Mark 1:3:  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”

The Voice in the Wilderness presents this CrossVue Bible Series as a help to believers in their obedience to Christ. May God add His blessing upon this endeavor. Appreciation is extended to Pastor Plemmons and the Leicester church family for allowing this Bible Study Series recording here at this beautiful facility. An Audio presentation of this study can be accessed on       www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org. It is my prayer that all who study with us will grow in their knowledge of God’s Word.
Alpha to Apocalypse
Beginning to the External
A Bible Study Saltbox to create a thirst for God’s Word

THE BEGINNING, THE RACE & THE FINISH

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
Over 3,000 times this Book records the scriptures divinely inspired origin!
Hundreds of prophecies specifically and meticulously fulfilled. Archeological proofs are almost innumerable. Bible records have led to many amazing discoveries.
Genesis 1:1 may very well be the most frequently read verse in the Bible. Many who have said, “I will read the entire Bible,” but never accomplished that worthy goal probably read Genesis 1:1. This is the Book of Beginnings, and it is here we begin with The Word Power Study. I will be using key words from the KJB English and the original languages to place this Divine Dynamite in the Bible student’s heart, head, and hand. Behold you frail mortal the Power in THE WORD.
“In the beginning God.”  How blessed and privileged we are – grace and love are demonstrated to us in this momentous occasion. Think about it. We are introduced to GOD. I am allowed to inhale GOD. I am allowed to exhale GOD. The very name of GOD!
The Word Power #1

The very name of His Sovereign majesty – His omnipotence--The name of God – Elohim (TWP#1) -The plural majesty of THE ONE CREATOR of All! In the beginning we are introduced to the fullness and glory of divine power – Elohim.  The plurality of HIS name used in the singular gives us a glimpse of THE GODHEAD in all His power, glory and fullness.

An interesting note:  The English word “GOD” is the same as the Anglo-Saxon word meaning for “good.”  “There is none good but God.” “In the beginning God.”  Let this be declared from loftiest heights, God is good! His very name, in this 1st verse reveals to us He is good….  Oh dear student, behold the Divine goodness!
For those who write margin notes in your Bible, this is an excellent observation. The Hebrew language gives us two powerful, personal names of GOD. ELOHIM – we’ve already discussed. Second, Yahweh or Jehovah – describing the all-powerful, self-existent, one GOD – Yahweh!  Hallelujah – What a privilege to know the almighty God!


THE WORD POWER #2

The one and only Great God Creator “Elohim.”  “In the beginning” = bereshith (TWP #2) created the heaven and the earth. “In the beginning” = bereshith (be-ray-sheeth) in the Hebrew is declarative as is verse two in stating as fact with no room for question, “In the beginning God….”(read verse 1 & 2). Verse 1 is no summary or heading for the following work of Elohim.
Verses 1 and 2 demonstrate the sequential action of Elohim calling into existence all space, all time, and all matter as only the omnipotent eternal Godhead could do! In the beginning God – no proof theory, no great age theory, no gap theory, and no evolution theory.
By the way, if man’s pea-brain could prove God, God would be no God—man would be god. In the beginning God! – (case closed!)
Psalm 14:1 – “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” The fool has declared no God in his heart, but the mind of the fool is still warring with God. The fool keeps saying “there is no God” with his perverted pseudo-science. The fool keeps saying, “There is no God” with his perverted revisionist history. The fool keeps saying, “There is no God” with his perverted humanistic philosophy. But the universe itself is not big enough for the fool to find a place to hide from God. Spinning at 490,000 miles per hour, it would take our galaxy 200 million years to rotate one time through the vastness of God’s universe with over a billion additional galaxies. Yet with stars numbering more than the sand of the sea, all function in order by the hand of the great designer – ELOHIM!
To say that the universe just happened takes a bigger fool that all of faith could imagine!  Bereshith – (ray sheeth) “In the beginning”.  Hey – there was a BIG BANG!!
            BANG
   
            B – beautifully
            A – arranged       
              N – none other
                G – GOD
       Beautifully arranged by none other than GOD =                          
                                BANG
Again a good marginal note:  “In the beginning” Genesis 1:1 is a different word meaning than John 1:1 “In the beginning.” In John 1:1 before there was a beginning the Word, Jesus, always existed and the Word, Jesus, was with God and the Word, Jesus, was God. In Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning” ELOHIM, Jesus the Word, created all things and by Him all things were created. HE is before all things and by HIM all things consist – Col:1:16 &17.
“Daddy, where did God come from,” the precious child asked?  “Honey, in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”  Before everything, God has always been. “In the beginning God.”  “In the beginning was the Word.”
Anyone honestly and sincerely wanting Truth – to do himself/herself justice—must read and consider the BIBLE. Scientific, historical, archaeological – the time tested, trustworthiness, and life-changing evidence of the Holy Bible must be carefully viewed. God’s Holy Word is uniquely set apart. WHY? Throughout this series the undeniable, irrefutable Truth of God’s Word will culminate in a crescendo of Holy, Holy, Holy, Hallelujah, to the King of Glory!


THE WORD POWER #3

“In the beginning God created.” Elohim created out of nothing, the space, mass, time, universe. This “created,” is a God-word, for this action only belongs to God. The word “created” (bara) (TWP#3) speaks uniquely of God in all HIS power and majesty. From nothing, no pre-existing material, Elohim by the power of His mind, spoke into existence that which had no existence.
What is the largest or highest number a man or machine could conjure up? Could the totality of the universe be measured? If so, at the very end – WHAT? Just utter blackness and nothingness.
BANG – BIG BANG – was there once a little BANG or a BIGGER BANG?
How about a MID-BANG or POST-BANG? Before all the happenstance, was that GOD?
The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This is order – worth and dignity. “In the Beginning God” gives answer, foundation, and confirmation. That is explanation to life, death, and accountability!
WHOA! Wait, right there. “ME” accountable to God?
I heard Carl Sagan speak many times. He, among many others, seemed to be in constant argument with themselves--trying to persuade and reassure themselves there is no GOD. At least, no God, that I will ever give account to!
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3.
Elohim, the Eternal Sovereign Lord God called the heaven and the earth into existence out of nothing! In the beginning God created… He still speaks, do we listen?


THE WORD POWER #4

“God created the heaven and the earth.” This Word Power section consists of the words “heaven” and “earth”(TWP#4).
I emphasize again the Divine Origin of Scripture – the inspired, infallible Word of God – The Divine Library: 39 books in the Old Testament; 27 books in the New Testament. Over the course of 1,500 years, God moved upon 40 writers to record His Word. This God-breathed revelation is the perfect, preserved Word of God. From Genesis 1:1 throughout the New Testament the Spirit of God guides the Bible student along the amazing journey of Truth. “God created the heaven and the earth.” As if he were divinely conveyed upon omnipotence and omnipresence, the reader is transported from this original space—mass—time continuum (Gen 1:1) by the breath of Elohim and the pen of Moses to another writer named Paul. From the Book of Beginning (heaven and earth) to a church in Colosse, God breathes out His revelation concerning heaven and earth. Gen. 1:1 – “God created the heaven and the earth.” Then Colossians chapter one speaks of Him “who is the beginning” the preeminent one reconciling “all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Hey – Don’t tell me this Book is not relevant. Don’t waste your breath. God’s breath is freshly breathed from heaven to earth here and now. Even the liberal news media, magazines and television reports are talking Bible. How about the Middle East? What about the age old conflict - Arab, Palestinian, and Israeli? Have you ever heard of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael? And then there is this global, one-world talk we hear? Duh, are you seeing prophecy or what –hello????
Everybody wants “change.”
The liar, sin and fallen man brought ruin upon all that God had made good. But He who is the Beginning, the Creator, and has by His Almighty power dispelled darkness, “let there be light”—divided the light from the darkness with the “Day Star” and the evening and the morning were the first day and the Church has met to worship! The bright and morning star has risen – GLORY to GOD – formlessness, and void, and darkness are gone. Death, hell and the grave are defeated! He is in the reconciling business “whether they be things in earth or things in heaven! Hallelujah!
Dear student, dip your cup into the never-ending thirst quenching living water – He is reconciling in earth and in heaven. Surely we understand this reconciliation on earth. Elohim in all His goodness leadeth men to repentance and reconciliation. But what of reconciliation in heaven? Could there be an account on our account that must be reconciled in heaven?--An account full of promises, power and provision we as children here on earth never drew down on.
Then too, what about the standing angels; those unlike Lucifer/Satan and his fallen host, those holy angels in heaven having seen the magnitude of sin, the infinite love and cost of redemption, as well as, the power of Elohim to do what none other could do. They now see the consummation of all. Perhaps we will say more about these events in later study. Suffice it now to be declared there is reconciliation by The One and Only True and Living God now made manifest to His saints.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Why would God create the heaven and the earth? For One who is all-sufficient it seems purposeless for God to go beyond Himself to do, be or obtain anything. Then is it even permissible or presumptuous to entertain such a thought? Perhaps God Himself answers that question. Please listen to the continuation of this CrossVue Bible Series on The Voice in the Wilderness website.