Who is God?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Feel Good Messages?
Feel Good Messages?
If the truth is being preached, not all messages are feel good messages are they?
We have had some good lessons thus far in this series, but they sure have not been feel good messages, more personal responsibility and activity messages haven’t they?
Settle in our Christianity; meaning do something with it, don’t leave it packed up
Are you all in? - Are we really all in for the Lord? Does our life prove it
Forgiveness, is it really a logical conclusion?
In the churches today, overall, we have seen the gospel perverted, the gospel weakened, many baby Christians who are satisfied with milk vs. meat. Seems many have lost the perspective of who God is and who He says we are.
Wrong perspective gives wrong results!
So let’s build on our perspective of God and God’s perspective of us tonight.
I. Who does God say He is?
I. Who does God say He is?
We form ideas of who we think God is. Sometimes from our own thoughts and opinions, sometimes from that of others, some even from the Bible, or what we think the Bible says.
When you think of God, who do you think He is?
He is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev1:8)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
He is the “I AM God almighty (Gen17:1-2)
1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 2 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.”
Look at the (vv.1-2) What was the promise? What was the condition, what was the challenge?
I know that really has nothing to do with who God says He is, but it is a good point to note.
I Am who I Am (Exo3:14)
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Whose name is the Lord (Psm68:4-5)
Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him. A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
Notice what the Psalmist says;
Father to the fatherless
Judge for the widows
What is His name here? What does it mean?
So now, what does God say in the N.T.
I am the Light (Jn8:12)
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
What is the promise we have here (v.12)?
I am the Way (Jn14:6)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
What is the condition stated in (v.6)?
I am the good shepherd (Jn10:11)
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
OK, trivia time, who else does God say He is?
Remember we are talking about perspective here tonight. Having the right perspective gives you the right results. When we understand who God is we can start to be in reverent awe of Him. Not because of His power and wrath, but because of His unfailing, unwavering, unconditional love.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now a change of focus, may we now look at what does God have to say about us?
II. Who does God say I am?
II. Who does God say I am?
Who God is will impact what we think about what God says about us. As we go through these scriptures think about them, personally.
Fearfully and wonderfully made (Psm139:14)
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
What does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made?
You are His workmanship (Eph2:10)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(expand on Eph2:10; time permitting; watch the time!)
You are forgiven (1Jn2:12)
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.
For His name’s sake, what does that mean?
It is in His name you have your salvation, only in His name, (Act4:12) it means because the Fathers love was poured out through the Son. He is just, He is merciful and that mercy comes through the Son through His name!
You are justified (Rom5:1-2)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Justified by faith, peace with God through Jesus, by faith into His grace, exulting in hope of the glory of God, which is Jesus!
You are free from condemnation (Rom8:1-2)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
(expand on the significance of this; what God tells us, promises us through the inspired word)
You are a temple (1Cor3:16-17)
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
God tells you that you are a temple, a temple in which the Spirit of God dwells!
In our series practical Christianity, it is meant to be practical, which means it is to be applicable (Rom6:4; Eph2:10; 1Pt2:9)
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
What is the application here? To walk in the newness of life
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
And here, what is it? To walk in the good works He we were created to do
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
And application here, to proclaim the excellencies of Him!
Can you think of other things God says about you?
So how about when we take what we have looked at, and add some more application?
III. Knowing the Who, and the what, what should we do?
III. Knowing the Who, and the what, what should we do?
Knowing who God is, who God says He is and what God has to say about who we are, there are plenty of application scriptures, in which we will look at just a few now.
(look at the time, if there is time you can develop of each of these below, but be careful of the time)
Honor all people (1Pt2:17)
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
Life peaceably (Rom12:18)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Encourage one another (1The5:11)
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Make peace with one another (Rom14:19)
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Bear with one another (Gal6:2)
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
But you can’t do (v.2) without (v.1)
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
What other things should we do? Can you think of any?
(Lead to encouragement)
Love one another
Forgive one another
Serve one another
(Put exit slide here)