El Elyon Put God In His Rightful Place

Introduction

The final installment of this series might just be the most challenging. It invades many aspects of our life, if not all.

The phrase “El Elyon” highlights the greatness of God and it challenges all aspects of our lives?

It tells or God is big and strong and mighty, and there’s nothing HE cannot do

No one is like God - He’s Unique

“to whom shall you compare God?” Isaiah 46:5““To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike?”

Isaiah 40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?”

God sits in a special place because there is none to compare God with

There is none like Him before Him or after Him

No one is above God - He’s supreme

He is supreme in power

No one is beyond the status of God

No one can go toe-to-toe with God

Nothing rivals God in importance, significance and relevance

God is it!

Our Text

The Psamlist wants you to know how great God is.

God Reigns

Psalm 97:1 “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.” -

No one is outside the realm of God

There is Justice and Righteousness with God

Psalm 97:2 “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness [no deviant way in God] and justice [nothing escapes His notice, all answer to Him] are the foundation of His throne.”

Vs. 3-6 show us the greatness of God and how the earth responds - It substantiates what “El Elyon” is

The earth responds in awe to the greatness of God and the greatness of His works

These natural phenomena are used to indicated the might and supremeness of God

Ps 97:7-9 turns attention to the false gods amd the rejoicing of God’s people

Why? - God is Most High

Why are we talking about this

Because this info must impact the heart, and subsequent actions by the christian

El Elyon means, no one/nothing is above God

Is that true for my life, my heart?

Or are there things that are above God?

If that’s the case, the encouragement is to put God first. Always!

How do I do that?

Put away your idols

Psalm 97:7 “Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, Who boast themselves of idols; Worship Him, all you gods.”

Exodus 20:3 ““You shall have no other gods before Me.” \

Before someone thinks this was just an issue of fashioning a statue and a shrine, Ezk reads,

Ezekiel 14:3 ““Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?”

This tells us that it is something that first consumes the heart, turns the heart, then drives the heart.

Colossians 3:5 “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”

So this means anything that replaces God, comes into the space of God to do what God alone can becomes my idol

WEALTH, WISDOM*, LABOUR, POSSESSIONS etc. These cannot replace what God

If God is your El Elyon: Put Away Your Idol

Die to Self

Stop putting yourself first

Psalm 97:10 “Hate evil, you who love the Lord, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”

When you love the Lord, it impacts things you love and things you hate

Someone once said, “salvation is free but it will cost you”

We must live a crucified life, and let it be reflected in the decisions that I make

Did I make this decision with God in mind, or me in mind?

When I decided to give all to my work and leave the rest to God?

When I decide not to forgive?

When I decide not to give?

Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Deny: break up, refuse to agree, say no to

If God is your El Elyon: Die to self

Know God’s will, Do God’s will

Psalm 97:11 “Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness for the upright in heart.”

Light is sown. Light is provided for the upright in heart [lit. a heart that is straight]

“the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”

When I see God as El Elyon, I will make it my business to know what His will is and practice what it says.

John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

This is how I put God in His rightful place