What are your Thoughts about God
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If you would take your Bible sometime, with me to Matthew chapter 22, Matthew chapter number 22.
Thankful for the rain today in the cooler air. It almost felt like fall today. Praise the Lord for, you know, we were at really, the precipice of having a very, very horrible drought and you'll I was just so hot and so dry. And we were just so close to if we had another month like that, then the farmers would would lose a lot of their crops and ranchers. Those who have cattle will not be able to grow enough hay, but the Lord is so good to us and and gave us good range for the, for the month of August. Matthew 22 and verse 41, through 42.
It says, while the Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus asked them saying, what do you think of Christ whose son is he? Set it to him? The son of David. I want to thank you on this line and talk to you just for a few moments this this evening, on this thought, what are your thoughts about God? What are your thoughts about god? Let's pray together. Our Father, we are so thankful, Lord, once again, As I mentioned earlier, Lord, for the rain, that you sent to us a good soaking rain, that is just so beneficial lower to the ground. And father, we pray that tonight that we would, I soak up the nourishment of your word Lord. Those that have come in here that may be dry and parched, just through the circumstances of life. I pray the Lord that they would drink from your fountain this evening and feast upon your word, we pray God, that you had a blessed, we pray that Lord, you bless our time of prayer. And just pray to God your blessings of the remainder. This evening we ask all these things in Christ name, amen.
Jesus asked. No doubt the most important question to mankind. What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he? Whose son do you think he is? Well, that's a very important question because eternity rides on how you answer that question is Jesus Christ. The Messiah is he, the Son of God the most important question in that question that Jesus asked his disciples, I don't want to kind of change up the wording, there just a little bit and ask this question. What are your thoughts about God? What are your thoughts about God? I wanted at, this is what I want to consider this evening, but before I do, I want us to see what the Bible says about God's thoughts. It's very interesting to see what the Bible says about God's thoughts a friend since the Bible tells us that God's thoughts are countless thoughts their countless thoughts. A Psalm 40. In verse 5 the psalmist says many O Lord my God are the Wonders which you have done and your thoughts toward us. There is none to compare with you if I would declare and speak of them they would be too numerous to count. I think about that. It is an amazing thing that the God of this universe would even think one thought toward us of those of us who are sinners, those of us who are worms compared to the righteousness and Holiness of God. But psalmist says that it's just not one thought that God thinks toward us. It is many thoughts, it is so many. That they are countless there's no way you can number them.
House is here that God did not just create us and then just abandon us. No, he created us and he thinks about us is our thoughts are on his part. It's an amazing thing to think about the God of the universe thinking about his creation.
It's always say, the Bible tells us about how God's thoughts are countless thoughts but also his thoughts are deep thoughts. They're Deep Thoughts. Psalm 92 in verse 5. States hour or says, oh Lord, how great are your works? And your thoughts are very deep. So God's thoughts, his plans, his ways. The psalmist says, are very deep that is. We cannot wrap our mortal Minds around the immortal. God, We cannot wrap our minds around God's ways and his plans. And there are many things that we say how and why did God plan this and, and what was he thinking in this matter and so forth. His thoughts are deep thoughts, and by the way, that's a good thing. That's a very good thing because I would hate to believe in a God that I could understand. He wouldn't be very much of a God if I could understand. Just Thoughts. Our God is a god that is his thoughts are deep. And there's no way that any Theologian who lived in for a thousand years could Plumb. The depths of the thoughts that are just written and the revelation of his word. Got sauce are deep. I didn't notice his thoughts are higher thoughts, they are higher thoughts. And this goes along with deep thoughts, what? Isaiah 55, and verse 8, God says, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways. My ways says the Lord for, as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. I've been notice also God's thoughts are peaceful thoughts, there, peaceful thoughts, Jeremiah 29, verse 11, God says, to the children of Israel for, I know the thoughts that I think toward, you says, the Lord thoughts of peace, and not of evil. To give you an expected in here, to give you just a little bit of a context. God is riding to the nation of Israel. Who has been held captive in Babylon, Babylon has taken them into captivity and he tells the nation of Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah that when the 70 years of captivity are up, they will then return home. And this is what God says to them after. He says those words, he says for I know the thoughts that I think toward you Thoughts of peace and not of evil. To give you an unexpected in all three. Think about the children of Israel being in captivity in Babylon. We think about how the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The very bride of Christ. We're living in Babylon. Now, we are in captivity in this world, but God has his thoughts toward us. He has his plan toward us that he has and it will lead to his expected end. In the Bible tells us that one day, this world though it is referred to as a bot Babylon. World would become his world and he will reign and we will reign with him. So, his thoughts are peaceful thoughts. We're going to our message. I asked you again. What are your thoughts about God? What are your thoughts about God? There's several things I want to mention to you this evening, very quickly. First of all, I think about his friendship. I think about God's friendship. I'm thankful that Jesus is a friend of sinners, aren't you? I'm thankful for that. He was a friend of sinners and how he willingly left. The glories of Heaven. And how he willingly put on and rubbed himself in flesh and walked among men walked among his own creation. And lived a sinless life. Then died a death that we should have died. And in that he is a friend of sinners. Now we know that Jesus being a friend of sinners does not mean that he joined in on the sin of the Sinners when he was on this Earth or that he condoned send. No, rather as a friend of sinners, Jesus called Sinners to repentance, and he said that over and over again. He called them to forsake, their said he called them to turn from their sin. He also warned them of where they're seeing would eventually lead them. And so by this example of Jesus we learn, this is what a true friend does a true friend does not condone the sin of another friend, a true friend tells that friend the truth. Now I say we're living in the world, that is not popular, right? You tell someone who is living in sin that that they are in sin and then that person will automatically turn you off as if you hate me, if you loved me you would condone me. No no no no. It is because I love you that I warned you what the Bible tells us That's the sign of a true friend and many today need true friends. It may not be the popular thing but it is the right thing. Jesus was not the most popular man in the world. He was hated because of it and you may even be hated because you are truthful, even in a loving way.
But we see Jesus example here. This is what a friend does. Of course, Jesus. Said this greater love hath. No, man than this. then when a man lay down his life for his friends, And Jesus laid down his life for us. I'm thankful. Force friendship. Thankful for friendship.
Think about this, as we think about him being a friend to us and calling us his friends. That even in times of failures. He loves us. Even in times of failures, he loves us. How many times have we failed to live? As we ought to live? More times a week. A never number. How many times have we fallen short of what we ought to be? Yet Jesus loves us the same. He loves us the same. Think about Simon Peter. And how he denied the Lord three times. Even after the Lord, Jesus Christ warned him that he would,
But, that is not where the story ends. Turn your Bibles to Mark chapter 16. Mark chapter number 16.
and verse number two,
Remember just about 3 days prior Peter, had denied the Lord three times. He is now with the rest of Jesus disciples hiding in fear.
Mark, 16 verse 2000s, very early in the morning. On the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen and they said among themselves. Who will, Who Will Roll Away. The Stone from the door of the Tomb for us is Mary Magdalene speaking. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away for. It was very large and entering the tomb. They saw young man clothed in a long, white robe, sitting on the right side and they were alarmed but he said to them do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified? He is risen, he is not here. See the place where they laid him. The angel goes on to say, but go tell his disciples. And Peter. That he's going before you and the Galilee there, you will see him as he said to you. But do you notice how there was a special encouragement, a special word for peter? Denver 7, but go tell his disciples and Peter. The one who just days before failed miserably and denying is War 3 times. And of course in John 21, you can read Peter's full restoration. By Jesus Christ, Jesus loves us even in our failures. Notice also in times of forsaking, he loves us. When others forsake us for whatever reason, it maybe it does not change God's feelings toward us.
Others will forsake you often even when you're trying to do the right thing in any situation and even if everyone turns their back on you and gave up on you as a lost cause it does not offer and it does not change the affections of our God towards you.
In times of forsaking, he loves us. So we think about his friendship and then we also think about His faithfulness. We think about God's faithfulness. 2 times in the New Testament, we read the words. God is faithful. Will read that in 1st Corinthians 1:9 and also in chapter 10 of 1st Corinthians. To be faithful is to be thorough in the performance of one's duties to be true. To one's word, or promises to Be steady and allegiance of affection to be loyal to be constant, to be trustworthy. Listen beloved, I can say with all us a surety I can say with all insurance. That God is a faithful. God is faithful.
Roy Charles Hey by the church earlier today. Most of, you know, that yesterday, his wife's funeral was took place yesterday and he came in today. And as we were talking, he was just saying those words how God has been so good to him. How God had been so faithful to him to answer the many prayers that he had prayed in just these few days alone. That's all my soul. What a wonderful testimony here, man. Just lost his wife, 63 years, he's saying to me at the day after we lay his wife in the ground of the body, in the ground, that he saying, that God is faithful.
That's faith.
Think about this.
As we think about his faithfulness, God is faithful. To converse with us. He is faithful to converse with us. And a lot of times we look past. the two words where it says and God said, God said again think about the creator of this universe.
He speaking to you. He speaks to me and he speaks to women. He speaks to his children and he does. So most vividly through his word As a matter of fact, God speaks to his people in three main ways. Number one, he speaks to his people through his word. Whether that is you reading the scriptures or maybe you're hearing the scriptures being read and preached God speaks through his word. He also speaks to us through his Spirit, the holy spirit of God, he speaks to us, see leads us, the guides us I think God can also speak to us through certain events that happened in our life. I know that you can give testimony of a somehow maybe even a tragic event and yet, you know, for sure that God spoke to you through that event. Well, that's one way that God speaks to us. God allows events to occur in our lives to direct us into change us and help us to grow spiritually, turn to James chapter 1. James chapter 1 verse number two,
James 1 verse number 2.
James says my brethren, count, it all joy, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith, produces patients. But let patience have its perfect work and you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. So there again, God, allow certain events that allows trials to direct us into change us into grow us spiritually. So he is faithful to converse with us, but notice also he's faithful to correct us. As difficult as that is at times, he is faithful to correct us. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:6, he scourges every son whom he receives And listen if you had been scourged by got a few have been disciplined or chasing by God, that's a good thing. That's what the right of Hebrews says that way, you know that you are his son. As tough as that. Is it leaves us? To have faith in that. We are in fact his children. But he chastens us because what he loves us, remember what Jesus said in Revelation chapter 3, as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. So, the reason why he rebukes us, and the reason why he chases us is because of the deep love he has for us, for instance, there are very, very few children who amounts, who really, anything who did not have any correction whatsoever. You have children that have no correction in this world and you have a wild person on your hands. So God uses that correction at times to lead us closer to him. Think about quickly, we think about our Lord. We think about his for everness. He is forever honest and I did look that word up cuz I like trying to to alliterate words and that is a word foreverness. It means eternity. A Psalms Psalm 91 verse 2. Says, Before the mountains were brought forth or ever, you had formed the earth and the world even from Everlasting to Everlasting. You are God. Samus. Is it saying that God is eternal? The Bible tells us and 1st Timothy 1:17. Paul said that he is the king Eternal. He is the king Eternal. He had no beginning, and our King has no ending. He is the all Eternal King. I didn't notice. Lastly, we think about his we think about our Lord, we think about his fruitfulness. We think about his fruitfulness turn to John 15 and verse 5. John 15.
Inverse number 5.
Jesus said, I am the Vine. You are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him the same brings forth much fruit for without me. You can do nothing. Nice. Save, I want us to think about his fruitfulness. But, even though it is us who sees the the fruits, but rather it is, God working through us. The reason why we produce fruit is because Jesus is the Vine. He's the bond. He's the one that gives us the the ability to produce fruit. Fruit. That is beneficial fruit. That is profitable both to God. And to man, Galatians 5:22 and 23 house is what the fruit of the spirit is love joy, peace. Long-suffering gentleness, goodness, Faith, meekness and Temperance. This right here is a mark of your salvation. Does the fruit of the spirit? Mark your life. It is it it is it a characteristic of your life the Holy Spirit produces Christian character in you and in me cuz we think about God, we not only think about his friendship and we think about his, his foreverness, his eternity. We also think about his fruitfulness that he not only saves us. From hell, you guys much more than that, the Bible tells us any fees and 2:10 that he has saved us unto good works for we are his workmanship. So he has saved us that we may produce good fruit and if we do produce good fruit, we know that it does not come from within us but that we are attached to him the vine and because of that we are able to glorify God in the things that we do. It is not a means of our salvation. But producing fruit, biblical fruit means that we have been saved, it is a great character, great Mark. That one has passed from Death unto life. So I pray. That is we think about our God that we was thinking about meditate upon these things that I mentioned here. There are numerous things I could have used tonight as we think about our God, but I pray that we would meditate upon the ones that I have mentioned to this evening.