CONCEPT OF GOD II

Does God throw temper tantrums? In other words, 'Is God mad at me?' God does have feelings, and they are vulnerable. (Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 4:15) BUT DOES HE HAVE A HOSTILE 'MIND-SET' TOWARD YOU? IS HE EASILY OFFENDED? DOES GOD WALK AROUND HEAVEN WITH A RAZOR-STRAP IN HIS HAND? OBSERVE . . . What is the meaning of the cross? 1. It is the infinite receptor of infinite repudiation. God's rejection of unrighteousness and evil is INFINITE! When Jesus BECAME SIN on the cross, he became the INFINITE SACRIFICE for INFINITE REJECTION. Only an infinite object can infinitely absorb an infinite action. JESUS WAS . . . An INFINITE SACRIFICE: All we like sheep have gone astray . . . and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isiah 53:6) INFINITELY SUFFERED AND PUNISHED: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicrted. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for out iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon him (Isaiah 53:4-6) INFINITELY ALIENATED: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) For he has made him to be sin for us . . . (2 Corinthians 5:21) REJECTED WOUNDED ALIENATED BRUISED PUNISHED CHASTISED How would you feel if all this was unleashed against YOU? Yet you and I are the ones who deserved this kind of treatment. Not Jesus Christ. The results of the cross? Only an infinite sacrifice could mitigate infinite wrath. No longer possible for God to condemn those who believe. No longer possible for God to abandon those who believe. IS GOD MAD AT YOU? NO!!! After the cross, the wrath of God has been drained. So that all he has left for you . . . . . . is LOVE! Does God really love me? This is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (I John 4:9-10) Beloved, what manner of love has the Father bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God. (I John 3:1) BUT HOW CAN I EXPERIENTIALLY FEEL HIS LOVE? Fair Question. First of all, allow him to communicate it. Leave your 'frequencies' open Don't be 'afraid' of God Don't cling to an insulting concept of him. Develop a FEELING relationship with him. Remember that God loves us with emotional feeling as well as action. Involves a freedom of emotion. . . . to be angry with him . . . to be happy with him . . . to be tired of him . . . to enjoy him intensely Involves a 'realistic' thought process as you interact with God. . . . 'jaded' prayer life. (The heavens seem like brass? RELAX! Let God worry about the brass. Maybe you are praying too much? . . . 'jaded' Bible reading/study Close it! Come back to it when you are hungry. What does God want from you? What does he expect? He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the Lord require of you? Do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) Do you feel as though your life has real, pragmatic value to the world? Do you feel you have worth? If you are like most people, probably not. But . . . What is your worth to God? 2. The cross is the measure of YOUR WORTH to God. Death and torture, and by crucifixion Jesus paid the price of your redemption on that cross. Empower Factor X: No Sweat Technique Home