IMMOVABLE TRUTHS: GOD IS CREATOR, HOLY, POWERFUL AND HAS ALL AUTHORITY
IMMOVABLE TRUTHS: LESSON 1 • Sermon • Submitted
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OPENER: Hey family, we miss all of you greatly and love you very much. I Hope you are all doing good.
(It has been good to have small group meetings of different kinds through zoom. I hope that you are able to connect with the body at least through phone or video)
Well, this has been quite a year. Not like any of us could have predicted. It was all going along like normal and then every changed. Not all for the bad though...
God is doing some incredible things in the hearts of many, including me and and I hope the same is true for you.
When things change quickly in our lives we can get so focused on the things that SEEMS unstable that we lose sight of what will always stay the same. This can cause to feel like not just a few things but everything is unstable.
When things change quickly in our lives we can get so focused on the things that are unstable that we lose sight of what will always stay the same. This can cause to feel like not just a few things but everything is unstable.
Like when the year does not go like we thought it would (or anyone thought it would). Or when a major part or our lives we expected to go one way and it does not happen it can really disappoint and discourage us. (i.e. seniors…)
For example we might think things like; “I thought this semester was going to be great, I thought I would have met someone by now, I expected to be married by now, I thought I would know what I wanted to do by now, I didn’t think I would loss my job, I thought marriage would be different…you could add you own unmet expectations.
We don’t like it when things that we have always depended on to get cancelled because those things often (even if we do not recognize it) help us feel secure. (Right now if feels like everything is canceled. When all sporting events get cancelled it seems serious. Much more than that when our large worship assemblies get cancelled it can really seem unstable.) But our worship to God will never stop happening and even though we are not physically together we are together in spirit.
With all of the things that seem to shake us in life, remember that just because some parts of our lives seem unstable, does not mean there is not solid ground to stand on. There are things that will never change, the greatest being God and His faithfulness.
.
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
verse
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
No matter how unstable our world may seem, we know our God is our solid ground.
THE SERIES THAT WE ARE STARTING TODAY is all about truth that never changes, no matter what else does not stay the same. The series is called “IMMOVABLE TRUTHS.”
One of the reasons for is that we need to be reminded that even though our world may change, our God never changes and His promises never fail us. We can ALWAYS, ALWAYS trust Him and His WORD.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Mal
Psalm
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
ONE MAJOR REASON FOR THIS SERIES NOW IS THAT WE NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT just because we experience things in life that are unprecedented and seem to make our lives seem so unsafe, there are immovable truths that are and always will be solid and dependable like that fact that God is our security and safety.
INTRODUCTION TO LESSON; in this first sermon we are going to focus on who God is as CREATOR, HOLY, ALL POWERFUL AND THE AUTHORITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW because we are struggling to keep the proper perspective of all that is going on in our world and lives.
It is a struggle to not get caught up in all that is going on around us that we lose sight of what and who is most important: God and His purposes for our lives.
Because of so much uncertainty a lot people are fearful and anxious. To some degree this is a result of our focus. Let me illustrate with the truth from one of my favorite passages that goes right along with the true of God being a rock that we just discussed;
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
The truth of this passage is that God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are focused or stayed on Him because they trust in Him. They are focused on the One whom they can trust, who is the ROCK, the solid ground no matter what; forever! Even though things around them are always changing both for good and bad their focus stays the same.
The opposite can also be true though. What if our minds and focus in not on God. What if our focus, or our minds are stayed on the difficulty, the many possible negative outcomes, disappointment, bad news, bad things about what is going on? Will we be KEPT in perfect peace?
The opposite of this verse might read; “he is kept in constant anxiety and chaos whose mind is stayed on everything else but you” or “what has gone wrong with the world.” (or “the current crisis,” even if they are true, or “the disappointments in my life,” “or losses,” or “the difficulties” that are in front of me.)
One of the dangers for us right now is getting so wrapped up in the current crisis on the news, or social media or whatever source that it is most of what we focus on
When we focus on the truths that are always stable and immovable like WHO GOD IS IN POWER AND AUTHORITY it changes our outlook and puts us in our proper places and perspectives…not just in this instance but everything in our lives and who we are...
God’s character and greatness puts our existence and individual lives AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD in the proper perspective.
When we see ourselves in light of God’s greatness and His love for us we are able to see ourselves clearly. (It also puts our situations in proper perspective. What is going on in our world and lives does not change who God is. He is still all powerful and loving.)
THE PERFECT PLACE TO START IS WITH THE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD’S UNCHANGEABLE NATURE; GOD IS CREATOR, HOLY, POWERFUL AND AUTHORITATIVE.
GOD IS OUR CREATOR
GOD IS OUR CREATOR
We believe and we know that God is the created everything as and 2 tell us. As states:
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
For by it the people of old received their commendation.
But when we stop and consider why God created everything the way that He did and how He did it it should give us a better understanding of who He is and how He loves us.
Morning devotional in : the other day for my morning devotional I turned to a random Psalm and found myself getting wrapped up in everything that it says about God, His creation and who He is to us. I encourage you to read later but look at it...
There is so much in just one Psalm about praising God for (1) who He is and (2) what He has done and (3) how He cares for us and is everything we need. Let me show you what I mean. V4 His Word is faithful, V5 He is righteous and just and the world is filled with His love (if we will look for it), V6 He is powerful beyond measure, He created the universe, Vv-9-10 He has ultimate authority, and is sovereign over all nations, Vv13-15 He cares for us, V18 His love never fails, V20 He is our help and shield.
I found myself being amazed and thanking God for being who He is and it started my day off with the perspective that God is going to take care of us.
When we think of God’s power in creation it can give the same effect of giving us the proper perspective. THINK ABOUT WHY GOD CREATED WHAT HE DID, how AND WHY...
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
THINK ABOUT IT; God took nothing and made the incredible masterpiece (which is really an understatement) that is the planet that we live on and everything on it including the incredibly intricate human body (that is really a universe within itself of systems), mountain ranges, oceans, the myriads of creatures that are beautiful, intricate AND dangerous.
We shouldn’t miss the power that is in that verse. God took nothing and made the incredible masterpiece (which is really an understatement) that is the planet that we live on and everything on it including the incredibly intricate human body (that is really a universe within itself of systems), mountain ranges, oceans, the myriads of creatures that are beautiful, intricate, dangerous.
Pic from on top of mountain at El Valle from our resent mission trip to Panama. Now I did not climb the mountain so I did not see this in person. I did not want to get up at 5am and climb a mountain…I’m getting to old for that. Pic from boat of mountain...
God took nothing and made the incredible masterpiece (which is really an understatement) that is the planet that we live on and everything on it including the incredibly intricate human body (that is really a universe within itself of systems), mountain ranges, oceans, the myriads of creatures that are beautiful, intricate, dangerous.
The millions of stars and galaxies that make the night sky amazing to look that says praise God because He created them.
Psalm 148:
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.
Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.
God didn’t have to create everything as incredible and beautiful as He did. But He did it so that we would enjoy them and they would point to God and how beautiful He is. As says help us see His eternal qualities LIKE His eternal power and divine nature.
Creator
Think of all the incredible things that God created that be joy to our existence daily:
The beauty in the natural world, a sunset, the laugh of a child, warmth of a fire, the peacefulness of the shore of an ocean, the view from a mountain top (Panama)
The senses that allow us to see beauty, smell food cooking, touch and taste and be completely immersed in our environment
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN or go to a remote place TO SEE BEAUTY IN GOD’S CREATION. IT IS ALWAYS AROUND US FOR US TO ENJOY. FOR EXAMPLE
PICS FROM MY PHONE CAMERA ROLL: sunset in front of house, warmth of a campfire, the innocence and beauty of a child.
GOD’S CREATED SUCH BEAUTY FOR US TO ENJOY Think of all the incredible things that God created that be joy to our existence daily: God’s creative beauty is like those pictures on our camera rolls that are always there for us to look at but we get to busy to notice!
GOD CREATED THE SENSES that allow us to see beauty, smell food cooking, touch and taste and be completely immersed in our environment.
GOD CREATED THE SENSES that allow us to see beauty, smell food cooking, touch and taste and be completely immersed in our environment.
The neurological systems that allow natural chemicals to flow when we enjoy a good meal or a hug or a handshake which we miss having right now.
GOD’S CREATION OF THE BIGGER THINGS: Then the bigger things that are so vast and incredible that potentially bring our lives IMMEASURABLE amounts of joy.
Then the bigger things that are so vast and incredible that potentially bring our lives great amounts of joy. Like
Family which we are able to enjoy so much more than usual lately. Our spouses and children and grandchildren. Marriage which when done God’s way gives our lives so much fulfillment and joy.
Family
Marriage
The neurological system that allow endorphins and other natural chemical to flow when we enjoy a good meal or...
The church created to spread God word, disciple God’s children, keep its members strong and serving, bear one another burdens, help each other make it to heaven.
The neurological systems that allow natural chemicals to flow when we enjoy a good meal or a hug or a handshake which we miss having right now.
The church created to spread God word, disciple God’s children, keep its members strong and serving, bear one another burdens, help each other make it to heaven. Right now we are all more appreciative of our spiritual family and how we take care of each other no matter what is happening in our world.
Family
Marriage
The neurological system that allow endorphins and other natural chemical to flow when we enjoy a good meal or...
The church created to spread God word, disciple God’s children, keep its members strong and serving, bear one another burdens, help each other make it to heaven.
THE UNENDING COMFORT THAT COMES FROM THE TRUTH OF GOD BEING OUR CREATOR IS:
RECOGNIZING GOD AS CREATOR SHOULD cause us to revere Him and be amazed by Him. But also it should bring us comfort and hope.
He created it all out of what? Nothing! He created the puzzle pieces and colors. He is the source of it!
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Psalm 33:
RECOGNIZING GOD AS CREATOR SHOULD cause us to revere Him and be amazed by Him. But also it should bring us comfort and hope.
GOD IS NOT DONE CREATING: When we talk about God as creator we usually only think of the beginning and what He has already created. But God is still the greatest creator who is still creating beauty things, especially out of us.
1 Corinthians 5:17 says that those who come to Christ are new creations. says that we are being created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT. God saves us through Christ then begins creating us to be like the most beautiful and incredible one in existence; in the image of God Himself.
If God created all these things out of nothing, what do you believe that He can do in your world and life? What do you think that He can create in you and your situation?
What we often forget is that God does not need you and me to present Him with a perfect canvas, all the right colors and brushes and complexion. We can come to Him with torn pieces or no canvas at all and nothing but dark colors and He can create a masterpiece. I know that is true because He did it in scripture many times and in my life.
Think about the beauty of our planet, our bodies, relationships and love and realize that He created all of it not having all the beautiful pieces and colors already there. (Like we would put together a puzzle or paint a picture with bright colors that are provided for us.)
GOD IS NOT DONE CREATING: When we talk about God as creator we usually only think of the beginning and what He has already created. But God is still the greatest creator who is still creating beauty things, especially out of us.
1 Corinthians 5:17 says that those who come to Christ are new creations. says that we are being created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT. God saves us through Christ then begins creating us to be like the most beautiful and incredible one in existence; God Himself.
He created it all out of what? Nothing! He created the puzzle pieces and colors. He is the source of it!
TRANS: WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD AS CREATOR YOUR EYES ARE QUICKLY OPEN TO HIS POWER BECAUSE THEY ARE WRAPPED UP IN ONE ANOTHER. You begin to be amazed at the just how immeasurable God’s power really is.
says that we are being created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
GOD IS ALL POWERFUL
GOD IS ALL POWERFUL
Think about the beauty of our planet, our bodies, relationships and love and realize that He created all of it not having all the beautiful pieces and colors already there. (Like we would put together a puzzle or paint a picture with bright colors that are provided for us. ) He created it all out of what? Nothing! He created the puzzle pieces and colors. He is the source of it!
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
IT IS ONE THING TO CREATE SOMETHING when you have all the resources you need and the tools to put those things together, then the energy and time to do it.
IT IS ONE THING TO CREATE SOMETHING when you have all the resources you need and the tools to put those things together, then the energy and time to do it.
WOODWORKING: for example, something that I love doing as a hobby is woodworking. The last thing I made was this coffee bar (pic) which has many imperfections. It took wood screws, wood, paint, stain and time. It was process.
( about something I made doing woodworking…)
But to create everything that we see in our natural world in all of its complexity and intricacy (1) out of nothing and even more than that by (2) speaking it into existence as states, and everything turn out perfect, is a level of power we cannot even understand.
POWER BELONGS TO GOD: This illustrates something to understand; that God does not just have power. He is the source of power. Power is His, He own it beyond measure.
says that “power belongs to God.”
The VERY Name of God in Genesis one and so many other places in the Old Testament MEANS POWER. IT is translated from the Hebrew ‘Elohim.’ “Elohim is actually derived from two Hebrew words, ‘El,’ meaning power, and ‘Him.’ (Mighty or Powerful God)
The very name of God means power and that power is shown in His creation but it is also seen in the lives of faithful Christians.
God’s creation helps us understand to a small degree God’s eternal power EVEN THOUGH IT IS IMMEASURABLE.
Even if it seems like a disaster or empty or ugly God can make it into something beautiful and with purpose.
God’s creation
But God does just possess power, God is the source of power.
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.
We MEASURE everything. We love to know how much power or energy things create.
PIC SL*(Take our sun for example. According to NASA “in one second the Sun produces over a million years’ worth of energy to power everything on earth” IF WE COULD...)
PIC SL (ill: Our sun in comparison to the earth is huge… like a seed and a basketball)
PIC SL (ill: Our sun in comparison to the earth is huge… like a seed and a basketball)
· We have a measurement for everything but God’s power, eternity is beyond our ability to measure. We have a hard time comprehending eternity for example.
Yet there are stars in space that have been studied that our sun cannot compare to for example…pic slide) We could say God that is awesome the power that our solar system revolves around…and he could say…yeah that’s just one of the smaller ones.
But God’s power and eternity are beyond our ability to measure We cannot wrap our minds around limitless power.
- We cannot wrap our minds around limitless power or time that does not end but God’s power is without measure and He is eternal.
Another example are “The heavens” or space. We know a lot about it and we understand a lot about it in concept but its vastness seems immeasurable.
One astronomer from Ithaca College in New York roughly estimated that there are 10 trillion galaxies in the universe. Or Milky Way Galaxies has somewhere around 100 billion stars…now if every other galaxy of the 10 trillion has 100 billion stars think of how many stars are out there? 1 with 29 zeros behind it.)
Now consider the fact that God just spoke all of that into existence. says;
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
- (ill: If that doesn’t amaze you consider this the vastness of space…with all of our technology as far as we can look into space there are still more stars. One astronomer from Ithaca College in New York roughly estimated that there are 10 trillion galaxies in the universe. Or Milky Way Galaxies has somewhere around 100 billion stars…now if every other galaxy of the 10 trillion has 100 billion stars think of how many stars are out there? 1 with 29 zeros behind it…)
- says, “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.”
- These things are God’s creation and they testify to His power but they are only things that are His, that He owns they are not who He is…HE IS MUCH GREATER!!
- The Earth and sun and stars are just things He created and put into place…Notice for a second “He makes His sun to rise on the just and unjust.” The text doesn’t say He makes the sun to rise…but HIS sun. He owns it, controls it along with every other planet, star or thing in nature.
says that Christ holds all of this together by “by the word of His power!”
And get this how did He create these…? HE SIMPLY SPOKE! (And says that Jesus uphold the universe by “the word of His power.”)
APP: WHEN WE FOCUS ON GOD’S POWER WE ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS NOT ALL UP TO US AND OUR POWER OR RESOURCES OR ABILITIES OR THE ODDS or UNKNOWNS.
We need this so much because we focus sometimes so heavily on what we or people are doing to change our situations, or what we can do that we leave out THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR (BY FAR) GOD AND HIS POWER.
Here is something that we need to be reminded of: God is and always has been in control.
(For example...
WE DO EVER NEED TO FORGET: God is and always has been in control. (Even when things seem out of control. That is where our security should come from.
When we go forward the creation we see the display after incredible display of God’s power and control.
2. From His confusion of the languages at the tower of Babel, the flood, the Exodus, made the sun stand still in the sky, defeated the greatest world powers, bringing down kings and nations, defeating giants, bring people back from the dead and bringing salvation to mankind through Christ and his sacrifice on the cross.
What we believe about God should help us to have faith even when things seem out of control. We want control so we can feel secure but true security comes from the one who actually is in control.
IF CHRIST CAN HOLD THE UNIVERSE TOGETHER JUST BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD THEN WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT HE CAN HOLD US TOGETHER WHEN EVEN WHEN everything seems to be falling apart.
Trans: The more you look at who God is in scripture, the more you see that there is no one like Him.
2. We have to also believe this on the days when we face unexpected giants or when things are out of our hands and beyond our ability to help.
3. (Ill: There are many times in life we learn the hard way that things are out of our hands
God’s power
Resurrected Christ from the dead and will raise us up one day. ()
Is working in us and in our lives daily through the Holy Spirit
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
God is our creator, Holy, like no other and all powerful and eternal. If He is all of those things then He has all authority.
GOD IS HOLY
GOD IS HOLY
God is praised throughout scripture for who He is as HOLY. One example is after God delivered the Israelites through parting the Red Sea.
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
SOON after this, God would make Israel His covenant people. One of the things that He commanded them was to have no other gods before Him.
God’s command to have no other gods before Him. (Because there is no other real god. ALSO GOD COMMANDED ISRAEL TO NOT MAKE ANY IMAGE even that REPRESENTS GOD.
One, because there is no other real god. ALSO GOD COMMANDED ISRAEL TO NOT MAKE ANY IMAGE, even if it was supposed to REPRESENTS GOD. One reason for this that there is nothing that could rightly represent God.
God is not like anyone or anything else in all existence. As , says:
God is not like anyone or anything else in all existence. As , says:
To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Israel was not to make an image to represent Him. There is nothing in all creation that can do Him justice. Anything would we an insult and we would be tempted to worship it rather than Him.
The only true representation of Him was Jesus.
When we understand that God is Holy, set apart, completely perfect and His characteristics are immovable, always faithful, pure and true and
irreplaceable
There is nothing in all creation that can do Him justice. Anything would we an insult and we would be tempted to worship it rather than Him. Paul said it this way in
To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
The only true representation of Him was Jesus.
When we understand that God is Holy, set apart, completely perfect and His characteristics are immovable, always faithful, pure and true and
irreplaceable
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
The only true and right representation of God in His holiness is Jesus Himself. Just as says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God.” And says;
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
WE NEED TO SEE GOD AS IRREPLACEABLE
When we understand that God is Holy, set apart, completely perfect and His characteristics are immovable we can understand that He is irreplaceable!
“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1 Sam
The last part of this verse expresses this, “there is no rock like our God.” There is no security, safety or solid ground like our God. He is irreplaceable.
WE NEED TO BELIEVE SO THAT WE DO NOT TRY TO PUT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IN GOD’S PLACE. We cannot replace God with anything else and find completeness. No person, possession, career, amount of control we can have, no temporary comfort, thing or situation we create can replace His presence.
HOLY
God is not like anyone or anything else in all existence.
Israel was not to make an image to represent Him. There is nothing in all creation that can do Him justice. Anything would we an insult and we would be tempted to worship it rather than Him.
The only true representation of Him was Jesus.
When we understand that God is Holy, set apart, completely perfect and His characteristics are immovable, always faithful, pure and true and
irreplaceable
We cannot replace God with anything else and find completeness
No Person, possession, career, amount of control we can have, no comfort, thing or situation we create can replace His presence.
There is no security, safety or solid ground like our God. He is irreplaceable. We cannot replace God with anything else and find completeness. No Person, possession, career, amount of control we can have, no temporary comfort, thing or situation we create can replace His presence.
Right now we can be tempted to reach out for quick comforts and things that make us feel ok for the moment. The most important thing that we do right now and alway is reach out and draw near to God.
God is not like anyone or anything else in all existence. As says:
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Israel was not to make an image to represent Him. There is nothing in all creation that can do Him justice. Anything would we an insult and we would be tempted to worship it rather than Him.
The only true representation of Him was Jesus.
When we understand that God is Holy, set apart, completely perfect and His characteristics are immovable, always faithful, pure and true and
irreplaceable
We cannot replace God with anything else and find completeness
No Person, possession, career, amount of control we can have, no comfort, thing or situation we create can replace His presence.
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Trans: God is our creator, Holy, like no other and all powerful and eternal. If He is all of those things then He has all authority.
The Name of God in Genesis one and so many other places in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew ‘Elohim.’ “Elohim is actually derived from two Hebrew words, ‘El,’ meaning power, and ‘Him.’ (VBS book) (Mighty or Powerful God)
The very name of God means power and that power is shown in His creation but it is also seen in the lives of faithful Christians.
If God can take the formless nothing that He created the earth from, He has the power to help one life that is lived for Him on this great planet.
3. If God can take the formless nothing that He created the earth from, He has the power to help one life that is lived for Him on this great planet.
Even if it seems like a disaster or empty or ugly God can make it into something beautiful and with purpose.
But God does just possess power, God is the source of power.
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.
God’s greatness is beyond our ability to fully understand because He is outside of our parameters. His knowledge, love, power among other things is limitless.
· We have a measurement for everything but God’s power, eternity is beyond our ability to measure. We have a hard time comprehending eternity for example.
- We cannot wrap our minds around limitless power or time that does not end but God’s power is without measure and He is eternal.
· “The heavens” are a good example of that. We know a lot about it and we understand a lot about it in concept but its vastness seems immeasurable.
- PIC SL*(Ill: Take our sun for example. According to NASA “in one second the Sun produces over a million years’ worth of energy for the earth”)
- PIC SL (ill: Our sun in comparison to the earth is huge… like a seed and a basketball)
- PIC SL (Ill: Our sun is powerful but there are stars in space that have been studied that our sun cannot compare to for example…)
- (ill: If that doesn’t amaze you consider this the vastness of space…with all of our technology as far as we can look into space there are still more stars. One astronomer from Ithaca College in New York roughly estimated that there are 10 trillion galaxies in the universe. Or Milky Way Galaxies has somewhere around 100 billion stars…now if every other galaxy of the 10 trillion has 100 billion stars think of how many stars are out there? 1 with 29 zeros behind it…)
- says, “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.”
· These things are powerful examples of God’s greatness but they are only the beginning of what He reveals in scripture about Himself that should put us in awe of Him.
- These things are God’s creation and they testify to His power but they are only things that are His, that He owns they are not who He is…HE IS MUCH GREATER!!
- The Earth and sun and stars are just things He created and put into place…Notice for a second “He makes His sun to rise on the just and unjust.” The text doesn’t say He makes the sun to rise…but HIS sun. He owns it, controls it along with every other planet, star or thing in nature.
- We could say God that is awesome the power that our solar system revolves around…and he could say…yeah that’s just one of the smaller ones…
And get this how did He create these…? HE SIMPLY SPOKE! (And says that Jesus uphold the universe by “the word of His power.”)
WHEN WE FOCUS ON GOD’S POWER WE ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS NOT ALL UP TO US AND OUR POWER OR RESOURCES OR ABILITIES OR THE ODDS.
We need this so much because we focus sometimes so heavily on what we or people are doing to change our situations that we leave out THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR (BY FAR) GOD AND HIS POWER.
Here is something that we need to be reminded of: God does not need us to do everything right to His power and plan to work.
(For example...
When we go forward the creation we see the display after incredible display of God’s power and control.
2. From His confusion of the languages at the tower of Babel, the flood, the Exodus, made the sun stand still in the sky, defeated the greatest world powers, bringing down kings and nations, defeating giants, bring people back from the dead and bringing salvation to mankind through Christ and his sacrifice on the cross.
What we believe about God should help us to have faith even when things seem out of control. We want control so we can feel secure but no matter how hard we try we cannot control all things.
1. The good thing is that we were never intended to but God is always in control. We can’t just say that when things are good.
2. We have to also believe this on the days when we face unexpected giants or when things are out of our hands and beyond our ability to help.
3. (Ill: There are many times in life we learn the hard way that things are out of our hands
God’s power
Resurrected Christ from the dead and will raise us up one day. ()
Is working in us and in our lives daily through the Holy Spirit
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
God is our creator, Holy, like no other and all powerful and eternal. If He is all of those things then He has all authority.
GOD IS AUTHORITATIVE
GOD IS AUTHORITATIVE
WE UNDERSTAND GOD’S AUTHORITY THOUGH FAITH! When you look at the world and its rulers and authorities it might seem hard to see how God has ultimate authority. But through the eyes of faith we see and know that God is over all authorities even if they do not realize it.
When you look at the world and its rulers and authorities it might seem hard to see how God has ultimate authority. But through the eyes of faith we see and know that God is over all authorities even if they do not realize it.
What Jesus said to Pilot illustrates this. Pilot was in a position of authority and told Jesus he had the authority to set him free. Jesus said,
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
God’s authority is demonstrated throughout the Old Testament in His control over the nations. He moved the world powers to do what He planned as He wanted.
God’s authority is demonstrated throughout the Old Testament in His control over the nations and authorities. Over creation in speaking it into existence and sustaining it. Then as He moved the world power to do what He planned.
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
Dan 2:
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
ISN’T IT AWESOME RIGHT NOW TO KNOW THAT WHILE OTHER THINGS ARE UNCERTAIN, THAT GOD IS CONTROL.
JESUS MINISTRY GIVES AN EVEN GREATER DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLETE AUTHORITY
Before His ascension Jesus said this:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
This was demonstrated many times in His ministry. It was in how He taught as one having authority (because He did as God’s Son) and HE WAS TRUTH!
His authority was shown OVER THE NATURAL WORLD when He walked on water and calmed the storm when He commanded them to be still. He healed every disease, blindness and physical ailment.
His authority was shown over THE SPIRITUAL WORLD when He cast out demons and brought the dead back to life.
HE HAS ALL AUTHORITY OVER THE CHURCH as the head of the church.
HE STILL HAS ALL AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
He does not lose His authority when things people do not recognize it, or things are out of our control in any realm in our lives.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Col 1:
IF YOU STRUGGLE TO GET A GRASP ON HIS AUTHORITY OVER EVERYTHING THEN CONSIDER THE FACT THAT YOU ARE STILL ALIVE AND OUR WORLD IS STILL SPINNING.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
hEB 1:
IF EVERYTHING IN ALL CREATION IS UNDER HIS AUTHORITY,Let us submit and trust in His control over all things. WE CAN TAKE COMFORT IN HIS AUTHORITY.
WE CAN TAKE COMFORT IN HIS AUTHORITY.
JUST AS HE CALMED THE STORM ON THE SEA HE CAN CALM THE UNCERTAINTY IN YOU. He still has authority over sickness and death and circumstances and here is the awesome thing: NO ONE CAN TAKE IT FROM HIM!
Even though many people do not recognize His authority does not mean that they are not under His authority. One day everyone will confess He is Lord and answer to His authority.
for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
HOPEFULLY THE CHANGES DURING THIS TIME HELPS US TO REALLY LOOK AT OUR LIVES AND ASK IF WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH A RECOGNITION OF WHO GOD IS AND THE AUTHORITY HE HAS OVER EVERYTHING.
Rom
IF WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN LIVING IN COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO HIS AUTHORITY THEN THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. LET THIS BE THE START!
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT YOUR FOCUS ON WHO GOD IS DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME AND ON WHO HE HAS HAS CALLED YOU TO BE.
Before picking out some songs to sing together, consider and discuss the following questions:
Q: HOW DOES FOCUSING ON THE NATURE OF GOD HELP US HAVE A PROPER VIEW OF OURSELVES AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES?
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT YOU HAVE TRIED TO REPLACE GOD WITH AND WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
Q: WHEN WAS A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU EXPERIENCED SUCH A SHOCKING CHANGE THAT IT MADE YOU QUESTION THE STABILITY OF EVERYTHING?
Q: HOW DOES THE FACT THAT CHRIST IS HOLDING EVERYTHING TOGETHER BRING COMFORT TO THE UNCERTAIN THINGS IN YOUR LIFE?
JUST AS HE CALMED THE STORM ON THE SEA HE CAN CALM THE UNCERTAINTY IN YOU. He still has authority over sickness and death and circumstances and here is the awesome thing: NO ONE CAN TAKE IT FROM HIM!