God is Part 2
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Last week we talk about who God is, this week we are going to continue with the same theme, who is God, this will be part two from last week. Last week we talk about how God was All power, all knowing, and ever present. this week we are going look at how God does not Change, how God is a spirit, how God is invisible, and how is Eternal. we will be jumping around in the Bible again today.
How God is Immutable, Changeless, or does not Change:
How God is Immutable, Changeless, or does not Change:
The first point for today is God is Immutable (or changeless). one the hardest things to understand about God is that he does not change. mankind has a hard time grasping this because everything changes through eyes of man. Yet God on the other hand does not change. we have several reason into why we believe that God does not change the first example we are going to be looking comes the book of Job 23:13.
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
Just a bit of background information about this verse here in Job. Job is kind of coming to a conclusion by asking where is God at this moment, because his friends have come to the conclusion that he is a sinner, but throughout the Book of Job we know that Job is not a sinner.
the first thing to point out is that Job was a righteous man before God, and had amazing understanding who God is.
Job points how God is unchangeable.
Job even questions who can changes God’s mind.
God is always faithful
just from reading this verse here in Job we see that Job had understanding and like most of us we tend to ask Where was God when things do not seem to be going as we want them to be. with this in mind its hard for men to trust or to rely on God, but what is comforting to know is that God does not change, lets turn in our Bibles to Malachi 3:6 which is another example of about how God does not change.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Malachi was prophet of the lord and understood the Men had always wonder away from the God. we see that here in Malachi 3:6-7 because Malachi points out here in two verse
God does not change
yet men does, they would rather chase the world then to obey God
Malachi points that mankind can return, by changing their ways by returning to God
but Mankind questions God by asking in what way shall we return?
As Christian's and as people we all struggle, and think that God needs to change in order to be with the times, But the thing is God does not need to change, in fact God has always keep his words and promises. it’s us who need to change because God has shown us many things, and wonders, Yet we try to get him to conform to us. when we need to be conforming ourselves to his standards. lets turn in our Bibles to James 1:14-18
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James here explains that we as christian’s are going to be tempted throughout our lives, there is no way to escape temptation. James explains that we are tempted by our own desires of the flesh, and because of that desire lead to sin, and sin leads to death. As Christian’s tend to rationalize our sins and sometime mistake them to good things. Even James warns us to not to be deceived. James explains that every good gift, and perfect gift comes from God who does not change and still keeps his promises even today. this book we are using is our history as Christian’s because it tells us who God is, How God wants things to be, what is expect of us as followers, and what God promises us if we are faith and are willing to live to his standards in this life.
God is a Spirit:
God is a Spirit:
The second point for today, God is a spirit, does not have a physical form in this life. as people we struggle understanding that God does not have physical form. people today believe by sight, but God’s word tells that we should walk by faith not by sight. 2nd Cor 5:7
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
with this in mind, we as Christian’s understand God has always worked as a spirit even today, God is still working as Spirit. so the first point about God being a spirit comes from John 4:23-24, but before we go into those two verses lets look at the background of the those two verses. Jesus and his Disciples are leaving Juda, and are on their way to Galilee. they have to go through Samaria which is the fastest way to Galilee. during their travel through Samaria they stop because Jesus was getting tried. So, they stop at the well that is known as Jacob’s well, Near the city Sychar. the Disciples went into Sychar to buy food for their journey. while Jesus stayed at the well. A Samaritan women was coming to the well. in Chapter 4 of John we see the conversation of between Jesus and the Samaritan women, our focus needs to be near the end of the conversation. so turn in Bibles to John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
from these two verses here in John, we see that Jesus explains
the first half of this talks about how true worshippers are those who are sincerely, genuinely, and intelligently about worship. Compared to those who worship mechanically, ceremonial, or ritualistic, those who are not whole hearted.
we can also see that God cares about how he wants to be worshipped.
Our main focus should be on verse 24 of John because it explains that God is a Spirit, God is not bound to just temples, mountain's, or holy shrines. if your remember from last Sunday God is omnipresent, meaning everywhere. God does not have fleshly limitation, or is bound by laws of man. for example look at Creation Gen 1:1-2
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
just see that God is able to to create life we see that he is truly not bound the limitation of a psychical form. now lets go back John 4:23-24.
we must Worship God
we must worship God in spirit meaning rationally and sincerely
worship God in truth, as his word direct
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
and John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
with all this in mind we understand that God does not have limits because how we can have a God who is omnipresent even today. God had no need of a Psychical body, but had one so he can show us how to live a life for him through his Son Jesus Christ.
Our God is Invisible:
Our God is Invisible:
the third point for today is that our God is invisible. we have a God who wants us to rely, to trust, to have faith in him even when we cannot see. as people we struggle with this because many people want to believe in if i can see then its real. the problem is God had his reason in why we can not see him, but yet we have also seen him through his son Jesus Christ. the point is why can we not see God comes from Exodus 33:12-23
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
Just from this passage in Exodus we see that Moses and God are having a conversation. From this conversation between God and Moses the things we should notice is:
Moses is pleading with God because the people have offended God
God listens to Moses, and responds with that Moses has found favor in his Sight.
God allows Moses to see him but only his back, not his face.
during this Moses face had to be cover by a veil because when he came down the mountain his face was glowing bright.
another example is 1st Tim 1:12-17
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
From this Passage here in Timothy we see that Paul is writing his experience of his former life as pharisees, and how he would later come to be saved by Christ whom he did not meet. we can also notice that Paul had teaching about God, and had understanding who God was even during his time as a Pharisees. we can also look at Col 1:15-17, which is talking about Christ after his death. turn in your Bibles to Col 1:15-17.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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.
See from this passage in Colossians we see that Paul was explaining to the church in Colossians is that Jesus Christ was in this since the beginning. because Jesus was God in the flesh. Through his actions Jesus was prefect we can see that throughout the Bible:
Look at Philip who asked show us the Father back in John 14:8-9
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Here in John we see that Philip a disciple who followed Christ, and asked Jesus to show them the father. Jesus responds with “Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me Philip? whoever has seen me, has see the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Jesus is the very image of God, and has done everything that God as told him to do. we can also look at 2nd Cor 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Here in 2nd Corinthians Paul is speaking to the Church about how the world is their god, and how the world has distracted them from the glory of Christ who was Image of God. from here we can reference Exodus 33:19-23 which talks about how God is surround by light, and unapproachable or to unseen by mankind. that is why we see the glory of God through his son Jesus Christ who was the image of the invisible God.
God is Eternal:
God is Eternal:
the fourth point for today is that God is eternal, God is Immortal. God is the foundation of creation itself, people and christian’s have a hard time understanding that God forever. there has been many who claim that God never existed, God was dead, and in television they have found a way to supposedly kill God. but for us as Christians we understand that our God is powerful, mighty, and eternal. as we study throughout the Bible we come to understand that. that can be a very comforting think to realize our God is eternal. So, lets turn in our Bibles to Psalms 90:1-3
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
Here from the book of Psalms we see that this a prayer made by Moses. throughout the Bible we see that Moses had a face to face relationship with God, and had a deep understanding who God. where as the Isreal people had to listen to Moses, because Moses spoke on behalf of God. but we see here that Moses who wrote the first five books had at some point listen to God about all things that transpired. from here we can turn our Bibles to Psalms 102:25-27
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
sdddwe can see that the author of this Psalm had an understanding that God was the creator, and everything he created has time frame, but God is eternal, his year will have no end for he is the beginning and the end Rev 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
and Rev 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
At the end of the day our God is immutable (Does not change), our God is a Spiritual being, A being who is not bound by psychical body or limits of Psychical world, Our God is an invisible being that the only way to get see him is through his son Jesus Christ, and the only way to know Christ is to study God’s word, and finally Our God is Eternal being, who transcends time, and has created a foundation for the Heavens and earth. at the end of the day this is Our God. Our God is amazing. I do not know what you struggle with in this life, but we have a God who does, a God who cares about all of us, and allows us to chose to serve him or the this world, but i can tell this I don’t know when he is coming back it could be today, tomorrow or whenever. if you want to be part of his family come as we stand and sing.