DIVINE CREATION

“He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the heaven by His understanding” (Jer. 51:15 NKJV).

Here we have one of the greatest statements on creation, which actually is a repeat of Jer. 10:12. Unlike evolution which excluded God from creation, the “He” in our verse refers to God as the Creator. Thus we want to note seven aspects of Divine creation of this world.

Purpose – “Made.” This word involves doing something with a purpose or aim in mind. There was design and purpose in the creation. It was not a cosmic explosion.

Placing - “Established.” This word indicates putting something in place. It also means to maintain. God put the earth in place and maintains it.

Performing - “Stretched.” God simply stretched the sky around the earth. Only God could do something like that.

Power - “Power.” Great power was necessary to bring about the creation. But God is omnipotent and had adequate power to create the universe and put everything in its place.

Proficiency - “Wisdom.” This word involves skill. God was proficient in creation. His skill in making the universe is incomparable. No cosmic explosion could possible create the universe so skillfully.

Prudence - “Understanding.” This word refers to intelligence. A rational observation of the universe recognizes that great intelligence was required to make it. Only God has that kind of intelligence.

Parts - Three parts of the creation are listed. a) Home: God made the earth as well as other parts of the universe. b) Habitants: The word “world” has in its meaning the inhabitants. God created all the inhabitants of the earth. Evolution is not supported in the Scripture. c) Heavens: God put a sky around the world to make it habitable for living

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“All creation is meant to be a finger pointing us to ultimate glory, the only glory that can ever satisfy the human heart, the glory of God!”

Paul David Tripp (1950 - )

American Pastor, Theologian and Author

Word Study

Drag / seized

In Luke 8:29 we read, “For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness” (NKJV).

Drag / seized is the Greek word sunarpazō (συναρπάζω = soon-ar-pad'-zo). It is made up of two words: “sun” which means with, together, and “harpazō” which means to seize, rapture. Thus the word means to seize suddenly and violently, to grasp with great violence. All four occurrences in the New Testament carries the idea of force: a demon seizing a Gadarene man so violently that he broke the chains and fetters used to bind him (Luke 8:29); a mob seizing Stephen (Acts 6.12); a ship caught in a storm and forced off course (Acts 27.15); a rioting crowd in Ephesus seizing Paul’s companions (Acts 19:29).

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be highly exalted (Dan. 7:13-14)

New Testament Fulfillment – Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-11

Did You Know…

In the Bible it states that the Lord Jesus came to serve (Matt. 20:28).

Bible Quiz

Who was permitted to walk through a field or vineyard and gather what the farmer left behind after harvest time?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Book of Revelation, why did the New Jerusalem had no need of the sun or moon? “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Rev. 21:23).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Wonderful Counselor”

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” (Isa. 9:6).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is our defense attorney.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus Christ is our Wonderful Counselor before God. He comforts, consoles, and counsels us as our mediator and intercessor. As our Advocate before God, the Lord Jesus defends us like a lawyer before the bar of God’s justice, offering Himself as payment for our sins.

3. Related Titles – Advocate / Helper / Comforter (1 John 2:1; John 14:16); Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25); Mediator / Daysman / Intercessor (Job 9:33; 1 Tim. 2:5).

Did You Know – Christian History

Nicholas Ludwig, Count Zinzendorf, was born May 26, 1700 in Dresden, Germany. He was a German religious and social reformer, bishop of the Moravian Church, Christian mission pioneer and a major figure of 18th century Protestantism.

Zinzendorf was born into one of the noblest families of Europe. As a young man he struggled with his desire to study for the ministry and the expectation to fulfill his role as a Count. Influenced by his pietist grandmother, he sought to follow the Lord from his early childhood. His life-motto was: ‘I have one passion; it is Jesus, Jesus only.’

After finishing law school in 1719, Zinzendorf travelled to Europe, everywhere giving his attention to the condition of the Church and religious life. In Europe, Zinzendorf met with men distinguished for practical goodness and belonging to a variety of churches. He soon discovered one common thing, namely that true Christianity consisted in personal religion, or, as he expressed it in “Christianity of the heart.” He felt himself at home wherever he found personal faith, even of the most extreme sects.

Zinzendorf was also notable for providing shelter for the German-speaking Moravian exiles at Herrnhut. This settlement was influenced by Pietist ideas from his Lutheran faith. After the founding of Herrnhut, Zinzendorf was a shepherd to the believers there, stressing the importance of the church meetings and prayers. The corporate prayer of the saints developed into a burden to spread the gospel throughout the earth.

The Moravians were pioneers among modern missionaries. In 1731 Zinzendorf met Anthony Ulrich, a converted West Indies slave, and brought him to Herrnhut. Ulrich asked that the gospel be taken to his brother and sister who were slaves in St Thomas (USVI), where the church existed for whites only.

By 1735, twenty-nine missionaries had sailed for the West Indies, although only seven survived the first few months. In January 1736, John Wesley sailed to America in the company of Moravian missionaries. By 1742, seventy of the community of 600 had become missionaries and by 1747 they were working in 16 different mission fields.

Zinzendorf believed that religious truth could best be understood by the heart and that singing promoted such understanding. He wrote numerous hymns and litanies and prepared services for every possible occasion. Among his best-known hymns are “Jesus thy blood and righteousness” and “Thou whose all-searching sight.”

A Little Humor

An atheist scientist came to God and said, “We’ve figured out how to make a man without you.” God said, “OK, let me see you do it.” So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, “Oh, no you don’t. Get your own dirt.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Don’t spend the last half of your life regretting the first half”