As a follow up to yesterday’s post, here is a short post on the one who is the object of our faith, God! I was asked to share this at a very challenging time for our Church at the start of the month and did not have a large amount of time to prepare but God, The Holy Spirit led me by His grace. You can see or hear the message as well as download the slides here.
What follows are the notes I used while sharing.
The Subject the Lord has laid on my heart is the same as the last time I preached on Faith, however it now focuses exclusively on the object of our faith or the one in who we put our trust, God, the Faithful One.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (AV)
Outline
- Intro (Our faith is in God)
- Who is God? (The I AM, The Trinity, the attributes that define God)
- What is God like? (The Faithful One)
- What has God done? (The Gospel)
- Focus on God (A remedy for Spiritual Vertigo)
1. Intro
Hebrews 11:1, 6
2. Who is God?
Genesis 1:1-2
Exodus 3:14
Jeremiah 10:10
God’s Attributes
No parallel in all creation (incommunicable)
God is, the self-existent and sustaining one
God is independent in his thoughts, power, counsel and will
God does not change, he is immutable in his essence, perfections, decisions
God is infinite, he has no beginning (aseity), he cannot be measured (immensity)
God is one, the unity of the triune God, three yet one
God is unique, he is the one and only in his class
Reflections found in creation too (communicable)
God is good, he expresses goodness to his creation
God is love, he is loving in all his ways, God’s love is eternal, holy and free
God is gracious, generously giving us the things, we don’t deserve
God is merciful, kindly holding back what we do deserve
God is Spirit, the purest and highest personality, not a force or bound by space, heart and mind
God has always known everything immediately, he is omniscience
God is wise, seen most clearly in his creation and the gospel
God is true, trustworthy and faithful
God is patient, long suffering with his creation
God is holy, this is his very nature, morally perfect, glorious and set apart
God is righteous as the judge of all creation
God’s wrath is holy, Our God is a consuming fire
God is Sovereign, the one in control and the king who rules over all
God’s power and strength is without limit
God’s will is free, his commanded will is clear, his decreed will can shall come to pass, God speaks
3. What is God like?
Our God is a holy, loving, powerful and faithful God
Psalms 136 CEB
1 Corinthians 1:9
2 Thessalonians 3:3
So our experience with him tells us what he is like but beyond that, through the names and titles given to him in the Bible we can be sure of his character
God’s names
Adonai: God is the Lord and owner of everything, his authority knows no bounds. Habakkuk 3:19
El: God is the strongest one. Exodus 15:2
El Elohe Yisrael: The God of Israel, The God of his own people. Psalm 106:48
El Elyon: God is the Most High Sovereign, we can appeal to no great court. Daniel 4:34
Elohim: God is the one and only Creator. Genesis 1:1-3
El Olam: The Everlasting, Eternal God, what he does stands forever. Genesis 21:33
El Roi: The God who sees and knows all. Psalm 139:7-12
El Shaddai: The all sufficient God, the source of every blessing. Psalm 90:2
Jehovah-Jireh: God the great provider, supplying our needs. Psalm 23
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem: The God who is holy and sanctifies with his own holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16
Jehovah-Nissi: God is our banner, the one who leads us in tot victory. Deuteronomy 20:3-4
Jehovah-Rapha: God our great Healer. Psalm 103:3
Jehovah-Rohi: God, the Good and Great Shepherd of his sheep. John 10:14-18
Jehovah-Sabaoth: The God of Heaven’s Armies, Lord of the mighty hosts of angles. 1 Samuel 17:45
Jehovah-Shalom: God our Peace. Hebrews 13:20-21
Jehovah-Shammah: The God who is present with us, Immanuel. Matthew 28:20
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The God who imputes Righteousness to us. 2 Corinthians 5:21
YHWH: The Great IAM, The God Who is and stands forever faithful. Exodus 3:14
4. What has God done
General: God reveals, teaches, delivers, heals, saves, raises to life, redeems, ransoms, indwells, empowers, hears, answers, commands and forgives
Focus: God has spoken, God has come, God is here
2 Corinthians 1:20
Romans 8:32
1 Corinthians 15:26
5. Focus on God
Speak about the experience of suffering with Vertigo. Parallel with Spiritual Vertigo.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Looking unto Jesus
Place Makers 