Meeting for Turnhout Congregation, Belgium
Saturday, 25 March 2006

Introduction:

Biblical history shows us that God is aware of what goes here on earth.

It reveals: 
…a God who cares
…a God who interacts
…a God who plans
…a God who keeps his promises

What is "your" view of God? Picture of God?
-Eternal creator, the almighty one?
-I fear we often think of God in "past tense"…. That is WHAT HE HAS DONE!
-Understandable because he has done much!
-However God is a present tense God, a God who works today!

I. IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

Since the beginning of time God has always wanted the best for mankind.
This can be seen in Gods interactions with man in the Old Testament.

Genesis 1.26-31 The creation of Man.

+ A being in Gods own image. v. 26
+ A being that was given dominion. V.26
+ A being in the form of male and female (not alone) v. 27.
+ A being given the ability to be fruitful and fill the earth and to subdue the earth v. 28
+ A being that was good! V. 31
+ A being that was given choices Gen. 2.16-18 & Gen. 3.1-12

From this story we learn: God has always wanted to best for us!
Something else we learn from the story is:
ØWe need God always to lead, strengthen, correct us and give us opportunities.
ØWe never outgrow God.

Psalms 23.1-6 God as the Shepherd of man.

Lord – the shepherd of his people.
Conceipt is once one belongs to God there is still a need for him in our lives.
There is still much he does and can do for us, and WANTS to do for us.

Psalms 80.1 Gods relationship to Israel …

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel. You who lead Joseph like a flock, you who dwell between the cherubim shine forth!"

Admonition: Numbers 27-17 "Be not as sheep which have no shepherd….."

John 10.1-16 Jesus as the Shepherd in the N.T.

Jesus was sent by the Father to shepherd the people of God.
Matthew 25.32 In the Judgement Jesus portrayed as a shepherd.
Matthew 26.31 Relationship to his disciples. Strike the shepherd, flock will scatter.
Hebrew 13.20 Jesus called the great shepherd of the sheep.
1.Peter 5.4 The chief shepherd appears, crown of glory will be given.

The picture of a Shepherd is a good basis for us to start our lesson. We need to understand Gods relationship 
to his people. In such a relationship one gains the picture of a caring and compassionate God, a God that is 
near, a God that is aware, a God that is active and concern for the well being of his people.

II. WHAT GOD HAS DONE SO WE MIGHT BECOME HIS SHEEP.

Ephesians 2.1-10

 He made us alive. V. 1
 We were dead in trespasses and sin.
 Gods being a merciful and loving God made us alive with Christ. V. 4-5
 Elevated us to a place of importance (children, joint-heirs with Christ). V.6-7
 Saved by grace through faith. V. 8
 Not by our own good works. V. 9
 WE ARE HIS workmanship. V.10

Created for a specific purpose! What is that? Ephesians 2.10

Created for good works that we should walk in them!
Verse 19-22 Remember who you are!
No longer strangers, foreigners.
Fellow citizens, household of God.
Holy temple in the Lord. V. 21
A habitation of God in the spirit. V. 22

III. WHAT GOD CAN STILL DO FOR US!

God of past tense! Yes I understand what God has done so I may become a child of God, but I have done that, that is all over.

Scriptures do present God working in this manner, but they also present a God still acting in the Christians life!

Look at the Church in Phillippi, the Church in Phillippi. From all indications a mature, loving and active Church.

Phillippians 1.6 "being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work I nyou will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…"

Philippians 2.12-18

Personal responsibility and choice is indcated. Phillippians 2.12

"you have obeyed"

- willingness
- a decision, a choice, a consciencious selection
- present or absent…. Not of force or per-pressure!
- Joshua 24.15

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"

God has always expect man to put forth an effort. Man must learn to stand on his own two feet. Just as Adam had to learn.

1.Corinthians 15.1-3 Importance of the Gospel

-Stand in!
-By which you are saved.
-If you hold fast the word!

Revelation 2.10 Church in Smyrna
-Work, tribulation, poverty, suffering, testing "Be thou faithful until dead and I will give you the crown of life"

God who works in you! Phillippians 2.13

+ In what way does God work?
+ For what purpose?
God works in 2 ways:

a) To Will:

Gods works in a way in which we: -desire or want to do his will.

-"to will"
-creates a desire within us!
-God energies us!

Bible speaks of desiring:

1.Peter 2.2 desire the sincere milk of the word

Psalms 73.24- 25 Hold me, guide me, receive me. "And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You"

b) To Do:

Creative power from God and placed in us!
Strength, ability to carry out.
Determination and drive!

Philippians 4.13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.!

Philippians 4.19-20 God will supply your every need!
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."

 

Hebrews 13.20-21 "Now may the God of peace…. Make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what it well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen"

Colossians 1.11-12 "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

Matthew 19.26 

"With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible."

Biblical Example: David and Goliath, 1. Samuel 17

1.Peter 5.10 "But may the God of all grace, who called us to Hiss eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you."

Colossians 1.11 "..strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy."

2.Timothy 4.17 "But the Lord stood with me and strengthed me, so that the message might be preached fully through me and that all the Gentiles might hear."

Ephesians 3.16-19 "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, maybe be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the width, and the length and depth and height, to know the loe of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

2.Corinthians 4.16 "Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed daya by day."

Vorige