Acknowledging God pt. 2

Some may think acknowledging God is doing the basic things like thanking him for our food at mealtime or at nighttime before we go to bed and that is good but acknowledging God is deeper then that.   Acknowledging God is not patchy or a sporadic faith but a constant faith.  

When I was young I could recite my prayers, probably in my sleep, but I gave no thought to what I was actually saying.  “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for this food, Amen.”  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Amen.” 

Those prayers were good… simple… prayers but I must admit, I wasn’t genuinely acknowledging God most times I said them so they weren’t really prayers but just words.  At times they were just as necessary to my little mind as tying my shoes before heading outside to play or washing my hands before I ate…  They had no real significance. 

They were a routine task not a genuine conversation with the living, powerful, great, holy God.  Thank my parents and grandparents who prayed such prayers with me for God is good!  God is great!  And it was good to know (at least in my mind) there was a good and great God.  And growing up in some difficult times I needed a great and good God talk to. 

Later I would only go to him or acknowledge him when I found myself in some trial or difficult situation.  He would help me and I would go on with life as usual and forget many times to thank him.  As the word says, "Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good.  Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the LORD's majesty." (Isaiah 26:10)  This is about the same time I began to formulate who God was in my mind but God wasn’t GOD I prayed to as a little child but some false “god” I made up to justify my sinful actions and make myself feel good.

And just because I fooled myself into believing such a lie, it didn’t change the reality of who God really was and is.   God isn’t just love but also a just, righteous and Holy God who judges people and sends people to hell for believing such false ideas as I had of Him.  Who you believe God or god to be will determine how you act and live. 
  
Jesus said makes an illustration of those who believe (see) in God and those who believe (see) in some sort of other god that is man made or created in our mind to justify our sinful actions.   "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it bad, your body is filled with darkness.  Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.  If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light." Luke 11:34-36

A salad bar god or a buffet god of “our” choosing is a lie.  If GOD isn’t the GOD in the bible then it isn’t GOD… and I am not talking about some of God in the bible but all of God in the bible. If our "god" isn't the GOD in the bible then it does us no good in our life.  It's a lie! 

I did as people do today, “Yes they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.  So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired….” Romans 1:21-23

“When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds, and let them do things that should never be done.   Their lives because full over every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.   They were backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.   They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.  They refuse to understand, break promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.   They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.  And worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32

That is precisely what God did with me.  I had walked away from God for so long he allowed and watched me dig a deep dark hole I could not possibly get out of.  Some of us must learn the heard way.

People try everything in their human strength and might to climb out of the holes they dig but there isn’t some magic ladder or rope or trampoline to get them out of the hole they dig themselves into.    After they literally wear themselves out and seeing their life as worthless or meaningless God’s faithfulness is like stone monuments standing in bleak hard dry landscape of their mind.   

They have a choice.   To stay in that hole of death and decay (because of stubbornness and pride) not wanting God’s intervention or hand over their life to God where God takes it and restores it.  As the word says, “ When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their detestable idol worship.  And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them.   I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations.  Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.  But as for those who long for idols, I will repay them fully for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.”  Ezekiel 11:18-21

Yep the "god" I created in my head was an idol.  The idol I created in my head was made by my own foolishness, blindness, stubbornness and pride.  God, the one who was kind was the only one left to help me.  His kindness was the only thing left in my barren landscape of my life.  I had to turn to him.  I had to acknowledge the one true God- Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.  Thank God for his mercy and grace and goodness he did not only take my life but transformed it!   
If you think you’re too macho for God’s help you are only fooling yourself.   You are merely only breathing you are not living.  The things you fill your life with are worthless and false my friend.  And if you think you aren't worth saving think again.  God Himself came down from heaven and paid for our sins so we could approach his throne and be accepted by Him but it's a choice to accept Him or reject Him. 

Acknowledging God is a relationship and dependence on God of the bible, the creator of the heavens and earth.  (Genesis 1:1)  Acknowledging God is a commitment to God and it is the most important choice you will make everyday of your life.

I can have beliefs in something but it means nothing if that something isn’t true.  I can have religion but then it is just religion.   When God comes into your life you “know” it.

 CONDITIONAL

We are all called by God but not everyone comes.   
Jesus gave this story to illustrate this point.  "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.  When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that is was time for them to come.  But they all began making excuses.  One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out.  Another had just been married, so he said he couldn't come.  The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was angry and said, 'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.'  After the servant had done this, he replied. 'There is still room for more.'  So his master said. 'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.  For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.'"

Eternal life in heaven and living a life in the power of Jesus Christ is conditional on acknowledging God in your life.  

Making a difference in your family, friends, neighbors, community is conditional on acknowledging God.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

With all this extra worthlessness and falsehood negative “noise” of the political season, this is important to remember.   The candidates for President are not the ones who will make a difference for America (or in any other country for that matter).

Look what God says…  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 
Christians -the healing of our land is conditional on us seeking him, turning from our lack of conviction and walking in his ways.  It’s standing up to what is wrong and speaking out against what is wrong…. Of course if you don’t do it in love it is pointless and no value whatsoever. (Refer Corinthians 13, Colossians 3:12-14)

 CHANGE

We hear a lot of presidential candidates promises for “change” but no positive, meaningful and lasting change can happen unless God is in it and remains in it.  The same is true as individuals.

Meaningful lasting change in an individual happens when:
 1. We turn to God. (Give our life to God/ acknowledge God and he will meet us where we are at.  If you never acknowledge God then he can’t help you.)

2. Jesus becomes Lord and Savior of our life.  (We Receive God’s Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to read and understand the bible.  God teaches and matures us through his Holy Spirit as we continue to look to and acknowledge God in our life.)

3. We are changed from glory to glory by God. (We continue to acknowledge God. We fuel up and draw from God’s goodness and godliness everyday and throughout the day.   The Holy Spirit enables us to change, receive spiritual nourishment, grow, mature and live in the power of Christ Jesus.)  “And all of us have had the veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.  And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.”  2 Corinthians 3:18

BUT if there is no acknowledgement of God then there is only spiritual decay and death.  No building maturing of faith can take place without the continual acknowledgment of God.

Jesus says: “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.  But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away” Matthew 25:29

“But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted.  They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.”  2 Peter 1:9

“But you, dear friend, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith.  And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20

“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales.  Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.  Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. “ 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Words are just words until there is action.  Words are deemed foolishness unless there is godly action stemmed by the individual acknowledging God... God is working in that person.  That person is dependent upon God/Christ.  Which gives them the conviction to live a godly and holy life.

God isn’t just looking for words but action.  He is looking for his people to turn to him and trust in him.  

It may seem that Christians are a small minority but they are not.  73% of Americans consider themselves “Christians”.   Yes God has preserved thousands of others in his name.  You and they are a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.   But you can't glow and grow unless you acknowledge God -not just in your head but also in your heart.    

But that being said, let us say we as Christians were a small minority, God would still work on our behalf for he is faithful to those who are faithful to him.  God would expect us to continue in faith even when things looked dismal and grim.   Look at all the times in the Old Testament where things looked dismal and grim and God did awesome and wonderful works.  He would confuse the enemy to turn on themselves.   He protected Daniel in the lion’s den.  He protected and was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the raging and burning furnace when they wouldn’t serve other gods and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar set up.   “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3  

No positive “Godly” change can happen unless God’s people who are “Christians or Jewish Christian,” humble themselves and pray and seek his face and turn from their wicked ways, then God says he will hear us and forgive us and heal our land.

Change is conditional on our faithfulness.  The world may never change but those in the world who are touched by God do change.  They make a difference in those around them as they acknowledge God. 

We are responsible.  We are accountable.   We have the choice.  The church has not stood up in the Holy Spirit and spoke and lived the truth to the world because they have forgotten who God is…  they have not acknowledge Him as he really is.    We have not spoken the truth to our neighbor so how do we expect them to behave?  We have feared mere men and compromised in the things of the world so how is a person to see us anything different then the rest of the world?     

God is not in the “religious” church.  He has walked through those types of churches, just read in the book of Revelation and see what he says.   He is in the body of Christ that seeks his face to meet every need and obeys him through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.   He is in the church that lives “in” their salvation, which is Christ Jesus.   He is not in the church that just has a word of God only in the mind for it is only on their lips not their heart.  However he is in the church and individual that has and wants the word of God living and growing in their heart.

Judgment awaits a countries’ people that has given themselves to the ethics, morality, understanding and captivity of the world and not to the captivity of Christ. 

The world’s captivity is made and created by the foolishness, falsehood and worthless ideals of man.  You can’t take what the world values with you when you die and you waste precious time and resources to acquire and trying to acquire it only to be a slave to what you have and want to have.  And even then once you acquire those things you are still unsatisfied.

Ask a rich man who has had power, popularity, possessions, what did he want to gain or attain through his worldly wealth?   The world continually cheats him and makes him thirsty for peace and joy.   Everything he acquires in hopes to make his soul rich seems to slip through his fingers.  His life is empty.   He is the poorest of men and those seen as poor but have faith in God are the richest of men.

Don’t be fooled by those who preach prosperity of material wealth.

Jesus disciplines the church of Laodicea by saying, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold.  I wish you were one or the other!   But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!  You say, ‘I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don’t need a thing!’  And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and power and blind and naked.  I advise you to buy gold from me- gold that has been purified by fire.  Then you will be rich.  And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness.   And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.  Be diligent and turn from your indifference.” Revelation 3:17-19

God’s prosperity is priceless and pure.  In and under God, one is constantly clothed in the prosperity of peace, love, hope, joy, grace, mercy, humility, kindness, gentleness, patience and self-control.   Remember what Jesus said about the birds and lilies.   Matthew 6:26-33.  

 What do we Christians convey?  How is God represented?  Is he a God that satisfies or not?  Is he a God that approves of coveting?  Where is the emphasis being put?  Is there a genuine acknowledgment of God for godly change and growth in our lives to reach and touch others or are we being pulled and becoming captives to the world?

No wonder why word of God says,  “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin first among God’s own children.   And if even we Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed God’s Good News?  And ‘If the righteous are barely saved, what chance will the godless and sinners have?’  1 Peter 4:17-18

Has Jesus returned yet?  No.  So why do you quit working the soil looking at only the conditions when there is still more to do in yourselves and to encourage others.   It comes down to acknowledging God.

God is greater then the conditions....

Hope this has blessed you.