God the Father Almighty

M. Scott Peck began his best selling book The Road Less Travelled with a one sentence paragraph, and a brief sentence to be sure, only three words. He wrote:

Life is difficult.

We live in a complicated world. We live in a complicated time. As we celebrated this great nations birth this past Friday it is not lost on us that there are strong differing opinions of who we are as a nation. As we gather in worship this morning as the pastor of this amazing congregation I can tell you there are strong differing opinions in this congregation - we are neither blue, nor red, but decidedly purple. Is it difficult? Yes. But its who we are.

MISSION WOODS CHURCH

Growing closer to God, to one another, to our community.

One of the reasons why we are able to be the church we are is because we not only seek to grow in our relationship with God, but we love each other recognizing that each person regardless of their political views are an co-image bearer of God. Together we work to share God’s love with our community.

What brings us together each Sunday and as a church is our faith in God. Last week we began a series on the Apostles Creed and we started with the first two words last week…

I Believe…

It’s a personal statement, not a corporate one. And as I was thinking about this series I thought this might be a great opportunity to teach this to you in another language as well, so we’re going to begin with those two words.

ASL - Sign “I believe

What are we saying “I believe” in?

The first line of the creed is simply a statement of belief in the first person of the trinity:

I believe in God the Father…

So let’s add to what we know.

ASL - Sign “I believe in God the Father…

It’s now not just a personal statement but a person in whom we believe, God the Father. A parental figure, and not in the image of our earthly experiences of parents, but the ultimate example of a father:

loving, powerful, protective, disciplining, relational.

and what is it that we profess to believe about this heavenly Father?

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Again, adding to what we know.

ASL - Sign “I believe in God the Father All Mighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Throughout the scriptures we read that God is powerful, creative, and holds both the heavens and all of creation in the palm of his hand.

The opening words of our Bible says, Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

I’ve said before that how you understand the first four words of the Bible will determine how you understand the rest of what is written there. In our text this morning we heard Isaiah 40:21-22

Isaiah 40:21–22 ESV

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

and just a few verses later:

Isaiah 40:28 ESV

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

This God we say we believe in is eternal and the creator of all things on earth. In these verses we learn of God’s omnipotence - all power, and omniscience - all knowing.

It’s one thing to say you believe and its another to live as you believe.

Yesterday and this morning if you have listened to any news or been online and read any of the headlines you no doubt are aware of the flooding that happened in Texas. Drone footage shows the swath of damage that a wall of water has left as the headlines update us on the current death toll and the rising list of those missing.

As these tragic events unfold our hearts sink. It doesn’t make sense. Closer to home we learn of a loved ones diagnosis with cancer. Another announces the struggle of a lifelong debilitating disease. A young person becomes the victim of senseless violence. A family we know whose been trying for years to conceive suffers yet another devastating miscarriage. We cry out to God…Why?

And still each of us say…

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

The answer to “why” is not in that statement. I’m reminded of Job who cried out for chapter upon chapter of the book by his name in the Old Testament.

Ultimately he receives from God a response:

Job 38:4–7 ESV

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

To make the statement

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

is to make a strong statement of faith. It is to say, I don’t understand all that is going on; it is to say, I do not rely upon human knowledge instead I trust in God’s knowledge.

Isaiah implores us later in the book by his name,

Isaiah 55:8 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

Professing our faith in God is to readily admit we do not understand all that is going on.

Our perspective is limited - God’s is not.

Our view is of the here and now - God sees all of eternity.

Our perspective is based upon the limited amount we see - God sees all.

Believing in God is to trust in God, but not just any god, this is the Creator of heaven and earth. This is the One God who made all things.

Let’s work on learning these words again:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

As we go through this coming week, look around you. Look at the people you love. Look at the beauty in the world around you. Look up and see the skies, and the stars. Watch a sunset or a sunrise and give glory to God, and reflect on these words,

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Let’s sign them once again.

ASL sign: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

To God be the glory, Amen. Let me pray for you.

God The Father Almighty