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The Unique Greatness of Our God (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's Mind is beyond human comprehension, as His greatness surpasses all measure. He holds all the water of the earth in His hand, measures the universe in the span of one hand, and possesses a measuring cup for all the matter of the earth. His scales can weigh all the hills and mountains. Though made in His image, we cannot fathom His vastness, for He is without comparison. His works are gigantic, displaying absolute power to bring whatever He desires to pass. His intelligence and wisdom are unfathomable, needing no instruction, for He already knows everything. Even His foolishness is wiser than the greatest human understanding.
God Has a Dream
'Ready Answer' by StaffGod's heart is an open book, for in the Bible, He has revealed to mankind all His deepest thoughts and greatest hopes. Human beings can think the same kind of thoughts that Christ did, as Paul encourages in Philippians 2:5, to let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. Since Christ declares that He speaks only those ideas learned from His Father in heaven, as stated in John 7:16, we can have the very thoughts and ideas of God the Father coursing through our human brains. It is not God's habit to command or ask of us what we cannot do, so if we believe the Bible is His holy message, we can come to realize that we can have the mind of Christ in us. God, a thinking Being, spends His time pondering thoughts and ideas that fascinate Him, shaping who He is, as implied by His name, "I am that I am" in Exodus 3:14. His ideas energize Him to work patiently on His great master plan. When we apply our minds to consider the meaning of God's holy days, we are thinking the Father's thoughts, ideas that originated with the Great God. God's spiritual law, the written expression of His deepest reasoning and emotion, is whatever He is, reflecting His goodness, holiness, and righteousness because He chooses to live that way. God's dreams are made of His gospel and His spiritual law, and He desires us to dream these dreams with Him. The Bible shows our Creator and Redeemer continually focused on these two great sets of ideas, as Jesus expresses in Mark 1:15 and Matthew 6:33, urging us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. He wishes us to open the doors of our hearts and adopt this mindset, for He cannot do that for us. God's thoughts are infinitely higher than mankind's selfish thoughts, yet He rebukes the rebellious in Isaiah 55:8-9, expressing disappointment that they refused to believe in His goodness or dream His dreams with Him. He commands the wicked to forsake their ways and thoughts, return to Him, and embrace the right thinking revealed in His gospel and law, promising mercy and abundant pardon.
How the Human Mind Shapes What We Believe
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsHuman reasoning, rooted in false beliefs and worldly influences, often leads to distorted interpretations and opinions that conflict with God's truth. Such reasoning is described as earthly, sensual, and demonic, producing disorder, strife, and disunity instead of peace and unity. It thrives on false humility, envy, and self-seeking, separating individuals from each other and from God. In contrast, godly reasoning is revealed through the Holy Spirit, aligning with the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. This divine wisdom, eternal in nature, draws individuals closer to God through obedience and humility, fostering a true relationship with Him and Jesus Christ. Human reasoning, however, is temporary and ultimately leads to calamity when it replaces God's truth. Only by replacing human reasoning with the mind of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can one correctly discern and understand divine truth. Humility and trust in God are essential to avoid the pitfalls of human reasoning and to embrace the godly wisdom that He provides.
The Sovereignty of God: Part Nine
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod's sovereignty seems to imply that prayer is pointless. Yet the function of prayer is not to change God's mind, but ours!
God's Will
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPraying according to God's will is sometimes ambiguous. Yet as we respond positively to His covenant, He reveals more and more of His secret plans.
Image and Likeness of God (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe true nature of God differs greatly from the trinitarian concept. Having created us in His form and shape, God is developing us into His character image.
Is God's Way Simple?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJust because something is simple does not make it true and just because something is complex does not make it false. Deeper knowledge often comes with complexity.
The Fear of God (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe must have established some relationship with God before we can rightly fear Him. A holy fear is the key to unlocking the treasuries of salvation and wisdom.
Knowing God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo fulfill one's purpose, one must be singularly focused on what one wants to accomplish. Divided minds result in no productivity or even devastation.
How Big Is God?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must not have a one-dimensional perspective of God. Our puny minds can only grasp a tiny sliver of what God really is.
The Unique Greatness of Our God (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughA description of God's greatness is found in Psalm 147:4-5: 'He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.'
The Fear of God (Part Three)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAfter the Spirit of God is imparted, removing the fear of men and installing the life-sustaining fear of God, the real dramatic growth takes place.
The Holy Spirit
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeGod's Holy Spirit typically refers to the mind of God and Christ, which is added to our human spirit to create a sound mind by which we witness of God.
The Holy Spirit
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTheologians, misapplying grammatical gender and personification, falsely deduce a phantom third person, propped up by a spurious insertion (I John 5:7-8).
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's Spirit is the essence of His mind rather than a third person. With this Spirit, God opens our minds, dwells in us, and transfers His nature to us.
Man's Greatest Challenge (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe minister's main task should consist of exhorting on spiritual matters rather than worldly ones, rejecting the profane in favor of the spiritual.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe architects of the trinity doctrine admit that it is a 'somewhat unsteady silhouette', requiring assumptions and inferences, but unsupportable by Scripture.
Pitfalls of Scholarship
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhile we find much biblical scholarship useful and productive, without God's Spirit, most biblical scholarship is at best a mixture of good and evil.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe receive more of God's Spirit as we respond to His calling, drawing near to His presence and reversing Adam and Eve's fatal errors.
Potential for Good
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe chief tool we can use to do good (building positive relationships between other people) is to develop and exercise the mind of God within us.
Real Conversion
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe process of conversion is actually God's workmanship creating a new spiritual being with godly spiritual character- the image of Christ.
Why We Do Not Vote
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChristians have been called out of this world's politics, voting included. As ambassadors of Christ, we cannot participate in the politics of another country.