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- This is a good book with powerful scripture references and inspiring examples from the life of a man who desired to serve God and do God's best will for his life. He saw miracles happen in answer to prayer and the course of World War 2 changed by way of his and others' prayers. This is an inspiring book to read and seek God through, but it does have some errors, as most Christian books do.
- There are more errors than I have been able to write about. So, we Christians need to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). I myself have been misled at times, so I offer this article with a desire to point out why God is a loving, caring, compassionate, patient, gracious, longsuffering Father.
-- Regarding Page 46 in the above PDF file:
Rees Howells was convicted that he was jealous about his friend who God had used to speak at an open-air meeting. But, after feeling convicted, Rees heard God asking him: "'Didn't you come out to the open air for these souls to be blessed?'... 'And if so, what difference does it make through whom I bless them?'"
But, the voice Rees heard after that question was not speaking in agreement with God's Word, the Bible. The following voice said that Rees was to confess his sin of silently envying his friend's speaking abilities to that same friend. That same friend was ignorant that Rees had even envied him, but Rees was told to confess that sin to him. Then, the same voice told Rees that if Rees ever envied again, he would have to publicly confess that sin.
The Bible Has the Answer
This is unbiblical and is not in line with anything Jesus taught. Jesus teaches about Church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. If a brother is living in sin or doing some known sin, a caring man should secretly confront him about it. If the erring brother does not listen to this man, then the man should bring one or two others with him and again confront the erring brother. If this erring brother doesn't listen to that small group, he should be brought before the Church and confronted by the Church. If he still doesn't forsake his sin and listen to the Church, he is to be removed from the Church fellowship because his sin would only corrupt the Church. That is what Jesus is teaching.
But Jesus does not teach that we must confess having envy to the people we are envious of. Rather, Jesus teaches that if we have done wrong by someone, we are to make it right. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12 that we are to do to others as we would want done to us. Do you want someone to tell you that they were envious of you and ask you to forgive them? That is between them and God. The one who commits envy should only confess his wrong to a person if he has out of envy mistreated that same person or spoken evil of that same person. If he has a jealous thought, he should confess it to God alone as David did with his sins in Psalm 32:5. (See Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 32:5.).
The Holy Spirit Is the Comforter (John 14)
Rees wrongfully said that the Holy Spirit was much more strict than the strictest man he knew, as a boy, who was his schoolmaster. Does this agree with what the Bible says about God, who is Love (1 John 4:16-18), who is ONE God (Mark 12:29)? In John 14, Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter who comes into the life of a born-again believer in Jesus. The Holy Spirit comforts us and guides us into the truth (John 14:27). If the Holy Spirit is very strict, that would mean Jesus Christ and God the Father would be very strict because they are three Persons in One Being (the Trinity). Philip once asked Jesus to show him the Father.
Jesus Christ's reply is in John 14:8-9: "[8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
God Is Love (1 John 4:16)
God's Word says how God is a compassionate, kind, merciful, patient, loving Father who desires us to have close fellowship and communion with Him. See Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:5, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24 (b.), 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, John 17:22-23, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 103:8 and 103:13, 1 John 1:9, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 1:6-7, Isaiah 46:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43, 1 John 1:3, Isaiah 49:10-16, 1 John 4:16-18,
Zephaniah 3:17, and so on.
Of course, God does not want us to sin against Him. We would be walking in spiritual darkness if we walk in sin, and God could not answer our prayers until we repent. (See 1 John chapter 1 and Psalm 66:18.)
God Is the Father of the prodigal son
Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to see how God treats those who repent. He doesn't punish them. He doesn't threaten them. Rather, God welcomes them home with open arms and has a celebration.
Zephaniah 3:17 tells how God greatly rejoices over us with great joy and love.
Zephaniah 3:17 says: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
God Is the Loving Father Who Desires Fellowship with Us
1 Corinthians 1:9 says: "[9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 John 1:3 says: "[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Psalm 103:13 says: "[13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."
Psalm 103:8 says: "[8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 says: "[2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"
In John 17:22-23 Jesus Christ says this to His Father: "[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In the last part of verse 23, Jesus said in essence that God the Father loves us (who He created) in the same way that God the Father loves Jesus (God the Son). And, Abba God speaks in His Word of loving others as we would love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), because God loves us the way He loves Himself.
In Jeremiah 31:3, Abba God says through the writer that God loves us with everlasting love and has drawn us to Himself with His lovingkindness.
Jeremiah 31:3: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Isaiah 43
Isaiah 43 is a very encouraging scripture passage. Regarding verse 3, the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and people of Seba at that time in history were enemies of Israel. But, God knew that many of them would later turn to him.
Pay attention to how God encourages us by saying He created us, redeemed us, called us by name, said we are His, promised to always be with us no matter what, said He is our Savior, said we are precious in His sight, that He loves us, that we should not fear because He is with us, and He will bring us to Him.
Isaiah 43:1-5
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
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