Author: from God’s word - the Holy Bible
The Bible, from cover to cover, addresses the question, "Who is this Jesus?''
Consider the themes of the sixty-six books:
In Genesis He is the Creator God.
In Exodus He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus He is your sanctification.
In Numbers He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy He is your teacher.
In Joshua He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
In I Samuel He is the root of Jesse
In 2 Samuel He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles He is your intercessor and High Priest.
In Ezra He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
In Job He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, but has the power to do something about them.
In Psalms He is your song--and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting father, and more. In
short, He's everything you need.
In Jeremiah He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel--the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back--even when you have
abandoned Him.
In Joel He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
In Micah He is judge of the nation.
In Nahum He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah He is the witness.
In Haggai He overthrows the enemies.
In Zechariah He is Lord of Hosts.
In Matthew He is king of the Jews.
In Mark He is the servant.
In Luke He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John He is the Son of God.
In Acts He is Savior of the world.
In Romans He is the righteousness of God.
In I Corinthians He is the rock that followed Israel.
In II Corinthians He the triumphant one, giving victory.
In Galatians He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians He is head of the Church.
In Philippians He is your joy.
In Colossians He is your completeness.
In I Thessalonians He is your hope.
In I Timothy He is your faith.
In II Timothy He is your stability.
In Philemon He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews He is your perfection.
In James He is the power behind your faith.
In I Peter He is your example.
In II Peter He is your purity.
In I John He is your life.
In II John He is your pattern.
In III John He is your motivation.
In Jude He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation He is your coming King.
From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you can look and not see Jesus.
He is everywhere.
He is everything. "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.'' Colossians 1:17
Saturday, January 29, 2005
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About Me
- J.A. Vazquez
- I'm just a nobody, trying to tell everybody about Somebody who can save anybody. I give all honor to the Father for the privilege of being His instrument, through whom He lives and works for His glory alone. I served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, retiring in September 2003. In my final three years, I was co-pastor at Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada, under Pastor Gregory L. Brown. I supported my pastor and church by helping with a new sanctuary's construction and caring for all ministry needs while staying true to my mandate to preach the Word of God without compromise. In November 2002, I was licensed to preach and ordained in June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, I served at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for 17 years under Bishop-Elect W.D. Scott, Sr., and now I serve at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, VA, under Bishop B. Courtney McBath. I also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion from Saint Leo University, deepening my foundation and commitment to this path of faith.
MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING:
It brings to my face a unadulterated smile each and every occasion I am asked, “Elder Dre, What Theological Training do you have?”
My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.
How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”
The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14
I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.
Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.
“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.
The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.
As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”
My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.
How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”
The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14
I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.
Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.
“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.
The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.
As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”
Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:14-15 (NLT)
I am a preacher, but most of all, I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior with various applications of that truth in my everyday life. My dear friend, if you are a Christian, you are a preacher also. Whether you have been ordained or not, hired by a church or not, or ever been recognized as a preacher or not is beside the point. All who have God living in them are called to proclaim the Savior to the world. It is a Holy calling, and a demanding one. It will pull you out of your comfort zone, challenge your commitment, and help to develop you into the person God has created you to be.
John spoke as an eyewitness to Jesus' saving power. We speak as heart-witnesses; ones who have not seen Jesus with our eyes, but have experienced Him through personal transformation. I speak, and you speak, as a representative of Christ on earth. The message that we bring is simple, yet profound; that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save those who are lost to bring them into relationship with Him. As you tell the story, and I tell the story, some will listen and receive the grace that God has sent us into the world to proclaim.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, what a privilege to be a spokesperson for You.
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