the-harbor-church

Believing Jesus

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 22:43:40 GMT

Believing Jesus

The Just God

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:21:20 GMT

The Just God

The Grieving God

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 04:48:02 GMT

The Grieving God

God is Powerful Devotional

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 04:25:44 GMT

God is Powerful Devotional

God is Trinity

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:38:51 GMT

God is Trinity

Genesis 1:26 - "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground'” (NIV).

Matthew 28:19 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (NIV).

Jn 14:16-17 - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (NIV).

John 14:23 - "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him'" (NIV).

2 Corinthians 13:14 - "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (NIV).

The Trinity - one of the great truths of God's nature. A concept difficult to fully comprehend, yet so clearly laid out for us in Scripture. There is one God (Deut. 6:4). And there are three persons of the Godhead - Father (1 Tim. 1:17), Son (John 8:58), and Holy Spirit (John 14:15-27). The Bible does not give us a systematic explanation of the Trinity and does not even mention the word "Trinity" in its pages. Yet, this truth clearly emerges from His Word - one God in three Persons.

Perhaps the best way to understand this truth is in the relational nature of God. Before the creation of the world, the Godhead existed. Hebrews 3:1-3 tells us that the Father created the universe through His Son. And we know from Genesis 1:2 that "the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." All three were present before our time began. What were they doing? Loving each other. In John 14 we read about the intertwining relationship of love in the Godhead. God is fully satisfied in Himself. There is a relationship of incredible dependence and intimacy between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We could view their relationship like a top that you spin on a table. This would be a three-sided (triangular) top. When it is at rest on the table, you can see the individual three sides. But, when you spin the top, you only see one top. The spinning of the top is like the fast interchange of love between the members of the Godhead. The love and dependence is so fast ("the speed of God," faster than the speed light or sound) and complete that we experience the one, true God. Admittedly, this illustration of the Trinity has its limitations. But, it is most helpful to remember that God is relational by nature. This relationship is the core meaning of the Trinity.

For More Study

Gen. 1:26; 3:5, 22; 11:7
Psa. 100:3
Isa. 6:8
John 1:1, 14; 14-16

Thoughts and Questions for Application

The Trinity is all about the family of God. Do you realise that the Father has adopted you into His family (Eph 1:5)? You are never alone. Father, Son and Holy Spirit surround you.
Which member of the Godhead do you feel least connected to or know least about?
How can your relationships better reflect the relationships between Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Memorization

John 14:23 - "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him'" (NIV).

God is Present

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:35:52 GMT

God is Present

Jeremiah 23:24 - "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord" (NIV).

Psalm 139:7-10 - Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (NIV).

God is spirit (John 4:24) and is able to be everywhere at one time. He is not just an atmosphere, but rather a personal God that has the unique capability of being ever-present. This is how He can truly promise, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5). We can pray with confidence knowing that God is working in another location according to our prayers. We can sleep with confidence knowing that He will never leave our side. God remains with us in our times of great devotion and in our times of sin. He was present with Adam and Eve in the garden in the intimate moments of fellowship (Gen. 2:15-25) and in their rebellion (Gen. 3:8-9). God has time for us. He's never too busy for us. And He is also with those that we care about and those we pray for. In fact, He fills the heavens and the earth. Nothing escapes His gaze. He sees everything, because He is everywhere at once.

For More Study

Psalm 139
John 16:12-33

Thoughts and Questions for Application

Have you ever thought you could hide from God? Why do we have this impulse to hide, like Adam and Eve?
Is the ever-present nature of God a comfort to you, or does it bring fear? Why?
God wants us to experience His presence everywhere we are. He would love for us to acknowledge Him throughout our day. Practice relating with Him as you would a normal person. Remember - He's not leaving your side.

Memorization

Hebrews 13:5-6 - "...because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (NIV).

God is All-Knowing

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 04:06:00 GMT

God is All-Knowing

Psalms 147:5 - "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit" (NIV).

Rom 11:33-34 - "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?'” (NIV).

1 John 3:20 - "For God is greater than our hearts and knows everything" (NIV).
You can't outsmart God. A battle of wits with Him will always be a no contest (Job 38:1-3). Yet, we still try to prove that our knowledge and understanding can match His own. When we don't listen to God's voice or seek His wisdom, we reveal our unbelief in His all-knowing capability. The Bible tells us that God's understanding has no limit and that He knows everything. This should bring great comfort to us. We often fear what we don't know. But, the all-knowing God can give us the right direction every time. He also gives us hope. There is no problem that God cannot solve. We simply need to ask of Him with faith, and He will give His wisdom to us (James 1:5-6). God has such riches of wisdom and knowledge to share with us. If we would only but listen.

For More Study

Job 36:22-39:30
Isa. 40:27-31
1 Cor. 1:18-2:6

Thoughts and Questions for Application

In which area of your life do you tend to rely on your own wisdom?
How could you show God that you believe He is all-knowing?
How much time do you spend listening to His knowledge and wisdom each day? He has so much to share...

Memorization

James 1:5-6 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (NIV).

God is the Creator

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 04:01:59 GMT

God is the Creator

Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (NIV).

Hebrews 11:3 - “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (NIV).

There is no one like God. He created the universe out of nothing. Our greatest ideas and inventions always use something that has already been created. The creators of electricity and the telephone used wires and magnets to produce their incredible inventions. The creators of the microchip used sand that was created by God’s command. God created, sustains His creation and continues to create (Isa. 46:4; 65:17; Eph. 2:15; Col. 1:17). He can’t be stopped. God is always at His work, bringing life into this fallen world (John 5:17, 21). And as the Father is creative in His nature, we who are made in His image also have in-built creativity. We can co-create with God (John 5:17-21). We are creative beings like our Father. This sets us apart, makes us distinct. We can never create out of nothing. But, we can follow Jesus, as He says, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).

For more study

Genesis 1:1-2:3
Job 38-40:1
Isaiah 40
Revelation 21

Thoughts and Questions for Application

Name one part of God’s creation that is your favorite. Why? Take some time to thank God for His amazing creativity and creation.
Are you anxious or afraid? God never runs into a problem He can’t solve. Will you trust Him as the Creator God who still creates solutions for your life?
Where is the Father working in your life today? Where can you join Him?

Memorization

Hebrews 11:3 - “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (NIV).

God is Powerful

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:58:25 GMT

God is Powerful

Jeremiah 32:17 - “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you" (NIV).

Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (NIV).

God is omnipotent, all-powerful. Nothing is too difficult for Him. God makes this abundantly clear to Job when He asks, "Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up [God’s] dominion over the earth? (Job 38:32-33) NIV. Job gets a revelation of the power of God and completely humbles himself. The power of God knows no limits. He has power over the vast stretches of the universe and power over the cells in your body. He shows His power in the rising of the sun each day. He showed His power in the healing of my fatal kidney sickness when I was six years old. God shows His power in the mending of relationships. He has power over every facet of every detail in this universe. And His power is not even confined to our known universe. How great is our God!

For More Study

Job 40-42:6
Psalm 18

Thoughts and Questions for Application

Do you ever find that you argue with God or accuse Him? Re-read Job 40.
Do you ever question God's power (i.e. think you need to be God - be in control)? See Job 42:1-6.
How have you seen God's power displayed in your life? Take time to remember and thank Him for His power.

Memorization

Jeremiah 32:17 - “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you" (NIV).

The Ever-Living God Devotional

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 02:23:51 GMT

The Ever-Living God Devotional

God is Timeless

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:07:31 GMT

God is Timeless

Isaiah 46:10 - "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please" (NIV).

1 Tim. 1:17 - "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" (NIV).

Rev 1:17-18 - "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (NIV).

As humans, we understand time very well. Birth, death, day, night, deadlines and break times. Some cultures are ruled by schedules and time clocks. Not so with God. He is outside our timeline. He has always existed and always will exist. No one created Him. He is "before all things" (Col. 1:17). And He will have no end (Psa. 90:2). God calls Himself the "I Am" - that is, the eternally existing One (Exo. 3:14; John 8:58). It's hard to picture a God who is above and beyond our time. And yet, Jesus humbly entered into our timeline, experiencing the limitations that comes with it. He patiently showed us what the Father is like, as He walked with us day after day. There is no God like our God - the One who holds our timeline in His hands and also enters into the moments of our lives. The One who is called "the First and the Last" places His right hand on me and says, "Do not be afraid" (Rev. 1:18). We can trust God with our past, present and future.

For More Study

Psalm 90
Isaiah 46
Colossians 1:15-20
Revelation 21-22

Thoughts and Questions for Application

Do you ever think you know better than God? How will knowing that God is timeless change the way you relate to Him?
If God is holding your future in His hands, how important and wise would it be to listen to His voice today so you can be guided into the future that He is holding?
Is God calling you to lay down anxiety that is based on a deep desire to predict and control the future?
Meditate on the truth that we will reign with Jesus forever and ever (Rev. 22:5).

Memorization

Rev 1:17-18 - "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (NIV).

Desire for God Devotional

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 22:46:09 GMT

Desire for God Devotional

Desire for God

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 21:05:54 GMT

Desire for God

Many of us say, "I want to know God. I want to be closer to God. I want to experience His presence. And we live our lives… sometimes getting clearer glimpses of God in different experiences, but most often just wondering when we will grow closer to Him. We keep wondering, "When will I truly know God… experience real intimacy with Him." Perhaps, we resign ourselves to wait for heaven.

Do you know that God lays out a pathway for us to know Him more? In the Gospel of Mark we read of a large crowd following Jesus. They were pressing in to see Jesus do another miracle - to heal a girl who was almost dead. Suddenly, Jesus stopped in the midst of the crowd.

"Who touched my clothes?" Jesus asked.

"You're in a crowd. We're all touching you," the disciples answered.

"No, this touch was different. I felt power go out of me."

The woman - now healed - came trembling before Jesus.

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace," Jesus said.

It was the woman's humility - her recognition of need, and her hunger to meet Jesus - that she would reach out her hand in the midst of a crowd, while Jesus was on his way to heal someone else - that made the difference. The woman's faith, shown by her humility and hunger, brought about the life-changing encounter with God. The crowd that was pressed up against Jesus didn't know God to that depth. It was the faith of the woman that resulted in a deeper knowledge of God.

In the same way, there was a blind man - Blind Bartimaeus of Mark 10 - who was on the side of the road as Jesus passed by.

When the blind man heard it was dJesus passing by, he called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."

The crowd told the blind man to be quiet. In other words, they were saying, "Stop bothering Jesus. He's too important for you." But the man did not quit. He called out all the louder.

Jesus stopped and responded to the man's hunger - to his desperation. Jesus called the man over and asked what he wanted. The blind man said, "Lord, I want to see."

Jesus said, "Go, your faith has healed you."

The man received his sight. He met and experienced God because of his faith - shown by his humility and hunger.

Will you reach out to God in humility today? Will you call out in desperation, in hunger to experience His touch and power in your life? Your faith matters. You can be on the pathway of experiencing God today.