Who Is Like Jehovah?

“That they may know that You, Whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) So many of the advertisements on television are of “comparison tests” trying to show their product is far superior in comparison with others like products. People who faithfully followed the radio and television super heroes, found them above comparison. In my childhood days it was “The Lone Ranger,” who was the only one who seemed to be able to rescue and overcome the villain. Then there was “The Shadow,” who was a very mysterious hero who moved unseen and with an all seeing eye. “The shadow knows” was the key phrase used to compare his knowledge to all others. He could disclose the knowledge of the guilty to solve the “case,” because he was unseen but could see all. In more recent times we have had Superman, who was a “mild mannered reporter,” but when trouble came he went into a phone booth (or whatever was convenient) and put on his Superman suit and cape, then he could “leap tall buildings with a single bound,” was “faster than a speeding bullet,” and “more powerful than a locomotive.” Then there was Batman, Wonder Woman, Mighty Mouse, and more even more recent that I don’t have room to name, but in comparison to all other humans, their attributes were supposed to prove them to be the greatest. Did you notice, all of these human “super heroes” have attributes that mere humans did not possess. Without using the word the writers were calling them “god.” In truth these attributes can only be attributed to Jehovah God. The Bible is the book that contains many “spine tingling” adventures that are true and not thought up in someone’s imagination. One such adventure is in I Kings the eighteenth chapter – this is a must read. This is the story of Elijah (a prophet of Jehovah God, the only true god) who challenged 850 prophets of King Ahab (450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah). They were false gods, and God had already commanded them to “put away” all other gods. Both Baal and Asherah were counter-parts of the god and goddess of fertility – both of man and of crops. Thus their temples were donated to fertility rites, including prostitution. The King of Israel, Ahab, had led the people into pagan worship of these two gods. The first two Commandments, in Dueteronomy Five, show God’s hatred of idolatry in any way; either prioritizing anything before or along with Him to come into our affection; or have physical idols to which we bow down and worship!! By his victorious challenge Elijah, the one prophet of Jehovah God, the true god, proved so spectacularly that His God, Jehovah, was truly the “one and only God of gods and Lord of lords!” King Ahab’s heart was still too hard to acknowledge God as God, but when the people, who had been so deceived by the false prophets, saw the miraculous answer to a very short prayer they “fell on their faces and said, “The Lord is God. He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (v.39). Who is like Jehovah God? And remember Daniel’s deliverance from certain death in the lion’s den? After Daniel’s deliverance King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations and languages of his realm that dwelt upon the earth: May peace be multiplied to you! I make a decree that in all my royal dominion men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring and steadfast forever, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed and His dominion shall be even to the end of the world. He is a Savior and Deliverer, and He works signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth --He Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions (Dan. 6:1-28 (Amp.)! Who is like Jehovah God? I say, like the author of Hebrews said in chapter 11:32-40, “What shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by the help of faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions, extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. And all of these, though they won divine approval by means of their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they these heroes and heroines of faith should not come to perfection apart from us before we could join them.” Who is like Jehovah God? What other god could compare? All other gods are temporal, earthly and it is completely foolish to consider any other as a god like our God! Besides Jehovah God, what other god can love with an everlasting, unconditional love? What other god has the power “to do abundantly above all we could ask or think, according to the power (our faith) that works in us?" What other god is with us, and will remain with us forever? What other god is all wise and knows all about us, yet loves us still? Who is like Jehovah? There is no one or nothing. I learned that there are millions of “gods” being worshiped in the world. Some are one aspect of one central god – like Brahman in the Hindu faith. But there is none like unto Jehovah God. He is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Almighty God, the Faithful God Who will never fail and the all and everlastingly loving God. Who can compare with Him? If your making resolutions here at the first of the year, I would challenge you to make a resolution to obey all the Ten Commandments, but especially the first two (Duet.5:7-10), and above all, obey the two Greatest Commandments (Matt.22:38-40) and you will fulfill all the rest. I would encourage and admonish you to make Jesus Christ, Jehovah God, your one and only god; make Him your top priority and your first love. Love, learn and obey His Word. Recognize Him and bow down (humble yourself) and worship Him for Who He is! He is all you need and all you have today and every day he gives you on this earth, and all you will need for eternity. He satisfies your every longing and fulfills your every dream! He is your Provider, your Protector, your Prince of Peace, your Advocate and Mediator, and your Friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is your Savior and your God! He Is Jehovah Kenneth Copeland He is Jehovah, God of creation, He is Jehovah, Lord God Almighty, The Balm of Gilead, the Rock of Ages, He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee. Refrain Sing Alleluia, Sing Alleluia, Sing Alleluia, Sing Alleluia, He is Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty, He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee. He is the Great I am, The God of Abraham, Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace I am, The God of Israel, the Everlasting One, He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee. He’s your Provider, Jehovah Jireh, God of Salvation, God of Messiah, He is Jehovah, the God that healeth thee! WHO IS LIKE JEHOVAH? Answer: NOTHING OR NO ONE!

The Unique Word of God

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action. (II Timothy 3:16 Amp.) To be unique is “to exist in only one known example – the only one, sole, peerless, matchless, incomparable, unprecedented, unequaled.” Every normal person is like many others in some ways – we are conceived and born in the same way; we have the same physical features such as: two arms, legs, eyes, ears and etc. But we are also unique in many ways – biological make-up, such as our DNA, our fingerprints and the irises of our eyes. And we have unique life experiences, relationships and etc. But the most unique one to ever live was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He was unique in ways that no other is unique. No other who has been or will be born had an immaculate conception (virgin birth), lived a sinless life, Who was, and is, and always will be, the only Savior of the world. Even Jesus Christ’s Words were unique. “No mere man has ever spoken as He speaks” (Jn.7:46). Jesus was the “Divine Expression” of the Father - His Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself (Jn.1:1), the “Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). And this Word was made flesh and dwells among us as told in scripture (God’s Word) All scripture was Spirit breathed into and through man and translated into different languages. This infallible Scripture is our Bible – God’s Word. As E. MacLelland said it, “It is profitable to tell us what is right; it is profitable to reprove us and tell us what is not right; and it is profitable for correction to tell us how to get right; and it is profitable for instruction in righteousness, to tell us how to keep right.” Is it any wonder that David proclaimed in Psalm 119:11, “I will hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” We too must read It, meditate on It and then obey It because, “It is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe” (Rom.1:29). It is the Good News (the gospel)! So we must eat It, digest It and let It give us strength and wisdom to walk with God with clean hands and a pure heart. How unique a Word is that? God’s Word is unique in that when God speaks it is like when it rains and snows and waters the earth and causes it to sprout, then grow and brings a harvest for seed to plant again and for making bread to eat. God’s Word that goes out from His mouth will never return to Him useless without accomplishing the effect He desired – It will always prosper in the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11). As we read God’s Word, meditate on and accept It’s Truth, then act on that Truth, It is powerful and will change us for good – our thoughts, words and actions and gives us a new heart and life. What other book can do all those things? The Bible (God’s Word) is the biggest “best seller in history” – why? Because God’s Word is eternal (Matt.24:35) and ever living (I Pet.1:23). God’s powerful Word created the heaven and earth and all that is in it (II Pet.3:5). Heaven and earth will someday pass away but God’s Word will never pass away – it is eternal. Many have tried to destroy the Bible, but because It is Truth (God’s Word) it can’t be destroyed. One of the Truths out of God’s Word is that Jesus is the True and only way to be saved from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; John 3:16) and through His name, and all that It means – “Savior, Master, Lord.” The physical may be destroyed but the Truth of the Holy Bible will live on forever. The Truth of that unique book is free (Rev.22:17) – salvation, freedom from the bondage of sin, abundant life here and now, hope of eternal life and God’s everlasting love for us, all free. Excerpts from God’s Word are written on our government buildings and were the foundation of our U.S. constitution – from no other book. Now they want to remove those writings. It won't matter how much of this unique book they remove or destroy, the Truth of God's Word will never pass away! David Jeremiah encouraged us to look at the uniqueness of this Word of God, “The Bible was written in sixty six installments over a period of 1600 years in three languages on three continents. It has more than forty authors from all walks of life, writing under diverse conditions, and writing on hundreds of controversial topics. Yet it all fits together, seamlessly and without error or contradiction. When we hold the Bible in our hands, we aren’t holding an anthology or a bundle of scattered and miscellaneous thoughts. We’re holding one comprehensive, cohesive volume with a logical beginning and ending, telling us one story centered around one person – Jesus Christ. It’s as though a Master Author was behind it all, which there was. When we hear someone attack the Bible, we shouldn’t be too alarmed. The Bible has a habit of outliving all its critics.” This unique Book even tells us of Jesus’ unique death. For example; 1) no one could take His life – after completing the work the Father had sent Him to do, He chose to die then He dismissed His own spirit. “I lay down my own life; no one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions which I have received as my charge from My Father” (Jn.10:17-18; 19:30). 2) His death was unique in the fact that it was “substitutionary” – He died for all so all could be offered eternal life. Some could offer their life for another so that one could live, but no one could offer eternal life (Col.1:14; 20-22). 3) His death was temporary in that on the third day he rose victoriously from the dead, in due time ascended into heaven to sit forever at the right hand of God the Father, forever to intercede for us (Rom.8:34). What a Word! What a God! How incomprehensibly unique! I have thought it was interesting why in Psalm 138:2; God magnified His Word above His Name. It think it is because all of God’s names are descriptive of the different facets of God’s character, but God’s Word is alive and full of power, making It active, operative, energizing and effective. It is like a two-edged sword, penetrating and dividing our very soul (mind, will and emotions) from our spirit (the deepest part of our nature), exposing, sifting, analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts (Heb.4:12). When God speaks things happen. He speaks the will and purposes of His heart, and will not return to Him without changing whatever He purposes to change (Isaiah 55:ll). What other book can claim this? How unique! Standing on the promises that cannot fail when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail; by the living Word of God I shall prevail - standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword - standing on the promises of God. (R. Kelso Carter)

Advent - "U" - "Unique Son of God"

December 20, 2011

“To whom then will you liken God? Or with what likeness will you compare Him?”
(Isaiah 40:18)

There has never been, nor will there ever be, a man like Jesus. He entered the world in the most unique way – Jesus alone was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23). He is the only unique son of God (John 1:14).

He is uniquely eternal – He existed from eternity past, He exists in the present, and He will exist for all eternity in the future (John 1:1-3, 14; John 8:58).

Jesus alone is the One who bore our sins so that we could have forgiveness and be saved from them (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6); there is no other way to salvation. He is the only righteous One who could exchange that perfect righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus uniquely had power over His own death and the ability take back His life again (John 10:17-18). His resurrection was not a “spiritual” one, but was physical (Luke 24:39), for His Spirit never died. His resurrection from the dead, never to die again, distinguished Him as the unique Son of God (Romans 1:4).

Jesus alone could accept worship as an equal with the Father (Philippians 2:6), and indeed God the Father states that the Son is to be honored as He is honored (John 5:23). All others, whether Jesus’ disciples or angelic beings, rightly reject that worship (Revelation 19:10).

Jesus has the unique power to give life to whom He will (John 5:21). The Father has committed all judgment only to Jesus (John 5:22).

Jesus was with the Father and directly involved in the creation, and it is by His hand that all things are held together (John 1:1-3), and it is only Jesus who will forever uniquely rule the world at the end of this present age (Hebrews 1:8).

It is Jesus who uniquely demonstrated that He had the attributes of God - the power to forgive sins and heal the sick (Matthew 9:1-7); to calm the wind and waves (Mark 4:37-41); to know us, being perfectly acquainted with us (Psalm 139) and to raise the dead (John 11). Even Jesus’ love was unique (John 3:16).

There are a great number of prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth, life, resurrection, person, and purpose. All were fulfilled by Him and no other (Isaiah 7:14).
Scripture proves the uniqueness of Jesus, we just must have faith in God’s Word to believe that Jesus is the only unique Son of God, and came from the Father, and is one with the Father. Jesus is the only one who is the second Person of the Godhead.

Is it hard to have faith in this unique Person? The Father gives us the faith to believe, and this faith comes by hearing His Word (Romans 10:17) – not just with the ears but with the heart.

G. K. Chesterton said that “faith is always on the verge of dying but never quite dies.” Satan brings all kinds of doubts about the uniqueness of Jesus, and even doubts about the Father God. These doubts may be fueled by the faithless teachers, and even preachers, in our secular schools and churches who do not believe in the uniqueness of Jesus or the Truth of His Word. Devastating circumstances may bring up thoughts of, “If there was a loving God, He wouldn’t have let this happen,” and etc. When it seems our faith is dead, but we choose to “believe” what God’s Word says about Jesus and His uniqueness, that “measure of faith” (Romans 12:3), which is never dead, just sleeping, is awakened and “survives all its conquerors.” One of the prophecies about the coming Savior says, “A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick, He will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3). Just changing our focus from our doubts to our unique Savior (“the lifter of our heads”) drives doubts and fears away.

It is a fact: Jesus is unique. Wonderful, wonderful Jesus, who can compare with You?