The Power of Prayer
The Prayer of The Church
Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-4
A Priority of Unity
The Old Testament commanded it. (Psalm133:1)
Jesus prayed for it. (John 17:1)
Jesus promised results in prayer with it. (Matthew 18:19)
A Prayer with Unity
They had one goal. Acts 2:1
They were in one place. Acts 2:2
They had one prayer. Acts 1:14
A Power Because of Unity
The Holy Spirit came and used every believer. Acts 2:2-4
They received special power to preach the gospel. Acts 2:8-11
They saw three thousand saved. Acts 2:41
The Church prayed, in one accord;
God sent His Spirit and changed the world!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Some Ministry Advice
Some Ministry Advice
LUKE 6:20-26
Last week we read the last portion of Paul's first letter to Timothy and saw some very real and practical back to school advice.
Today we will read the words of Jesus as He encourages His disciples before sending them forth to minister.
This passage is powerful and applicable to all of us because we have all been called to ministry.
The ministry is not just for pastors or people in leadership.
It is for all of us.
However, if you are determined to invest your life into other people and minister or serve as God has commanded us, then you will face many obstacles.
You will face sorrow and suffering, rejection and misunderstandings.
You may even reach a point of wanting to give up ministering to others and live for yourself for a while.
Because Jesus knew all too well the dangers and difficulties of ministering to people, He sat his disciples down and gave them some very practical advice.
In this first part of Jesus' words on the subject Jesus deals with the blessings of ministry.
Upon reading this advice it is easy to see how we sometimes do not recognize the blessings of ministry for what they are, and we get discouraged in our good work for the Lord and for the people He loves.
READ TEXT
PRAY
Realize the Blessings of the Ministry.
The Blessing of the poor: Verse 20
> The privilege of building The Kingdom of God
- With little to distract us in the way of material things, we can enjoy the much greater work of building His kingdom instead of our own.
> Remember, the riches of this world are temporary. Verse 24
The Blessing of the hungry: Verse 21a
> The fulfillment of doing God's will.
- John 4:32 finds Jesus, hungry and thirsty, but full and satisfied.
- This hunger can apply to any desire that we have that is not fulfilled - A man or woman enslaved to fulfilling his own passions and desires is an empty person.
- What a blessing and a fulfillment to know that we are doing God's will!
> Remember, natural fulfillment is fleeting. Verse 25a
The Blessing of the broken hearted: Verse 21b
> The joy of the Lord
- Sorrow makes us pliable and usable for Him and dependant on Him for strength.
- Nehemiah 8:10b …the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Sadness is the deep colors woven into the tapestry of our lives. Without them we have little over which to rejoice.
- Psalm 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
- Joy dearly paid for is long lasting and meaningful.
> Remember, cheap laughs are short-lived. Verse 25b
The Blessing of the rejected: Verse 22,23
> Good company
- Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
- Jesus was rejected and scorned, often misunderstood and lied about, but in his hour of greatest loneliness, when all had deserted him, he accomplished the greatest feat, He paid for the sins of the world.
> Remember, human affirmation is not an assurance of being right. Vs 26
Every minister must learn to appreciate the blessings of the ministry or suffer disillusionment.
Have you surrendered to a life of ministry?
Learn to recognize and appreciate the blessings.
It is the most meaningful, the most fulfilling, the most joyous of all occupations, and in the ministry of Christ you are following in the footprints of the greatest men on earth.
In truth, Jesus himself was poor as he walked this earth.
He was often hungry and we read of how he wept.
As his ministry progressed we see that he was hated by many and even betrayed by those closest to him.
Even one whom he loved especially, denied him to others.
Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
He is above all and some day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
Certainly I can suffer and even value the suffering of ministry as I grow to be more like Him.
LUKE 6:20-26
Last week we read the last portion of Paul's first letter to Timothy and saw some very real and practical back to school advice.
Today we will read the words of Jesus as He encourages His disciples before sending them forth to minister.
This passage is powerful and applicable to all of us because we have all been called to ministry.
The ministry is not just for pastors or people in leadership.
It is for all of us.
However, if you are determined to invest your life into other people and minister or serve as God has commanded us, then you will face many obstacles.
You will face sorrow and suffering, rejection and misunderstandings.
You may even reach a point of wanting to give up ministering to others and live for yourself for a while.
Because Jesus knew all too well the dangers and difficulties of ministering to people, He sat his disciples down and gave them some very practical advice.
In this first part of Jesus' words on the subject Jesus deals with the blessings of ministry.
Upon reading this advice it is easy to see how we sometimes do not recognize the blessings of ministry for what they are, and we get discouraged in our good work for the Lord and for the people He loves.
READ TEXT
PRAY
Realize the Blessings of the Ministry.
The Blessing of the poor: Verse 20
> The privilege of building The Kingdom of God
- With little to distract us in the way of material things, we can enjoy the much greater work of building His kingdom instead of our own.
> Remember, the riches of this world are temporary. Verse 24
The Blessing of the hungry: Verse 21a
> The fulfillment of doing God's will.
- John 4:32 finds Jesus, hungry and thirsty, but full and satisfied.
- This hunger can apply to any desire that we have that is not fulfilled - A man or woman enslaved to fulfilling his own passions and desires is an empty person.
- What a blessing and a fulfillment to know that we are doing God's will!
> Remember, natural fulfillment is fleeting. Verse 25a
The Blessing of the broken hearted: Verse 21b
> The joy of the Lord
- Sorrow makes us pliable and usable for Him and dependant on Him for strength.
- Nehemiah 8:10b …the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Sadness is the deep colors woven into the tapestry of our lives. Without them we have little over which to rejoice.
- Psalm 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
- Joy dearly paid for is long lasting and meaningful.
> Remember, cheap laughs are short-lived. Verse 25b
The Blessing of the rejected: Verse 22,23
> Good company
- Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
- Jesus was rejected and scorned, often misunderstood and lied about, but in his hour of greatest loneliness, when all had deserted him, he accomplished the greatest feat, He paid for the sins of the world.
> Remember, human affirmation is not an assurance of being right. Vs 26
Every minister must learn to appreciate the blessings of the ministry or suffer disillusionment.
Have you surrendered to a life of ministry?
Learn to recognize and appreciate the blessings.
It is the most meaningful, the most fulfilling, the most joyous of all occupations, and in the ministry of Christ you are following in the footprints of the greatest men on earth.
In truth, Jesus himself was poor as he walked this earth.
He was often hungry and we read of how he wept.
As his ministry progressed we see that he was hated by many and even betrayed by those closest to him.
Even one whom he loved especially, denied him to others.
Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
He is above all and some day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
Certainly I can suffer and even value the suffering of ministry as I grow to be more like Him.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Back to School Advice
Back to School Advice
I Timothy 6:20,21
Some things To REMEMBER:
"Keep that which is committed to thy trust."
You have been entrusted with…
> The Representation of the Gospel
Php 1:27 ¶ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
-In how you appear,
-In how you company,
-In how you talk
> The Representation of Christ
Some things To AVOID:
I Timothy 6:20,21
Some things To REMEMBER:
"Keep that which is committed to thy trust."
You have been entrusted with…
> The Representation of the Gospel
Php 1:27 ¶ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
-In how you appear,
-In how you company,
-In how you talk
> The Representation of Christ
1Co 12:27 ¶ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
> The Representation of Your Family
Pr 10:1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
> The Representation of Your Family
Pr 10:1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Some things To AVOID:
Avoid Profane Babblings
> Cursing
> Cursing
Ex 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Ps 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
>Ungodly Conversation
Ps 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
>Ungodly Conversation
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Avoid Vain Babblings
> Prideful and/or degrading conversation
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
> unprofitable conversation
Tit 3:9 ¶ But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Avoid Vain Babblings
> Prideful and/or degrading conversation
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
> unprofitable conversation
Tit 3:9 ¶ But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
> Gossip
Pr 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Pr 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Pr 18:8 ¶ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Pr 20:19 ¶ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Pr 26:20 ¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Avoid Falsely named Science/Knowledge
> Evolution (an unproven theory)
Ro 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
> Tolerance (a counterfeit for love)
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
> False Doctrine (any contradiction to Scripture)
Ga 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
> Evolution (an unproven theory)
Ro 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
> Tolerance (a counterfeit for love)
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
> False Doctrine (any contradiction to Scripture)
Ga 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Conclusion:
Whether you are going back to school tomorrow, going back to work or going back to your neighborhood, if you do not have a relationship with Christ you are destined for failure. It may not be a failure that the world recognizes but one in which you will suffer the consequences of your own sin for eternity.
Only with Christ as your Saviour and personal example will you succeed in following this Back to School Advice.
Rescue in the Wilderness
Rescue in the Wilderness
Luke 8:26-39
1.) An Urgent Situation
a. The man was demon possessed.
b. Society had tried and failed to help him.
c. He was isolated from people by his condition.
2.) A Skilful Intervention
a. Jesus’ concern was for the person.
i. He addressed the real problem.
ii. He sought to free the man.
b. Jesus’ methods were for the benefit of all.
i. He destroyed the unclean herd.
ii. He pointed out the sins of the society.
3.) A Successful Rescue
a. The man was devoted to Jesus.
b. The man was determined to follow Jesus.
c. The man was dutiful to proclaim Jesus.
Personal Application: There is no person whom Jesus does not love. He can and will rescue the impossibly lost. Are you willing to reach out to them?
Luke 8:26-39
1.) An Urgent Situation
a. The man was demon possessed.
b. Society had tried and failed to help him.
c. He was isolated from people by his condition.
2.) A Skilful Intervention
a. Jesus’ concern was for the person.
i. He addressed the real problem.
ii. He sought to free the man.
b. Jesus’ methods were for the benefit of all.
i. He destroyed the unclean herd.
ii. He pointed out the sins of the society.
3.) A Successful Rescue
a. The man was devoted to Jesus.
b. The man was determined to follow Jesus.
c. The man was dutiful to proclaim Jesus.
Personal Application: There is no person whom Jesus does not love. He can and will rescue the impossibly lost. Are you willing to reach out to them?
Sunday, August 5, 2007
The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
Daniel’s Prayer
Daniel 6:1-28
A Testimony of Faithfulness
> An Excellent Spirit (Verse 3)
> A Reputation above Reproach (Verse 4)
> A Dependability in Spiritual Disciplines (Verse 5)
An Environment of Hostility
> Opposition in Personal Relationships
- His Fellow Servants and Subordinates
- His King and Superior
- Opposition from Legal Authorities (Vs.6-10)
A Prayer of Undeniable Faith
> Daniel could not deny his faith. (Verse 10)
> The King could not deny Daniel’s faith. (Verse16)
> God did not deny Daniel’s faith (Verse 22)
A Series of Consequences
> The opposition was removed. (Verse 24)
> The Lord was Glorified (Verse 25-27)
> Daniel Prospered (Verse 28)
Daniel prayed, when the outlook was grim;
God intervened and protected him.
Daniel’s Prayer
Daniel 6:1-28
A Testimony of Faithfulness
> An Excellent Spirit (Verse 3)
> A Reputation above Reproach (Verse 4)
> A Dependability in Spiritual Disciplines (Verse 5)
An Environment of Hostility
> Opposition in Personal Relationships
- His Fellow Servants and Subordinates
- His King and Superior
- Opposition from Legal Authorities (Vs.6-10)
A Prayer of Undeniable Faith
> Daniel could not deny his faith. (Verse 10)
> The King could not deny Daniel’s faith. (Verse16)
> God did not deny Daniel’s faith (Verse 22)
A Series of Consequences
> The opposition was removed. (Verse 24)
> The Lord was Glorified (Verse 25-27)
> Daniel Prospered (Verse 28)
Daniel prayed, when the outlook was grim;
God intervened and protected him.
MY GOD
MY GOD
Psalm 40:1-5
As we have focused over the last three weeks on the importance of Growing God’s Way we have seen that man does not naturally grow the way God intends.
Rather, we tend to drift away from God because we are sinners.
However, if we will follow His program for growth we will flourish, unobstructed by bitterness and sin, into the likeness of His son, Jesus Christ, Whose grace will flow through us to a lost and dying world.
Today, we will move back toward the theme for the year, relationships.
I was recently asked about what it was that inspires the sermon on Sunday.
Usually, it is the fruit of my own personal Bible study, but at times God uses some circumstance or crisis to bring to my mind some item of utmost importance.
When this happens, I am driven into the word with a passion to find God’s perspective on a particular matter.
Such is the case this morning.
I recently was searching a video sharing website with my wife when we found a set of debates between creationists and evolutionists.
Debates of this sort are generally rare because evolutionists typically decline to debate the science of creationism because they do not want to admit that the issue is still up for debate.
It is quite possible that they have seen the outcome of nearly all debates on the subject and decide to not become another statistic.
However, in watching a few of these intellectual jousts I was stricken by the hatred that the evolutionists and the self-proclaimed atheists have toward God.
On the one hand, they claim to be completely logical and scientific in their approach to the subject with an open mind to any outcome.
In the end, they invariably become emotionally irate and even vicious in their attacks against the person of a God they claim does not exist.
Something drives them with a fury that is hard to explain.
I personally do not believe in Aliens.
I do not, however, feel any hatred toward Aliens, because they do not exist!
If I were to express disdain or utter invectives against aliens, it would naturally follow that I could not shake the reality of their existence from my mind.
It might even indicate that, in my battle to not believe in them, I was losing, and my hatred was rather evidence of their existence.
In one instance, a self-proclaimed atheist lady, after mocking the poor deluded fools who insist on believing in the fantasy of God, said, with a voice shaking with rage, “I would rather go to hell than go to heaven and worship a megalomaniacal tyrant.”
As I often do, I inserted myself into the debate, speaking to the prerecorded image as if she could hear my question.
This question rose up in me with an urgency that only spontaneity can describe.
“Why do you hate Him so much?”
Before I could even finish, I knew the answer.
They don’t know MY GOD.
The more I thought of this the more I felt sympathy for these people who have dedicated their lives to disproving the existence of God.
They know information about God from some source, and they have filtered that information through their own sin-sick set of prejudices, but they do not know MY GOD.
This morning I want to introduce you to MY GOD.
If you are struggling with His reality I want you to experience Him this morning.
If you are one of His children, you should be longing to know Him better, and the more you engage in that search to know Him the less you will be distraught by the failures of people around you.
He is all you need.
He is the best part of this life, and He is the hope that I have for the next one.
READ TEXT
PRAY
There are several things from our text and from elsewhere in the Bible that I would like to point out to you about MY GOD.
1.) MY GOD is passionate about having a relationship with me.
a. Verse 5 – His thoughts toward me are innumerable.
b. Ps 139:17 ¶ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
c. His very act of creation proves his penchant for having a relationship with man.
2.) MY GOD is intent on revealing Himself to me.
a. Through creation – Ps 19:1 ¶ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
b. Through messengers and then through his own Son. – Hebrews 1:1 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son
c. He has purposefully shown us His perfections. They are not merely attributes, they are perfections.
3.) MY GOD is holy (separated from sin)
a. This is His primary attribute – Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
b. Unlike the gods of others – Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
c. The glimpse He has given us of Him in heaven – Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4.) MY GOD loves me.
a. This is revealed in His works of creation. – Psalm 8:3 ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
b. This is revealed in His active work of making me worthy of His presence. – Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
c. This is revealed by His willingness to pay my sin debt – John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
I could say so much more about MY GOD, but time is short this morning.
I would only encourage you to get to know Him.
Have you noticed, brother or sister, that you have been distracted by the faults and failures of others and discouraged by your own shortcomings?
I would challenge you to change your focus.
Stop looking at and dwelling on everyone else’s problems.
Stop looking within to find a faultlessness that is not there.
Look to the One Who never disappoints.
Look to MY GOD.
Are you lost in your search for hope in life?
I can introduce you to One who loves you more than you can imagine.
MY GOD is looking for you.
Our text ends with a prayer we should all echo.
Ps 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalm 40:1-5
As we have focused over the last three weeks on the importance of Growing God’s Way we have seen that man does not naturally grow the way God intends.
Rather, we tend to drift away from God because we are sinners.
However, if we will follow His program for growth we will flourish, unobstructed by bitterness and sin, into the likeness of His son, Jesus Christ, Whose grace will flow through us to a lost and dying world.
Today, we will move back toward the theme for the year, relationships.
I was recently asked about what it was that inspires the sermon on Sunday.
Usually, it is the fruit of my own personal Bible study, but at times God uses some circumstance or crisis to bring to my mind some item of utmost importance.
When this happens, I am driven into the word with a passion to find God’s perspective on a particular matter.
Such is the case this morning.
I recently was searching a video sharing website with my wife when we found a set of debates between creationists and evolutionists.
Debates of this sort are generally rare because evolutionists typically decline to debate the science of creationism because they do not want to admit that the issue is still up for debate.
It is quite possible that they have seen the outcome of nearly all debates on the subject and decide to not become another statistic.
However, in watching a few of these intellectual jousts I was stricken by the hatred that the evolutionists and the self-proclaimed atheists have toward God.
On the one hand, they claim to be completely logical and scientific in their approach to the subject with an open mind to any outcome.
In the end, they invariably become emotionally irate and even vicious in their attacks against the person of a God they claim does not exist.
Something drives them with a fury that is hard to explain.
I personally do not believe in Aliens.
I do not, however, feel any hatred toward Aliens, because they do not exist!
If I were to express disdain or utter invectives against aliens, it would naturally follow that I could not shake the reality of their existence from my mind.
It might even indicate that, in my battle to not believe in them, I was losing, and my hatred was rather evidence of their existence.
In one instance, a self-proclaimed atheist lady, after mocking the poor deluded fools who insist on believing in the fantasy of God, said, with a voice shaking with rage, “I would rather go to hell than go to heaven and worship a megalomaniacal tyrant.”
As I often do, I inserted myself into the debate, speaking to the prerecorded image as if she could hear my question.
This question rose up in me with an urgency that only spontaneity can describe.
“Why do you hate Him so much?”
Before I could even finish, I knew the answer.
They don’t know MY GOD.
The more I thought of this the more I felt sympathy for these people who have dedicated their lives to disproving the existence of God.
They know information about God from some source, and they have filtered that information through their own sin-sick set of prejudices, but they do not know MY GOD.
This morning I want to introduce you to MY GOD.
If you are struggling with His reality I want you to experience Him this morning.
If you are one of His children, you should be longing to know Him better, and the more you engage in that search to know Him the less you will be distraught by the failures of people around you.
He is all you need.
He is the best part of this life, and He is the hope that I have for the next one.
READ TEXT
PRAY
There are several things from our text and from elsewhere in the Bible that I would like to point out to you about MY GOD.
1.) MY GOD is passionate about having a relationship with me.
a. Verse 5 – His thoughts toward me are innumerable.
b. Ps 139:17 ¶ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
c. His very act of creation proves his penchant for having a relationship with man.
2.) MY GOD is intent on revealing Himself to me.
a. Through creation – Ps 19:1 ¶ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
b. Through messengers and then through his own Son. – Hebrews 1:1 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son
c. He has purposefully shown us His perfections. They are not merely attributes, they are perfections.
3.) MY GOD is holy (separated from sin)
a. This is His primary attribute – Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
b. Unlike the gods of others – Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
c. The glimpse He has given us of Him in heaven – Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4.) MY GOD loves me.
a. This is revealed in His works of creation. – Psalm 8:3 ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
b. This is revealed in His active work of making me worthy of His presence. – Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
c. This is revealed by His willingness to pay my sin debt – John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
I could say so much more about MY GOD, but time is short this morning.
I would only encourage you to get to know Him.
Have you noticed, brother or sister, that you have been distracted by the faults and failures of others and discouraged by your own shortcomings?
I would challenge you to change your focus.
Stop looking at and dwelling on everyone else’s problems.
Stop looking within to find a faultlessness that is not there.
Look to the One Who never disappoints.
Look to MY GOD.
Are you lost in your search for hope in life?
I can introduce you to One who loves you more than you can imagine.
MY GOD is looking for you.
Our text ends with a prayer we should all echo.
Ps 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
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