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At some time in your life as a Christian someone will ask the question, ‘What is God like’? The average non-believer has little or no idea who God is or what he is like. The sort of ideas people have about God include for example, an old man up there in the clouds who throws the odd lightning bolt when you upset him, or someone up there who is looking after me, or a God who lives in a boring place with only harps and angels and has no fun. Yes, the Lord gets a bad press from the world and yet God does reveal himself in different ways to mankind. This morning we are going to consider how God reveals himself to mankind. This is important for two reasons. First, an understanding of the doctrine of revelation is important to each believer so that we know where to look. Second, and just as important, we the followers of Jesus can point the unbelievers to the various ways that God is revealing himself, by his nature, his will, his plan, and purposes for man, to every person who is willing to seek him. Definition Revelation is an an unveiling, a disclosure, to make something hidden or secret to be known. In the biblical sense revelation is the act of God revealing himself to mankind usually through information which man could not discover many other ways i.e., unless God reveals a truth to you there is no other way you can receive it. Caution Revelation knowledge: this expression has sometimes been misused an occultic way meaning knowledge gained without aid of the human mind and does not conform to scripture. Why do we need revelation? The fall of man in the garden of Eden brought a curse that affected Adam (and Eve’s) whole being i.e. spirit, soul, and body. The fall caused human minds and hence intelligence to become darkened (see Romans 1), so that we cannot naturally receive the things of God. Main text 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 v12 The Spirit of God is given to us so we can appreciate the things that God has provided for us. John 14:26 The Holy Spirit is our counsellor teaches us all things and reminds us of Jesus’ words. How does God reveal himself to us? The beauty of Creation We see intelligent design because he is the Intelligent Designer. Design, beauty, order, and numerical structure in all his creation. He is a wise creator. We can gaze into the starry sky with wonder and awe. See Psalm 19:1-4. Romans 1:19-20 God’s invisible attributes are clearly demonstrated in the Creation which leaves the unbelieving without an excuse, for there clearly is a God. The Conscience Adam and Eve were guilty, so they hid from God. The conscience of each man or woman points to an absolute moral law or standard given by God. Our conscience therefore demonstrates that there is a God. The Person of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the sum in total of all that God has revealed of himself to man. To look at the life of Jesus Christ the Son of God is to look at Father God himself. This is a very personal revelation of God to man. John 1:18 Colossians 1:15 Hebrews 1:13 So, what is God like? Well, look to the person of Jesus Christ, what he was and is, that is exactly what God is like. So, what is Jesus Christ like then? Where/ How do we find him? Jesus Christ is revealed in at least three ways. By the word of God, as we read the bible. The Holy Spirit gives us revelation of God’s character and truth. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God: The word of God here is known as the rhema word or you could say the living word. The written word in the bible is the logos. The rhema or living word is spoken by the Holy Spirit to you and brings revelation or power into the specific situation. The rhema word is alive and powerful is what causes us to receive the revelation of what the scripture means. Amen Jesus Christ can be known personally, when be become born again and we develop our relationship with God communicating in prayer. Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery is among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Christ is in each believer. God reveals himself and his glory through the lives of his church. What a tremendous privilege and responsibility! Conclusion God is revealed in creation, in our conscience and in an intimate personal way through the life and person of Jesus Christ. God is revealed as the life of Christ shows in you. May the Lord teach us to guide others to know him. Prayer Lord reveal yourself here to us each day, through your word. Speak a rhema living word to us today from your logos. Reveal yourself in Jesus Christ more intimately through creation and conscience. Lord God, reveal yourself to the lost, the blind, the unbelieving through each one of us today and every day. Be revealing Jesus in each one of us, more and more each day, reveal his abundant life and love, his obedience, his heart for the lost, and his compassion. Reveal Christ in me to the world today. Amen.

Let us consider the question of Jerusalem and Israel's relevance to the church of Jesus Christ. Firstly let us look to the Psalms for some context. Psalm 122 1 I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. Verse 6 The Psalmist tells God’s people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and invokes prosperity on the lovers of Jerusalem and Israel. But you say that was the old covenant, what does the new covenant say to the church about Israel? Romans Chapter 11 addresses this issue in depth (to see my personal commentary please go to https://www.psalmonesermons.com//post/romans-11-1-36). Very briefly in Romans Chapter 11 We find that Abba Father has not forgotten the Children of Israel. It was always God’s intention to bring together a remnant of the Jews and a proportion of the Gentiles into one family through Jesus Christ. This chapter outlines the process through which God has led the Jews and Gentiles to get them to becoming one family. The Jews always sought to achieve right standing with God through keeping the Law and of course, were unable to do so. Only the elect remnant of the Jews achieved right standing with God through faith but the others, the majority in some way were hardened by the influences of God. Paul now gives examples of this hardening from Moses and David. Moses spoke of a spirit of stupor that produces mental and spiritual apathy that was still working on the unbelieving Jews in Paul’s day. God is not finished with his people Israel Zechariah 12:10 I will bring them (Israel) again also out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. 12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord. Here is something wonderful for the church from Psalm 122:6 (see above). Jerusalem means the ‘possession of peace.’ Today the church of Jesus Christ is also a ‘possession of peace’. The New Jerusalem Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The heavenly Jerusalem is prepared as a ‘bride’. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem can be likened to the church God is building, which ties in with Zion. Remember that our bodies are temples of Holy Spirit, in other words, God’s dwelling place. A place of giving praise and thanks. This Psalm 126:6 is a special prayer for both Israel and the church. Let us take the actual words of the above scriptures and turn them into our prayer; Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray, for Jerusalem that peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces. Peace be within thee and we shall seek thy good always. Amen Shalom

Victory in our daily lives Part 3. In this text we have a tremendous secret that will bring victory in our daily lives Key text Philippians 4:6-9 Consider the Apostle Paul, the scripture author, banged up in jail not for evil but for doing good. Paul is under constant threat of death, as well as under a tremendous burden of prayer for the newborn church. He had worked out how to have victory in his daily life. He is telling us here, how to do it and we must take this on board, it is potentially life changing! What is your heart? Your heart is your inner most being. Your heart is the part of your being closest to God. Your heart is the part of you that God greatly desires and is jealous for. In human relationships we might say something like, she is seeing John, but her heart belongs to Jimmy. Our heart belongs to the Lord. We recognize that it is our inner most being (our hearts) that gives the direction in our lives. Matthew 6:19-21 We follow our hearts for where our hearts are because there is our treasure. What are you treasuring today? Who does your heart belong to? Who or what directs your life? Proverbs 4:23 We need to make sure we do not put any poison in the well, as the very direction of our lives can also be poisoned and put off course. God will never settle for second place in your heart! Your heart is a place reserved only for God. Anything else we let into that place is an idol. In our key text we have seen that worry and cares can poison our hearts and minds but unfortunately there are also other things. Remember the 3 wise monkeys Hear no evil See no evil Speak no evil Good advice Ask any computer person about GIGO (garbage in garbage out). This works in our hearts and minds too, if we show no care for what we watch, read, listen to, where we go, what we do, who we keep company with then beware producing garbage! If a Christian goes to on X(R) rated movie, he/she may well get some poison into his/her mind which can then drop down into their heart. Poison waters can then flow out! We need to input LILO not GIGO Paul tells us in our key text Verse 8-9, here is what we allow into our ear and eye gates to our mind then settles in the heart. Whatever things will bring peace. Whatever is… True – Jesus Christ is the way, truth and life and his word is true. Fill your heart and mind with his truth Noble – The King, the Prince of peace, the Royal family i.e. the church Just – His righteous and holy standards for Christian living Pure – His purity and His desire for his bride to be pure Lovely – The character of God Good report – Testimonies in our lives and others Praiseworthy – Look for the good in people and their deeds so we thank God for it. God’s word-meditate, ruminate, chew the cud, and swallow, bring it back up and start over. These will strengthen and held guard your heart and mind, bringing peace irrespective of circumstances. Peace is part of the whole armour of God, wearing it involves a lifestyle. We need to bring every thought captive. Lastly consider the example of Church leaders like Paul, not just what he taught but what he lived out, he did not just talk the talk, but he would walk the walk. Conclusion Your heart and mind are very precious to God. Our hearts and minds can be poisoned if we are not careful what we allow into our hearts and minds. God wants your heart and mind to be free of poison so that we can love him fully. Guard your heart and mind! Amen