The Bigness of God
Notes
Transcript
Bigness of God
Bigness of God
What do I want them to know? We are to pray to know God, know who we are, and the power of power
Why? It brings hope, revelation, and power
What do I want them to do? Pray to know God, know who they are, and for the power of God
Why? It brings hope, confidence, revelation, correction, and power
ME/WE
We do not know what the future will be.
We do not know what the future will be.
We do not know how long this Pandemic will last.
We do not know what this election will bring to this country.
Some of us are wondering if we will have financial income in the next.
We do not know if our kids will go back to school this school year.
What’s interesting the uncertainty of the present future, not eternal future, HAS ALWAYS BEEN “what?” CERTAIN (we have thought that)
NO
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Our earthly future is a vapor, here today gone tomorrow, sometimes here today gone today
How many times have we seen or witnessed a young…we were certain that would not happen
Us to get cancer at a young age, that was not apart of our future…I thought if you eat right, workout, and do not do destructive things to your body that your future would be certain....yes working out helps, and eating right helps, and not doing destructive things help....but God know the hour
1 Thess 5:1-2
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
To lose a job....you were certain you were set
To lose a relationship....you were certain that relationship would last forever
TENSION
So what DO WE in the CERTAIN uncertainty of the earthly FUTURE? 3 common places today
1. Do we run to the human experts on Covid for certainty who themselves say over and over they are the uncertain about the certain of Covid-19
(yes, we should glen wisdom from experts, Covid is real and people are dying)
What every country has reported is 80% of all deaths happen to people over 65 and 32% being over +85 and only 94% of the people who died had preexisting conditions.
Does that mean you will die, no
But these facts are not where we find certainty and that is where we find ourselves in a heap of trouble when we find Truth outside of The Truth to find certainty
2. Do we run to the experts on Facebook and Twitter and Media who censor truth?
3. Do we just bunker down and wait for the storm to pass? we plan for the worst and hope for the best?
NONE OF THESE THINGS GIVES THE CERTAINTY OUR SOUL NEEDs
SO WHERE DO WE GO? WHERE DID MOSES GO WHEN THE EGYPTIANS WERE SEEKING TO CAPTURE THEM, WHERE DID DAVID GO WHEN SAUL WAS AFTER HIS LIFE, WHERE DID PAUL GO WHEN HE WAS IN PRISON, WHERE CAN THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS GO IN THE DARK CITY
TO THE CERTAINTY OF GOD
MATT 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Paul wants us and the church of Ephesus, who is planting a church a dark area for them to know the CERTAINTY, THE BIGNESS, THE EFFICACY OF GOD.....HE WANTS THEM TO HAVE a HUGE VIEW OF GOD
Let’s read Paul’s prayer
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
That’s a lot
But what is Paul praying here?
Thanksgiving that they are GROWING in THE GOSPEL and Sharing the Gospel
Prays that the SAINTS, BELIEVERS
Would Know God
Know their Identity and Calling
Know the Power of God
Why would pray these prayers? They are already know God, know who they are, and the power....right!?!
WE know these things will give them to name a few things, COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, FAITH OVER FEAR, LOVE, ENDURANCE, PATIENCE, JOY, HOPE,
The way I received DELIVERANCE FROM MY OWN DEMONS WAS FROM FIGHTING AND FLEEING AND KNOWING WHO GOD IS, WHO I AM IN CHRIST, AND THE POWER OF GOD
1. Know God
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
What does it mean to know God? They are already Christian
Is Paul referring I just want you to know about God, know facts about him? NO
it’s more than that.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
What Paul is praying when he prays that they would know I AM PRAYING THAT YOU KNOW GOD
To know means to know in Greek does mean to know about something…It is know with intimacy ....similar -
You know your spouse or best…You know what they like and don’t like, how they think, what they love, what drives them crazy
This is different that Many of us know about Ben.... Ben can play keys, he loves music, he is going to school for cosmetology, those are things about Ben but not many people know Ben…what he loves, what he likes to eat, what makes him happy, his past, his dreams, his hopes, ambitions
i love what Tozer says about the importance of knowing God
A.W. TOZER
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.....For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most predictive fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God.
Think about that
the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God.
Those who walk with COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, JOY, HOPE, FAITH OVER FEAR ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SMALL VIEW OF GOD? NO, SMALL GOD, BIG PROBLEMS, BIG GOD SMALL PROBLEMS
THIS IS WHY Howard Hendricks a well known seminary professor said his aim in teaching was not that his students would know about God, but that the would know God
THEY WOULD LOVE SEMINARY AS “BIG GODDERS NOT JUST SMART THEOLOGIANS”
What are things, the fullness of revelation that Paul would want them to know....
We are going to cover A COUPLE today…they fit at all times but they are screaming today.
1. Sovereign God
What is that? What does it mean that God is sovereign?…ENGLAND USES THIS WORD
John Piper
God’s sovereignty means: “God is sovereign, another way you can say it is Lord, over the whole world, and everything that happens in it. He is never helpless, never frustrated, never at a loss. And in Christ, God’s awesome, sovereign providence is the place we feel most reverent, most secure, most free.”
Abraham Kyper
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
Rev 21:6 God is the Alpha and Omega
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
DO YOU SEE THE BIGNESS OF GOD
GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER EVERYTHING, NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT GOD’S PERMISSION
- I hope this is instilling some HOPE in you
What Paul is praying for us, what I am praying you and us is that we know the SOVEREIGNTY of GOD....
The Pandemic, your problems, earthly kings and rules, BOW TO GOD
I don’t know the details of how the Pandemic is going to work
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What does all things mean?
ALL THINGS
In God’s way, In God’s timing
GOD IS THE LORD OF LORDs and KING OF KINGS
JESUS IS KING!
THE ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM IN IT’S FINALITY IS JESUS IS KING
Paul doesn’t want them to just know God is sovereign....He is King of Kings…He wants them know he is the loving God....He’s sovereignty is not defined by dictatived power
2. Loving
see God
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
How great is this love? Is equivalent to how much you love chocolate? Or how much you love summer?
NO
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
He has a sacrificial love for us
THINK ABOUT THIS PHIL 2.....GOD HUMBLED HIMSELF TAKING ON HUMAN FLESH…WHY TO SAVE, REDEEM, AND RESCUE HUMANITY FROM THE PLIGHT OF SIN
HYMN: HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
not only is God sovereign, loving, He’s faithful
3. FAITHFUL
Do you know how faithful your God is? Do you know how faithful your God is? Is He sometimes faithful? Is He faithful if we are faithful? He
Let’s let the scriptures preach
Deut 7:9
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
God is the faithful covenantal God, who loves you and faithful to you.
IS HIS FAITHFULNESS DEPEND ON YOUR FAITHFULNESS?
There are some who believe this
God will be faithful to you if you obey, if you are faithful
Is this what scripture says?
2 Tim 2:13
English Standard Version Chapter 2
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
How many times do we lose faith?
How many times have we doubt God?
One of the songs that has been bursting my soul with overwhelming delight is
Promises by Maverick City (we will text a YouTube link to the song)
God of Abraham
You're the God of covenant
And of faithful promises
Time and time again
You have proven
You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow
I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn, when You speak a word
It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me
When the seasons change
You remain the same
God from age to age
Though the earth may pass away
Your word remains the same, yea-eah
Your history can prove
There’s nothing You can’t do
You’re faithful and true
GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO ME
Then continuing with last weeks sermon God faithfulness is also involved in our battle with sin
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
God is so faithful that He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, he will sometimes provide a way out? ALWAYS PROVIDE A WAY OUT
HE’S YOUR FAITHFUL FATHER
4. Provider
Many of us are concerned about our financial future, will we have a job, will we have a retirement?
What did we learn from the last sermon in Philippians?
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
What does this say God will supply SOME NEEDS? EVERY NEED, not want, NEED
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
God says I am going to be your provider....you do not need to look anywhere else.....
He feeds the birds
He clothes the grass
Are you not more valuable to Him Son or Daughter!?!
This is what Paul is praying to for us to know the fullness of God
5. Omnipresence
God is not limited or bounded by space, yet he is present throughout all space and fully present. God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present in every point of space in his entire being.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
Another verse
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
THIS IS YOUR GOD
Know this does what?
Gives you CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, LOVE, FAITH OVER FEAR