Regardless of who we are or what we do, whether we clean the bathrooms or pastor a church, we are under HIS authority.  He is the Head of the Church.  But just what does that look like?

Following are characteristics and actions of someone who truly believes that all authority belongs to the Lord:

Church leaders, do you lead like HE is “the authority” or do you expect others to treat you as the one?

Bible teachers, do you teach like truth is from Him or as though you are “the authority?”

Ministry workers, do you serve like HE is the One to whom you are accountable or do the opinions of others matter more?

Importance of Context:

Today we don’t often think of the meaning of a person’s name but in Bible times that was significant.  And so, we find many different names for God in the original languages of Scripture.  The names are significant to the circumstances around which those names were used.  Understanding the context helps us understand how the names relate to life.

Importance of Appropriate Usage:

Scripture suggests how the name of the Lord can be used.

Call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 105:1)
Trust in the name of the Lord. (Ps. 20:7)

When you know how His name can be used, it is a matter of applying the specific names into life situations in ways that fit.

1. Call on God by name as you seek to navigate life. (circumstances, needs)
   . . .  How important it is to call on Jehovah-Raah to shepherd you.
    
2. Remember God by name as you seek to process your stress and anxieties as well as joys and celebrations.  (feelings)
   . . .  How strategic it is to seek peace in the name of Jehovah Shalom.
    
3. Trust God according to His name to take care of you and those you love.  (relationships)
   . . .  How critical it is to trust in Jehovah Rapha for the healing so desperately needed in relationships.

Importance of Application:

Whether you are studying about the character of God, the names of God, or any other theological topic, the key is to understand the implications and application of these truths to life.  Knowing the names of God and their meanings is only the starting point.  We need to get beyond a cerebral understanding to actually calling on His name, trusting in His name, and proclaiming His name.

If you are looking for a list of the names of God and their meanings, click on the links below for tools in our affiliate store, but remember to get beyond a cerebral understanding.

Group's Bible Big Books - Click to go to our affiliate store

Examples of God Using Audiovisuals:

There are visual representations of His ways, what He can do, has done, or will do.  The above are a small number of examples.

Why does God use audiovisuals?

1. Obviously God knows we learn best the more our senses are involved because He created us that way.
    
2. He is a purposeful and creative God who employs a variety of means to communicate.
    
3. He meets us where we are, taking something we are familiar with to help us better understand something unfamiliar.
    
4. He wants to reinforce the truth so we remember it better so the more senses that are employed, the more we will retain what we learn.

On the other hand, there are times He warned against using visual aids:

God said, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” (Ex. 20:4).

It is one thing to let visuals represent His ways or the truth He is communicating, and another for it to represent God Himself.  Graven images that represent Him should never used because . . .  

God knows that we human beings would be too quick to substitute the pretend image for the real Person.  To think that we would let lifeless wood, stones, gold, silver, or bronze take His place might seem absurd.  Remember the golden calf during the Exodus?  Remember why the Israelites were sent into exile?

Further, nothing could ever adequately depict His greatness and glory.  Our visual representations of God would always fall short.  Only God could come up with a visual aid adequate to represent Himself — God Incarnate.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Heb. 1:3)

What does all this infer for communicators of God’s Word?

• Audiovisuals should be used but purposefully to reinforce truth, not merely to entertain or hold attention.
• Audiovisuals should be carefully chosen to enhance the lesson, not to take the spotlight.
• Audiovisuals should never supplant the teacher.  We have a personal God who communicates truth relationally.

Tips for Choosing & Using Audiovisuals Worksheet Download

In seeking for “more” let’s make sure we keep our eyes on what we truly need more of.  All that was just mentioned is good but so much is focused on the external.  — What about the internal? 

In seeking for “more” let’s make sure we focus on what matters most.  All that was previously mentioned is good but so much of it is focused on the physical, that which is perishable.  — What about the spiritual, that which is imperishable?

In difficult times our attention can so quickly be drawn to physical needs.  Though we might honestly sense a need for “more,” let’s remember what matters most — the heart, people, God’s kingdom.  Therein we will find perspective.

For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.  (Isa. 61:8)

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.   (Prov. 6:16-19)

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. (Prov. 20:23)

Though a God of love, He is also a holy and righteous God so He can’t help but hate sin.  Consequently there is a barrier between sinful man and God.  Sin separates us from Him “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

God hates sin so much, He had to do something about it because He also loves so much.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

Praise God, He took care of the sin problem!  He hates sin so much it drove Him to the greatest demonstration of love – “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).

What about our love for Him?  Do we love the Lord enough to hate what He hates?

Let those who love the LORD hate evil. (Ps. 97:10)

To fear the LORD is to hate evil. (Prov. 8:13)

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Rom. 12:9)

I must admit that of the many people who visit this site, I know very little about you.  But I do know that . . .

You come from all over the world.  So, I thank God for each one’s faith and love and how He uses you where you are.  Together we are a light for Him in this world (Matt. 5:16).  May God be glorified as a result. 

You, like me, can do nothing apart from that which He supplies (Jn. 15:5; 2 Pet. 1:3).  So, I thank God for His grace in your life to bring you to Himself in salvation and for His enablement in your life to serve Him effectively.  If God is using Ministry Tools Resource Center to bless you and encourage you in your life and ministry, I praise Him.  But, I also realize that it is really God who enriches you in every way (1 Cor. 1:5).  This site is nothing without Him working through it.

You obviously desire to better serve our wonderful Lord and/or equip others to serve.  So, I thank God for a partnership, of sorts, with each other as we seek to line up with Him and His ways.  As you use the material on this site, passing on what you have learned to others, who in turn help others (2 Tim 2:2), there is a multiplication process that happens which I view as very exciting, blessing my heart beyond measure.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph. 3:20-21)

Truly, our cup overflows. 

Someone has put it this way:
“I’m drinking from my saucer ’cause my cup has overflowed.”

Even if our finances and material resources are depleted –we can still drink from the saucer.  If our health is failing or we have suffered great loss  –we can still drink from the saucer.  No matter what our circumstances, with Jesus as our Savior, our cup has overflowed.  He is what we really need.  He is enough!  He fills our cup to overflowing and we can drink from the saucer.

When it comes to sharing with others, even if we shared only from the overflow, we would have so much to offer others.  God fills our cup full and overflowing so we have something to share with others. 

• We share from the overflow of our cup through fellowship with one another.
• We share from the overflow of our cup by serving one another
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we pray for one another.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we give of our resources to meet a need.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we tell others the Good News.
• We share from the overflow of our cup by comforting those who grieve.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we encourage the discouraged.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we express appreciation to those who labor among us.

Sharing from the overflow is not sacrificial giving.  The cup overflows because more than what it needs is being poured into it.  What I have found is that even when I share from the overflow, I am still drinking from the saucer because that is how much my cup has overflowed.