ENCOUNTERING THE GOD OF BLESSING - The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing. EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ. God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity. Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing! God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing. You can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him. - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” - Far too many people today think of God as a harsh, bitter old man who sits on a throne in a land far, far away, just waiting for an opportunity to judge some poor soul who has violated one of His commandments. But the true image of the God of Scripture is just the opposite. The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing. “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” John declared simply that “God is love,” and he maintained that without love it is impossible to know God. The apostle Paul encapsulated God’s “blessing” nature in these beautiful words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

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Encountering the God of Blessing

The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness - He’s the God of blessing 

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EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ. God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity. Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing! 

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God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing. Because of that, you can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him.

by John D. Garr

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

 

Far too many people today think of God as a harsh, bitter old man who sits on a throne in a land far, far away, just waiting for an opportunity to judge some poor soul who has violated one of His commandments.

But the true image of the God of Scripture is just the opposite.

The Almighty is portrayed in the Bible as a God of love, mercy, and kindness He’s the God of blessing.

King David said, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9).

 John declared simply that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and he maintained that without love it is impossible to know God.

The apostle Paul encapsulated God’s “blessing” nature in these beautiful words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

Instead of being promised just a few blessings, the Bible says EVERY spiritual blessing is available to us in Christ.

Reversing the Curse

However, there’s a problem. Even though blessing is implanted by our Heavenly Father into the very fiber of human existence, His Word warns against the curse and consequences of sin.

All men and women initially were slaves to sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12).

David lamented the human condition that had produced his unspeakable sins of murder and adultery: “I was born in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

Likewise, the apostle Paul described the pain of sin’s addiction: “The good that I will to do, I do not do: but the evil that I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19).

The record of human history is clear: “There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10).

Unless Jesus had died for us on the cross, the curse of sin could never have been lifted.

God’s Blessing Plan

God was not content to leave humanity in sin.

He refused to dwell on the “original sin” and focused on His own plan for humanity: “original blessing.”

Instead of seeking our condemnation, God “gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

To ensure the fulfillment of His original blessing to humanity, God was manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son (John 1:14) and offered Himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity (Ephesians 1:7).

Now all who come to faith in Jesus are delivered from the curse of sin, able to enter fully into their Heavenly Father’s blessing!

God has always been, and will always be, the God of blessing.

Because of that, you can be confident that “goodness and mercy” will follow you if you are following Him.

And because His blessings never come to an end, you will dwell in His house forever (Psalm 23:6).

Let the God of blessing show you His love and blessings today!

Dr. John D. Garr has served the Christian church as theologian, presbyter, and educator for over 40 years, including the past 15 years as Founder and President of Restoration Foundation, an Atlanta-based transdenominational, international, multi-ethnic networking organization focused on publishing and education. Learn more at hebraiccenter.org.

https://inspiration.org/christian-articles/encountering-the-god-of-blessing/

THE GLORIOUS PRESENCE OF GOD - 4 Ways To Experience The Glorious Presence of God Today - The presence of god isn’t weird - there will be times when it will be staggeringly supernatural. When God answers prayers in ways that are humanly impossible. When He absolutely levels you through a particular passage of Scripture. When another Christian has profound insight into your life. However, most of the time, our experience of God’s presence will be very “ordinary” - as if meeting with God is ordinary. This should be a profound encouragement to us. We don’t need to work ourselves up into an emotional state to experience God. We can experience the beautiful, glorious presence of God every single day - what a privilege - Depending on your background, that question may send you into a freak-out spiral or cause you to long for God in a deeper way. The reality is that when we talk about experiencing the presence of God, things can get real weird real fast. Suddenly, we’re in the realm of the subjective. Of feelings. Of supernatural experiences that go beyond the daily norm. Or are we? If you’ve been around the church for any length of time, you’ve probably encountered at least some skin-crawling weirdness around the subject of experiencing the presence of God. But I don’t think it has to be this way. I’m convinced that God wants us to truly experience his presence on a daily basis.

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The Glorious Presence of God

4 Ways To Experience The Glorious Presence of God Today

The presence of god isn’t weird - there will be times when it will be staggeringly supernatural. When God answers prayers in ways that are humanly impossible. When He absolutely levels you through a particular passage of Scripture. When another Christian has profound insight into your life. However, most of the time, our experience of God’s presence will be very “ordinary” - as if meeting with God is ordinary. This should be a profound encouragement to us. We don’t need to work ourselves up into an emotional state to experience God. We can experience the beautiful, glorious presence of God every single day - what a privilege

Stephen Altrogge

 

Question: should we actively seek to experience the presence of God on a daily basis?

Depending on your background, that question may send you into a freak-out spiral or cause you to long for God in a deeper way.

The reality is that when we talk about experiencing the presence of God, things can get real weird real fast.

Suddenly, we’re in the realm of the subjective. Of feelings. Of supernatural experiences that go beyond the daily norm.

Or are we?

If you’ve been around the church for any length of time, you’ve probably encountered at least some skin-crawling weirdness around the subject of experiencing the presence of God (see Benny Hinn, Toronto Revival, heavenly glitter, etc.).

But I don’t think it has to be this way.

In fact, as I read Scripture, I’m convinced that God wants us to truly experience his presence on a daily basis.

We just need to reshape the conversation regarding what it means to experience God’s presence.

With that mind, here are four simple, utterly ordinary, utterly profound ways we can enjoy the presence of God every day.

#1 – We Are Always In The Presence Of God

Let’s start with the most obvious one.

Because God is omnipresent, we are always in his presence.

Ponder that with me for a second and see if it doesn’t cause a shiver of delight to wrap around your spine.

Every second of every day, we truly are in the presence of God.

We don’t need to do any special rituals or make a pilgrimage to a holy city. No need to handle relics or offer prayers to the saints.

We always live Coram Deo – before the face of God.

But because we are in Christ, this reality goes even deeper. We are not just in the presence of God in the same way that the rest of creation is.

Rather, the presence of God has made his home in us. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us, and we truly are temples of God.

This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19:

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”

These are absolutely breathtaking words. God’s presence – the same presence that caused Isaiah to fall on his face in terror – is not out there somewhere.

If we are in Christ, the presence of God truly is within us, and we have access to this glorious presence at all times through Christ our mediator.

Isn’t this staggeringly good news?

The presence of God is not walled off by a massive curtain, not hidden away inside the Holy of Holies, accessible only by the High Priest once a year. The Holy Spirit has relocated and now dwells within.

We can commune with God and experience his presence in the car, on the subway, in our cubicle, at small group, and anywhere else.

The sweet, holy presence of God is always available to us, and we don’t need to use any manipulative “revival” techniques to access it.

#2 – We Experience The Presence of God Through Scripture

Just as the presence of God hovered over the waters in Genesis 1, so the presence of God hovers over the pages of Scripture.

The Bible is no ordinary book, no mere collection of words and pages.

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is alive:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

When we open the pages of Scripture, we are encountering the living, active, speaking God.

It is no safe thing to open up the Bible. You never know how God will meet you as you pore over the sacred text.

He may convict you of sin and move you to repentance.

He may strengthen and encourage you in the depths of your soul.

He may prompt you to pray for a struggling, straggling friend.

He may drive you to your knees in worship.

Every time we open the Bible, we are encountering the presence of God in a unique, powerful way.

We are foolish to try to experience the presence of God elsewhere if we’re not consistently immersing ourselves in the word of God.

#3 – We Experience The Presence Of God Through Prayer

Consider, for a moment, the glorious nature of prayer.

God, the creator of the universe, the King of Kings, the one who keeps planets in the proper orbit and atoms from splitting, wants us to request things of him.

It’s absolutely mind-boggling.

God wants us to open our hearts before him, to bring him our burdens, to request big, audacious things of him.

And this is not a mere cathartic exercise, like journaling or talking through problems with friends.

When we pray, God actually does stuff! The presence of God suddenly inhabits all the big and little details of our lives.

He lifts our burdens and gives us peace.

He empowers us to overcome our sin.

He heals the sick.

He saves the rebel and takes hold of the wanderer.

He provides for our needs.

When we pray, God takes action.

E.M. Bounds says:

Nothing is well done without prayer for the simple reason that it leaves God out of the account.

The reverse of that quote is also true.

When we pray, God is brought into the account, and when that happens, there’s no such thing as impossible.

When God enters the equation, the normal laws of nature go out the window.

If we want to experience the presence of God on a daily basis, it’s as simple as praying.

Isn’t that glorious?

Prayer is saying to God, “Please come and invade the details of my day. I’m not sufficient on my own for the day, but you are.”

#4 – We Experience The Presence Of God When We Fellowship With Christians

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

In other words, Jesus himself is uniquely present whenever Christians gather in his name.

Your small group meeting? Jesus is present.

The Sunday gathering? Jesus is present.

The women’s Bible study, youth group, corporate prayer night, or worship night? Jesus is present at those gatherings.

You and a friend getting coffee and then praying together? He’s there also.

I take Matthew 18:20 to mean that the presence of God manifests in a unique way when believers gather together.

In other words, we experience the presence of God in a way that we simply can’t when we’re by ourselves.

God does something special when we pray and sing and serve together. I think this is partially why the author of Hebrews says:

“… not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

The reason we shouldn’t neglect to meet together is that it is one of the ways God preserves us to the end.

As we encourage one another, we experience the presence of God in a particular, preserving way.

Talk about motivation to stay close to other Christians!

The Presence of God Isn’t Weird

As I write this, I’m reminded that experiencing the presence of God is never “weird”.

Don’t get me wrong, there will be times when it will be staggeringly supernatural.

When God answers prayers in ways that are humanly impossible.

When He absolutely levels you through a particular passage of Scripture.

When another Christian has profound insight into your life.

However, most of the time, our experience of God’s presence will be very “ordinary” (as if meeting with God is ordinary – you get the point).

This should be a profound encouragement to us. We don’t need to work ourselves up into an emotional state to experience God.

We don’t need to go to a conference or travel to a special meeting (not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that).

We can experience the beautiful, glorious presence of God every single day.

What a privilege.

 

The Blazing Center is the brainchild of me, Stephen Altrogge.

I’m married to Jen, and I have three kids. I know a lot about Star Wars, and I live in a van down by the river. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

There are a number of other authors who contribute as well, and without them, this blog would not be what it is. I’m grateful to them all.

https://theblazingcenter.com/2018/11/presence-of-god.html 

BE A MIGHTY WARRIOR FOR GOD - No one knew who Gideon was - he was just someone’s son. He was only known by his relationship with someone else. It’s like when no one knows who you are - nothing special. In Christ you are invincible. We aren’t defined by our past, our feelings, or even by what we’re doing right now. If God says it, it’s true! If you take hold of God’s strength, He sees you as a mighty warrior as well. God sends you and me to confront our problems and the issues that we think are too big for us. You will be a mighty warrior for God simply because He will be with you. When you take hold of that promise as a reality in your own life, you become a mighty warrior for God. The story of Gideon in the Bible shows you how you can be a might warrior for God. For years, the Midianites have been raiding the people of God, the Israelites. Every spring after the harvest, they would come in huge numbers, and steal all the crops. The Israelites had no military strength to resist the large armies of the Midianites, so they remained in hunger and misery. He is presented simply as the son of Joash. No one knew who Gideon was. He was just someone’s son. He was only known by his relationship with someone else. It’s like when no one knows who you are. Nothing special. Gideon is doing sneaking around, and if you look closely, you’ll see that he’s trying to hide the grain from the harvest.

 

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How You Can Be a Mighty Warrior for God

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No one knew who Gideon was - he was just someone’s son. He was only known by his relationship with someone else. It’s like when no one knows who you are - nothing special. In Christ you are invincible. We aren’t defined by our past, our feelings, or even by what we’re doing right now. If God says it, it’s true! No matter how much fear you might be feeling right now, if you take hold of God’s strength, He sees you as a mighty warrior as well. God sends you and me to confront our problems and the issues that we think are too big for us. You will be a mighty warrior for God simply because He will be with you. When you take hold of that promise as a reality in your own life, you become a mighty warrior for God.

Dr. Eliezer Gonzalez

The story of Gideon in the Bible shows you how you can be a might warrior for God.

The back-story is that for years, the Midianites have been raiding the people of God, the Israelites.

Every spring, after the harvest, they would come in huge numbers, and steal all the crops. 

The Israelites had no military strength to resist the large armies of the Midianites, so they remained in hunger and misery.

When we first meet him, in Judges 6, it’s not an auspicious introduction.

He is presented simply as the son of Joash. I guess that’s natural.

No one knew who Gideon was. He was just someone’s son. He was only known by his relationship with someone else.

It’s like when no one knows who you are. They only know you as someone’s wife, or someone’s husband, or someone’s daughter. Nothing special.

Also, when we first meet him, Gideon is doing something rather odd. He’s kind of sneaking around, and if you look closely, you’ll see that he’s trying to hide the grain from the harvest.

Now that’s not a promising start to being a mighty warrior for God: to be sneaking around and hiding, is it?

Fear is the unspoken cloud that too often holds us back from achieving great things, and Gideon was just like you and me.

However, it’s how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon that is interesting. He says to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior“ (verse 13).

What the angel of the Lord says seems to be completely opposite to Gideon’s actions.

Gideon, a mighty warrior? Hardly! And Gideon thinks so to, because he responds, with, “Pardon me…” (verse 13).

It’s almost as if Gideon looks around to see if there is a “mighty warrior” anywhere in sight, and then kind of says, “Excuse me. Are you talking to me?”

But instead of someone who is fearful, God sees a mighty warrior.

Gideon goes on to ask the angel of the Lord, … if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? (verse 13)

Gideon asks the “why” question that we often ask: “Why has this happened to me?”

But the angel of the Lord doesn’t answer the “why” question.

Instead, he answers the “who” question and the “how” question.

First the “who” question. The angel of the Lord says to Gideon, “I’m sending you” (verse 14, paraphrased).

Next the “how” question. The angel of the Lord says, “I will be with you” (verse 16).

In Christ you are invincible.

Here are the lessons from this story about how you can be a mighty warrior for God.

First of all, we have to learn to accept who God says we are.

We aren’t defined by our past, our feelings, or even by what we’re doing right now.

If God says it, it’s true! No matter how much fear you might be feeling right now, just like with Gideon, if you take hold of God’s strength, he sees you as a mighty warrior as well.

The angel of the Lord told Gideon that he was sending him.

In the same way, God sends you and me to confront our problems and the issues that we think are too big for us.

And the reason why you will overcome won’t be because within yourself you’re the strongest, most talented, or the bravest; not at all!

You will be a mighty warrior for God simply because he will be with you.

When you take hold of that promise as a reality in your own life, you become a mighty warrior for God.

In every situation, no matter how desperate it may seem, you will be invincible. – Eliezer Gonzalez

Dr Eliezer Gonzalez is simply passionate about the gospel. With a background in teaching and management, the Lord called him to the gospel ministry and set him on an academic path. As a result, Eliezer earned two Master’s degrees (in Theology and Early Christian History), and then a PhD in Early Christian History. Let him introduce himself to you here:His academic specialization is the early history of Christianity, and he was written prolifically in published books and in historical and theological academic journals. But don’t let that fool you! Eliezer Gonzalez communicates the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ in a powerful and simple way.Eliezer Gonzalez has presented the gospel publicly in many countries and in many different forums. He considers it a privilege to be able to do his bit so that the Word Spreads Fast. Eliezer is praying for millions upon millions of people to be in the Kingdom of God because of the ministry of Good News Unlimited. Our mission at Good News Unlimited is to spread the Word across the world through simple and powerful gospel content. GNU doesn’t represent a church; we simply represent the essential truth of the Gospel with no boundaries or limitations. 

The Word Spreads Fast, and so do we.Good News Unlimited is led by Eliezer Gonzalez, who communicates the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion and conviction. 

https://goodnewsunlimited.com/how-you-can-be-a-mighty-warrior-for-god/