WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE UP FOR CHRIST?

We see many teachings on the positive aspects of being a believer, a member of the body of Christ. Countless times we read of the things we gain from the promises of God to the born again believer. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, we are more than a conquer, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and the full list is extensive. Yet, Jesus Christ in his ministry on earth, taught us that as a result of following him we would experience loss in some of the aspects of our lives. There were also things that we, as disciples of Christ , would willingly give up in order to define our walk in Christ and maintain our relationship with God.

Stop and think, as a professed Christian and member of the body of Christ, what would you give up willingly for Christ? What would you willingly accept the loss of in regard to relationships (your family), social position (your friends), or profession? Would be able to withstand persecution and still maintain faithfulness to God and Christ? What would you give up to be perfected in the knowledge of the God's Word? Also to consider, what is the outcome for us who suffer such loss and what does God do in response to our sacrifices we at times must make in order to truly follow Christ.

There is found in Paul's letter to the Philippians a very strong and committed statement made by Paul to the Church. Paul said he counted all things in life to be worthless if they hindered his commitment to God, Jesus Christ, and being a true disciple.
"Philippians 3:7-8; "7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

The things that were gain to Paul were many. First in Acts 23:6, Paul declares the he was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee (the ruling class of the Jews). Paul was also a Roman by birth, highly educated according to the standards of the day in the law (having studied under Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who had reputation among all the people Acts 22:3). Paul had prominence and recognition, position and power, he was zealous in the popular cause among the ruling class of the Jews in leading the persecution of the Church. Paul was not poor and in the acceptable standards of "the world," Paul had it made, a most popular and renowned fellow. Yet in the proper perspective of his relationship to God Paul made two startling statements. First, he said he would give up all things in order to gain the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord. And the most shocking statement of all, he suffered the loss of all these things and considered them "dung (shit - another 4 letter word for dung)" in order that he may win Christ.

This was not a new doctrine that Paul had developed, Paul knew that Jesus Christ in his ministry had taught this very same principle to the disciples. It is the things that we can not or are not unwilling to accept loss of, that will be things utilized by our adversary to stop us from being effective and victorious in our walk as members of the body of Christ.
Jesus in his teachings disclosed the follow to the disciples.
"Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."(see also Matthew 19:28, Luke 14:26)

FIRST AREA OF LOSS - FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Why did Jesus specify members of a believer's family as one of the things (as a follower of him) the believer would be subjected to the loss of? Jesus knew that one's own family, the ones that knew the full story of your life, would be used as tools by our adversary to discredit you, your ministry, or hold you back from following him. It is no new thing and is still an ongoing tactic of the Devil, to undermine the calling and purpose of God in believers lives today. All Christians were, prior to their being born again, sinners to some level of extent, and if focus could be directed at their past mistakes and short comings, it would effectively hinder their credibility as witnesses for Christ. To continue to allow family members who are on "the other side" to instill doubt in your mind of your calling by God and turn those around them into discrediting you as well would enable the Devil to stop your ability to witness with full power and even in some cases to stop your witness. Even the news media of the day, when looking for a means to discredit someone, goes to the family members to get the real scoop on who they really are (their past inadequacies, their past mistakes). If you might reach some point of public focus, you will find family who have not even bothered to speak with for many years will come out of the wood work to be experts on who you presently are. And as long as we allowed these hindering family members, utilizing us to gain their own form of glory and attention from whoever than can get the attention of, to be a controlling and influencing factor in our lives, we can not perform the function God has assigned to us in the body of Christ effectively. We have to be willing to give up "loose" members of our family in order to attain the goal of the high calling of Christ. Jesus specifically said that our greatest enemies would come from our own family (Matthew 10:36).
"Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. "
Jesus knew during his ministry that the Gospel would divide mankind. There would be one group who would believe, one group who would pretend to believe in order to continue functioning as the adversary's subtle tools, and one group who would openly and antagonistically oppose the Gospel in open rebellion against God and His Word. The Devil's main objective in his attack on any man or woman of God is to find the most credible accusers he can to discredit their teaching of God's Word. He looks for accusers because he is the primary accuser of God's people (Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.). What more effective means could there be than members of one's own family? Hence we see the reasoning behind Jesus Christ's teaching. In another record of this hindering in our live being taught, a little more detail is given.
"Matthew 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."
Jesus also said to take no thought (don't premeditate) what you would say when they delivered you up to be persecuted, to be put to death for your stand for God and His Word. The promise from God is that He would give the words to speak in your defense...He would give you by revelation what you shall say, that it will not be you speaking it would the Spirit of God that speaks through you.

From the first position of merely having family members discrediting a believer's calling, progression to even the extreme of their delivering up their family members to die is not beyond possibility. Brothers and sisters and even your children would in some instances deliver you up to death for your belief. This is witnessed in modern time in the former Soviet Union and in Nazi Germany. The scripture Jesus quoted "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." is spoken out of the prophecies of Micah. Looking to this first revelation of this statement in prophecy we see the emergence of brethren and lands (brethren being members of community more than members of family)
"Micah 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings."

Micah was well acquainted in this "giving up" loss. Friends and teachers (guides) and even close relationships (keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom) will be used against you by the adversary at times. Yet Micah knew that even though he should fall God would lift him up again, and when shut in darkness by his foes God would be a light to him. He knew that to give up or suffer loss would be turned to his victory by God. The same as Micah confessed is true for us today. As Paul taught in Romans, "Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ALL things, with no exception, will work to our good. This is the promise from God to us. Jesus said that in the painfull loss of beloved family members for his sake we would receive 100 fold in this present time and eternal life to come. Jesus himself actually illustrated the truth of this statement by example, during his teaching the disciples as illustrated in the following scripture.
"Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. _Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
"Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

Jesus' loving family, his mother and his brethren, just had to get in on the action. They could not get to him because of the press (crowd - of course today when some family members get involved the reporters might be too thick to get through too).They had to make the grand entrance to capture his attention (and others attention as well), not to mention interrupting his teaching and demanded that they see him post haste. Jesus had a reaction that was astounding to the disciples since the law clearly stated to honor your mother and father. He put his own family in place by making the following statement, a statement that showed that we have more family in this world than our parents, siblings, and blood relatives. Jesus look around him at the disciples and asked them who is my mother, who is my brethren (family members)? He then dismissed their relevance by saying that whoever does the will of God his Father in Heaven was his mother, brother, and sister. When we become born again and become followers of Christ we literally obtain thousands and millions of family members to relate to.

THE SECOND AREA - LOSS OF HOUSE AND LAND
Perhaps one of the hardest of losses to part with in our materialistic society, as was true in the day and times of Jesus Christ, was giving up material possessions that were a hinderence to our effective working of our calling and placement in the body of Christ by God. Not all callings of God enable us to just sit in one place and just be a go to church on Sunday as a weekend Christian. And, there are some material possessions that to some are a hindering factor in their lives. It is the "things" we possess, the things we can not let go of, that are some of the most powerful negative influences in our lives. When we place a higher value on things and accumulating things over serving God's call and God's people (our fellow believers), we have exalted these material things to a stature in our lives where they are the controlling factor and have disconnected from God the real control factor in our lives.

"Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Jesus said that whoever was not willing to forsake all that he had and bear the burden (cross) of the ministry of the Gospel could not be his disciple.

Jesus illustrates this in the following exchange with a rich youg man.
"Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
"Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
Let us note, this young man's intentions were admirable. Like many of us today, he wanted to follow Christ. There was one extenuating circumstance in his life that was the decisive factor in his personal defeat in establishing a true relationship with the Savior, things and possessions to the point of wealth. This young man had walked the law God since his youth and knew the scripture, he in his own eyes was a true disciple, yet he realized that there was some inadequacy in his life and felt prompted to ask Jesus what was he lacked. The account in Mark says Jesus looked upon him with love and told him the answer he sought. Jesus told him to go and sell everything he possessed, give to the poor (did not say give away everything he had to the poor), take up the cross (walk as Jesus did) and follow him (Jesus). Well defeat has a sorrow that attends it because the young man was sad and went away in grief. Why? He could not part with his precious possession and follow Christ. His material things counted more to him than his own salvation. The reason Jesus instructed him to take this action was twofold. One, in order to serve Christ and God we have to be able to "travel" light. Should our calling be to be a missionary or a traveling evangelists, having to leave the comfort of our luxurious home and prestigious professional possession and wonderful things we had spent great time and effort to gather for our own enjoyment, to many it would be too much to bear. The love of material things (an idol if positioned over the call of God) is a great force in life that is reinforced by all of the brain washing we encounter today in the media advertising. The drive is to get more and more stuff, better stuff than your friends, the drive to amass more and more wealth, the drive that drives a wedge of separation between us and God. In other words, what you can not give up for God is more of a god in your life than God Himself and Jesus knew this which is why he tested the young man with his statement.

The pull against our following through on our commitment to serve God was recorded in another instance with three other disciples. The first Jesus told that if he followed him he would be homeless. The second had family matters that to him took precedent, he had to take care of things at home and then he would follow Jesus. Jesus told him that once setting out on the mission to teach the Gospel, there was no opportunity for looking back if you were to be fit for the Kingdom. After these following verses is the record where Jesus commissioned the 70 disciple he sent out to prepair his way in the cities he would soon be going to.
"Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

In the Old Testament, giving up what was precious was a proof of commitment and faith in God. As in the case of Abraham. He was willing to give up his only son to show his loyalty and devotion to God. Even today God proves us by the things we do not let come before Him.
"Genesis 22:1-2, 7-12: "1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

Are you willing to give up your "time" to study God's Word. We spend countless hours at home watching TV or surfing the Internet and most would find it hard to actually count the amount of time they give (loose from time to watch TV) to study God's Word. Yet...this one of the few things the Word says we gain God's approval from.
"2 Timothy 2:15; "15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Giving of our lives for the sake of the Gospel if necessary would be the strongest test of our faith. There are not many who hold their walk in Christ Jesus to that point. Jesus used this very situation as an example of suffering loss as a means to attain eternal life. He then says of those who are too "embarrassed" to boldly speak the Gospel that he, Christ Jesus, when he returns the second coming will of that person be ashamed in the presence of God his father, and the angels.
"Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

Would you be able to loose the acceptance and favor of the world? Would you be willing to suffer at the hands and mouths of unbelievers in the world, who are motivated highly by our adversary the Devil, persecution and ridicule and even physical harm for staying true to God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Would you be able to stand strong in a place of major confrontation by the darkness of this World? If you believe God's commitment and promises of protection and deliverance you will. Jesus told the disciples to anticipate persecution as one of the losses to be encountered. Are willing to be unpopular according to the world's standard of acceptance?
"John 15:18-20; "18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
"1 John 3:11-13; "11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

In summation, the worldly things we are to be willing to give up (beside worldly possessions and hindering friends and hindering family members) include worldly behavior, actions, and destructive desires that are contrary to the will of God.
"Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

When we have put off the "old man" that was our former life, we become transformed through the knowledge of the Gospel as we apply it in our lives. We are no longer the same people our old friends in the past have know, we are truly new men and women. We are justified by God and sanctified and redeemed and have the remission (forgiveness) of sins and have had the ministry of reconciliation committed to us. We are renewed (reformed) in the spirit of our mind. We must not let the accusers of the world stop us in our race to attain the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus our Lord. We must not let the love of material things freeze us into inaction. The commission Jesus Christ gave to the believers just before his ascension, to go and preach the Gospel to the world, did not have a clause in it that said if you have great or many possessions you were excluded from the responsibility of being a disciple. And, it is for certain that we are told that whatever we loose as the result of taking a stand for the Word of God, the Gospel of our salvation, God WILL replace our loss 100 times greater than our loss in our present life on earth and we will obtain rewards in heaven as well.

The Man of God - Old Testament
The Man & Woman of God - New Testament

There is a distinct difference between the Old Testament man of God and the New Testament man of God. In the Old Testament, the men of God had the Spirit of God "upon" them. Their abilities from God were conditional and not something they always had available to them to use at will. With what Jesus Christ made available for us, men and women of God have the Spirit of God within them. It is the "Christ in you the hope of glory", Colossians 1:27. Through the manifestation of holy spirit, the born again believer who believes to operate the power of God in their lives, have the ability not only to do all of the things the Old Testament men of God did, but greater works. Just as Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.", John 14:12.

First lets determine what a prophet is. Webster's dictionary defines a prophet as: (1) An authoritative person who foretells the future, (2) Someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God. In looking at the records of the prophets in the Old Testament this definition is clearly illustrated. There are some of the Old Testament prophets who never foretold any events to come in the future and there are those who's God inspired writings were heavily laced with future events foretold. Another point to observe in the Old Testament is that there are two terms utilized to identify this type of individual, the terms "man of God" and "prophet are synonymous. Terminology wise, this is applicable not only to the Old Testament believers but to the New Testament believers as well. Similarly, "sons of the prophets" was also used to denote men of God. The office of a prophet was sign ificant because the calling of God to be His spokesman required his complete believing in God's ability and a willingness to listen to receive God's instructions. God states in Numbers this particular principle. Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. If there was a prophet, a man of God, among the people, God would give revelation to him for the people. Let us first look at the Old Testament Man of God (Prophets).

THE OLD TESTAMENT MEN OF GOD (PROPHETS) AND WHAT THEIR ATTRIBUTES WERE:

   1. THE MAN OF GOD IS REQUIRED TO SPEAK WHAT HE IS INSTRUCTED TO SPEAK

The man prophet, man of God, would receive from God the words to speak and would be bold to speak all God commanded him. “Deuteronomy 18:18; "18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

The man of God speaks with the authority of God backing him and no matter if it is a king or a commoner, he is to speak what he is told to speak by God. He is not to "Be not afraid of their faces," their rank or position. God's authority is higher than any man, king, or government leader. "Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17; "4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 : for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them."

The obligation upon a man of God is to give a warning message to those who have headed in the wrong path and if he fails to give the warning the responsibility for the repercussions of those he should have warned if held accountable to him.
"Ezekiel 3:20-21; "20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul."

   2. GOD HONORS THE WORDS OF HIS SERVANTS

The Word of God says of Samuel, that God "let None of his words fall to the ground." This literally means that when Samuel spoke God confirmed what he spoke with action. God always confirms the the Word spoken by His "men of God" in order that the people would recognize that truly a man of God was among them. "1 Samuel 3:19-20; "19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."

God honors the word of His servant, Samuel called unto God and God sent thunder and rain, not just an ordinary rain storm, it was strong enough to scare and impress the people with God's power (vrs.18-19). It was bad enough a storm that they just knew they would die, and were moved to repent and ask Samuel to petition God to be saved.
"1 Samuel 12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call
unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."

Elisha prayed to God that He would make blind the entire army of the Syrians (note: God did not initiate this, it was done at Elisha's request), and they all became blind. He prays for God to open their eyes and were restored their sight. "2 Kings 6:18-23; 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of
Israel."

   3. MEN OF GOD, DIRECT GOVERNMENT LEADERS BY GOD'S WORD, WHEN TO FIGHT TO INSURE THE VICTORY OF HIS PEOPLE.

God established His Word, that even after reducing his army of 32,000 men to just 300 men they would be victorious against all of the Midianites, Amalekites, and people of the east's combined armies. God established His Word through an unlikely source, two of Gideon's soldiers - one who had a prophetic dream and one God gave the revelation of the interpretation of the dream. The leader of God's chosen people upon hearing what was said, glorified God and worshipped Him and returned to tell the people God had given then the victory for certain. "Judges 7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian."

David, though king of Israel, was a man of God (prophet) and God spoke to him and revealed to him directions as to how to fight the Israel's enemies, as well as when to strike. David did not engage in any battle until he enquired of God as to whether the battle was his to fight. " Samuel 23:1-5: "1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah."

Through men of God, God tells leaders when they are not to fight. "1 Kings 12:22-24: "22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD."

Through men of God, God tells leaders when to fight . "1 Kings 20:28-29; "28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day."

Disaster to leaders who do not head the Word from God. The King of Judah, Jehoshaphat and the Ahab, King of Israel, were planning to go to war with the Syrians. Ahab had inquired of his approximately 400 false prophets their advice and that had told his there would be victory. Jehoshaphat was smart enough to seek a man of God to see what God said about the situation. The man of God was Micaiah the son of Imlah and his name "Micaiah" means "Who is like Yahweh." According to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:8-9) one should be wary of prophets who prophesy too optimistically about a nations future. Needless to say, Ahab listened to the false prophets, threw the man of God in prison, went to battle and died for not heading the Word of God. "1 Kings 22:4-9; "4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."

God allowed the Devil to go out to be a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets so that Ahab would fall at Ramoth Gilead in battle. God had declared disaster against Ahab. Ahab refused to follow the true Word from God, put the man of God in prison, and went out to battled and was killed (1 Kings 22:24-37 - full account). "1 Kings 22:19-23; "19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."

God revealed to Elisha every plan and intention the king of Syria made as it was made in order to prepare Israel for attacks and give them the victory. Elisha knew what the King of Syria even spoke in his bed room (vrs.12), "the man of God" Elisha told the king of Israel where the Syrians would be and saved Israel , (vrs.10) "not once nor twice." That means time after time God's word through Elisha saved Israel. "2 Kings 6:8-12; "8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the
Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber."

Men of God inform leaders when a fight is already won before it is even fought and not to venture out in battle but sit back and watch the hand of God at work. "2 Kings 7:1-7,16; "1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in
of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of
Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD."

Even while on his death bed, Elisha relayed instruction from God intended to give Israel total victory over Syria once and for all, Joash humors the man of God half heartedly and as requested struck the ground three times with the arrows. The result of this future instruction to fight, after the death of Elisha, resulted in Israel gaining victory over their next three battles with Syria. "2 Kings 13:14-19; "14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice."

God, through the man of God, tells Amaziah not to fight a battle that he had spent a fortune on in preparation. The man of God tells him that if he insists on going to battle he will fall before the enemy. As consolation for the losses, the man of God says that God is able to give Amaziah much more that he spent for not fighting. "2 Chronicles 25:5-9; "5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war,
that could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this."

   4. MEN OF GOD SPEAK GOD'S WORD TO CORRECT THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD'S REVEALED WORD AND WILL.

The man of God warns the people of the disaster to come from worshiping Idols (even idol worship today) and the people repented and served God and avoided the disaster from the Philistines. "1 Samuel 7:3-4; "3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only."

The man of God, Jeremiah spoke the Word from God to Israel to return to God and His way, and God would not bring disaster upon them. Israel had committed adultery in the eyes of God by once again turning to worship Idols of stone (Jeremiah 3:8-11). "Jeremiah 3:12; "12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever."

The man of God, Jeremiah. God through Jeremiah told Judah and Israel that He had sent them all His servants and prophets urging them to return to Him. That He would bring all of the evil pronounced against them because He had called and spoken to them and they did not answer Him. "Jeremiah 35:15-17; "15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered." Repeatedly, Israel and Judah turned from God and rejected His Word He gave the men of God to speak to them warn them. Over and over the same lesson is to be learned regarding what happens to a nation that rejects God's place in guiding that nation.

The man of God, Hosea son of Beeri, told of the healing and restoration God would anoint Israel with if the would repent the breach of her covenantal relationship with God by mixing pure worship of God with idolatry. (Idolatry today is worshiping, putting anything before God in our life). "Hosea 6:1-3; "1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

These are just a very few example out of many examples in the Old Testament, of men of God calling the nations back to God. God's Word covers every conceivable serious error that can be committed by a country that would require repentance in order to stave off disaster. Truly lessons leaders of nations should be aware of today, or at least seek out men of God for counsel.

   5. GOD PROTECTS MEN OF GOD, HIS SERVANTS

The account of a man of God out of Judah shows several things about the man of God. The record does not give the prophets name, just that he was a prophet from the southern region to deliver a message to the northern cult Jeroboam had established in Israel, by taking it upon himself to appoint his own religious centers, festivals, and priesthood. "1 Kings 13:1-3: "3 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by
name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out."

Jeroboam did not take well to the Word from God and decided to attack the messenger instead of heeding the message. The results shows a wise lesson to be heeded even today. In trying to strike at God's messenger, his hand he pointed at the messenger with withered (dried up). He wisely came to his senses and asked the man of God to pray for him and his hand was restored to health. "1 Kings 13:4-6; "4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in
again to him. 5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before." His hand was restored but he was not restored to his senses in his mind and was still wanting to harm the man of God. God did not allow this and God told the prophet to leave quickly and by a different route he came to save the prophet. This
section of scripture illustrates no only the duties of a prophet but also illustrates the utilization of word of knowledge and word of wisdom, part of the manifestation of holy spirit that available on a temporary conditional basis to the prophets of old but is available to believers today on a daily basis. "1 Kings 13:7-10; "7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. 10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel."

God protected Elijah after he informed the king of Samaria, Ahaziah, that he would die because he had sought direction from a false God (Baalzebub the god of Ekron). Ahaziah did not take it well, to say the least. He sent a troupe of fifty men to go get Elijah, not once but three times. The first two times, Elijah called fire down from heaven and burned up the aggressors. The leader of the third group saw the errors of this action and wisely pleaded for his life and the lives of his men before Elijah. God sent his angel to Elijah to tell him he had won and not to destroy this third group of fifty. "2 Kings 1:9-13; "9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went
up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from
heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. 15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king."

The extent of God's protection over Elisha. When the king of Syria sent his army to surround the city (Dothan) to kill Elisha, God filled the mountains around the city with angels on horses and chariots of fire. That's is how important God's servants are to him. "2 Kings 6:13- And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

God supplies His "men of God" with total protection, even from the entire country they are in. "Jeremiah 1:17-19; "17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee."

God told Isaiah that no weapon formed against him would prosper, that this protection was "the heritage of the servants of God. "Isaiah 54:17; "17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."

   6. MEN OF GOD WORKED MIRACLES

Moses' staff becomes a snake and devours the snakes produced by Pharaoh's magicians. "Exodus 7:8-11; "8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments."

Elisha, following the revelation from God, throws salt into the spring source of the water, and God healed the water.
"2 Kings 2:19-22; "19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."

The man of God (Elisha) feeds 100 men with 20 loaves of bread and a small amount of fruit.
"2 Kings 4:42-44; "42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. 43 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. 44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD."

The preceding represent only a few examples of each category of attributes of men of God and only a few out of many examples of performance in the duties of prophets of God. Next we will cover the New Testament men an women of God.

THE MAN & WOMAN OF GOD - DISCIPLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

As we covered in the previous section covering the man of God / prophet, we covered the men of God / prophets of the Old Testament who had the Spirit of God "upon" them. Their abilities from God were conditional and not something they always had available to them to use at will. With what Jesus Christ made available for us, men and women of God have the Spirit of God within them. It is the "Christ in you the hope of glory", Colossians 1:27. Through the manifestation of holy spirit, the born again believer who believes to operate the power of God in their lives has the ability to do all of the things the Old Testament men of God did and greater weapons to utilize in our spiritual battle. Just as Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.", John 14:12. Jesus performed the same miracles that the Old Testament prophets performed as well as some they did not. None of the Old Testament prophets were involved in direct conflict with the Devil as Jesus was. When he was able to identify and cast out Devil spirits (demons), he was performing miracles that were not available to the Old Testament prophets and with his death and resurrection he made it available for the Born Again believers to obtain overcoming power to defeat the adversary on every front. Jesus said that we would do the same works he did and even greater works. One of the "works" he performed was prophecy, both speaking the Words God gave him to speak and foretelling things to come.

Remember, Webster's dictionary defines a prophet as: "(1) An authoritative person who foretells the future, (2) Someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God." In the New Testament Church, there is an availability for the Church that goes beyond what was available for the Patriarchal and Kings of Israel and Judah periods of the Old Testament.

In the First Century Church, Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians, that God placed in the Church (the Body of Christ) five different ministries to which some believers in the Body of Christ are called. These five ministries were to be available until all believers had advanced to the stature and fullness of Christ, which is something that will not happen until Christ Jesus returns to claim his Body, the church. We have fairly defined what a prophet as is listed in the following scriptures by Paul. Apostle is defined as "a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. They functioned in similar function as the spiritual leadership in the church. Evangelists - this title is applied to Philip (Acts 21:8), who went from city to city preaching the Gospel. Evangelists were the traveling missionaries of the First Century Church who went from place to place building "seed churches" and then moving on to further spread the Gospel. Pastors were the church leadership on the individual worship location level, they "tended to God's sheep," the needs of the individual believers in their particular church location. Teachers were men and women in the church, highly knowledgeable of God's Word, who had through
"studying to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15)" had been called to teach others who in turn would be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."). Timothy was a "teacher" in the First Century Church."Ephesians 4:11-15; "11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

Men of God / Prophets of the New Testament are like the prophets of old, yet having a higher degree of capability than the prophets of the Old Testament. The increase in God given capabilities is the result of the new birth. Whereas the Old Testament prophets and men of God had the Spirit of God on them conditionally, EVERY born again believer has the same Spirit of God within them twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, year after year. Where ever there are believers today, and the need for a prophet comes along, there is the availability for God to give the necessary revelation to a member of the body of Christ in the area in need.
"1 Corinthians 12:7-11; "7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
Dividing to everyman severally is the key to the First Century prophets in the section of scripture. Prophets in the Church primarily performed the speaking forth of God's Word to people as illustrated in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, where instruction is given to the Corinthian churches to correct the improper use of the parts of the "manifestation" of holy spirit given to every believer that was intended for use in the worship service. In this instruction, Paul said that they "ALL" could prophesy one-by-one so that all the church could learn and be comforted. This New Testament prophecy that "all" could do was for the instruction and comfort of the believers at the worship service. That means the availability from God to All believers to give inspired messages directly from Him was available and still is available today.  "1 Corinthians 14::29-32; "29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge [*prophets]. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

The first of the prophets recorded in the New Testament was John the Baptist. The prophet who was called to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. John's mission was foretold in prophecy by the prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah chapter 40, verse 3; "3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." John was the only man that God's Word says was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb (from birth), Luke 1:15. "Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Jesus had said of John, "Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."Jesus said there was no greater prophet of all of the Old Testament prophets than John, yet..."he that is in the kingdom of God" is greater than he who was the rated by Jesus as the greatest prophet of all. Those who are in the "kingdom of God" today are the Born Again believers who are the Body of Christ, the Church.

Jesus Christ was the next prophet in succession after John the Baptist. He spoke the words God gave him to speak and spoke prophecies of thing that would come to pass in the future, some of which to our day are yet to be fulfilled.
"John 14:10; "10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."John 17:8; "8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."
"Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. "
Jesus gave the prophecy before his ascension into heaven of what would happen after he was gone until his return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He substantiates the prophecy of Daniel concerning the End Times and thereby substantiates the prophecy of Revelation.

There were prophets in the First Century Church who did prophesy events to come in the future. These were prophecies to benefit the believers of that day and time, as well as prophecy extending to our day and time and beyond. The largest number of these prophets were not full time prophets in the Church, they were ordinary Born Again believers who God used when there was a need to speak His will and direction to those who were not listening to God.

The man of God, Agabus the prophet, came to town with "the prophets from Jersualem" to warn the Church of a coming great drought, and well in advance, the believers who received this message prepared relief materials to send to the believers in Judea.
"Acts 11:25-30; "25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."

The prophets of the Church at Antioch received instruction and direction to ordain Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for a special assignment God had for them to do."Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister."

There is the record in the scriptures of a remarkable "Outbreak of Prophecy" directed to the apostle Paul when he decided to go to Jerusalem, after God told him not to go to Jerusalem. Per Paul in verse 22, he was "bound in the spirit" determined no matter what to do what he wanted to do. He even admits that in every city he went to God used believers in that city to prophecy to him through "the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit-new birth), not to go to Jerusalem and that if he did, prison and afflictions were waiting him there. A significant number of Disciples giving prophetic warning and God went to extreme lengths to get Paul to stop.

"Acts 20:22-24; "22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Paul, still refusing to follow what God had told him for his benefit sails on toward Jerusalem. Upon reach Tyre, he encounters more believers with the same Word of prophecy for him.
"Acts 21:3-4; "3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem."
Again Paul ignored God's warning through everyday believers like you and I. God even went to extremes to change Paul's mind. Paul ends up staying with Philip the evangelist who had "four daughters who did prophesy " to Paul as well. Then God had the prophet from all the way from Judea to the south, Agabus again, to travel to Paul and intercept him, to stop him from going to Jerusalem. Even with all of this Paul would not be convinced.
"Acts 21:7-11; "7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."

Titus was left by Paul in Crete to to ordain elders (pastors) there to oversee the Church in the various cities on the Island. It had been brought to Paul's attention from what a prophet in Crete said that the members of the church there were liars, teaching things they were not supposed to teach, and were deceiving the Body of Christ on the entire Island.
"Titus 1:10-14; "10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth."

Paul gave as a message of comfort to the Church in Thessalonica, prophecy concerning the gathering together of the Body of Christ as well as the Day of the Lord.
"1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:4; "13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

Peter gave a prophetic message of warning to those in the beginning of the last days, to beware of the scoffers. He wrote of the firey end of the earth, the Day of the Lord, and the new heaven and earth to come.
"2 Peter 3:3-15; "3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting
unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;"

Paul, the man of God wrote to Timothy of the future time when men will not listen to sound doctrine but would seek out teachers who would preach it like they wanted to hear it and not according to the real use of the Word of God. The full use being reproof, correction, and instruction in the way of God's desire for believers to live.
"2 Timothy 4:2-4; "2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Jude, the man of God also prophesied about the mockers who walk after their own lust in the last day and "those who separate themselves (denominations)"
"Jude 1:17-19; "17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."

John was given from God the things to write, recorded in the Book of Revelation.
"Revelation 1:1-3; "1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
Now keep in mind that no man knows when Jesus Christ will return, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day to God, God is not slack in His promises, and shortly come to pass is on the time schedule of God not ours. Yet in the reckoning of the prophecies that have been fulfilled and are being fulfilled in our day and time, the notice of things to happen shortly is more meaningful today than in John's time.

THE NEW TESTAMENT MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD ARE TO SPEAK GOD'S WORD AS DIRECTED BY GOD
The men of God, the 12 disciples , were sent out to to preach repentance to the Jews.
"Mark 6:7-12; "7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

The men of God, the seventy disciples were sent out by Jesus to preach repentance and prepare the cities for Jesus coming to that city.
"Luke 10:1-12; "1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the
same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city."

The men of God received the Great Commission from Jesus prior to his ascension to go through out the entire world preaching the Gospel to every man.
"Mark 16:15-18; "15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

The men of God, Peter and John said, after being threatened to stop preaching the Gospel, that they must speak God's Word and teach in the name of Jesus. They even then prayed for God to give them more boldness.
"Acts 4:17-20; "17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

The men of God, the Apostles, were placed in prison for speaking God's Word. The angel of the Lord took them out of the prison and told them to "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." and the very next morning they were in the temple preaching the Gospel again.
"Acts 5:17-23; "17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But
when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within."

The man of God, Paul said, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
"1 Corinthians 9:14-18; "14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel."

The man of God Timothy is instructed to Preach the Gospel, to do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of his ministry.
"2 Timothy 4:1-5; "1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But  watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

GOD STILL HONORS AND CONFIRMS THE WORDS OF HIS SERVANTS - Not Only In The First Century Church, But In Our Day As Well. God honored the words of His "men of God" in the First Century Church. Elymas the sorcerer & false prophet was struck blind at Paul's speaking judgment on his hindering them from speaking the Gospel to the government leader of Paphos.
"Acts 13:6-11; "6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand."

Then there is the account of Ananias and Sapphira his wife....
"Acts 5:1-10; "1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young
men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband."

When the First Century men of God spoke God's Word, He confirmed their speaking with signs and wonders.
"Acts 2:43; "43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." Acts 4:30; "30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus." "Acts 5:12; " 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch." "Acts 6:8; "8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people."

MEN OF GOD SPEAK GOD'S WORD TO CORRECT THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD'S WORD
If you look at the New Testament, a majority of the books contained therein were written as God's Word of correction to things going on in the Church that were improper and against His will.
"2 Timothy 3:15-17; "15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
As preachers, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers men of God are to speak the Word of God in order to give instruction, reproof, and correction to the believers in the Church so the men and women of God in the Church may be perfected and enabled to perform all good works.

Even disciples, who hold no prominent rank in the Church leadership were called and able to do this as well. For example Aquila and Priscilla when encountering the great Christian orator, Apollos. He was teaching the Word of God incorrectly and these two disciples corrected his errors in teaching.
"Acts 18:24-26; "24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."

GOD PROTECTS HIS "MEN OF GOD" TODAY - Just As He Did In The Old Testament Times.
God sends an angel to rescue the apostles out of prison where they had been put to shut them up from teaching the Word of God.
"Acts 5:17-25; "17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But
when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people."

God warned Saul (Paul) to get out of town fast, because there was a plot to kill him.
"Acts 9:22-25; "22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."

God delivered Peter out of prison where he was being held till he could be killed. God sent an angel to walk him out of prison. The humor of this event was that Peter thought he was dreaming until the angel left him in the street outside of the Roman strong hold.
"Acts 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."

They even "stoned" Paul to death and God's protection displayed this time was raising Paul form the dead, healing him completely so that the very next day he left the city and traveled to Derbe and preached there. You can certainly say the "you can't keep a man of God down" for sure when he is holding forth the Word of God.
"Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

God sends an earthquake to shake loose the stocks and open the doors of the prison where Paul and Silas were being held for preaching God's Word. Paul and Silas were not worried a bit while locked up...they were having a good old time holding their own prayer meeting.
"Acts 16:20-31; "20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard
them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

God protected Paul through the number of believers there were in the city. When God told Paul he had much people in the city, he did not mean if Paul was put in prison for preaching the Word His people would have a protest march...more like the Old Testament stance of God to fight for His man of God.
"Acts 18:5-10; "5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."

God even protected Paul from the effects of a poisonous snake bite.
"Acts 28:1-5; "1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they
looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.""

MEN OF GOD ARE NOT PERFECT - If YOU are without sin you can start throwing rocks.
Before you start judging a man or a woman by their past, and not by their calling from God and their message, please consider the following Icons of the Christian faith before you make your judgments.

MOSES - Murder & Not giving God the glory.
 Killed an Egyptian, "looked this way and that way" (knew what he did was wrong), then performed premeditated murder. Guilty of not giving God the Glory for His act of supplying the children of Israel with water in the desert.
"Exodus 2:11-14; "11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing
is known."

Guilty of not giving God the Glory for His act of supplying the children of Israel with water in the desert. The result of the way he failed to follow God's instruction on what was to be done in the sight of the children of Israel transferred the glory of the miracle to himself and not to God as the deliverer of the people.
"Deuteronomy 32:48-52; "48 And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel."

Still, after all of Moses' imperfections, God said of him after his death, "Moses my servant is dead." Even though he had imperfections in his walk before God, God still claimed him as His Servant. It was recorded of him that he was a prophet who knew God face to face.
"Deuteronomy 34:10; "10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,"
"Joshua 1:2-3, 5; "2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

DAVID - Murder & Adultery
David at was guilty of adultery and murder. He took Uriah the Hittite's wife and slept with her getting her pregnant, then has Uriah murdered in battle. Still God says David was a man after His own heart. (Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.)
"2 Samuel 11:2-5, 14-17; "2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also."

SOLOMON - Idol Worship
Turns away from God, and worshiped the false gods of his wives. He started worshiping Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech instead of the One True God. Even after writing down all of the wisdom and knowledge God had given him by inspiration, "he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five" (1 Kings 4:30-32), he still sinned against God.
"1 Kings 11:3-8; "3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods."

PAUL - Killed Christians and Threw Christians in Prison
Paul persecuted the Church, throwing Believers into prison an killing Believers...and as stated created havock of the Church. He was even there in total consent when the notable disciple Stephen was stoned to death. After this he had gotten letters of authority to go to Damascus to capture Christians. Note in Acts 9:1 he was "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the Church....then he got saved and Born Again on the way to do harm to the believers.
"Acts 7:59-8:4;"59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women
committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."
"Acts 9:1-6; "1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

Now from what we have covered here, it is very evident that as Born Again believers, members of the Body of Christ, we all have the ability to stand on God's Word with the authority and power that the Old Testament prophets did. Even more so because we have the Spirit of God within us making it capable for us to be in constant contact with God as we walk the Christian walk and Boldly hold forth the Word of God. We do not need to fear anything as long as we stand fast on God's Word and hold it forth to save the lost. It does not matter to God what your background was before He called you, and other believers should not use things in your past to attack you and discredit the Word of God you speak forth. You are a member in particular in the Body of Christ and you have all the abilities of the prophets of old to use in our spiritual war with the Devil. So, as God told the apostles, "Go stand in the temple and speak all the words of this life" with the confidence that God is at your side, he will fight for you if necessary, and will reveal to you the things you need to know to be victorious in this life.

If you have no prophets in your Church or think that God no longer calls individuals in the Body of Christ to any one of the five ministries that are designed to make the Church function effectively...your Church really is a non-prophet organization....and if the only profit you see at your Church is what is put into the collection plate on Sunday and maybe you might start looking for a man of God (prophet) to consult.

Many people throughout the world give thoughtful consideration to freedom and independence. It is only through a full knowledge of God that we obtain true freedom and true independence. By speaking the truth we are made free and speaking the truth of God's Word brings ture freedom indeed. God is much more than just the God of peace, mercy, love, grace, and salvation. We can only truely worship and praise God with fullness after we have come to start to understand the fullness of God. For many years for most of us we have only been taught the "feel good" aspects of God. Good feelings are no guarantee of salvation and we can feel good all the way to the gates of hell. When we only seek to feel good we have fallen into the trap of the Devil who motivates us through our desire for comfort to stray away from God as Israel did many times with consequences. We have sought out pleasing pastors and teachers because we do not want to experience feelings of conviction and correction from God.

When we ignore the all of the apsects of God, we limit God in our lives, the extent of which being that we can receive only those things from Him that we know are available. If we do not understand the full extent of God's power to us, we walk without power in life. When we do not know the full extent of God's protection and care we find ourselves in situations of defeat that God does not desire for us.  Every aspect of God that will be covered here are simple outlines of what should be seperate and complete lessons in their own right. But, for now I will give a listing of the outlines of the many aspects of God. In this writing there are 53 aspects of God covered, some will be familiar to you and some might be new concepts of God to you. It is understandable that no one can completely understand God and no claim here is intended as to being able to fully disclose the completeness of God, this is just a beginning of an understanding of our Creator, our Almighty God. No one can or will completely understand God until the resurrection, yet it is just as important to know God as best we can through the scriptures. Without this understanding in our hearts, we can not develope strong faith and trust in Him. God gave us His Word and has protected and preserved it from generation to generation, so that we might be able to come to know Him as we grow in understanding of Him. Before looking at the things that His Word declares Him to be there a few things that need consideration, God is Spirit , He has magnified His Word above His name, God's Word is power, and God's Word is healing. FIrst it is declared that God is a Spirit, God is Spirit.
_John 4:24; "24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."_
_2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."_
He has magnified His Word above His name. God placed a high importance on His Word, He magnified (enlarge beyond bounds) His Word, above (to a place that is higher than) His name. God has placed an extreme importance to His Word because, since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, His Word is the only means by which man can come to truely know God.
_Psalms 138:2 ; "2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."_
God's Word is His exercised power, both in creation and dealings with what He has created. God Word expressed and put into action is His creative power from the beginning exhibited to us today. God spoke and it was created, it was made complete.
_Genesis 1:1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26; "1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 11 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. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."_
God sent His Word for our healing and for our deliverance.
_Psalms 107:20; "20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."_

Following Are TheThings That Are Declared About God In His Word:

God declares His name. The name God gave to Moses was simply His statement of existance. . . "I AM That I AM." God's name, as He stated it, is "I AM." In Hebrew this statement of existance is the word "Yahweh," literally, "I Am." All of the names used for God in the Bible are descriptive names of His attributes in existance as I AM. For example: El-Shaddai means Almighty God; El-Emunah means Faithful God.
_Exodus 3:13-15; "13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."_

God is Light. God's light dispels the worlds darkness from his children and removes their fear. It is the light of God and His Word that draws us to Him and brings us to believe to the point that we receive the new birth, that we receive salvation. God's light gives us knowledge and wisdom. God's light enables us to have fellowship with each other and enables the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin. And, in the new city, in heaven, God's light will be the only light needed.
_Psalms 4:6; "6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."_
_Psalms 27:1; "1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"_
_Psalms 36:9; "9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."_
_Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:"_
_Isaiah 60:19; "19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."_
_James 1:16-17; "16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."_
_2 Corinthians 4:6; "6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."_
_1 John 1:5, 7; "5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."_
_Revelation 21:23; "23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."_

God does not change. He is the same today as He was in the beginning and through out the Old Testament times.
_Malachi 3:6; "6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."_

God is Love. The example of God's expression of love was that he gave, He gave His only begotten son so that we could obtain salvation. God set this example of love for us so that we would in same manner act with love for each other.
_John 3:16; "16 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."_
_Romans 5:8; " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."_
_2 Corinthians 13:11; "11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."_
_Ephesians 2:4-5; "4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"_
_1 John 3:1; "1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."_
_1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."_
_Titus 3:4-5; "4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"_

God is Invisible. No one has seen God at any time and it is through Jesus Christ that God is revealed.
_Job 23:8; "8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."_
_John 1:18; "18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."_
_John 5:37; "37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape."_
_Colossians 1:14-15; "14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:"_
_1 Timothy 1:17; "17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."_

God is Unsearchable. No matter how hard man tries to fully understand God man will not be able to have this full comprehension from His Word. But when we reach our place of citizenship, heaven, we will at last know Him.
_Job 11:7-9; "7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea."_
_Job 37:23; "23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict."_
_Psalms 145:3; "3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."_
_Isaiah 40:28; "28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."_
_Romans 11:33; "33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?"_

God is Incorruptible. Being born again through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we are born again of that of which God is, Spirit. We are of God's seed, incorruptible, we have eternal life.
_Romans 1:23; "23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."_
_1 Peter 1:23; "23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."_
_1 Corinthians 15:53-54; "53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."_

God is Eternal. Having called and chosen us in Him, God through the new birth has made us His sons and daughters and has given to us also eternal life.
_Deuteronomy 33:27; "27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."_
Psalm 90:2
_Romans 1:20; "20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"_
_2 Corinthians 4:18; "18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."_
_Revelation 4:8-11; "8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."_

God is Immortal. In this aspect, immortal means not subject to death.
_1 Timothy 1:17; "17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. "_
_1 Timothy 6:16; "16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."_

God is Omnipotent, He has unlimited power. In these verses Almighty God is in Hebrew "El-Shaddai" and Jehovah it the Hebrew word "Yahweh," almost always translated as LORD. There is absolutely nothing that is impossible for God to perform.
_Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."_
_Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."_
_Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."_
_Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."_
_Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."_
_Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible."_
_Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."_

God is Omniscient, He is infinitely wise. He knows everything about everything and everybody all the time. God also knows the future as well as the present and the past, He knows possible events in the future that never happen due to men's repentance as well as the actual events that do happen. To us who believe, we are comforted by the assurance that everything about us is known to God and He will not overlook anything that concerns us. To the unbeliever, God's universal knowledge brings dread because it is a reminder that none of us can hide either ourselves or our sin from God.
_Psalms 33:13-15; "13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."_
_Psalms 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."
_Psalms 139:13-16; "13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."_
_Proverbs 5:21; "21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings."_
_Proverbs 15:3; "3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."_
_Jeremiah 16:17-18; "17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes. 18 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things."_
_Hebrews 4:13; "13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."_

God is Omnipresent. He is present everywhere at once, not in the sense that He fills all of the space in creation but as a Spirit He is everywhere. No matter where in the world you are, when you pray for help and for needs to be met, you are in His sight and will receive His personal attention.
_Psalms 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."_
_Jeremiah 23:23-24; "23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? 24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."_
_Acts 17:24-28; "24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."_

God is Immutable, He is not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form, quality, or nature.
_Psalms 102:26-27; "26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."_
_James 1:17; "17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."_

God is Only-wise.
_Romans 16:27; "27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."_
_1 Timothy 1:17; "17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. "_

God is Glorious.
_Exodus 15:11; "11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"_
_Psalms 29:3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters."_
_Psalms 145:4, 5-6; "4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness."_
_Acts 7:2; "2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,"_

God is Most High.
_Psalms 83:16-18; "16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."_
_Acts 7:48-50; "48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?"_

God is Perfect. Everything God does is perfect and in Him is no imperfection. God teaches us through His Word we should strive for His perfection through replacing the lies and negatives of the world with the truths of His Word.
_Deuteronomy 32:4; "4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."_
_2 Samuel 22:31; "31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."_
_Psalms 18:30; "30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."_
_Matthew 5:46-48; "46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."_
_Romans 12:2; "2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."_

God is Holy.
_Leviticus 11:45; "45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."_
Joshua 24:19-20; "19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good."_
_Psalms 71:22; "22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel."_
_Psalms 99:8-9; "8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy."_
_Isaiah 5:14-15, 16; "14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: 16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness."_
_Revelation 4:8; "8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."_

God is Just.
_Deuteronomy 32:4; "4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."_
_Isaiah 45:21-22; "21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."_

God is True.
_Deuteronomy 32:4; "4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."_
Jer 10:10
_Psalms 31:5; "5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."_
_Isaiah 65:16; "16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."_
_John 17:1-3; "1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."_

God is Upright. As a result of God's uprightness He teaches us His way.
_Psalms 25:8-10; "8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."_
_Psalms 92:9-15; "9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. 11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."_

God is Righteous. God through His grace and the gift of His son, Jesus Christ, has made us the righteousness of Him in Christ Jesus HIs son.
_Ezra 9:14-15; "14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this."_
_Psalms 145:14-19; "14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."_

God is Good. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance and thereby salvation and sonship.
_Psalms 25:8-10; "8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."_
_Psalms 119:68-71; "68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."_
_Romans 2:4; "4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"_

God is Great. God does nothing in a small way, His greatness is witnessed in the examples of miracles and stories of His blessings and deliverance throughout the Bible.
_Deuteronomy 7:19-21; "19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. 20 Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. 21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible."_
_2 Samuel 7:22; "22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."_
_2 Chronicles 2:5-6; "5 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. 6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?"_
_Nehemiah 1:5; "5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:"_
_Job 36:26; "26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out."_
_Psalms 86:8-10; "8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. 10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone."_
_Proverbs 26:10; "10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors."_
_Titus 2:11-14; "11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."_
_Revelation 15:3; "3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."_
_Revelation 19:13-17; "13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;"_

God is a God of gods. God does not deal lightly with nations in rebellion against Him in following other gods whether they are gods of stone and wood or gods of concept such as greed, covetousness, or sensuality. God respects no person nor takes bribes (reward).
_Deuteronomy 10:17; "17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:"_
_Joshua 22:22; "22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)

God is the God of all men. (And there is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish)
_Jeremiah 32:27; "27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"_

God dwells in darkness & light.
_Psalms 97:1; "1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about."_
_1 Timothy 6:16; "16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."_

God is a man of war. Lord God of Hosts - hosts - archaic English word for armies.
_Exodus 15:3; "3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name."_
_1 Samuel 17:45; "45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."_
_Psalms 69:6; "6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel."_
_Psalms 89:8; "8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?"_
_Isaiah 3:14-15; "14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts."_
_Isaiah 28:22; "22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth."_
_Jeremiah 50:25; "25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans."_

God is the God of Recompences. God takes Vengence against those who rob and harm His servants and His people and give them recompense for their acts.
_Deuteronomy 32:43; "43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people."_
_Isaiah 35:4; "4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."_
_Jeremiah 51:56; "56 Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite."_
_Nahum 1:2; "2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."_
_Romans 12:19; "19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."_
_2 Thessalonians 1:6; "6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;"_
_Jude 1:5; "5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."_

The Lord is a God of Knowledge. God can give all believers knowledge, not only knowledge of Him, but knowledge of workmanship, knowledge and skill in learning all wisdom. God through revelation has given us knowledge of His Word, prophecy of things to come, and information necessary to to be effective in battle against our adversary, the Devil. In contrast, God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge caused by their rejection of God's knowledge by not teaching God's knowledge to the children. We must cast down everything that exaults itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.
_Exodus 31:3; "3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,"_
_Exodus 35:31; "31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;"_
_1 Samuel 2:3; "3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."_
_Ecclesiastes 2:26; "26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit."_
_Daniel 1:17; "17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."_
_Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."_
_1 Corinthians 15:34; "34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."_
_2 Corinthians 10:5; "5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"_
_Ephesians 1:17; "17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"_
_Colossians 1:10; "10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"_

God is Gracious toward His people, His children. His graciousness encompasses mercy, compassion, and slowness to anger against us.
_2 Chronicles 30:9; "9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. "_
_Psalms 103:8; "8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."_
_Psalms 111:4; "4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion."_
_Psalms 116:5; "5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful."_

God is a Faithful God to His children. God provides us with escape from temptation and is faithful to protect us.
_1 Corinthians 10:13; "13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."_
_1 Peter 4:19; "19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."_

God is a Merciful God. God's greatest expression of His mercy is forgiving us our transgressions (Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.).
_Deuteronomy 4:31; "31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them."_
_Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."_
_Psalms 86:5; "5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."_

God is Long-Suffering. Long-suffering means "patiently enduring continual wrongs," patiently enduring "our" continual wrongs, knowing we are not capable of maintaining a sinless state before Him on our own. God through long-suffering shows us His mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and gives us His truth.
_Numbers 14:18; "18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation."_
_Psalms 86:15; "15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."_

God is a Jealous God, if we forsake Him He will not acquit the wicked and He will take vengence on His adversaries.
_Joshua 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good."_
_Nahum 1:2-3; "2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. 3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."_

God is compassionate. Through His compassion He has patience with us and is slow to become angry with us, He deals with us as His children in love and correction.
_2 Kings 13:23 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet."_
_Psalms 86:15; "15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."_
_Psalms 111:4; "4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion."_
_Psalms 145:8; "8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy."_

God is a consuming fire.
_Hebrews 12:28-29; "28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire."_

God is the God of salvation.
_1 Chronicles 16:35; "35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise."_
_Psalms 25:5; "5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."_
_Psalms 68:20; "20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death."_

There is no God other than our God.
_Deuteronomy 4:35; "35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him."_
_Isaiah 44:6-8; "6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."_

No god existed before God and none will be after Him.
_Isaiah 43:10; "10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."_

There is none like God
_Exodus 9:14; "14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth."_
_Deuteronomy 33:26; "26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky."_
_2 Samuel 7:22; "22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."_
_Isaiah 46:5, 9: "5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,"_
_Jeremiah 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."_

There is none good but God
_Matthew 19:17; "17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."_

God Fills Heaven and Earth. You can not put God in a box like some try to do, taking Him out on Sunday when it is time to go to church. God fills all of creation completely and nothing can be hid from Him in that is done in secret by men.
_1 Kings 8:27; "27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"_
_Jeremiah 23:24; "24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."_

God is the God of Patience.
_Romans 15:5; "5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:"_


God is the God of Peace. God will bruise Satan under our feet and will sanctify us spirit, soul, and body complete and preserve us blameless until the return of Jesus Christ.
_Romans 15:33; "33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen."_
_Romans 16:20; "20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."_
_1 Thessalonians 5:23; "23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."_
_Hebrews 13:20; "20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"_

God is the God of Hope.
_Romans 15:13; "13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."_

God is the God of all Grace.
_1 Peter 5:10; "10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."_

God should be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth
_John 4:24; "24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."_

God is the God of His prophets and His servants.
_1 Chronicles 16:21; "21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, 22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."_
_2 Chronicles 24:19; " Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear."_
_2 Chronicles 36:16; "16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy."_
_Revelation 22:6; "6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done."_

Purpose for which man was made & purpose God's Word works in man
_Ecclesiastes 12:13; "13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."_

The whole purpose of man is to fear (worship and reverence) God and to keep His commandments. Having covered these 53 aspects God's Word declares about Him, we are enabled to fully appreciate what we have received from Him. For leaders of the church, it is important to educate all of the body of Christ fully as to what and who God is so that the members of the body of Christ can understand the greatness God has called them to and can have the great joy of this realization in their hearts. For leaders in governmental positions, to have this knowledge of God is the only way that they can make sound and righteous decisions in regard to the direction of a country in following the will of God. For both the individual as well as governments, the wrong decisions result in not so desirable results.

With some understanding of who God is and some understanding of His will, we can realize true freedom, liberty, and true independence in our lives. With this realization comes the comprehension of the greatness of God's power toward us and God's power that works through us, and the total availability to be more than a conqueror in all things. God bless you and keep you in the Knowledge of Him.