02 – God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.

Then Moses asked God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is His name?' What should I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also told Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name.

Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

"Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD,

God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him. He let you hear His voice from heaven to discipline you, and on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the fire.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, 'Destroy him!'

There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.

But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.

and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You."

You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

"I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth.

The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

For God is King of all the earth; sing profound praises to Him. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours. All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name. For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.

But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.

The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children's children- to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.

Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.

The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His loving devotion endures forever.

By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

the glorious splendor of Your majesty. And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever. He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,

He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son- surely you know!

Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty.

And they were calling out to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory."

The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.

All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness. To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come. I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.

Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,

so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens- He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Speak up and present your case- yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.'

For your husband is your Maker- the LORD of Hosts is His name- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

"Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.

"Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more."

"Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts,

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?

and declared: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.

the LORD is the God of Hosts- the LORD is His name of renown.

For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth- the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name."

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."

But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

So then, this is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

At that time Jesus declared, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

Jesus replied, "This is the most important: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

"I am," said Jesus, "and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

So Jesus told them, "When you pray, say: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.

God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

Jesus answered, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

I am the bread of life.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh."

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me."

Then He told them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

"Truly, truly, I tell you," Jesus declared, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.

And they prayed, "Lord, You know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ' Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" "Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

But about the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

" For our God is a consuming fire."

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

For there are three that testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit-and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood-and these three are in agreement.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true- in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come-the Almighty.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.

At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be."

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!"

And he said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters."

And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."