The False Things Some Believe About God Explain
Why They Don’t Believe in Him!
I wouldn’t either!
The following study offered over the next 6 weeks is based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7). My aim is that we engage with God in His Word, by Holy Spirit, and via testimonies of those who know Him to get to the truth about our Father, overcoming some or all the false notions the enemy of our soul has sewn into our lives.
This first article challenges the idea that God does not exist or even if He does, He does’t care about us; therefore, we don’t need Him. Truly, we don’t need a god who doesn’t care, but God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the farthest one from an uncaring, unloving deity. He is love. Know it. Know Him and receive the love He offers. Let’s go!
The questions along the way are for your personal investigation or to be used in a mentoring or group setting.
Q1: In your life where have you seen God’s love in action, and where have you seen places where more of His love is needed?
Would you please read and memorize Matthew 5:3?
Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Do you believe that Christians are always and only people of easy-going temperament? If you do, you would be wrong. Those God has used have represented many types of temperament and personality. Would you agree? When Jesus spoke to the disciples (then and now) through the passage in Matthew 5:3, He said we are to be “poor in spirit”, and those who are poor in spirit would “inherit the kingdom of heaven.” If it doesn’t mean that only mild-mannered people inherit the kingdom of heaven, then what does it mean? I am sure I don’t know all this means, but I have figured out some of it.
Some of It: Being poor in spirit means we come to see our status as beggars in need of the resources our Father God supplies. Some of these resources He gives to us Himself with no help from others; however, many of God’s gifts to us are from Him to us through others. He even gives many of His resources to us and allows, even commands, that we share them with others expecting nothing in return.
More of it: Take love for example. God is love; God gives love; God wants love; God prepares us to give and receive love, too. Think of what the world would be if completely void of love. What would your world be like if you were/are loveless?
Q2: What are some examples of a love-less world and the impact of a void of love?
Q3: How do we know God is love? Scripture? Observation? I John 4:18; 19; John 3:16-18 Where have you seen His love on display?
Most of it: God loves you. Truly God loves you as you are but loves us too much to leave us as we are. The most loving thing He can do and has done is to sacrifice His Son Jesus Christ, paying the full price our sins had earned. Our sin earns death. Jesus died to pay our debt since we could not possibly pay our personal sin-debt to His Father, our Holy God. Romans 3:23; 6:23; Romans 8:31-39
Q4: Describe the ways God loves you, how it makes you feel, and how His love has changed you?
When you receive this gift God offers in Jesus Christ, along with Him you get all He is and has. You are forgiven, you have eternal life, you have the Holy Spirit, you have the mind of Christ; you have everything you need for abundant life and godliness because you have Him. He lives in you as Holy Spirit. He gives us gifts, power, freedom, but perhaps most of all He brings love to us – right in the middle of our imperfect life.
Q5: Knowing these things are true and the scriptures verify these blessings of the kingdom of heaven, to whom can you spread the love of Jesus and how?
Feel His love more deeply; know His love more clearly; believe He loves you?
Finally, we now have unlimited resources to give away. So why don’t we do a great job of giving away the resources God has given in Jesus Christ? I am glad you asked. See you next session with possible answers to the question and solutions to our dilemma.