Let’s talk about God. Let’s talk to God. Let’s talk for God.
And let’s try to understand what all that means and looks like.
For a few years now, I’ve had the idea in my mind to start a public square discussion series on things about God and the supernatural. Finally, I have bitten the bullet and started. I have booked a room at the local library for next Saturday, 25Feb23 to have an open discussion about God with any and all that care to show up. I’m going to have coffee, juice, water and sandwiches too. So anyone who just wants to come a eat and listen, that’s ok too.
Over time and especially over the last couple of months, I’ve been listening in the Spirit for stuff to talk about. The ideas I get I call “revelation”. If I’m driving and I get the ideas, it’s “Road Revelation”. If I’m walking down the sidewalk and I get it, I call it “Sidewalk Revelation”. If I’m in bed, it’s “Bed Revelation”. If I’m resting from work or on holiday it’s “R & R (Rest and Revelation). That’s all cute and amusing; but I’m dead serious. God will give us revelation at any time if we’re listening. And even if we’re not; but then we miss it. So it’s good to practice listening to God. You can ask Him to help you with this. He loves to do it.
When I get the revelation, I try to write it down. Lately, I’ve been using Microsoft OneNote on my phone. Then it’s in the cloud and I can pull it onto my computer and then onto this website. So, as a start, and because the first Let’s Talk About God meeting is coming up fast, I’ve dumped my unedited revelation thoughts below for open access. I suppose we could call them “Raw Revelation”. As I get time, I’ll organize and categorize them.
Raw Revelation
Becket Cooke: Text, taken out of context to be used as a pretext
Think about how God feels.
Is He sad sometimes? He was grieved⁷ for creating man in the days of Noah (Scripture ref: )
Contract vs Covenant
Difference (and similarities) between a contract and a covenant.
They both produce and end result (mariage produces offspring.
“I want Godly offspring”, says the Lord. Mal 2:15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Indignation of God
Psalm 119:53 NKJV
Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
Unity and all the riches of God
Colossians 2:2-3 NKJV
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Mike Bickle:
In chosing David, God chose a “man for Himself”.
In taking David from the shepherd’s field to be king over all Isreal twenty years later, God did it for Himself.
Book Suggestions:
If someone in a meeting wants a book to read suggestion , I might suggest The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom or Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxes because they both exemplify Christian living in adverse times. I would comment on Corrie’s refusal to be complicit in the assassination of an official by the Resistance; and Bonhoefer’s willingness to associate with a Hitler assassination conspiracy group. I tend to disagree with Bonhoeffer’s decision. E g: in scripture, David refused to kill Saul when he had the chance and it could have been logically justified since Saul was hunting him down to kill him with the assistance of 3000 trained troops. Also, Jesus did not side with the Zealots, His day’s equivalent of the WW2 German Resistance. Regardless, though, both Corrie and Dietrich were severely punished by the state Corrie and her whole family were sent to a concentration camp and Dietriche was hung.
In Corrie’s case, it is worth noting that her and her family’s resistance by hiding and saving jews from the holocaust was found out by the state because of the informance of neighbors. A similar situation happened in the same city, Amsterdam, to the Anne Franc family who were also hiding Jews Again, it was the neighbors who tipped off the government regarding their “illegal” activities. Regarding neighborly complicity with government tyranny, it’s instructive to note that Hitler did not get to power all by himself, but through the support of the voting majority of Germans. This tells us that “democracy” doesn’t necessarily lead to a good place. (Winston Churchill once said that: “democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” ) Further regarding neighborly complicity with Tyranny, Roman history tells us that the Roman government did not explicitly seek out Christians to persecute them. That would require to many resources. No, they waited on neighbors to bring offending Christians to their attention for prosecution. Jeshua warned of this:
Matthew 10:34-36 NIV
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— [36] a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.
A little-known fact regarding the hiding of Jews during WWII by the Francs and the Ten Boom’s: Number of Jews saved by the Francs: 1; number of Jews saved by the Ten Booms: 800+. Why: In 1838, Corrie’s grandfather (or great grandfather)?? Felt God wanted him to pray for Jerusalem and the Jews (Psa 122:6 NIV: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.) He established a family prayer time for the Jews and the family kept it up for 100 years until 1938 when it really mattered. When the crisis came, the Ten Booms were ready.
Individual Accountability to God:
Watching The Chosen season 3 last Wednesday, and the exchange between Gaius and Peter. Gaius kept saying: “You Jews …” On thinking on this, it struck me that spiritual accountability is not about the group but the individual. It’s more like “You yous think, say or do this or that.” Each of us will stand before the LORD alone. No friends, family or group members will be there with us. So we must make our own moral decisions with this in mind. It will be no good to say to the LORD, “Everyone did it.” Or “I was just following orders.” The last statement was the refrain of Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg trials. It did not save them from the gallows.
Jesus’ preferred title: Son of Man This is the “Son of Man” from Daniel chapter 7. It is the only place in the Old Testament that this title comes up with the particular meaning mean in this passage. Jesus used it continually and the Jews knew exactly what it meant. Jesus used it in his answer to the High Priest and this is what the killed Him for.
Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”
Mat 26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
Mat 26:66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
Mat 26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, …
The meaning of AMEN:
Amen is not just a neat ending to a prayer. Amen is a declaration meaning: I agree that what you just prayed will stand or will come to pass.
FAITH IS:
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 AMPC
Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Without faith you cannot please God.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Love vs Fear:
Perfect love casts out fear
Love opposes fear: “love of the challenge, love of the work, the pure joyous passion to take a shot at our dream and see if we can pull it off.” Steven Pressfield, Do the Work
1 John 4:17-19 NKJV
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. [19] We love Him because He first loved us.
Plateauing:
No plateauing in the Kingdom: strength to strength, faith to faith, glory to glory.
Rom 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Church in Hawaii: He’s got increase on His mind.
Fruit of the Spirit:
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Self control. The only kind of control allowed in the Kingdom
Does God have a Kingdom/regime etc
Supremacy of God: is He in total control. What about free will?
If God wants to do something on the planet and no one prays/agrees, does He still do it? Partnership God and men. I looked for a man ..
God commands us to command Him Isa45?
The protestant reformation: was it of God or of men? Ditto other revivals/breakthroughs like Azouza street, Asbury U. (currently in progress)
What did Jesus say about Himself
- I am doing the works that the Father has given me … John 5:36 NIV
- I am the bread of life. John 6:34-35 NIV
- I am the living bread that came down from heaven. John 6:51 NIV
- I am not here on my own authority. John 7:28 NIV
- I know Him (God the Father) because I am from him and he sent me. John 7:29 NIV
- I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. John 7:33 NIV
- You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come. John 7:34 NIV
- I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 NIV
- Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. John 8:14 NIV
- But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. John 8:16 NIV
- I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me. John 8:18 NIV
- I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come. John 8:21 NIV
- You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. John 8:23 NIV
- I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins. John 8:24 NIV
- When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. John 8:28 NIV
- I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. John 8:38 NIV
- Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? John 8:46 NIV
- I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. John 8:49 NIV
- I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. John 8:50 NIV
- “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 NIV
Mathematics of infinity:
1/1 = 1
1/2 = 0.5
1/5 = 0.2
1/10 = 0.1
1/100 = 0.01
1/1000 = 0.001
∞/1 = ∞
∞/2 = ∞
∞/5 = ∞
∞/10 = ∞
∞/100 = ∞
∞/1000 = ∞
∞/100,000,000,000 = ∞
God is infinite. You can’t have a piece of Him. You either have all of Him or none of Him.
Jesus referred to throughout scripture. (Content coming soon)
Protoevangelion:
Genesis 3:15 NIV
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Jesus and the Pharisies knew each other.
The priest who condemned Jesus to death were possibly the same ones who marveled at him in the temple when He was 12 years old.
Christianity’s litmus test:
1Jn 4:2 (NIV): This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
1Jn 4:3 (NIV): but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
23JAN23 FIREWALL PRAYER GROUP6AM
Step over the threshold. Own the Kingdom. Sit on the couch. The Kingdom living room is yours.
Joh 14:2 (KJV): In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:2 (NIV): My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
Joh 14:2 (NASB): “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
1FEB23
WILL GOD ALIGNE WITH A GOVERNMENT MAKING EVIL LAWS?
Psalm 94:20 NKJV
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
1FEB23 Genesis Thoughts:
In the beginning God … Gen 1:1 The bible does not argue for the existence of God. It starts right in describing His actions.
He created man in His image. Don’t mess with His image.
He created man male and female ie: 2 sexes only, binary, two. Get it? It’s not rocket surgery.
Man sinned: fell short of the glory of God: did not become the glorious being God intended, missed the mark: gave away his inheritance, his mandate his authority to a tyrant.
God promised a man who would take it back.
That involved chosing and developing a people group, a nation
That involved chosing a time and place
That involved the man following through on the actions legally required
The result involved making it possible for each individual to have access to the benefits of the legal action
The result needed to make a total nature change possible
The result needed to make the power available to live in the new nature.
Mini-histories of the Jews:
Find the places in scripture where mini-histories of the Jews are given
See Historical Summaries of Biblical History by W. Gordon Robinson pdf downloaded file on phone.
See the whole of Jewish history in one hour, by David Solomon. https://davidsolomon.online/learn/lectures/in-one-hour-series/the-whole-of-jewish-history-in-one-hour/
See Also: Jewish History in an Hour, David Myers, president & CEO of The Center for Jewish History.
4FEB23 GODVIEW: A God world view
Our world view affects everything downstream in our lives.
An example: If one thinks that God does not exist or that He is deficient in some way, then one might concluded that He doesn’t fully know what He’s doing. Perhaps it took Him by surprise that the earth would come to a place where there are now 8+ billion people on its surface drawing down on its resources and challenging it’s capacity to handle the results of their activities. Such a one might be disposed to fear catastrophe and out of that fear take drastic actions that actually create more problems than they solve.
Genesis 1 to 11, the basis of a God world view.
Ken Ham, Answers In Genesis
Watched two of his videos:
Why Gen Z is Different from Previous Generations
The #1 Mistake Christians Make when Discussing Abortion
Bought Ken Ham’s booke: The Lie
Also see: RightNowMedia: Jesus in All of Genesis.
5FEB23: GOD’S IF-THENs
Prov 2:1-9 If you seek wisdom, then you will understand the fear of the Lord.
2Chron 7:14 If my people …
Zechariah 1: Return to me and I will return to you.
Think about the flip side: if you don’t; then you won’t/God: if you don’t; then I won’t. This is the “what if” question.
Gen 4:7: If you do well, then you will be accepted; if you don’t do well, sin will get you!
6FEB23 GOD IS A PARADOX
Paradox:
Grahame Cooke:
Two conflicting truths in the same statement.
(Online Oxford Languages Dictionary)
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
“in a paradox, he has discovered that stepping back from his job has increased the rewards he gleans from it”
MeriamWebster
par·a·dox ˈper-ə-ˌdäks
ˈpa-rə-
1: one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
2a: a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
b: a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true
c: an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises
3: a tenet contrary to received opinion
The ancient Greeks were well aware that a paradox can take us outside our usual way of thinking. They combined the prefix para- (“beyond” or “outside of”) with the verb dokein (“to think”), forming paradoxos, an adjective meaning “contrary to expectation.” Latin speakers used that word as the basis for a noun paradoxum, which English speakers borrowed during the 1500s to create paradox.
Para-dokein: think outside the box.
A paradox is an invitation to rethink.
The Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook, of man’s vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God.
μετανοώ
metanoó
God Paradoxes:
God is a righteous judge who demands punishment for sin; but He’s a merciful savior who pays the penalty Himself.
Jesus is a lion and a lamb.
Engineering paradox:
8Feb23: In the pallet lock tests, we removed material in the pawl in order to strengthen the part.
In vine dressing:
we prune the vine to make it more fruitful.
11FEB23 Carter Conlon, Time Square Church: Lists several worldviews prevalent in America. A storm is coming. We must pick up Jesus’ world view.
11FEB23 WHAT!? Statements in Scripture
Genesis 4:7 NKJV
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” What? .. What does that mean?
This is also one of God’s IF-THEN statements.
GODVIEW Concepts: innocent shed blood has a voice
Genesis 4:10 NKJV
And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
The voice of the blood of babies cries out to God from the biological waste dumpsters behind the hospitals and abortion clinics!!
See video by Carter Conlon.
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