Knowing God serviced by Rev. E. Anderson

November 13, 2007 at 9:42 pm (Knowing God)

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Rev. E. Anderson

A WORTHY UNDERSTANDING

Jeremiah 1 

This prophet, Jeremiah, was certainly a man that came to a worthy knowledge and understanding of the Lord over quite a period of years. He was to discover the tremendous worth of that knowledge as he conducted a powerful and prophetic ministry during a long stretch of years and reigns of kings and a lot of changing conditions. He was to find out that such knowledge was able to sustain and strengthen him in order that he might achieve his true destiny. He came to value the Lord in so many ways and in so many circumstances. He had a worthy understanding of:

       1/.  THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD - 1: 5 

From the outset of his divine call, he is to be made aware of the fact that before his birth the Lord both foreknew him and the mission he had to fulfil in his life. His appearance was no accident nor was his major role as a divine messenger and this placed a great worth upon him and his task. He was lifted out of the vacuum of human speculation and made conscious of the truth that he was where he was and who he was because of divine ordination.

       2/.  THE DIVINE VOCATION RECEIVED FROM GOD - 1: 5   

e was to be ever sensitive to the conviction that he was to be the mouthpiece of God and his reason for being was to be a servant of the divine word. His main line in life was to know God and to hear what he had to say and then to pass it on through His inspiration and direction. The book of Jeremiah reveals how well he did this job and how he succeeded in spite of major setbacks and difficulties. A call was given by God, to this man in relation to being His messenger, and he was to be responsible to God in the discharging of the call in a worthy and honourable fashion.

       3/. GOD’S ABILITY TO AID IN  ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK 1: 6-10 

There was an immediate sense of impotency when this was voiced to him to the Lord - v6 but he receives a word of divine knowledge immediately from the Lord to say that this was no problem. God not only gave a word, he did something about it - v9 and assured him he would become fearless and undaunted. The Lord would place such strength and might within him that all opposition would fade and fall before him. Events and experience later proves this - vv18,19.

       4/. THE REVELATION THAT WOULD COME FROM GOD TO COMMUNICATE IN HIS DAY - 1: 10-16 

All kinds of information and prophecies would be forthcoming and he would have to act in the role as forth-teller and foreteller. To all kinds of people and situations he would have to express God’s mind and will.

       5/.  THE SUPREMACY OF GOD IN ALL THINGS - 32: 17-23 

This would be the knowledge that would stand out and assure him always. 

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Word for the Week by Rev. Anderson

November 13, 2007 at 9:36 pm (Word for the Week)

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Rev. E. Anderson

PROVIDENCE          This word is simply defined as ‘God’s foreseeing protection and care of His creatures or the foresight or care exercised by a person in the management of his affairs’. So from a divine and human angle it is note as a wise, planning of care and provision that is appropriate to needs as they occur within the context of life. This is certainly something that each person requires in the outworking of life on a daily basis. 

Other words that are related are provide, provision, provident, providential, and of course, provider. It is assuring to know that there can be a divine providence that is charge of our lives thus giving a sense of peace and security. 

Other words that are related are provide, provision, provident, providential, and of course, provider. It is assuring to know that there can be a divine providence that is charge of our lives thus giving a sense of peace and security. 

It was Abraham who was who was to discover and know this particular feature guiding and governing his affairs. He received a choice assurance from the Lord in this direction. In a special revelation, the Lord said to him distinctly on one occasion: ‘I am Almighty God’ – Genesis 17: 1. It was a divine title that described a special aspect of God. The name is ‘El Shaddai which means ‘the many breasted God’.   

John Wesley interprets this name as ‘I am God All-sufficient.  The God with whom we have to do, is self-sufficient; he hath every thing, and he needs not any thing.  And he is enough to us, if we be in covenant with him; we have all in him, and we have enough in him; enough to satisfy our most enlarged desires; enough to supply the defect of every thing else, and to secure us happiness for our immortal souls. 

The Lord is not only self and all sufficient in Himself, He is able without difficulty to plan, prepare and provide without any difficulty for all of His creatures and for the whole universe at large. He is infinite resources and infinite wisdom to see that those resources are made available at the right time to all. There is no problem with Him on this front. The difficulty is with people to grasp and appropriate the truth and reality of His kind providence. David had no such difficulty or crisis on this point. He simply affirmed that ‘the Lord was His Shepherd; I shall not want’ – Psalm 23: 1. He knew that every resource for life and need was to be noted in the One that was over his life and affairs. Whatever his deep requirement was immediate or in the future would be supplied by Him who wisely oversaw everything.

This thought of wise management for the future is reflected in the life and work of Joseph. He foresaw a seven year programme of blessing and then a seven year period of dearth. In wisdom there had to be prudent foresight so that then latter period could be effectively dealt with.  The Lord foresees all the future of all those who pin their faith in Him. He apprehends that all that is to be in terms of growth and plenitude and the opposite, too. All who look to Him will find He is All-sufficient in every circumstance, even as Elijah discovered at Cherith and Zarephath – 1 Kings 17. 

Christ sought to convey and teach His disciples that they needed to know and live under the providential wing of the Father’s care. In His Sermon on the Mount He really seeks to press this point home. Those who believe in and follow Him do not need to live in anxiety or fretfulness but to be at peace knowing the heavenly Father will take care and wholly provide in all situations. He states:  ‘Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’  See the rest of the context. 

Paul finally leaves the believers at Philippi with this great promise – ‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ – Philippians 4: 19. He is enough and more than enough to meet you every day and all the way. 

‘I firmly believe in Divine Providence.  Without belief in Providence I think I should go crazy.  Without God the world would be a maze without a clue’ – Wilson             

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