The Bible does not defend the existence of God; it is assumed.
Sermon Title: GOD (PART 1)
Sermon Text: VARIOUS TEXTS
Sermon Series: ICYMI: BACK TO BASICS
By: PTR NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
PSALMS 19:1-5
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
GENESIS 1:1 NIV
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Bible does not defend the existence of God; it is assumed.
PSALMS 14:1 NIV
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God
A.W. Tozer
is the most important thing about us.”
Three “God is” statements.
God is revealed.
God is relational.
God is a Trinity.
I. GOD IS REVEALED
God is not discovered by us. He reveals himself to us.
A. God’s General Revelation.
1. Through Creation.
ROMANS 1:20 NIV
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
2. Through History.
ACTS 17:26-27 NIV
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
History is God’s story.
B. God’s Special Revelation.
1. Through His Word.
HEBREWS 4:12 NIV
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2. Through His Son.
HEBREWS 1:1-2 NIV
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
JOHN 14:9 NIV
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
II. GOD IS RELATIONAL
A. Biblical Truths about who God is.
Popular: God is distant.
Biblical: God is near.
PSALMS 139:7-10 NIV
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
JEREMIAH 29:13 NIV
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
JAMES 4:8a NIV
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Popular: God watches from afar.
Biblical: God is intimately involved in every detail of our lives.
LUKE 12:6-7 NIV
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Popular: God is waiting to judge.
Biblical: God is waiting to forgive all who ask.
JOHN 3:17 NIV
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
1 JOHN 1:9 NIV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
In a world where people see God as impersonal, the truth is that God is relational.
B. God is our perfect Father.
LUKE 11:1-2 NIV
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
LUKE 11:11-13 NIV
11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
MATTHEW 6:5-6 NIV
5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
MATTHEW 6:7 NIV
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Just as a happy child cannot “mis-hug,” the sincere heart cannot “mis-pray” to the Father.
The power of prayer really depends on the One who hears the prayer, not the one who is giving it.