The Apostles' Creed - Lesson 3: ...in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

The Apostles' Creed

Lesson 3: ...in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

I believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

Born of the virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead and buried.

He descended into hell,

And on the third day he rose again;

He ascended into heaven,

Where he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty,

Whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

The holy, catholic church,

The communion of saints,

The forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the body,

And the life everlasting.

Amen.

Psalm 103:13-14 [13] Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. [14] For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.

1 Peter 1:17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The purpose of this series of lessons is, using the Apostles' Creed, to teach the essential teachings of the Christian faith and what it means to believe them. To state it simply, the goal is to teach what we believe and what it means to believe it.

The first section of the creed concerns God the Father. In it we confess that we believe that God is the Father, he is almighty, and he made the heavens and the earth.

God the Father. God is the Father. He is the Father of his only son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). He is the father generally of all people (Acts 17:29) in that we were all created by him. He is the father especially of his chosen children, of those who have turned from their own ways and now live for him and do his will (John 1:12; Matthew 6:9; 12:50). God the Father loves and provides for his children. If we believe this it means we will not be anxious about food, clothing, etc. Instead we will trust our heavenly Father as we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. God the Father also trains, disciplines and chastens his children, with the purpose that we may grow up to partake of his holiness (Hebrews 12:5-13). Believing this, we will learn to count it all joy when we encounter various trials (James 1:2-4).

Almighty. God possesses all power. He is stronger and greater than all people and things. To confess this, to believe it, means we will not fear man or what man can do to us (Matthew 10:28). Instead, we will trust in and fear Almighty God, and so obey and serve him without fear (Luke 1:74-75).

Maker of Heaven and Earth. All of creation was made by God. He is greater than all, as the painter is greater than his painting, as the builder is greater than his building. So, we must worship and serve God the creator, and not worship and serve created things, whether man, money, pleasure, etc. Also, this should comfort, strengthen and encourage us to trust God and not fear the raging of created things (Acts 4:21-30). Further, in creating, God made man in his own image and likeness. Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. Believing this means that we will treat all people with respect, simply because they bear the image of God.

Suggestions:

Open each lesson with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.

Remind the children that we are using the Apostles' Creed to teach the essential teachings of the Christian faith, that is, what we believe and what it means to believe it. Read through the Apostles' Creed with the children.

Explain that we will break up the creed into twelve parts. Today we will talk about the first part: I believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Talk with the children about God the Father. Ask them what a father is and does. Lead them toward the thoughts that God the Father loves his children, he provides for them, and disciplines them. Ask them about God's children: who are God's children? Ask them if they know any stories from the Bible that show God loving, providing for, and disciplining his children. Have them give some details of the stories that apply.

Talk with them about God being Almighty. What does it mean that he is almighty? Do they know any stories from the Bible that show God is almighty, and that show people who trusted God the Almighty? Again, have them give some details of the stories that apply. Ask questions: how do you know that people like Daniel and his friends believed God is almighty?

Talk with them about God being the maker of heaven and earth. What does it mean? Does the Bible say anything about God being the creator? Remind them that God made man in his own image and likeness, and that because of that we should show respect to all men. Read the story of the sixth day of creation in Genesis 1:24-31. You can also remind them that many of God’s children have taken courage amid persecution by considering that God is the maker of heaven and earth (ie. 2 Kings 19:15).

Close the lesson with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.

Stories:

Genesis 1:24-31 [24] God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. [25] God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good. [26] God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” [29] God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. [30] To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. [31] God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

GOD THE FATHER – Stories showing God's provision for and discipline of his children

God gave his people manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).

God disciplines the people when they complain (Numbers 11:1-35).

He fed Elijah through the ravens, then through the widow during the famine (1 Kings 17).

Jesus, the son of God, fed 5000 (Matthew 14).

God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf (John 3:16).

ALMIGHTY

The three friends believed God was almighty (Daniel 3; note verse 17).

Daniel did too when faced with the lions den (Daniel 6).

David believed God was almighty when he faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

God sent the 10 plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 6-12).

He parted the waters and delivered a whole nation (Exodus 14).

God sent a flood to destroy the wicked and deliver the righteous (Genesis 6-8).

Jesus went to the cross, knowing God the Father would raise him from the dead (Matthew 16:21;17:23;20:19;26:32).

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

The creation stories are written in Genesis, including the story of the creation of man (Genesis 1-2).

God calls Moses to speak and reminds him who made man's mouth (Exodus 4).

The last book of the Bible tells us to worship him who made all things (Revelation 14).

More Stories and Examples:

Genesis 1:1-31;2:1-3

The story of creation.

Genesis 2:4-9,15-25 [4] This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens. [5] No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, [6] but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. [7] Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. [8] Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. [9] Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [15] Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. [16] Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; [17] but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” [18] Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” [19] Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature became its name. [20] The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper comparable to him. [21] Yahweh God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. [22] Yahweh God made a woman from the rib which had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. [23] The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.” [24] Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. [25] The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

God created all things and provides every good thing for his creatures.

Exodus 4:10-17 [10] Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” [11] Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? [12] Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.” [13] He said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.” [14] Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. [15] You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. [16] He will be your spokesman to the people; and it will happen, that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God. [17] You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

Moses is hesitant to obey. God exhorts Moses by reminding him that the one who gave him the command to use his mouth is also the one who created man’s mouth. When Moses did not take courage at this thought, the Lord’s anger was kindled against Moses.

Exodus 16:1-8,13-15,35 [1] They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. [2] The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; [3] and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” [4] Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. [5] It shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” [6] Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, then you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt; [7] and in the morning, then you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?” [8] Moses said, “Now Yahweh shall give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you; because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh.”

[13] In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp. [14] When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground. [15] When the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat.”

[35] The children of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate the manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan.

God the Father provided for the needs of his people each day. Even in the midst of their disobedience and unbelief, he continued to give them daily bread in the wilderness.

Psalm 107:23-32 [23] Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; [24] These see Yahweh’s works, and his wonders in the deep. [25] For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves. [26] They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble. [27] They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. [28] Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. [29] He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. [30] Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven. [31] Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the children of men! [32] Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.

The one who created the wind and water, can calm the storm, or see us safely through it.

Mark 4:35-41 [35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” [36] Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. [37] A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. [38] He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” [39] He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” [41] They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Jesus’ authority over the wind and the sea provide one clue (of many) as to who he is.

Other Verses:

GOD THE FATHER

Psalm 103:13-14 [13] Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. [14] For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.

Matthew 5:43-48 [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [47] If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6:25-34 [25] Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? [27] “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? [28] Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, [29] yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? [31] “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Matthew 10:28-31 [28] Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. [29] “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, [30] but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 12:46-50 [46] While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. [47] One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.” [48] But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” [49] He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Who are the brothers, sisters, and mothers of Jesus, the son of God? Jesus says that whoever does the will of his Father in heaven is his brother, sister and mother. It seems safe to say those who do the will of the Father in heaven are children of the Father in heaven.

John 1:12-13 [12] But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: [13] who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The apostle John wrote that whoever believes in the name of Jesus has authority to become a child of God. While one apostle taught we must believe, another taught that we must repent, turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance (Acts 26:20). When we consider that believing (or faith) must include both assent with our mind and surrender of our will, it becomes clearer that they are speaking of the same thing in different ways.

John 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;

Hebrews 12:5-13 [5] You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; [6] for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.” [7] It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? [8] But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children. [9] Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. [11] All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. [12] Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, [13] and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

1 Peter 1:17-21 [17] If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear: [18] knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, [19] but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ; [20] who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of times for your sake, [21] who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 John 4:19-21 [19] We love him, because he first loved us. [20] If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? [21] This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

1 John 5:1-2 [1] Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.

2 John 1:4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

ALMIGHTY

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust the name of Yahweh our God.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.

2 Maccabees 6:24-26 [24] For it becomes not our years to dissemble, said he, that through this many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of fourscore years and ten, had gone over to an alien religion; [25] and so they, by reason of my dissimulation, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, should be led astray because of me, and thus I get to myself a pollution and a stain of my old age. [26] For even if for the present time I shall remove from me the punishment of men, yet shall I not escape the hands of the Almighty, either living or dead.

2 Maccabees 7:7-9 [7] And when the first had died after this manner, they brought the second to the mocking; and they pulled off the skin of his head with the hair and asked him, Wilt you eat, before your body be punished in every limb? [8] But he answered in the language of his fathers and said to them, No. Wherefore he also underwent the next torture in succession, as the first had done. [9] And when he was at the last gasp, he said, You, miscreant, do release us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise up us, who have died for his laws, to an eternal renewal of life.

Matthew 10:28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Revelation 15:3-4 [3] They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. [4] Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Revelation 16:4-7 [4] The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. [5] I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. [6] For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” [7] I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”

Revelation 17:14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Genesis 1:26-28 [26] God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

James 3:8-10 [8] But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. [10] Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Genesis 1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.”

Genesis 6:5-8 [5] Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. [6] Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. [7] Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.” [8] But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes.

Exodus 20:8-11 [8] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] You shall labor six days, and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; [11] for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

Job 31:13-15 [13] “If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me; [14] What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him? [15] Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?

Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

Psalm 19:1-5 [1] The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. [2] Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. [4] Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, [5] which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 121:1-2 [1] I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? [2] My help comes from Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

Jeremiah 10:10-16 [10] But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to withstand his indignation. [11] You shall say this to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens. [12] He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens: [13] when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries. [14] Every man has become brutish and without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. [15] They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. [16] The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Yahweh of Armies is his name.

Zechariah 12:1-5 [1] An oracle. Yahweh’s word concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says: [2] “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and on Judah also will it be in the siege against Jerusalem. [3] It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it. [4] In that day,” says Yahweh, “I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. [5] The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.’

2 Maccabees 7:10-12 [10] And after him was the third made a mocking-stock. And when he was required, he quickly put out his tongue, and stretched forth his hands courageously, [11] and nobly said, From heaven I possess these; and for his laws’ sake I treat these with contempt; and from him I hope to receive these back again: [12] insomuch that the king himself and those who were with him were astonished at the young man’s soul, for that he nothing regarded the pains.

Acts 17:24-31 [24] The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, [25] neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. [26] He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, [27] that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [28] ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ [29] Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. [30] The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, [31] because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

Romans 1:18-25 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. [20] For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. [21] Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. [24] Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, [25] who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Revelation 4:9-11 [9] When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, [11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”

Revelation 14:6-7 [6] I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. [7] He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”

PRAYERS TO GOD THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

2 Kings 19:14-19 [14] Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. [15] Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. [16] Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to defy the living God. [17] Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, [18] and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them. [19] Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone.”

[see also Isaiah 37:14-20]

Nehemiah 9:5-6 [5] Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! [6] You are Yahweh, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you.

Jeremiah 32:16-27 [16] Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to Yahweh, saying, [17] “Ah Lord Yahweh! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you, [18] who show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Yahweh of Armies is his name; [19] great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings; [20] who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, both in Israel and among other men; and made yourself a name, as it is today; [21] and brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, with wonders, with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm, and with great terror; [22] and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. [23] They came in and possessed it, but they didn’t obey your voice and didn’t walk in your law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you have caused all this evil to come upon them. [24] “Behold, siege ramps have come to the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, of the famine, and of the pestilence. What you have spoken has happened. Behold, you see it. [25] You have said to me, Lord Yahweh, ‘Buy the field for money, and call witnesses;’ whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”

[26] Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, [27] “Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?

Acts 4:21-30 [21] When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. [22] For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old. [23] Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; [25] who by the mouth of your servant, David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? [26] The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’ [27] “For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together [28] to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. [29] Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”