses His creation to encourage us

God used a donkey once to speak to Balaam, Does God speak to us through nature in other ways like that for us today?

why cant he use every other part of creation to help guide us on the path?

Encouragement in Holland Concentration camp

Hiding place - a- watchmakers shop in Amsterdam to hid Jews on the way out natzi control. Her family was betrayed, and they were put in concentration camps.

they would line up at dawn int eh cold subjected to long periods of sanding and tourcher, and dispair.

one day that was particularly difficult, Corrie hear a skylark overhead.

Skylark - calling and above the skylark to the heavens.

bring her thoughts to a scripture…

Psalm 103:11 ESV

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

for several weeks the skylark appears each morning reminds them of God’s love when they most needed the encouragement, and learned the lesson God had for them.

It was the Heavenly Father of all creation. Who Spoke. to her.

As Corrie said… “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

My experience with Ferrets and cats.

Another story I like to tell and I think you have heard it recently…

St. Cuthbert & the Otters

Coldingham (today just across the Scottish border) was at one time home to a monastery for men and women. The Abbess was Ebbe, who as it happens was also a princess – a real historical fact. She invited Cuthbert to stay there for a few days.

IT was Cuthbert’s habit to walk alone down to the seashore after dark. Intrigued, one of the monks followed him at a discreet distance, hoping to see what it was that Cuthbert did at dead of night. From his hiding place he watched Cuthbert wade out into the slate-black sea until the waters reached his neck, and then begin to sing psalms, a performance which he kept up until dawn.1 The monk was still watching when back on the sands, Cuthbert became absorbed in prayer again. Suddenly, two otters scampered over to him and chafed his feet, numb with North Sea cold, and dried them with their fur. Cuthbert gave them his affectionate blessing, and they made off back to their homes. The monk-spy could barely collect sufficient wits to find his way back to the monastery. Next morning, after confessing the whole story to Cuthbert, he promised to tell no one until after Cuthbert’s death.

Down on the south coast, pagan communities regarded the sea as the realm of Wotan (Odin), god of death, and dared not even fish in it. See St Wilfrid and the Fishers of Men. Cuthbert’s night-time vigil would have appeared to them an act of reckless defiance, and the service of the otters supreme wizardry.

https://englishlanguageandhistory.com/?id=cuthbert-otters

God uses Creation to teach worship

Psalm 96:11-12 “11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy” uses creation to teach us of worship.

Psalm 66:4 “4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah”

Job 37:14-16 “14 “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? 16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,”

God is asking us to stop and consider the Creation of God.

Consider how great & amazing this field of study is. It is called Science, with specializations into ever conceivable aspect of creation.

God used the study of Creation to Bring Science

Caution: rabbit trail ahead…

Have you ever thought about the preconditions for science?

Many of the earliest scientists were Christians that were studying creation to learn more about the creator. They believed that God was a god of Order, and of consistency. They believed that God desired us to consider his wonderful works, and to learn from creation. It was out a strong Judeo Christian culture that the explosion of science took place.

The god of this world (Satan) want’s people to believe the lie that Christianity and science are at war with each other. There are may myths that the Church tried to stop science in various ways, and most of that is demonstrably fake news, spotlighting a few of the sad cases that do not reflect the pervasive normative view view that encouraged Christians to delve into the mysteries of Creation and make scientific discoveries.

Job 37:14 “14 “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.”

Prov 25:2 “2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”

Luke 12:24 “24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

The bible is not a science textbook, not should it be interpreted that way. It has many literary forms, and when interpreted with wisdom in context, I believe it is without error in all it teaches. The focus on the bible is on delivering a unified integrated message bout the Plan of Salvation in Jesus. Along the way however, it encourages us to discover the depths of creation as creation sings praises to the creator we also will be expanded in our knowledge and our praise of God.

Science to the degree it is grounded in truth, reinforces the Bible.

let me give you 2 examples… but there are so many…

For example we see that in amazing ways in Archeology, and how how patterns of evidence help prove the reality of the most fantastic stories of the bible. The Patterns of evidence series is a prime example of this! so excited bout the Mt Sinai Part2 this week! It proved the foundational stories of Moses and the Israelites.

Another part I find utterly amazing is the Creation story of the Bible. While the main thrust of the creation story is that

there was a beginning to the universe (it is not eternal)

God created the universe from nothing (Ex Nihilo)

Modern science has verified that the universe all matter and all energy came from a single moment and single point backing up the biblical story in these main points. (red shift, Background radiation, etc…)

This is significant because this scientific discovery validates the descriptions of the creation that are found in the Bible. At the same time they completely contradicts the religious claims of several Eastern religions like Taoism and certain forms of Hinduism that the world is divine and therefore eternal.

Christianity and Science are quite compatible.

This truth is revealed when you read and realize that many of the great scientists were very strong Christians. I could read off the long list I have here and science buffs would go crazy as they start to realize the magnitude of scientific discoveries that were made by Christians and Jews. Unlike what you are taught in schools very little of our science came from Islam, China or even ancient Greece. I am not discounting their accomplishments, for they have a number of good ones especially in math, but most of their natural philosophy proved inaccurate.

(https://biologos.org/articles/medieval-christianity-and-the-rise-of-modern-science)

STANLEY JAKI is a Benedictine priest and a distinguished physicist, who is famous for putting forth the theory that modern scientific inquiry only could have arisen within a Christian society.

Realizing that God of the Bible is reliable and changeless was critical to creating a foundation for scientific discovery. The one true God of the Bible is not capricious like the Olympians of ancient Greece or entirely beyond human comprehension, like Allah.

The Bible encouraged Christians that physical world should reflect the nature of the creator and Obey His commandments gave Christians good reason to believe that science was a practical venture; and would be rewarded by God. that the physical world would follow fixed laws that could be discovered.

Learning from the founders of Cosmology

One story that pulls this together is the study of Cosmology. I pick it up because of the mess that the demonic Left has made with this story and it needs to be corrected.

John Buridan in fourteenth-century secular cleric that chose not to enter a religious order felt free to bring theology into many physical questions. He was the first to consider that the Earth may rotate, rather than have the entire cosmos rotate around the earth. John Buridan published several thought experiments on this topic that were much later later taken up by Copernicus and Galileo.

Copernicus, of course, is famous for proposing that the earth rotates and orbits the sun. Copernicus was a respected Catholic canon and had good relations with the Catholic church throughout his lifetime. His paper on the solar system orbits was banned by the catholic church after his death for 200 years. The story is much more nuanced and complicated and also involves Martin Luther who voiced his personal opinion in opposition to Copernicus’ heliocentric solar system model in a dinner conversation, and his opinion was recorded, and then twisted and used to help ban Copernicus’ paper. The banning of papers and free thinking was contrary to the greater themes of the reformation that was placing the decisions in the hands of the people and stripping it out of the hands of the church.

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/did-the-reformers-reject-copernicus

Then Galileo, also a devout christian also covered John Buridan’s thought experiments in great deal in his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (for which he was put on trial by Pope Urban VIII).

One of the most notorious examples was the medieval Church’s condemnation of Galileo for his holding that the Earth moves around the sun rather than vice versa. On the basis of their misinterpretation of certain Bible passages like Ps. 93.1: “The Lord has established the world; it shall never be moved,” medieval theologians denied that the Earth moved. Scientific evidence eventually falsified this hypothesis, and the Church belatedly finally came to admit its mistake. - WIlliam Lane Craig

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/science-theology/what-is-the-relation-between-science-and-religion

SO Yes, there are cases were scientific discovery has met skepticism and been seen as a threat to aspects of the Churches teaching. But these were not the norm. In My opinion this failure of the church is caused by poor bible interpretation and teaching. For example: Psalm 93:1 “1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established(founded); it shall never be (re)moved.” read in proper poetic context is not attempting to define the physical orbits, but is referring to the idea that God’s power an authority is so strong, that no power other than God could destroy or remove the world.

This is a very important lesson for us, especially as we have our current debates on the length of a day in Genesis. I find that we must be careful not to read science into the text than is necessary for properly understanding the teaching of the text. THe Bible is not trying to be a science text book. Yet interestingly, we do find that science tends toward supporting the Bible in remarkable ways. At times it may look like it does not, but as we learn more we find that it is science was wrong, and is till being worked out. Science is never completely

A few of my favorite science stories

However, the other way around - is fascinating, studying the real world of creation will teach us about God and will only confirm what the bible teaches.

Favorite examples: Power of Ten

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0

that shows both the phenomenal size and and microscopic detail of our universe (as known in 1977). A breadth so amazing that we cannot help but stand in awe at the power and majesty of our God the engineer of all space, matter and time.

Another example: James Webb Space Telescope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC1-qgR7YO0

This telescope was deployed in 2021, and it is giving us an unprecedented view of space.

Giving us a more detail and look further and deeper then we have ever looked before. 33 billion light-years away. Because of the speed of light we are able to see a Galaxy at 2% of the current life of the universe. It’s goal to see how galaxies form at the dawn of time, at the “let there be light” moment.

Another example: The Truth Project: has an episode that shows the amazing blood clotting (Coagulation process) process and how unlikely it is that it could been formed by an evolutionary process that requires each change in the organism to have an interdependently beneficial value to the organism. I see people who like to mock this, but there appears to be no coherent defense that is not simply dodging the real thorny questions.

no you tube video… need to watch the Truth project - if you have not I feel it is probably “required” viewing for all Christians before they turn 21.

Satan’s Silencing of God’s Voice in Creation

as you would expect this voice of God is under attack by Satan.

Nature = The material world and its phenomena.

God’s creation = is what our lost world simply calls “nature”. It is a sad sad downgrade of important truth. Our culture now thinks Nature is nothing special, completely divorced from the thought of a creator.

Yet, when they correctly realize that there must be intelligence behind nature they then switch to the term “mother nature” either in joking jest of an atheist, or in reverence as a pantheist. it is soe common we who know better sip into their devious vocabulary.

Carl Sagan the late astronomer, once said, in TV show “Cosmos” "The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be." This quote has become a touchstone for nonbelievers, including atheists and agnostics, who believe that the universe is all there is.

A world without God is a world that arrives at a single philosophy that the world knows well. Paul mentioned it

1 Corinthians 15:32 ESV

32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Isiah mentioned it Isaiah 22:13

Isaiah 22:13 ESV

13 and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

What is left to call us to do noble things? Where is the pull upwards on man to aspire to more greater dignity and worth? Without God we are left along each of us in a mad dash to grabbing all the enjoyment we can before our bodies, these meat machines cease to function.

If enough people seek after their own pleasure their society will descend into chaos and madness, those that have power, make laws and command the weak to serve them. and they rule as Tyrants. might makes right. becomes the satanic rule of the land.

Satan is trying to steal away and silence this voice of God. The veil that Stan has pulled over our eyes and how he has stopped our hears to God’s voice through nature.

My personal Awe and wonder… AI

AI - Artificial intelligence is in the new allot, and it is a strange thing to bring up when preaching about God’s voice in nature. But it is often so valuable to learning and understanding to compare and contrast opposites.

I think how amazing AI is, how human Engineer have been working so hard these last 10 years to create AI systems… creating some pretty interesting advancements Like CHAT GPT, or text summarizes various articles found on the Internet into short synopsis.

Yet next to what God has done in creation it is is all nothing. Animal instincts programmed in genetic material, The technology of nature is so far beyond us.

Consider the Spider - and all its agility and fine tuning and programming… I am in Awe of God Jesus the creator that Great Engineer who designed all of this.

If we go to Mars and discovered a mechanical probe from an alien civilization that had the level of programming and sophistication to reproduce, and agility to navigate and survive - far beyond our civilizations capability- we would clearly assume we are not alone and there is another intelligence in the universe other than our own. Yet we look a God’s creation and say “random chance, trial and error, blah , blah , blah, hooey, goat pucky, etc… therefore evolution did it!” Oh lord pleas protect us against the utter stupidity and sheer ignorance of Evolution.

The theory of Evolution IMHO is utterly bankrupt and devoid of any serious consideration

Yet there is a deceptive veil over the eyes of so many intelligent people, this is a spiritual war, not just an educational one. We must pray against this blindness in our children everyone.

I can tell it is spiritual because

After getting baptized in the Holy Spirit - all of nature seamed more amazing.

Aurora borialis… he made that. he knew the it and gave it and its beatury , and when you see it for the first time in all the Gorly God gave it… you can almost hear him say your welcome… I did this for you.

12 inches from your brain to your heart… the Awe and wonder of God’s creation can do that in an instant.

Summary

As a human architect we can design a simple square building with a roof to house a meeting, or we can make a something grand and majestic like the cathedral that inspires awe, and causes people to look up to God.

When God designed this world, he did not cost cut, and prioritize the most utilitarian aniseptic design. Instead he built it in magnificent layers of Gradure and beuaty. Designed to get us to look up to God and to listen to what he would say to us. the Lessons are plenty and powerful.

THey may be one of the few ways left to reach the hearts of the LOST.

DO not discount the voice of God in nature.

So Keep listening, and Considering what he has made

Next week - the provenance of God. - How God has gone before us and prepared our way, and

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