The God Who Never Fails
Notes
Transcript
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
I. Searching to know Him!
I. Searching to know Him!
A. Today around the globe in churches everywhere many people are hearing sermons. Sermons that follow themes like:
A. Today around the globe in churches everywhere many people are hearing sermons. Sermons that follow themes like:
1. God is love and that there isn’t really much you need to do to be “Saved” other than “Accept the Lord as your personal Savior”.
1. God is love and that there isn’t really much you need to do to be “Saved” other than “Accept the Lord as your personal Savior”.
2. Once you’ve accepted Him then you’ve got it made! You can’t do anything to reverse the decision you made. You can do whatever and go wherever and still make it onto the streets of Gold when the trumpet sounds.
2. Once you’ve accepted Him then you’ve got it made! You can’t do anything to reverse the decision you made. You can do whatever and go wherever and still make it onto the streets of Gold when the trumpet sounds.
3. People are going to hear teachings today that tell them that God isn’t looking for you to change. He just wants you like you are right now.
3. People are going to hear teachings today that tell them that God isn’t looking for you to change. He just wants you like you are right now.
4. There are even churches teaching that if you pay enough money that you can save a loved one that may not have lived such a great live.
4. There are even churches teaching that if you pay enough money that you can save a loved one that may not have lived such a great live.
i. Just say so many “Hail Mary’s” and things will be just fine.
i. Just say so many “Hail Mary’s” and things will be just fine.
ii. Come and confess to a priest, pay penance and your sins will be forgiven.
ii. Come and confess to a priest, pay penance and your sins will be forgiven.
B. All of these messages are all appealing to the same thing, my understanding and my circumstances.
B. All of these messages are all appealing to the same thing, my understanding and my circumstances.
1. This coincides with the ways of the people we read about in the Scriptures. They worshipped gods of all kinds trying to fill that void in their lives based on what they knew and experienced!
1. This coincides with the ways of the people we read about in the Scriptures. They worshipped gods of all kinds trying to fill that void in their lives based on what they knew and experienced!
2. People today aren’t any different! We still like to make us feel good about ourselves!
2. People today aren’t any different! We still like to make us feel good about ourselves!
i. Boss don’t make me do something that makes me feel uncomfortable.
i. Boss don’t make me do something that makes me feel uncomfortable.
ii. Children push back on their parents when they are asked to do something that is challenging or uncomfortable.
ii. Children push back on their parents when they are asked to do something that is challenging or uncomfortable.
iii. So, God forbid, that the preacher ever get up and make us feel uncomfortable by preaching the Truth of the Word!
iii. So, God forbid, that the preacher ever get up and make us feel uncomfortable by preaching the Truth of the Word!
C. The philosophy of the world.
C. The philosophy of the world.
1. The world unfortunately is headlong in the mentality if I’ve been this way I will remain this way!
1. The world unfortunately is headlong in the mentality if I’ve been this way I will remain this way!
2. AA says, “I AM an Alcoholic”.
2. AA says, “I AM an Alcoholic”.
3. NA say, “I AM an addict”.
3. NA say, “I AM an addict”.
4. This is because they don’t want to make anyone else feel inferior.
4. This is because they don’t want to make anyone else feel inferior.
5. Many have said that we are all sinners.
5. Many have said that we are all sinners.
i. The beauty of it is, the Scripture does say that ALL HAVE sinned. Past tense!
i. The beauty of it is, the Scripture does say that ALL HAVE sinned. Past tense!
ii. When God gets involved we are no longer sinners because transformed us!
ii. When God gets involved we are no longer sinners because transformed us!
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
iii. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah:
iii. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah:
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
iv. AA acknowledges a "higher power," but the Bible reveals that the true power comes through Jesus Christ alone.
iv. AA acknowledges a "higher power," but the Bible reveals that the true power comes through Jesus Christ alone.
a. Programs may assist in managing symptoms, but only the Spirit of God can transform the heart and set people free from their sinful nature:
a. Programs may assist in managing symptoms, but only the Spirit of God can transform the heart and set people free from their sinful nature:
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
II. An introduction to Whom you seek!
II. An introduction to Whom you seek!
A. His ways are high above our ways!
A. His ways are high above our ways!
1. We must understand God as He reveals Himself—not as we define Him!
1. We must understand God as He reveals Himself—not as we define Him!
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
i. These reinforce this concept by underscoring God’s greatness and inscrutability.
i. These reinforce this concept by underscoring God’s greatness and inscrutability.
2. Paul emphasized this in Acts 17:
2. Paul emphasized this in Acts 17:
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
i. If we don’t repent we WILL NOT be freed from the bondage of sin!
i. If we don’t repent we WILL NOT be freed from the bondage of sin!
B. We need the power of His Spirit on the inside of us to free us!
B. We need the power of His Spirit on the inside of us to free us!
1. For deliverance from the bondage of sin in general we MUST have the Holy Ghost!
1. For deliverance from the bondage of sin in general we MUST have the Holy Ghost!
2. You can know that you have the Holy Ghost inside right away and long term!
2. You can know that you have the Holy Ghost inside right away and long term!
i. Speaking in tongues! This was there when the people experienced an infilling of the Holy Ghost!
i. Speaking in tongues! This was there when the people experienced an infilling of the Holy Ghost!
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
a. Speaking in tongues is a sign of God’s Spirit working within and an affirmation of His power entering the believer’s life.
a. Speaking in tongues is a sign of God’s Spirit working within and an affirmation of His power entering the believer’s life.
ii. There is fruit of the transforming power of the Holy Ghost inside of you!
ii. There is fruit of the transforming power of the Holy Ghost inside of you!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
a. The evidence of this fruit is a sign that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now living on the inside of you!
a. The evidence of this fruit is a sign that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now living on the inside of you!
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
b. This Spirit is what delivers us from the bondage of sin!
b. This Spirit is what delivers us from the bondage of sin!
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
c. You must be transformed, but this comes from you working with the Spirit of God to overcome it ALL!
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.