Matt Beaney

Jul 14, 20214 min read

#393 - NO OTHER - (14/7/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Though we never ‘acknowledged’ Him, He knew us and saved us. Though we continually fail to know and trust Him, He is faithful to us. He has given us a new heart to receive Him as the only LORD.

“You are the LORD and there is no other. No-one can say this except by the Spirit. I thank you for changing my allegiance. Thank you for your great mercy toward me and all your people.”

2. UP

Some thoughts about God from this text: He is the LORD. The Shorter Catechism declares from this text,

‘There is but one only one, the living and true God’.

He is the LORD - the “I Am”. He is the only and eternal God. There is no other God. He says,

“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)

3. IN

He want me and His church to worship Him as the only God. He wants us to be jealous for His name. He continues to give strength to us so as to move our hearts to acknowledge Him more fully.

“Holy Spirit, please move my heart to be exclusively yours.”

4. OUT

He will save those who currently do not acknowledge Him. He continues to transform hearts. His plan for all nations is that

‘From the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me’.

“Father, please would you give us the privilege of experiencing your work in all nations.”

5. DO?

Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

‘You are the Lord, there is no other’. An application could be a period of repentance and rededication.

One could Pray more regularly for other nations; that we would have a bigger heart and that they would come to acknowledge the only God.

The response could be to study all the names of God - those linked with ‘LORD’.

A prayer response could be to ask that He will ‘strengthen’ you according to the promise of this text…

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

#393 - NO OTHER - (14/7/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Though we never ‘acknowledged’ Him, He knew us and saved us. Though we continually fail to know and trust Him, He is faithful to us. He has given us a new heart to receive Him as the only LORD.

2. UP

Some thoughts about God from this text: He is the LORD. The Shorter Catechism declares from this text,

He is the LORD - the “I Am”. He is the only and eternal God. There is no other God. He says,

3. IN

He want me and His church to worship Him as the only God. He wants us to be jealous for His name. He continues to give strength to us so as to move our hearts to acknowledge Him more fully.

4. OUT

He will save those who currently do not acknowledge Him. He continues to transform hearts. His plan for all nations is that

5. DO?

Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

‘You are the Lord, there is no other’. An application could be a period of repentance and rededication.

One could Pray more regularly for other nations; that we would have a bigger heart and that they would come to acknowledge the only God.

The response could be to study all the names of God - those linked with ‘LORD’.

A prayer response could be to ask that He will ‘strengthen’ you according to the promise of this text…

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

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