Untitled Sermon

Illustration: Aunty Jessica "Do you all know God?"Everybody said yes. But the problem was many of my cousins were non-Christians. I admire my aunt's courage and directness (certainly more brave and wanted to talk about God more than I did!)But I believe she wrongly operated under the assumption that everyone knows who God is and what God is like."God" can mean different things to different people, especially depending on their world view. Various competing worldviews: atheism, agnosticism, deism, dualism, pantheism, , polytheism, monotheism etcAtheism : there is no god. Agnosticism: We can't know for sure whether there is a god, who this god is, and what god is like. We don't know and it is not possible to know. Deism: There is a god who created everything but this god is not interested and not involved with what happens in the world.

IllustrationAt my cousin's wedding, us cousins were all on one table. Chit-chating. Then it comes my aunty. The first thing she asked us was: Do you all know God?? Everybody said yes. And my aunt said: "Good!" and then walked away.The problem was most of my cousins were non-Christians. I admire my aunt's directness (certainly brave and at least had the desire to talk about God more than I did!)But I'm afraid she wrongly assumed that everyone knows who God is and what God is like.I don't just mean: some people believe Buddha is God. Others believe Krishna is God. We believe in Jesus. The word "God" itself can mean completely different things to different people, depending on their world view. Various competing worldviews: atheism, agnosticism, deism, dualism, pantheism, polytheism, monotheism etcAtheism : there is no god. Agnosticism: We can't know for sure whether there is a god, who this god is, and what god is like. We don't know and it is not possible to know. Deism: There is a god who created everything but this god is not interested and not involved with what happens in the world.

Illustration: Aunty Jessica "Do you all know God?"Everybody said yes. But the problem was many of my cousins were non-Christians. I admire my aunt's courage and directness (certainly more brave and wanted to talk about God more than I did!)But I believe she wrongly operated under the assumption that everyone knows who God is and what God is like."God" can mean different things to different people, especially depending on their world view. Various competing worldviews: atheism, agnosticism, deism, dualism, pantheism, , polytheism, monotheism etcAtheism : there is no god. Agnosticism: We can't know for sure whether there is a god, who this god is, and what god is like. We don't know and it is not possible to know. Deism: There is a god who created everything but this god is not interested and not involved with what happens in the world.

E.g. Many of the founding fathers of America e.g. Benjamin Franklin, sound very Christian, but they were actually deists.

E.g. Many of the founding fathers of America, sound very Christian, but they were actually deists.

Polytheism: there are many many gods.

E.g They believe there are so many gods that we are probably still discovering.

The people of Athens in Paul's day were like this too: Polytheists who set up altars for all the different gods they worshipped. But they also set up altars for gods they did not know yet. See if you believed in the existence of many many gods, as they did, you must make sure that you please every god out there. Even the ones you don't know yet. So to cover all their bases, they would set up many altars with the description: Altar to the unknown gods (plural). Archaeologists found many of these. Paul later refers to one of them in his speech to the city council. This does make a practical difference. When you ask a polytheistic e.g. Hindu to worship the Lord Jesus as God, he may well just add Jesus to his crowded collection of gods. He already worships dozens of gods. Whats one more?

This does make a practical difference. When you ask a polytheistic e.g. Hindu to believe and worship the Lord Jesus, he may well just include Jesus to his existing collection of gods. He already worships hundreds of gods. Whats one more?

In fact to people like that, it makes no sense to worship only one god. You need to please as many of them as you can.

The people of Athens in Paul's day were like this too: Polytheists who set up altars for all the different gods they worshipped. But they also set up altars for gods they did not know yet. See if you believed in the existence of many many gods, as they did, you must make sure that you please every god out there. Even the ones you don't know yet. So to cover all their bases, they would set up many altars with the description: Altar to the unknown gods (plural). Archaeologists found many of these. Paul later refers to one of them in his speech to the city council. Pantheists believe God is everything and everything is god. So for them, God is not even a person. But our entire reality. So some Pantheists may not have a problem with you saying "Jesus is God" They may agree with you! Because god is everything, everything is god. You, me, even the trees outside, we are all one, and we are all god in some sense. So is yes Jesus is also God! The need to start from scratchVery often we talk to non-Christians as if they were already Christians. We use our Christian jargon and terms thinking that it makes sense to them. Like I've tried to illustrate: even the word "god" needs to be properly explained first. We think everyone knows what: "Jesus is the son of God" means. Its whether they agree or disagree. Whether they believe or not. But actually the issue is not first of foremost whether "Jesus is God". The issue is what does the word "God" even mean. This foundation needs to be laid first before the building can be constructed.Thats what the apostle Paul does here in his speech to the city council of Athens. Paul's speech here provides us with a rare opportunity to see how Paul engaged with people with zero background in Christianity. Zero knowledge of the Bible. The Athenians in general were polytheists. But its also mentioned that Paul had to also debate Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (). Epicureans were deists. Stoics were pantheists. So Paul has to start from scratch: What is God like?I'll summarise then in 3S: Separate, Self-sufficient, Sovereign

Pantheists believe God is everything and everything is god. So for them, God is not even a person. But the funny thing is some Pantheists may not have a problem with you saying "Jesus is God" They may agree with you! Because god is everything, everything is god. You, me, even the trees outside are all god in some sense. So is yes Jesus is God! The need to start from scratchVery often we talk to non-Christians as if they were already Christians. We use our Christian jargon and terms thinking that it makes sense to them. Actually even the word "god" needs to be properly explained first. We think everyone knows what: "Jesus is the son of God" means. Its whether they agree or disagree. Whether they believe or not. But actually the issue is not first of foremost whether "Jesus is God". The issue is what does the word "God" even mean. The foundation needs to be laid first before the building can be constructed.Thats what the apostle Paul does here in his speech to the city council of Athens. Paul's speech at this council provides us with a rare opportunity to see how Paul engaged with people with zero background in Christianity. Zero knowledge of the Bible. The Athenians in general were polytheists. But there were also Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (). The Epicureans were deists. The Stoics were pantheists. So Paul has to start from scratch: What is God like?

Separate

. Other: , ,

NIV: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and

NLT: He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth,

does not live in temples built by human hands"

he doesn’t live in man-made temples

In saying that God made the world and everything in it, Paul argues that God is first and foremost a person. A personal being that He is separate from creation. This may seem obvious to you, but not every body believes that God is separate from creation or that God is even a person. Pantheists don't. They believe in the unity and divinity of all things. So basically God is everything, and everything is God. Together we all form god. The Stoics were pantheists. Nowadays pantheism can be found in tribal religions where they worship the forest, maybe even water etc. Even Hinduism contains some elements of pantheism. Our human problem has always been in trying to deny God's uniqueness. We want to be on the same level as god, or for god to be on the same level as us.So either we exalt ourselves to be like god (the sin of Adam and Eve) or bring God down to our level, so that He is no different from humans or animals. But God is God. Separate from His creation. The universe is not eternal like God. There was a time when the universe did not exist. One day the eternal God chose to create the heavens and the earth, and everything else. Yes God is omni-present. He is everywhere. But the universe cannot contain Him. And if even the heavens cannot contain God, how can man-made temples or church buildings contain Him? No one comes close to Him in this. He is one of a kind. Totally in a class of His own! There is no one like God.

NLT: He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth,

In saying that God made the world and everything in it, Paul argues that God is first and foremost a person. A personal being that is separate from creation. This may seem obvious to you, but not every body believes that God is separate from creation or that God is even a person. Pantheists don't. They believe in the unity and divinity of all things. So basically God is everything, and everything is God. Together we all form god. The Stoics were pantheists. Nowadays pantheism can be found in tribal religions where they worship the forest, maybe even water etc. Even Hinduism contains some elements of pantheism. Our human problem has always been in trying to deny God's uniqueness. We want to be on the same level as god, or for god to be on the same level as us.So either we exalt ourselves to be like god (the sin of Adam and Eve) or bring God down to our level, so that He is no different from us. So either we say that we ourselves contain divine qualities, a spark inside that we need to discover and unleash, to realise our true potential or we make idols made of wood or stone in the image of humans or animals. But God is God. Separate from His creation. Far more exalted than what our human thoughts can understand. The universe is not eternal like God. There was a time when the universe did not exist. One day the eternal God chose to create the heavens and the earth, and everything else. Yes God is omni-present. He is everywhere. But the universe cannot contain Him. So if even the highest heavens cannot contain God, how can man-made temples or church buildings contain Him? No one comes close to Him in this. He is one of a kind. Totally in a class of His own! There is no one like God.

he doesn’t live in man-made temples

Self-sufficient

. Other:

In saying that God made the world and everything in it, Paul argues that God is first and foremost a person. A personal being that He is separate from creation. This may seem obvious to you, but not every body believes that God is separate from creation or that God is even a person. Pantheists don't. They believe in the unity and divinity of all things. So basically God is everything, and everything is God. Together we all form god. The Stoics were pantheists. Nowadays pantheism can be found in tribal religions where they worship the forest, maybe even water etc. Even Hinduism contains some elements of pantheism. Our human problem has always been in trying to deny God's uniqueness. We want to be on the same level as god, or for god to be on the same level as us.So either we exalt ourselves to be like god (the sin of Adam and Eve) or bring God down to our level, so that He is no different from humans or animals. But God is God. Separate from His creation. The universe is not eternal like God. There was a time when the universe did not exist. One day the eternal God chose to create the heavens and the earth, and everything else. Yes God is omni-present. He is everywhere. But the universe cannot contain Him. And if even the heavens cannot contain God, how can man-made temples or church buildings contain Him? No one comes close to Him in this. He is one of a kind. Totally in a class of His own! There is no one like God.

NLT: and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need

Self-sufficient

All of us have needs. We have physical needs e.g. Food, drink, rest etc. We have emotional needs e.g. Approval, companionship and love etc. Thats not because we are broken. We were never designed to be self-sufficient. We were designed to ultimately need GodBut God has no needs. This is completely different from the understanding of the Greeks. The Greek gods had needsIf you're familiar with Greek mythology, stories of Zeus, Hercules etc the Greek gods are not very different from us. So much drama: They would sleep around, get jealous, backstab each other to get their way etc.The Greek gods had superpowers but they were essentially humans! Super-humans!So the kind of relationship the Greeks had with their gods was: you scratch my back, I scratch yours e.g. You provide food for the gods in their temples and they'll bless you, or at least they won't destroy you. In the movie Wrath of the Titans, the Greek gods were losing their powers because the people weren't was praying to them anymore. The gods needed prayers. Thats essentially accurate. You fulfill the needs of the gods so that they will fulfill yours. the true God doesn't have any needs. He does not need us!In , God says: I don't need your bulls and goats. If I were hungry, I wouldn't need to tell you! The cattle on a thousand hills are mine! Every animal is mine! Logically it makes sense that the Almighty does need us but emotionally its quite humblingNot only do we humans have needs, we also want to feel needed. We need others to need us. Illustration : when we resign for our job/position we wish them all the best but secretly in our heart of hearts, if we find out the department is now struggling without us, it make us feel good. That means we were important. If they go on to do well without us, it makes feel useless. Like we made no difference. We may have unconsciously brought that into our relationship with God. Some of us may have served God for many many years, and when something bad happens in our life we get upset with God. Because deep down we think by serving God we've done God a favour, God now owes us. But God does not need you to serve Him. Sometimes when we're getting people to serve in church we make it sound like God needs helpers. But God has no needs. He is not served by human hands. Long before you were born and long after you are buried in the ground, God is still God. Some of you may be thinking: So why did God create us anyway? A possible answer is: "God created us because He loved us". Thats true. God is love. But it can still sound like God was lonely and needed to create us so that He would have somebody to love. This is an interesting point to discuss with your Muslim friends.Your Muslim friend would be the first to agree that Allah does not need anyone or anythingThe thing is Muslims believes that Allah is also loving. He has always been loving. Its one of His eternal attributes. The question is: who did Allah love before He created human beings? This is not a problem in Christianity. Because we believe the one true God exists as a community of three persons: the Trinity No time to explain or defend this doctrine. But essentially the Bible teaches that there is only one God. The Father is God. But also the Son is God, and the Spirit is God. And the Father is not the Son. And the Son is not the Spirit. And the Spirit is not the Father. Even before the creation of the world, the Father, Son and Spirit, perfectly loved and enjoyed each other. Thats why the Bible says that God is love. Because love exists within His very being. Even if God never created the world, even if no humans ever existed for God to love, God would still be love. God did not need to create us because He had a human-shaped hole in His heart. God was not lonely in heaven without us. He was not itching for people to sing songs to Him! The Trinity was perfectly happy and satisfied with each other. The Father, Son and Spirit decided to create us, not to fill anything lacking in them, but because their love and joy was so perfect, they wanted to share it with others. Like a fountain that just keeps overflowing and spilling over to others. We human beings are precious to God not because we are useful. God considers us precious not because of who we are but because of who He is. He loves us because He loves us. Practical implications:the truth that God does not need anything is good news. Since "he has no needs...he himself satisfies every need". PrayerImagine a friend who is always unsatisfied, always grumpy etc. (Hope you're not thinking of me. But I won't blame you). Would you dare to ask that person for help?

All of us have needs. We have physical needs e.g. Food, drink, rest etc. We have emotional needs e.g. Approval, companionship and love etc. Thats not because we are broken. We were never designed to be self-sufficient. We were designed to ultimately need GodBut God has no needs. This is completely different from the understanding of the Greeks. The Greek gods had needsIf you know anything about Greek mythology, stories of Zeus etc the Greek gods were not very different from humans. So much drama: They would sleep around, get jealous, backstab each other to get their way etc.The Greek gods had superpowers but they had needs like us humans!So the kind of relationship the Greeks had with their gods was: you scratch my back, I scratch yours e.g. You provide food for the gods in their temples and they'll bless you, or at least they won't destroy you. In the movie Wrath of the Titans, the Greek gods were getting weaker because nobody was praying to them. The gods needed prayers. Thats essentially accurate. You fulfill the needs of the gods so that they will fulfill yours. the true God doesn't have any needs. He does not need us!In , God says: I don't need your bulls and goats. If I were hungry, I wouldn't need to tell you! The cattle on a thousand hills are mine! Every animal is mine! Logically it makes sense that the Almighty does need us but emotionally its quite humblingNot only do we have needs we want to feel needed. We need others to need us. Illustration : when we resign for our job/position we wish them all the best but secretly in our heart of hearts, if we find out the department is now struggling without us, it make us feel good. That means we were important. If they go on to do well without us, it makes feel useless. Like we made no difference. We may have unconsciously brought that into our relationship with God. Some of us may have served God for many many years, and when something bad happens in our life we get upset with God. Because deep down we think by serving God we've done God a favour, God now owes us. But God does not need you to serve Him. Sometimes when we're getting people to serve in church we make it sound like God needs helpers. But God has no needs. He is not served by human hands. Long before you were born and long after you are buried in the ground, God is still God. Some of you may be thinking: So why did God create us anyway? A possible answer is: "God created us because He loved us". Thats true. God is love. But it can still sound like God needed to create us so that He would have somebody to love. This is an interesting point to discuss with your Muslim friends.Your Muslim friend would be the first to agree that Allah does not need anyone or anythingThe thing is Muslims believes that Allah is also loving. He has always been loving. Its one of His eternal attributes. The question is: who did Allah love before He created us human beings?This is not a problem in Christianity. Because we believe the one true God exists a of community of the Trinity. Before the creation of the world, the Father, Son and Spirit, perfectly loved and enjoyed each other. Thats why the Bible says that God is love. Because love exists within His very being. Even if God never created the world, even if no humans ever existed for God to love, God would still be love. God did not need to create us because He had a human-shaped hole in His heart. God was not lonely in heaven without us. He was not itching for people to sing songs to Him! The Trinity was perfectly happy and satisfied with each other. The Father, Son and Spirit decided to create us, not to fill anything lacking in them, but because their love and joy was so perfect, they wanted to share it with others. Like a fountain that just keeps overflowing and spilling over to others. We human beings are precious to God not because we are useful. God considers us precious not because of who we are but because of who He is. He loves us because He loves us. Practical implications:the truth that God does not need anything is good news. Since "he has no needs...he himself satisfies every need". PrayerImagine a friend who is always unsatisfied, always grumpy etc. (Hope you're not imagining me. But I won't blame you). Would you dare to ask that person for help?

. Other:

NIV: And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

E.g one time a youth asked me for advice and I turned him away saying I got problems of my own, I cant help myself how can i help you?

NLT: and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need

God is never like that. He is always free to give to others. Our Jehovah Jireh who has no needs is able to freely supply all our needs.So don't be afraid to pray! We are not self-sufficient. But God is! So plead with God to satisfy all your needs! This is a God who gives not takes. He is not looking for people to work for Him. He wants to work for us! Isn't that incredible?

God is never like that. He is always free to give to others. Our Jehovah Jireh who has no needs is able to freely supply all our needs.So don't be afraid to pray! We are not self-sufficient. But God is! So plead with God to satisfy all your needs! This is a God who gives not takes. He is not looking for people to work for Him. He wants to work for us! Isn't that incredible? Isaiah certainly thought so!

(NLT): "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!"

All of us have needs. We have physical needs e.g. Food, drink, rest etc. We have emotional needs e.g. Approval, companionship and love etc. Thats not because we are broken. We were never designed to be self-sufficient. We were designed to ultimately need GodBut God has no needs. This is completely different from the understanding of the Greeks. The Greek gods had needsIf you know anything about Greek mythology, stories of Zeus etc the Greek gods were not very different from humans. So much drama: They would sleep around, get jealous, backstab each other to get their way etc.The Greek gods had superpowers but they had needs like us humans!So the kind of relationship the Greeks had with their gods was: you scratch my back, I scratch yours e.g. You provide food for the gods in their temples and they'll bless you, or at least they won't destroy you. In the movie Wrath of the Titans, the Greek gods were getting weaker because nobody was praying to them. The gods needed prayers. Thats essentially accurate. You fulfill the needs of the gods so that they will fulfill yours. the true God doesn't have any needs. He does not need us!In , God says: I don't need your bulls and goats. If I were hungry, I wouldn't need to tell you! The cattle on a thousand hills are mine! Every animal is mine! Logically it makes sense that the Almighty does need us but emotionally its quite humblingNot only do we have needs we want to feel needed. We need others to need us. Illustration : when we resign for our job/position we wish them all the best but secretly in our heart of hearts, if we find out the department is now struggling without us, it make us feel good. That means we were important. If they go on to do well without us, it makes feel useless. Like we made no difference. We may have unconsciously brought that into our relationship with God. Some of us may have served God for many many years, and when something bad happens in our life we get upset with God. Because deep down we think by serving God we've done God a favour, God now owes us. But God does not need you to serve Him. Sometimes when we're getting people to serve in church we make it sound like God needs helpers. But God has no needs. He is not served by human hands. Long before you were born and long after you are buried in the ground, God is still God. Some of you may be thinking: So why did God create us anyway? A possible answer is: "God created us because He loved us". Thats true. God is love. But it can still sound like God needed to create us so that He would have somebody to love. This is an interesting point to discuss with your Muslim friends.Your Muslim friend would be the first to agree that Allah does not need anyone or anythingThe thing is Muslims believes that Allah is also loving. He has always been loving. Its one of His eternal attributes. The question is: who did Allah love before He created us human beings?This is not a problem in Christianity. Because we believe the one true God exists a of community of the Trinity. Before the creation of the world, the Father, Son and Spirit, perfectly loved and enjoyed each other. Thats why the Bible says that God is love. Because love exists within His very being. Even if God never created the world, even if no humans ever existed for God to love, God would still be love. God did not need to create us because He had a human-shaped hole in His heart. God was not lonely in heaven without us. He was not itching for people to sing songs to Him! The Trinity was perfectly happy and satisfied with each other. The Father, Son and Spirit decided to create us, not to fill anything lacking in them, but because their love and joy was so perfect, they wanted to share it with others. Like a fountain that just keeps overflowing and spilling over to others. We human beings are precious to God not because we are useful. God considers us precious not because of who we are but because of who He is. He loves us because He loves us. Practical implications:the truth that God does not need anything is good news. Since "he has no needs...he himself satisfies every need". PrayerImagine a friend who is always unsatisfied, always grumpy etc. (Hope you're not imagining me. But I won't blame you). Would you dare to ask that person for help?

(NLT): "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!"

Sacrifice/serve. Let me be clear. We are God's servants. We need to serve. But not because God needs us. When God ask us to give our time, energy, money:first of all like the ushers pray, we are only giving back what already belongs to God. Secondly: By asking us to serve and make sacrifices, God is not taking things from us. He is telling us let go of lesser things to receive more of Him! To experience the infinite love and joy of the Trinity so that our joy will be full! God gives far far more than you will ever need to give up. Illustration: Imagine finding a job where they hire you, not to use you, not for you to work for them. No they hire you to help you, they hire you so that they can work for you. Thats just a glimpse of what it is to relate to this self-sufficient Triune God. Just look at how Jesus describes how His faithful servants will be rewarded.

Sacrifice/serve. Let me be clear. We are God's servants. We need to serve. But not because God needs us. When God ask us to give our time, energy, money:first of all like the ushers pray, we are only giving back what already belongs to God. Secondly: By asking us to serve and sacrifice all these God is not taking things from us. He is telling us let go of lesser things to receive more of Him! To experience the infinite love and joy of the Trinity so that our joy will be full! Illustration: Imagine finding a job where they hire you, not to use you, not for you to make money for them. No they hire you to help you, they hire you so that they can work for you. Thats just a glimpse of what it is to relate to this Triune God. Just look at how Jesus describes how His faithful servants will be rewarded.

E.g one time a youth asked me for advice and I turned him away saying I got problems of my own, I cant help myself how can i help you?

NLT: Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

God is never like that. He is always free to give to others. Our Jehovah Jireh who has no needs is able to freely supply all our needs.So don't be afraid to pray! We are not self-sufficient. But God is! So plead with God to satisfy all your needs! This is a God who gives not takes. He is not looking for people to work for Him. He wants to work for us! Isn't that incredible? Isaiah certainly thought so!

NLT: Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he [master] himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

Amazing! God rewards His faithful servants by serving them!! So don't you want to serve this God?

Amazing! God rewards His faithful servants by serving them!!

(NLT): "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!"

Sacrifice/serve. Let me be clear. We need to serve. But not because God needs us. When God ask us to give our time, energy, money:first of all like the ushers pray, we are only giving back what already belongs to God. Secondly: By asking us to serve and sacrifice all these God is not taking things from us. He is telling us let go of lesser things to receive more of Him! To experience the infinite love and joy of the Trinity so that our joy will be full! Illustration: Imagine finding a job where they hire you, not to use you, not for you to make money for them. No they hire you to help you, they hire you so that they can work for you. Thats just a glimpse of what it is to relate to this Triune God. Optional: See also .

That God is self-sufficient means He has no limits. He is not limited by anything or anyone else. Those with needs are controlled by their needs. Our need for money will influence our life decisions, whether its studying hard to work in jobs we don't like, or stealing. Since God has no needs, He is not controlled by anything. In fact He is the one in total control.

Sovereign

That God is self-sufficient means He has no limits. He is not limited by anything or anyone else. Those with needs are controlled by their needs. Our need for money will influence our life decisions, whether its studying hard to work in jobs we don't like, or stealing. Since God has no needs, He is not controlled by anything. In fact He is the one in total control.

Sovereign

He is Lord of heaven and earth.

:-

He is Lord of heaven and earth.

:-

NLT: From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries

:-

NLT: From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries

Sovereign by rightThose who believe in many many gods believe that there are different gods for different purposes. So you have a god for romance, a god for business etc. They also believed that were different gods for different countries. Each race submitted to its own gods.But Paul says no, there is one God who is in control over everything. He is the one who created every nation, beginning with Adam. If this is true then all humans everywhere should happily submit to this one God's rule.

Sovereign by rightThose who believe in many many gods believe that there are different gods for different purposes and for different people. Each race submitted to its own gods.But Paul says no, there is one God who created every nation, beginning with Adam. If this is true then all humans everywhere should happily submit to this one God's rule.

NIV: From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Sovereign in realityDeists believed that God created humanity but wasn't interested or involved in anything that happens with us after that. Their favourite metaphor is that God is like a watchmaker who designs the mechanism of the watch and then lets the watch run on its own without him. But God isn't just sovereign in name but in reality. He is the one who actively sustains all of life. Without Him, everything falls apart.Even when we humans rebel against Him and do not acknowledge Him as Lord, God still remains absolutely sovereign. Nothing happens outside of His control. The theological problem of course is there alot of bad things that happen. Many Christians, with good intentions, want to defend God, they don't want people to blame Him, so they say well God is sovereign in some sense but He doesn't really determine everything that happens. So its not His fault! The problem is: thats not Biblical. Yes. We humans choose to sin and so forth. So we are to blame, not God. The Bible does teach that humans are full responsible for their own actions. You reap what you sow. You can't blame God for your sinBut the Bible equally teaches that God is not just a passive observer. Contrary to deism, God is intimately interested and involved in what happens within His universe.The Bible teaches that God is the one who ordains everything that happens. We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall ( NLT)

Sovereign in realityDeists believed that God created humanity but wasn't interested or involved in anything that happens with us after that. Their favourite metaphor is that God is like a watchmaker who designs the mechanism of the watch and then lets the watch run on its own without him. But God isn't just sovereign in name but in reality. He is the one who actively sustains all of life. Without Him, everything falls apart.Even when we humans rebel against Him and do not acknowledge Him as Lord, God still remains absolutely sovereign. Nothing happens outside of His control. The theological problem of course is there alot of bad things that happen. Many Christians, with good intentions, want to defend God, they don't want people to blame Him, so they say well God is sovereign in some sense but He doesn't really determine everything that happens. So its not His fault! The problem is that answer is not Biblical. Yes. We humans choose to sin and so forth. We are to blame, not God. The Bible does teach that humans are full responsible for their own actions. You reap what you sow. You can't blame God for your sin and its consequencesBut the Bible equally teaches that God is not just a passive observer. Contrary to deism, God is intimately interested and involved in what happens within His universe.The Bible teaches that God is the one who ordains everything. We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall ( NLT)

-even the most random things are decided by God. Jesus said "Not a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father".

Sovereign by rightThose who believe in many many gods believe that there are different gods for different purposes and for different people. Each race submitted to its own gods.But Paul says no, there is one God who created every nation, beginning with Adam. If this is true then all humans everywhere should happily submit to this one God's rule.

-even the most random things are decided by God. Jesus said "Not a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father".

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he [God] guides it wherever he pleases. ( NLT).

Sovereign in realityDeists believed that God created humanity but wasn't interested or involved in anything that happens with us after that. Their favourite metaphor is that God is like a watchmaker who designs the mechanism of the watch and then lets the watch run on its own without him. But God isn't just sovereign in name but in reality. He is the one who actively sustains all of life. Without Him, everything falls apart.Even when we humans rebel against Him and do not acknowledge Him as Lord, God still remains absolutely sovereign. Nothing happens outside of His control. The theological problem of course is there alot of bad things that happen. Many Christians, with good intentions, want to defend God, they don't want people to blame Him, so they say well God is sovereign in some sense but He doesn't really determine everything that happens. So its not His fault! The problem is: thats not Biblical. Yes. We humans choose to sin and so forth. So we are to blame, not God. The Bible does teach that humans are full responsible for their own actions. You reap what you sow. You can't blame God for your sinBut the Bible equally teaches that God is not just a passive observer. Contrary to deism, God is intimately interested and involved in what happens within His universe.The Bible teaches that God is the one who ordains everything that happens. We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall ( NLT)

-even the most random things are decided by God. Jesus said "Not a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father".

-Even the hearts of the most powerful people in the world are in God's hand. What more people like us?

-The hearts of the most powerful people in the world are in God's hand

Here in , Paul says God decided beforehand when and where entire nations prosper and fall. God knows the future because He's the one who determines it. These comprehensive statements leave no room for doubt that God is absolutely sovereign How do we reconcile these twin truths of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? the Bible does not explain. But we must affirm both. We cannot emphasize one over the other. What the Bible does teach is that even when God allows something bad to happen He has good purpose for it.So why does God determine beforehand which countries rise and fall? Whats His purpose?

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he [God] guides it wherever he pleases. ( NLT).

Here in , Paul says God decided beforehand when and where entire nations prosper and fall. God knows the future because He's the one who determines it. These comprehensive statements leave no room for doubt that God is absolutely sovereign How do we reconcile these twin truths of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? the Bible does not explain. But we must affirm both. We cannot emphasize one over the other. What the Bible does teach is that even when God allows something bad to happen He has good purpose for it.So why does God determine beforehand which countries rise and fall? Whats His purpose?

Purpose: to seek us/cause us to seek Him

-The hearts of the most powerful people in the world are in God's hand

Purpose: to seek us/cause us to seek Him

Here in , Paul says God decided beforehand when and where entire nations prosper and fall. God knows the future because He's the one who determines it. These comprehensive statements leave no room for doubt that God is absolutely sovereign How do we reconcile these twin truths of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? the Bible does not explain. But we must affirm both. We cannot emphasize one over the other. What the Bible does teach is that even when God allows something bad to happen He has good purpose for it.So why does God determine beforehand which countries rise and fall? Whats His purpose?

Purpose: to seek us/cause us to seek Him

NLT: “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Why did God allow BN to rule Malaysia for so many decades? So that Malaysians will seek God. Why did God allow Pakatan Harapan to take over in GE14? So that Malaysians will put their faith in Pakatan? In Mahathir? No its so that Malaysians will put their faith in God. So whether you gained a promotion or lost your job, whether you're married or single, whether you're healthy or sick, God's purpose is so that we will feel our way towards Him and find Him. God can be found. God is both separate from us, yet very very near to us.You don't have to climb some sacred mountain. He is here.How do we respond to such a God who is separate from us, self-sufficient yet who sovereignly seeks us?

Why did God allow BN to rule Malaysia for so many decades? So that Malaysians will seek God. Why did God allow Pakatan Harapan to take over in GE14? So that Malaysians will put their faith in Pakatan? In Mahathir? No its so that Malaysians will put their faith in God. So whether you gained a promotion or lost your job, whether you're married or single, whether you're healthy or sick, God's purpose is so that we will feel our way towards Him and find Him. God can be found. God is both separate from us, yet He is very very near to us.You don't have to climb some sacred mountain. He is here.How do we respond to such a God who is separate from us, self-sufficient yet who sovereignly seeks us?

NLT: “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

(NLT): And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

Why did God allow BN to rule Malaysia for so many decades? So that Malaysians will seek God. Why did God allow Pakatan Harapan to take over in GE14? So that Malaysians will put their faith in Pakatan? In Mahathir? No its so that Malaysians will put their faith in God. So whether you gained a promotion or lost your job, whether you're married or single, whether you're healthy or sick, God's purpose is so that we will feel our way towards Him and find Him. God can be found. God is both separate from us, yet very very near to us.You don't have to climb some sacred mountain. He is here.How do we respond to such a God who is separate from us, self-sufficient yet who sovereignly seeks us?

Repentance in the face of judgment:We are to repent of our sins. We have either been exalting ourselves to God's position, or lowering God down to our level. We have not treated God as God. To repent is to acknowledge how wrong we were and turn away from our wrong ways towards back to God, acknowledging that God alone is truly separate, self-sufficient, and sovereign over all.We need to repent because there will be a judgment dayOne reason why we can trust in God during bad times is because He always has good purposes for it. The second reason is that because one day God will make everything right. There will be perfect justice at the end. No wickedness will go unpunished. Everyone will be judged. The rich and the poor. The religious and the non-religious. Everyone. There will be no where to hide. Everything will be exposed. So thats bad news right.But there is also forgiveness. The same God who gives freely, also forgives freely, sinners who repent. But that presents a problem. Today if the true culprits behind the 1MDB scandal is found guilty, and our government just say "Nvm lah. Lets forgive them." Will you be okay with that? Will you say our government is good? No we will probably think our new government is also corrupt!So how can our good God both freely forgive sinners and still be perfectly fair and just?He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.

Repentance in the face of judgment:We are to repent of our sins. We have either been exalting ourselves to God's position, or lowering God down to our level. We have not treated God as God. To repent is to acknowledge how wrong we were and turn away from our wrong ways, towards back to God, acknowledging that God alone is truly separate, self-sufficient, and sovereign over all.We need to repent because there will be a judgment dayOne reason why we can trust in God during bad times is because He always has good purposes for it. The second reason is that because one day God will make everything right. There will be perfect justice at the end. No wickedness will go unpunished. Everyone will be judged. The rich and the poor. The religious and the non-religious. Everyone. There will be no where to hide. God will be more thorough than the MAAC (Msia Anti Corruption Commission). Everything will be exposed. So thats bad news right.But there is also forgiveness. The same God who gives freely, also forgives freely, sinners who repent. But that presents a problem. Today if the true culprits behind the 1MDB scandal is found guilty, and our government just say "Nvm lah. Lets forgive them." Will you be okay with that? Will you say our government is good? No we will probably think our new government is also corrupt!So how can our good God both freely forgive sinners and still be perfectly fair and just?He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.

The revelation of ChristActually to really know what God is like, we need to look at the one who perfectly revealed God: His only son Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God who was separate from and supreme over all creation, became common human being with us on earth. He who was self-sufficient chose to experience thirst and tiredness. He who was absolutely sovereign became a captured prisoner, to be tortured and executed.All for our sakes. But thats not the end of the story. After Jesus died for our sins, God raised Him back from the dead. Paul says the proof that Jesus was raised from the dead is proof that He is the one with authority to judge everyone at the end.

The revelation of ChristActually to really know what God is like, we need to look at the one who perfectly revealed God: His only son Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God who was separate from and supreme over all creation, became a commoner among us on earth. He who was self-sufficient chose to experience thirst and tiredness. He who was absolutely sovereign became a captured prisoner, to be tortured and executed.All for our sakes. But thats not the end of the story. After Jesus died for our sins, God raised Him back from the dead. Paul says that Jesus's bodily resurrection is proof that He is the one with authority to judge everyone at the end.

(NLT): And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

Repentance in the face of judgment:We are to repent of our sins. We have either been exalting ourselves to God's position, or lowering God down to our level. We have not treated God as God. To repent is to acknowledge how wrong we were and turn away from our wrong ways towards back to God, acknowledging that God alone is truly separate, self-sufficient, and sovereign over all.We need to repent because there will be a judgment dayOne reason why we can trust in God during bad times is because He always has good purposes for it. The second reason is that because one day God will make everything right. There will be perfect justice at the end. No wickedness will go unpunished. But there is also forgiveness. The same God who gives freely, also forgives freely, sinners who repent. But that presents a problem. Today if the true culprits behind the 1MDB scandal is found guilty, and our government just say "Nvm lah. Lets forgive them." Will you be okay with that? Will you say our government is good? No we will probably think our new government is also corrupt!So how can our good God both freely forgive sinners and still be perfectly fair and just?He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.

The resurrection of Jesus is the litmus testTalking about Jesus and the resurrection was what got Paul brought before the city council in the first place (). The city council of Athens, also known as the Areopagus, was in charge of examining every new teaching in the city, to see whether it contradicted with their established religions and traditions. Up till now the city council appeared to be patiently listening. Paul's tone was respectful, even favourably quoting their pagan philosophers and poets. So far so good. Until Paul talks about Jesus and the resurrection again.

NLT: When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt.

The revelation of ChristActually to really know what God is like, we need to look at the one who perfectly revealed God: His only son Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God who was separate from and supreme over all creation, became common human being with us on earth. He who was self-sufficient chose to experience thirst and tiredness. He who was absolutely sovereign became a captured prisoner, to be tortured and executed.All for our sakes. But thats not the end of the story. After Jesus died for our sins, God raised Him back from the dead. Paul says the proof that Jesus was raised from the dead is proof that He is the one with authority to judge everyone at the end.

NLT: When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt.

First thing I need to clarify. Resurrection and you're spirit going to heaven are two separate things. Resurrection refers to your physical body coming back to life.Some people think that the reason why Christianity grew in the first century was because people back then were more gullible. They believed in magic etc. So believing in the resurrection was no big deal for them. Not true. Not true at all.That Jesus rose from the dead was not easier to believe back in the 1st century than it is now in the 21st century.Jews did believe in a resurrection but they believed it will happen to all God's people at the end of history. Not just to one person in the middle of history. Much less to one who was seen to be cursed and executed as a criminal.Greeks didn't believe in the concept of a bodily resurrection at all. For them everything that is physical is evil. The point of salvation is to escape the physical. Why on earth would you want to be resurrected back into a physical body? So it was no more believable than it is now. The resurrection of Jesus also forces you to deal with reality. Its no longer just abt theological concepts and ideas. If Jesus did not historically rise from the dead then all this is just nonsense! You can forget about everything else Paul says. He's crazy. He's a fool. But if it is a historical fact that Jesus rose then you have to deal with it. God who acted in our space, time and history to resurrect Jesus will surely act in judgment at the end of human history.

The resurrection of Jesus is the litmus testTalking about Jesus and the resurrection was what got Paul brought before the city council in the first place (). The city council of Athens, also known as the Areopagus, was in charge of examining every new teaching in the city, to see whether it contradicted with their established religions and traditions. Up till now the city council appeared to be patiently listening. Paul's tone was respectful, even favourably quoting their pagan philosophers and poets. So far so good. Until Paul talks about Jesus and the resurrection again.

Some people think that the reason why Christianity grew in the first century was because people back then were more gullible. They believed in magic etc. So believing in the resurrection was no big deal for them. Not true. Not true at all.That Jesus rose from the dead was not easier to believe back in the 1st century than it is now in the 21st century.Jews did believe in a resurrection but they believed it will happen to all God's people at the end of history. Not just to one person in the middle of history. Much less to one who was seen to be cursed and executed as a criminal.Greeks didn't believe in the concept of a bodily resurrection at all. For them everything that is physical is evil. The point of salvation is to escape the physical. Why on earth would you want to be resurrected back into a physical body? So it was no more believable than it is now. The resurrection of Jesus also forces you to deal with reality. Its no longer just abt theological concepts and ideas. If Jesus did not historically raise from the dead then all this is just nonsense! You can forget about everything else Paul says. He's crazy. He's a fool. But if it is a historical fact that Jesus rose then you have to deal with it. God who acted in our space, time and history to resurrect Jesus will surely act in judgment at the end of human history.

Final remarkLet me close with this: I recently listened to a debate a Christian and Richard Dawkins (one of the most famous atheists). It was actually very insightful.Dawkins, a scientist, admits that we don't know how the universe began. We have no good explanation. But he doesn't want to admit it is God who created it. He'll ask the question: If the universe is created by God, who created God? Every Sunday school kid knows the answer to that: nobody created God. Thats why He God. But Dawkins refuses to accept that answer. He says that answer is too easy. At some point in the debate he said that the only God he could even imagine truly existing is a deist God. Remember deists believe that God created the universe but now left the universe to run according the natural laws of science. God is not interested or involved in what happens now.Dawkins said a God who created such a magnificent universe would not be interested in petty things like human sin. He wouldn't send His Son be born of a virgin and die on a cross for sinners. To Dawkins all this is too petty and incompatible with such an awesome God who would create billions of galaxies. But what Dawkins kept repeatedly calling 'petty', is the very same thing that makes our God so awesome! As the Psalmist wrote with awe and wonder:

Final remarkLet me close with this: I recently listened to a debate a Christian and Richard Dawkins (one of the most famous atheists). It was actually very insightful.Dawkins, a scientist, admits that we don't know how the universe began. We have no good explanation. But he doesn't want to admit it is God who created it. He'll back ask the question: If the universe is created by God, who created God? Every Sunday school kid knows the answer to that: nobody created God. Thats why He God. But Dawkins refuses to accept that answer. He says that answer is too easy. At some point in the debate he said that the only God he could ever imagine truly existing is a deist God. Remember deists believe that God created the universe but now left the universe to run according the laws of nature. No miracles. Nothing supernatural. God is not interested or involved in what happens now.Dawkins said a God who created such a magnificent universe would not be interested in petty things like human sin. He wouldn't send His Son be born of a virgin and die on a cross for sinners. To Dawkins all this is too petty and incompatible with such an awesome God who would create billions of galaxies. But what Dawkins kept repeatedly calling 'petty', is the very same thing that makes our God so awesome! As the Psalmist wrote with awe and wonder:

NLT: When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt.

Some people think that the reason why Christianity grew in the first century was because people back then were more gullible. They believed in magic etc. So believing in the resurrection was no big deal for them. Not true. Not true at all.That Jesus rose from the dead was not easier to believe back in the 1st century than it is now in the 21st century.Jews did believe in a resurrection but they believed it will happen to all God's people at the end of history. Not just to one person in the middle of history. Much less to one who was seen to be cursed and executed as a criminal.Greeks didn't believe in the concept of a bodily resurrection at all. For them everything that is physical is evil. The point of salvation is to escape the physical. Why on earth would you want to be resurrected back into a physical body? So it was no more believable than it is now. The resurrection of Jesus also forces you to deal with reality. Its no longer just abt theological concepts and ideas. If Jesus did not historically raise from the dead then all this is just nonsense! You can forget about everything else Paul says. He's crazy. He's a fool. But if it is a historical fact that Jesus rose then you have to deal with it. God who acted in our space, time and history to resurrect Jesus will surely act in judgment at the end of human history.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? ( NIV)

Final remarkLet me close with this: I recently listened to a debate a Christian and Richard Dawkins (one of the most famous atheists). It was actually very insightful.Dawkins, a scientist, admits that we don't know how the universe began. We have no good explanation. But he doesn't want to admit it is God who created it. He'll ask the question: If the universe is created by God, who created God? Every Sunday school kid knows the answer to that: nobody created God. Thats why He God. But Dawkins refuses to accept that answer. He says that answer is too easy. At some point in the debate he said that the only God he could even imagine truly existing is a deist God. Remember deists believe that God created the universe but now left the universe to run according the natural laws of science. God is not interested or involved in what happens now.Dawkins said a God who created such a magnificent universe would not be interested in petty things like human sin. He wouldn't send His Son be born of a virgin and die on a cross for sinners. To Dawkins all this is too petty and incompatible with such an awesome God who would create billions of galaxies. But what Dawkins kept repeatedly calling 'petty', is the very same thing that makes our God so awesome! As the Psalmist wrote with awe and wonder:

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? ( NIV)

Untitled Sermon

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

What is God like?

What is God like?

What is God like?

Response & Closing:

Response & Closing:

Response & Closing:

Untitled Sermon

​

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

Lets not assume everyone knows who "God" is and what "God" is like

What is God like?

What is God like?

What is God like?

Response & Closing:

Response & Closing:

Response & Closing: