This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of God’s ways. Bro. Leo dedicates the first few minutes to reminding all of us of the significance of Memorial Day and that we should take a few minutes on this day to thank God for all the brave souls that fought and died for our great Nation from the Revolutionary War through the present time.

The Bible is very specific in the comparison of our ways and God’s ways, therefore our perspective of God’s ways is very significant to our Christian walk.

God’s ways:

God’s ways are higher than our ways; higher in purpose, higher in knowledge, higher in meaning and higher in motive (Isa.55:8-9).  God’s plan gives us peace and an expected end (Jer.29:11, Rom.8:28).  God has a plan for everybody in every generation (Psa.33:11).  God knows more about us than we know about ourselves (Psa.139:6).  God has so many precious thoughts and plans for us that they can not all be counted (Psa.139:17-18).  God wants us to use His knowledge about ourselves (Psa.139:23).

Our Ways:

The word “devices” in Prov.19:21 is translated from the Hebrew root word “machin” which means cunning thoughts or plans.  Our plans tend to be self centered and short sided.  In Psa.56:8 the word “wondering” is translated from the Hebrew word “nûd” which means to travel about with no direction.  When we are not seeking God’s plan we are traveling about with no directions.

God’s Way:
God is for us and He has a perfect plan for us (Psa.56:9).

Illustration:
A few days before his birthday a boy and his father go into the local hardware store and the boy sees a pair of new bicycle handle bar grips.  The boy knew his family didn’t have much money, but the grips were fairly cheap so he asked his father if he could have those grips for his birthday.  The father told him no.  The boy was disappointed and pouted all the way home and was still pouting on his birthday.  On his birthday he walked into his house and found a brand new bicycle in the living room.  His father told him while they were in the hardware store he was talking to the owner about buying that bicycle and that’s why he wouldn’t buy the grips the boy wanted.

There are many things that we want and just have to have and think it is the best for us, but God knows better for us and we should be seeking His plan for us (2Cor.12:7-10).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psa 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Psa 139:18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Pro 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Psa 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Psa 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Psa 56:10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
Psa 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of God’s timing.  Over the last few weeks we have studied the significance of the Biblical  perspective of God, the importance of seeking God and His will as our first priority, but even with that Biblical knowledge we can still make two mistakes, 1) spiritual procrastination – putting off what His Holy Spirit is convicting us to do,  2) getting ahead of God – we tend to force the issue when we think God is moving too slow.

1. Spiritual procrastination
   a) we should not put off what we are being convicted to do (Heb. 3:7-8, 12-13, 15)

   b) God has everything timed for His purpose (Ecc. 3:1, 6, 4, 10-11)

2. Getting ahead of God
   a) God is consistent in all His promises in His timing not ours (2Pet. 3:9)

   b) When we feel like God isn’t acting fast enough or acting at all for us we should remember that He is always listening to our prayers and acting in our best interest in His time (1Pet. 3:12, Psa. 31:13)

   c) We need to trust God to take care of us and not get ahead of Him by attempting to do all the work ourselves (Exo. 14:13-14).

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Gen 6:5 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.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecc 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Ecc 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
Ecc 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Psa 31:13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psa 31:14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
Psa 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

This week Bro. Leo’s study takes us from the significance of the Biblical perspective of God to seeking God.

In Matt. 6:33 the word “seek” is translated from the Greek word “zēteō” which means to seek out diligently in order to obtain something, to place a priority on that which is sought.
Jesus is telling us in vs.33 to make God and His will our first priority.

Paul tells us in Rom. 3:9-12, 20 our ways and works are not righteous.  We should seek God by seeking Him (God Himself),  to seek His ways, to seek His righteousness, to seek His will, seek His plans for our life as our number one priority.  When we do this we are seeking a relationship with Jesus that we value greater than any other relationship we have.  That is what it means to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”.  If we do this “and all these things shall be added unto you”.

There are only two choices we have, we either “seek” God’s will and plan for us or we “seek” our own will and plan.  We have to turn away from our ways and plans in order to “seek” God’s ways and plans.

How many decisions have you made without first “seeking” God’s will?

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
Php 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

1Ch 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Psa 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psa 63:2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Psa 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Psa 63:4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psa 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
Psa 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Psa 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Psa 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

This week Bro. Leo continues our study of the significance of our perspective of God with part 2 of “SEE GOD AS GOD”.

Last week we seen through the Scriptures that God is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, instruction and counsel and He wants to appropriate that to us.  This week we study God’s strength and power and how He offers that strength and power to us also.

Isaiah 40:12, 18, 21-22, 25-28 describes the strength and power of God and compares that us by describing us as grasshoppers in comparison.

In John 1:1, 14, 2-3 we read that Jesus is the creation power of God.  And in Heb. 1:2-3, Col.1:16-17 we read that Jesus is still holding creation together.  The word “consist” in Col. 1:17 is translated from the Greek words “sunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi” which means to set up or place together orderly and to sustain.

In Zec. 4:6 we read that God’s strength and power is in His Spirit.  In 2Cor. 4:13-14, 16 we read that it is God’s Spirit that strengthens us to the point of enduring life’s trials.   Rom. 8:10-11 tells us that God’s Holy Spirit is in every believer.  We should pray for God to strengthen us daily (Eph. 3:14-16).

With the proper perspective of God’s power and strength and the knowledge that God wants to give that strength and power to us, we will walk through our daily struggles with the security of knowing we are not doing it under our own power but through the power of Jesus who not only created the world but is still holding the world together  (Eph. 1:16, 18-20,  Eph. 6:10,  Phil. 4:13).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Deu 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

This week Bro. Leo continues our study of the significance of our perspective of God.

In the Bible we are given several concepts of God.
1) Saviour
2) Judge
3) Tender Shephard
4) Consuming fire
5) Immense creator God
6) His voice calms the roaring sea and our hearts
7) His eyes see all things

There is an immensity of God that He appropriates to us.  Isa. 40:13-14, 21-22, 26 talks about how God designed creation.  We need to understand His design so that He can appropriate these things to us, 1) counselor 2) judgement 3) discernment 4) instructor 5) understanding.

God is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, instruction and counsel and He wants to appropriate that to us.  Prov. 3:5-8 tells us that God will direct our life if we allow Him to.  We allow Him to direct our life by seeking His counsel before we make a decision.  In Isa. 9:6 the word “counsellor” is translated from the Greek word “yâ‛ats” which means to advise or direct, to plan out with purpose and order.

When we have the correct perspective of God, we will seek God’s direction in every decision we make.  Anything less is sin, James 4:11-17.

In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus describes what happens when we exclude God from our decisions.  Notice that the “rich man” used the word “I” six times in this parable.  The number 6 represents man in the Bible and the number 7 represents the complete perfect number of God.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Jas 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.