1 John 4:19-21 (NIV) 19  We love because he first loved us. 20  Whoever claims to love God yet hates Summary This is now the fourth time we've turned to 1 John 4 this year ( including two days ago ),

God's ordinary means of grace ordinarily produce extraordinary people. 1 John 4:11-17 (NIV) 11  Dear

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV) 11  So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become

A good government paves the way for the Church. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV) 1:18  Timothy, my son, I am giving peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 

John's poetic style defines God's love and grace. 1 John 4:7-10 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one

Experience the power that has authority over nations and kingdoms. Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 3: The Written Word of God We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered by the will of men, but that holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit, as Peter says. Afterwards our God— because of the special care he has for us and our salvation— commanded his servants, the prophets and apostles, to commit this revealed Word to writing. He himself wrote with his own finger the two tables of the law. Therefore we call such writings holy and divine Scriptures. Summary "The word of the LORD came to me," writes Jeremiah. There's no indication as to what Jeremiah was doing when the LORD showed up, how God manifested Himself, or any other external detail; just that the LORD's word came. We do know that Jeremiah was young when this occurred, if only because Jeremiah tries to use his youth as an excuse and his inability to 'speak' as an out, although he seems to do quite well talking back to God! We don't have time to explore this rabbit trail today, but isn't it amazing how many people God personally shows up to, only to find that the first thing the chosen representative does is argue with Him regarding why God made a mistake in choosing them? That's humanity in a nutshell: arguing with God (which is exactly what the Hebrew word yiś·rā·ʾēl means). Of course the LORD didn't come to consult Jeremiah's opinion about the situation. Before Jeremiah's unfortunate response, God told him that Jeremiah's prophecy had been planned for long before he was even conceived. Lest you think that such pre-planning on God's part is only reserved for super important prophets like Jeremiah, re-read the opening verses Ephesians to be reminded that God says the same exact thing about you. God commissions Jeremiah, giving him authority "over the nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant." That's significant power! But God doesn't give Jeremiah vast sums of money or advanced armies with superior military tactics with which to wield this world-shaping control. God gives him something much more powerful: He gives Jeremiah His Word. Dig Deeper This is why we read last week that Paul calls the gospel the "power of God." It was the very same mighty word that God used to speak the entire universe into existence that He put into young Jeremiah's mouth. It's that same word that Jeremiah and so many other prophets would write down at God's command, preserving them for subsequent generations. This is the word that God places before you, neatly bound in sixty-six books, made complete and visible in the person and work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. God hasn't given you personal authority over the nations, but He has grafted you into the One to whom all authority has been given to (Matthew 28:18)! These words we implore you to read daily and hear proclaimed on the Lord's Day have tremendous power. The better you know them, the more confidently you can live in them, knowing no nation or kingdom can threaten you. "Do not be afraid of them," the LORD says to you, "for I am with you and will rescue you (v8)." AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God our Father, whose Word has all authority in heaven and on earth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the confidence to live by the power of God's Word rather than by the pathetic manipulations of society and your own excuses; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 1

However, verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:6 remind us that the foundation of a prayerful momentary sufferings pale in comparison to the eternal glory God has in store for His people (2 Cor. 4:

Jesus gives the deepest theological insights to people just like you. Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 1 We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God— eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good. Summary One of the beefiest books I have on my shelf is called Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof. It weighs in at nearly 1,100 pages of very small type, and as its title implies, it explains in significant detail what the Bible says about God. Yet, when it comes right down to it, Berkhof is forced to admit that "the Bible does not give us a definition of God." The Bible certainly explains quite a bit about God's attributes, character and the things He's done, but nowhere does it provide a stand alone description of exactly what God is. So when Jesus says in v24 that "God is spirit," it ought to get your attention. This is the fullest definition you'll find for God anywhere. Notice here exactly what Jesus said and what He didn't say. He didn't say that God is a spirit, He just said that God is spirit. This makes sense in light of the name God gave Himself: I AM. Just like He does with His other attributes, God defines that which He is. Dig Deeper The format in which Jesus explains what God is adds to our understanding. Jesus doesn't give a speech at a theological conference attended by religious elites, or package His explanation in an 1,100 page book, or even post a series of binge-worthy podcasts. It's not that those formats aren't good and even necessary things, it's just that the context of this conversation deepens the meaning of the one word definition Jesus gives of God. Jesus speaks these invaluable words to a fallen, broken, outcast woman - a Samaritan woman at that! And He does so right after calling her out for her sin and deception. Do you see what this means? It means that knowing God is not just a lofty ideal, attainable only by self righteous monks who climb the religious mountain, so to speak. Theology - knowing what God is and what He has done and is doing - is for common, ordinary, sinful folks; people just like you and me. Nor is theology an optional thing for Christians. You can't just hold onto the Bible's warm fuzzies like love, joy and peace without a firm grasp of the Bible's dogmatic claims. In fact, the very next thing that Jesus says here is that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and truth. The Christ has come - the one which this sinful woman knew would be able to explain everything to us (v25). He's given us His Word, that we might fully know Him and worship Him in that truth. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God, who is spirit; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for giving us the truth in His Word, and pray that you would know it well so you can fulfill your purpose of worshipping Him; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Mark 5

said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4