RECOGNIZE GREATNESS
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION: WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT IS CONSTANTLY TELLING US WHO AND WHAT IS “GREAT.”
GREAT ATHLETES
GREAT TEAMS
GREAT LEADERS
GREAT BRANDS
GREAT PLATFORMS
BUT THE PROBLEM IS—
WE OFTEN RECOGNIZE GREATNESS
IN EVERYTHING EXCEPT GOD
ISRAEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
SURROUNDED BY IDOLS…
INFLUENCED BY NATIONS…
DISTRACTED BY SUBSTITUTES…
SO GOD STEPS IN AND SAYS:
“LET ME REMIND YOU WHO I AM!”
BEFORE YOU CAN WORSHIP RIGHT…
BEFORE YOU CAN TRUST RIGHT…
BEFORE YOU CAN LIVE RIGHT…
YOU MUST RECOGNIZE TRUE GREATNESS
I. CONSIDER HIS AFFIRMATION
I. CONSIDER HIS AFFIRMATION
CONSIDER WHAT THE LORD AFFIRMS
HE
A. HE RULES
A. HE RULES
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.
HE RULES BY
HIS WORD AND WILL
HIS WAYS AND WONDERS
HIS WORKERS AND WRATH
HE RULES BY WHAT
HE ESTABLISHES
LAWS
COMMANDS
STATUTES
JUDGMENTS
HE RULES BY WHAT
HE ORCHESTRATES
EVENTS:
Ruth 2:3 – “She happened to come… TO BOAZ FIELD TO GLEAN” (God directing where she lands)
1 Samuel 17 – David arrives just as Goliath is defying Israel
DECISIONS:
Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD”
Ezra 1:1 – God stirs Cyrus to act
OUTCOMES:
Esther 4–7 – Haman’s plot reversed
Daniel 6 – Lions’ den leads to God’s glory
B. HE REDEEMS
B. HE REDEEMS
LOOK AT VERSE 6 AGAIN
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.
NOT ONLY IS THE LORD THE KING OF ISRAEL BUT HE IS ISRAEL’S REDEEMER.
REDEEMER MEANT
GOD RESCUED, SAVED, DELIVERED, FREED
THEM FROM BONDAGE IN EGYPT
BECAUSE HE CHOSE AND CLAIMED THEM AS “HIS PEOPLE”
LOOK AT VERSE 22-23
22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.
VERSE 22
GOD SAID HE REDEEMED THEM
VERSE 23
WORSHIP OF GOD IS DUE
BECAUSE GOD HAS REDEEMED JACOB
HE RESCUED AND RECLAIMED THEM AS HIS OWN PEOPLE
LOOK AT VERSE 24
24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
GOD SPOKE TO THEM AS THEIR REDEEMER
THEIR START AS A PEOPLE
WAS INITIATED BY GOD WHEN HE CALED ABRAHAM
THEIR SALVATION AS A PEOPLE
WAS INITIATED BY GOD
THROUGH THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST
YOU AND I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED
LOOK AT WHAT PAUL STATED
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
LOOK AT TITUS 2:14
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
RESCUED, DELIVERED, SAVED FROM THE
BONDAGE OF THE ENEMY
C. HE REVEALS
C. HE REVEALS
GOD REVEALS THAT HE IS UNMATCHED
HE IS NOT ONLY KING, REDEEMER, BUT THE ETERNAL ONE
LOOK AT VERSE 7
7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.
THE LORD GOD IS ASKING WHO CAN PROCLAIM
A LAW OR COMMAND OR JUDGE LIKE HIM
WHO CAN PROCLAIM
A COMING EVENT LIKE HIM
THEN LET HIM SAY IT AND DO IT FOR THE LORD
SINCE THE LORD GOD APPOINTED
THE PEOPLE
THE CURRENT EVENTS
AND THE FUTURE EVENTS
LOOK AT VERSE 8
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ”
THE LORD TOLD THEM THE TIME
HE DECLARED IT TO THEM
GOD PROVES HIS GREATNESS
BY DECLARING WHAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
• HE REVEALS THE FUTURE
• HE EXPOSES FALSEHOOD
• HE SPEAKS TRUTH CLEARLY
THIS IS WHY ISAIAH SAID IN IS46.10
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
HE IS UNMATCHED
HE HAS NO EQUAL
THEN IN VERSE 9
HE EXPOSES THE USELESSNESS OF IDOLS
9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
IDOLS DON’T PROFIT
IDOLS CAN’T SEE BUT EYES OF THE LORD . . .
IDOLS DON’T KNOW BUT THE LORD KNOWS ALL THINGS
THE LORD REVEALS THE FOOLISHNESS
IN SERVING WORSHIPPING BOWING DOWN TO
AN IDOLS
GOD AFFIRMS THAT HE RULES, HE REDEEMS, AND HE REVEALS
RECOGNIZE WHAT HAS BEEN AFFIRMED
RECOGNIZE REAL GREATNESS
YET WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
II. CONSIDER HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
II. CONSIDER HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
A. HE FORMS
A. HE FORMS
21 “Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
O ISRAEL… I HAVE FORMED YOU…”
YOU ARE NOT RANDOM—YOU ARE CRAFTED
YOU ARE DESIGNED BY GOD
GENESIS 2:7 – GOD FORMED MAN FROM THE DUST
Psalm 139:14 “14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
SHAPED WITH PURPOSE
IN EGYPT
GOD SHAPED MOSES
INTELLECTUALLY
Educated in Egyptian wisdom
IN LEADERSHIP
– Trained in administration and governance
POSITIONALLY
Placed in Pharaoh’s house (influence and exposure)
AS A SHEPHERD
GOD SHAPED MOSES
HUMBLY – From prince to shepherd
PATIENTLY– 40 years of obscurity
SPIRITUALLY– Encounter at the burning bush
IN THE WILDERNESS
GOD SHAPED MOSES
DEPENDENCE– Daily reliance on God (manna, water)
ENDURANCE– Leading difficult people
INTERCESSION– Standing between God and the people (Exodus 32:11–14)
GOD FORMS INTENTIONALLY
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
LIKE A POTTER SHAPING CLAY
—EVERY CURVE, EVERY DETAIL IS INTENTIONAL
YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT—YOU ARE AN ASSIGNMENT
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN BY OUR GOD
HE FORMS AND HE
B. HE FORGIVES
B. HE FORGIVES
22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
I HAVE BLOTTED OUT… YOUR SINS
GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS NOT PARTIAL
HIS FORGIVENESS COMPLETE AND DECISIVE
NO RECORD
19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
NO REMINDER
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
1 JOHN 1:9 – “FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE”
GOD DOESN’T KEEP RECEIPTS ON FORGIVEN SIN
WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE
RETURN TO HIM
SING, SHOUT, AND GLORIFY HIS NAME
HE FORMS, HE FORGIVES, AND HE
C. HE FRUSTRATES
C. HE FRUSTRATES
25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;
WHO FRUSTRATES THE SIGNS OF THE BABBLERS…
GOD FRUSTRATES AND DESTROYS
• FALSE WISDOM
1 CORINTHIANS 1:19 – “DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE”
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
• EMPTY COUNSEL
PSALM 33:10 – “BRINGS COUNSEL TO NOTHING”
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
• DECEPTIVE VOICES
JOB 5:12– “FRUSTRATES THE DEVICES OF THE CRAFTY”
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO CANCEL WHAT’S WORKING AGAINST YOU
TRUST HIM
LOOK TO HIM AND NO ONE ELSE
HE FORMS, HE FORGIVES, HE FRUSTRATES, AND HE
D. HE FASCINATES
D. HE FASCINATES
LOOK AT THE FASCINATING THINGS
GOD HAS DONE!
LOOK AT IS 44:26
26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places;
WHO CONFIRMS THE WORD OF HIS SERVANT
HE TOLD THE PROPHET WHAT TO SAY
AND THEN CONFIRMED IT BY
BRINGING IT TO PASS
CONFIRMS HIS WORD WITH PRECISION
REMEMBER NUMBERS 23:19
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
ILLUSTRATION: LIKE WATCHING A MOVIE
WITH SOMEONE KNOWS EVERY SCENE AND EVERY OUTCOME
WHY? BECAUSE THEY WROTE IT
GOD IS NOT WATCHING HISTORY
HE WROTE IT
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
GOD DOES WHAT AMAZES
NAMES CYRUS BEFORE HE EXISTS
RESTORES JERUSALEM BEFORE IT HAPPENS
ISAIAH 55:11 – “MY WORD… SHALL NOT RETURN VOID”
LUKE 1:37 – “WITH GOD NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE”
CONCLUSION:
GOD SAYS:
• I RULE
• I REDEEM
• I REVEAL
• I FORM
• I FORGIVE
• I FRUSTRATE
• I FASCINATE
AND THE QUESTION IS NOT “IS GOD GREAT?”
THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU RECOGNIZE HIS GREATNESS?
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT HIS WORK IN MY LIFE
IT WASN’T MY DOING—IT WAS GOD’S DOING.
IT WASN’T BY MERIT BUT BY MERCY.
I DIDN’T MAKE IT BY WILLPOWER BUT BY HIS POWER.
IT WASN’T MY GRIND—IT WAS HIS GRACE.
IT WASN’T MY PERFORMANCE—IT WAS HIS PROVISION.
IT WAS NOT MY ABILITY—IT WAS GOD’S AVAILABILITY
I DESERVED BUT I RECEIVED
Wrath Kindness
Justice of God Mercy of God
Power of the Law Power of salv.
Bondage IN sin Freedom sin
Condemnation Justification
grudge forgiveness
eternal death eternal life
RECOGNIZE THAT
He FUELED (ignited) the flame of the sun
He SET (positioned) the stars in the universe
He ordained the orbit of the moon
He WOUND (rotates) the world on its axis
He filled the oceans with water
He DECREED (commands) the direction of the wind
HE WAS GREAT
HE IS GREAT
HE WILL ALWAYS BE GREAT
UNTIL YOU RECOGNIZE GOD’S GREATNESS,
YOU WILL RELY ON LESSER THINGS—
BUT WHEN YOU SEE HIM AS HE TRULY IS,
YOU WILL TRUST HIM FULLY,
WORSHIP HIM EXCLUSIVELY,
AND FOLLOW HIM COMPLETELY.
