KNOWING GOD BY NAME PART 5 Kay Keith Peebles 8/31/2018 18.23
My mother was very talented. She was an expert seamstress and made many of my clothes. She could take a pattern and redesign it to make a dress she saw in a magazine. Mom loved to make things and she shared that love with me. We always had new arts and crafts projects which kept us busy. One year we molded and painted decorative wall plaques which we made from plaster of paris. Every Easter we decorated glass eggs with beads, shells and ribbon. We hung them on an Easter egg tree which was a tree branch painted white and secured in a flower pot with plaster of paris.
The women in our church would have an annual Arts and Crafts sale (Bazaar) to raise money for missions. It was always exciting to see what new project mom would choose for us to make. When I grew up I continued to enjoy making things which I could give as gifts or sell at craft shows. I had my own ceramics business at home where I taught classes, sold green ware and fired their projects in my kiln. People would call me “creative” but I never truly created anything. I would see a picture or an object and become inspired to either reproduce it or redesign it to make it better. I would often repurpose something that originally had a different use. Whether I was refinishing antique furniture or making decorations, all of the materials I needed to succeed were readily available.
KNOWING GOD BY NAME PART 5: CREATOR
There is an age-old question: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Today I can finally and unequivocally answer that question. Without any doubt, the chicken and the rooster came before the egg! The answer comes from the book of Genesis, Chapter 1. It is not possible to have a birth without the parents (male and female). Likewise, it is not possible to have a seed without a tree. Trees must produce seeds before seeds can produce trees! Also, eggs cannot produce chickens until chickens produce eggs.
“And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth; and it was so, and the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind; and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11-12.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness], and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27.
The term Create means to make something out of nothing or to make something without the materials to do so. God created the matter and materials to make the heavens and the earth by His will. We originated from the will of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and He created everything we see, hear and know by His power through His will.
“In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2.
“By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3.
The Bible answers the question of the origin of the earth. God existed before creation and is the power and wisdom behind the creation of everything. He spoke it into being by the power of His will and it is still reproducing continually. Trees and plants continue to develop seeds and/or fruit which reproduces trees and plants. Mankind continues to reproduce as does the universe. New galaxies are repeatedly being formed as some stars age and burn out. The cycle of life has continued since God spoke it into existence and will until He causes it to stop.
More amazing than the creation of the world is the fact that the Creator who designed the universe in which we live loves us and desires an intimate relationship with those He created. The design and function of our universe affirms not only that God exists but His character is good, kind, faithful and loving.
“The heavens are telling of the glory of God, and the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1.
“For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made] so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.” Romans 1:20.
“But I say, ‘did they not hear’? Indeed they have; THEIR VOICE [that of creation bearing God’s message] HAS GONE OUT TO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE [farthest] ENDS OF THE WORLD.” Romans 10:18. See also, Psalm 19:4, 7-11.
The mountains, Grand Canyon and other sites of grandeur proclaim the beauty, majesty and greatness of God. The fields, valleys, farmlands, forests, rivers and streams speak of the abundance of provision and supply of God. The sun, moon, stars and galaxies speak of the Glory of God. The oceans proclaim the power of God. The gold, silver, diamonds, oil etc. speak of the riches of God. Sunrise and sunset declare the peace and mercy of God. The animals and plants not only speak of the diversity of God but also the humor and joy of God’s personality. The seasons teach the faithfulness and reliability of God while the universe proclaims the precision timing and order of God. There is so much more that could be said…
God is speaking loudly through creation. Those who can hear, see and perceive that our Creator exists will search until they find Him. Those who really find Him seek to know Him intimately. They are not satisfied with simple head knowledge. They desire the intimacy Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob experienced. Knowing God exists is not enough; we must truly know Him so that we can be transformed into His image.
The Apostle Paul is the example of a transformed life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s desire is for His Spiritual children to be His offspring (sons/daughters). Therefore, His Spiritual creation is formed in us so that His Word spoken through us also has the power to change things. Then our life will demonstrate the truth of His Word.
“[‘I will stretch out My hand’] Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Now hear this: I make you as God to Pharaoh [to declare My will and purpose to him]; and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.” Exodus 7:1.
“…And make the Almighty your gold and the Lord your precious silver treasure, then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways. When they make you low, you will say, There is a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves. He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” Job 22:25-30. Job’s friend spoke these words to him.
Job spoke these words to the Lord God: “…Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (See Job 38:2). “[I had virtually said to You what You have said to me]; I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:3b-6.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].” Proverbs 18:21.
God has given us power and authority in the words we speak. We can speak life or death over others or ourselves. Through the creative power of God’s Word, we have the ability to create life around us or death, blessing or cursing, unity or division, peace or chaos, love or hatred, agreement or disagreement, even faith or unbelief by how we speak!
We are to speak through eyes of faith in God and His Word, not through the reality of what we may see and hear in the natural world. When we speak the Words of God over every situation in our lives and the lives of others, we give the Lord the opportunity to “Create” the Kingdom of God in our midst while dispelling the kingdom of darkness. Only the words of the Kingdom of Heaven have the power to bring life into any situation.
The Word of God is filled with the substance of life and has the power of His will to Create.
