Listen to the broadcast program. radio022en.ram (15 minutes)
PROGRAM 22 is transcribed below.
This is based on short articlefrom ComfortForToday.com
MUSIC: Beginning of "Holy, Holy, Holy, from worship CD recorded at TACF by Robert Critchley.
INTRODUCTION TO ARTICLE 22:
You are listening to ComfortForToday.com, a radio program with articles from the website of the same name - ComfortForToday.com.
Today's article is entitled "God Made the Universe and Still Controls It."
The message in this article is that man always tries to control and manipulate God into what he thinks should happen rather than let God control the very world He has created. You and I who call ourselves Christian need to step back and take an honest look at our attitude towards God. Will we worship Him not only as Creator, but also worship Him as our Saviour and as our King? After I read the article, Neville is going to read some scriptures, not those used in the article, but some which tell of His role as Creator, as Saviour, and as coming King.
ARTICLE:
Man has always tried to be master of the universe. He has even devised a game with that name, but God made the universe and is still in control of it.
Man has always tried to usurp the position of God. Even Christians find it difficult to remain a servant; they try to make God theirservant by coming to Him with long lists of requests rather than seeking His will before they pray. Man has rarely allowed God to be God.
Jesus' life is a perfect example of how we ought to live. There was a reason for his painful crucifixion which we must understand. You and I would have preferred to save Jesus from this ugly death, and we would have joined those who said "Come down from the cross and save yourself" (Mark 15:30). Or we might have thought to destroy Caiphas or Pilate who wanted to kill Him. Why should the Son of God have to die in this way? Even Jesus cried, "Father, take this cup from Me" (Mark 14:36). Yet as we begin to understand God's plan, we can understand why Jesus had to die.
Only God knew that He must get to the root of man's problem before the problem could be eradicated. He knew He must destroy the power of Satan, not that of Caiphus or Pilate: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (I John 3:8 NIV). He broke the chains of death and hell that man would be set free to fellowship with Him and live eternally. To understand God's plans for the world, you and I need to become a pure and holy people so that the true church of Jesus Christ can be built.
Christians are "living stones" (I Peter 2:5-6) with which the Master of the Universe is building His kingdom in the hearts of His people. He carefully chooses and washes each stone in His blood to remove the stains of sin before each person is fit to be part of His church. Christ is the cornerstone of this spiritual building.
The blueprint drawn by the great Architect is now visible to those who wish to look at it. We see Him as Creator, Saviour, and King of the hearts of His people--those who are His living stones. This is the glorious church without spot or wrinkle which Jesus is bringing into being (Eph.5:27). The Master of the Universe has a detailed plan; we do well to cooperate with it.
To our God, the Master of the Universe, be glory and honour and dominion and power forever. Praise His holy Name!
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Neville:
"I am going to read some scriptures which show God as Creator, God as Saviour, and God as King.
As CREATOR:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word WAS God, the same was in the beginning WITH God...all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:1-3).
As SAVIOUR:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Also in I John 4-14 we read:
"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God."
As KING:
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever" (I Timothy 1:17).
And in Revelation 19, verse 16:
"And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written 'King of kings and Lord of lords.'"
The God who created the universe and still controls it is a holy God. Let us now worship Him as we listen to the old hymn "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.
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HYMN: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" as recorded at TACF, by Robert Critchley.
Father God, I thank you for the grace, peace, and all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus my Lord. Thank you for choosing me before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before you, and to be adopted as a child into your family- a joint heir with your Son Jesus to receive all the riches of your kingdom. Thank you for the blood of Jesus shed to forgive my sins because of your wisdom in understanding my need for forgiveness. Thank you for helping me understand your purpose in dying for me- that one day I will help you rule your kingdom on earth when all things have been subjected to the rule of Jesus Christ as Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Help me to praise your glory of having marked me with the seal of your presence, a promise that I indeed am your possession. Please give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know you better. I pray that the eyes of my heart may be opened that I may understand the hope of the rich inheritance I have because of Jesus' blood shed for me. I thank you for the resurrection power living within me, the same power which rolled away the stone on Your grave that Easter morning and seated you in heavenly realms to continually pray for me. You have made me alive with Christ even when I was dead in sins, it is only by your grace I have been saved, not by anything I could do. Thank you for that gift of grace to save me. Forgive me for feeling like a groveling worm, because you have already died to make me feel the warmth of your presence. You indeed are my peace, because you have made it possible for me to enter the holy-of holies right into your presence as a member of your household. Thank you for indwelling my body as you indwelt the tabernacle in the wilderness, making me a holy ark. Help me to understand my body is your holy temple and ark where the peace of God resides. Thank you that you have appointed me, a member of your church in the world, to let the devil know about your manifold wisdom to set up your kingdom on earth, and making it possible for me to pray to you in freedom and confidence. Thank you for you love. Perfect love casts our all fear; help me to love you more and fear people less. Praise your holy Name!