My God is God Alone
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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My God is Awesome
My God is Protector
What Can Fake Gods Do?
My God is Gracious
God’s Gracious Salvation
My God is God alone
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed— and not some foreign god among you. So you are My witnesses”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “and I am God.
13 Also, from today on I am He alone, and none can deliver from My hand. I act, and who can reverse it?”
In chapter 44.1-5 God promises a future time when Israel will turn to Him enthusiastically, and be proud to call themselves by Jacob’s Name!
Two things
We should be proud to say we know the Lord,
We should be proud to be called Christian.
The rest of the chapters shifts to show how God is God alone.
God is First and Last
God is First and Last
6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but Me.
(He was God before my life started, and He will still be God when my life is over)
We live in a time where more and more people are wanting all gods to be considered on equal terms. The god of Islam, the gods of hinduism, the gods, of buddhism, and the rest. The false God of the mormons and the JW’s.
There is also a big push to say all religions are equal. no way.
The God of the Bible declares Himself to be the ONLY GOD.
That may seem narrow minded, but we are people of the Book and that’s the way God describes Himself.
God is the announcer of the future
God is the announcer of the future
7 Who, like Me, can announce the future? Let him say so and make a case before Me, since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare the coming things, and what will take place.
8 Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any.
(He can handle what comes my way)
The very next section of this chapter predicts in advance the coming of Cyrus. We will look at this tonight.
He calls himself a ROCK. You can build your life on Him.
God is better than an idol
God is better than an idol
9 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.
In the next few verses he teaches the following
It took someone to make an idol (Idols are created, God is creator)
It takes something to make an idol (Idols are made from material, God is Spirit and made the material used to make the idol)
It takes some form to be an idol (Idols mimic some form already created by God)
In other words, there is nothing new or unique about an idol.
Illustrated in wood.
14 He cuts down cedars for his use, or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it and warms himself; also he kindles a fire and bakes bread; he even makes it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in a fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it. He bows down to it and worships; He prays to it, “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 Such people do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand.
19 No one reflects, no one has the perception or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. I will make something detestable with the rest of it, and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
20 He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
Man cuts it down 14
Man warms himself 15 and 16
Man cooks with it 15 and 16
Man makes a god or idol and worships it. 15 and 17
Man calls on it to save him 17
Man is blinded to the whole thing 18-20
God alone is worthy of worship
God alone is worthy of worship
21 Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you, you are My servant; Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Rejoice, heavens, for the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth. Break out into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorifies Himself through Israel.