The Revelation of God
The Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsSince God revels himself clearly, we must respond in worshipful obedience.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I am convinced after living only 64 short years, that communication is an art, and that most of us are not artists! I realize that the words that we say and the body language we use, to us, is very clear as to what we are trying to communicate, but to others, what they think we said, is not actually what we meant. Case and point is in our marriages. Everyone knows that husbands are classic listeners. The proverbial “Yes Dear”, simply means, “I hear a sound, but have no clue where it’s coming from or what it means, and if I don’t say something, I will be accused of not listening”. For the wife, the, “I’m fine”, her answer to the “Are you ok?” question, posed by her husband, does not really mean “I’m fine”, but simply means, “You dope, have you no clue what’s going on here, how can you be so insensitive!” Ah yes, the good news is that after 45 years of marriage, it gets somewhat better!
However, unlike human beings, God has communicated clearly to the height of His creation, mankind. As we will see, this communication is clear and universal, as God reveals His existence and plan. If that’s the case, you might ask, then why are there so many people who deny His existence? We will attempt to answer that question by the time we are through this morning, but for now, let’s begin by looking at how God reveals Himself from .
Text: , page 456
Text: , page 456
Main Idea: Since God revels himself clearly, we must respond in worshipful obedience.
Main Idea: Since God revels himself clearly, we must respond in worshipful obedience.
1. Creation Reveals God and Makes His Existence Known (General Revelation), vs. 1-6
1. Creation Reveals God and Makes His Existence Known (General Revelation), vs. 1-6
A. Creation gives a written account of God’s glory by providing evidence through each element of His handiwork (v. 1)
A. Creation gives a written account of God’s glory by providing evidence through each element of His handiwork (v. 1)
The Hebrew word for declare means “to give a written account of”
The meticulous detail of each element of creation is a word in this written document
Each word creates God’s own autobiography
God’s greatness:
the diameter of the observable universe is about 93 billion light-years (speed of light: 186,000 mi/sec, could circle the earth 7.75 x per sec), 97,761,600,000 mi/yr
Atoms (smallest unit of ordinary matter) in the universe: 10(78 power) - 10(82 power)
God’s systems of order
The earth (circumference of 24,000 miles), makes one revolution per day
The moon encircles the earth every 27.322 days
The earth encircles the sun every 365.256 days
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is traveling 514,000 mi/hr through space
God’s laws
Gravity, keeps us from falling apart an flying into space
Thermodynamics, movement of energy from one form to another
God’s creativity
approximately 10,000 species of birds
391,000 species of plants
God’s loving provision
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
ROm 1
Oxygen level: ~21% in dry air is perfect level for sustaining life
Distance from the sun: ~93,000,000 mi., any closer we would burn up, any further, we would freeze to death.
B. Creation gives evidence that God is the implementer of time (vs. 2-3)
B. Creation gives evidence that God is the implementer of time (vs. 2-3)
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
C. Creation gives evidence of God by providing a universal measuring line that encircles the earth leaving nothing to speculation (vs. 4-6)
C. Creation gives evidence of God by providing a universal measuring line that encircles the earth leaving nothing to speculation (vs. 4-6)
The word voice in verse 4 also means, “measuring line”, which denotes a line of communication that encircles the earth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:19
If this is so, why then are there so many people who deny the existence of God?
Rom 1:18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
The word suppress means to hold or push down, or to prevent someone from doing something by restraining or hindering.
to prevent someone from doing something by restraining or hindering.
2. The Written Word Reveals God and Makes His Plan Known (Special Revelation), vs. 7-11
2. The Written Word Reveals God and Makes His Plan Known (Special Revelation), vs. 7-11
The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version General Revelation
This revelation, accomplished in history and written in Scripture, is called “special revelation.” It includes explicit verbal statement of all that general revelation tells us about God.
Take note that the psalmist in verses 1-6, uses the name el for God, denoting His power to create, however in verses 7-11, he references yahweh or LORD, to denote the self-existing God who keeps His covenant with His people.
A. The written word exhibits the same attributes as the sovereign God (vs. 7-10)
A. The written word exhibits the same attributes as the sovereign God (vs. 7-10)
Law => Perfect - complete, unscathed, without fault or blemish.
Testimony => Sure - reliable, faithful, and permanent
Precepts => Right - straight, level, smooth, just
Commandment => Pure - empty of faults (infaliable)
Fear => Clean - ceremonially clean, necessary to stand in the presence of God
Rules => True & Righteous - trustworthy, accurate
To be desired => Valuable
B. The written word exercises the same power as the sovereign God (vs. 7-8)
B. The written word exercises the same power as the sovereign God (vs. 7-8)
Law => Revives the Soul
Testimony => makes wise the simple
Precepts => rejoices the heart
Commandment => enlightens the eyes
Fear => secures eternally
Rules =>
C. The written word transforms the wicked into servants of God. (vs. 11)
C. The written word transforms the wicked into servants of God. (vs. 11)
God does this through the revelation of His son Jesus Christ.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
john 20
3. God’s People will respond to God’s Revelation of Himself with Confession, Obedience, and Worship, vs. 12-14
3. God’s People will respond to God’s Revelation of Himself with Confession, Obedience, and Worship, vs. 12-14
A. God’s revelation of himself produces a clear declaration of one’s sin. (v. 12)
A. God’s revelation of himself produces a clear declaration of one’s sin. (v. 12)
God’s word unveil’s sin allowing us to confess and forsake it.
B. God’s revelation about himself creates a desire to control and dominate the growth and spread of sin in one’s life. (v. 13)
B. God’s revelation about himself creates a desire to control and dominate the growth and spread of sin in one’s life. (v. 13)
presumptuous sins - sins done arrogantly, knowingly doing that which is forbidden or outside the limits.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to take God’s revelation and bring conviction, confession, and give victory over it.
C. God’s revelation about himself causes his people to seek holiness as a means of ongoing personal worship. (v. 14)
C. God’s revelation about himself causes his people to seek holiness as a means of ongoing personal worship. (v. 14)
It’s as if the Psalmist is saying, “Because of the revelation of who you are, I must seek holiness and engage in worshipping you alone…please reveal anything in my heart to the contrary!”
So What?
So What?
Do you believe that God exists? (Ps. 14:1)
Have you placed your trust in the God who has revealed Himself to us and provide the living Word, His Son Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin?
Do you live each day with the reality that God is real, alive, and actively involved in your life?
Are you actively confessing your sin, worshipping Him, and proclaiming His Gospel?
ps 14
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.