Category: God
Subject: God
Sermon: Nebuchadnezzar’s View of God
On four difference occasions in Daniel 2-4 there is recorded words of Praise spoken by the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar regarding the God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-Nego. There is much to learn from the kings interaction with Jehovah.
Sermon: We give thanks to You, O God!
An analysis of a wonderful Psalm of praise to God. The 75th Psalm. For His wondrous works, His authority, His compassion for the humble, and judgment of the prideful.
Sermon: “Put your trust in the Lord”
Psalm 4 is a wonderful psalm of praise to God. The text reveals that He is worthy of that praise because He is righteous, merciful, gracious, trustworthy and helpful.
O Mighty God!
In preparation for this morning’s sermon, I came across some information about a favorite song of praise, How Great Thou Art.
The song is taken from a poem written by Swedish poet Carl Boberg in 1885, titled “O Store Gud”. The poem has a total of nine verses.
The Lord, He is God
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah proved that Jehovah is the one true God, in his battle with the 450 prophets of Baal. Prior to the contest, the children of Israel were not convinced that the Lord was the one true God. At Elijah’s challenge, they were non committal. “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).
By the end, however, the Lord proved His power and unique place as the God of heaven and earth. When the people saw the demonstration of God’s power, “they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” (vs. 39).
The word Lord, found in the text is from the Hebrew YHWH, translated in other English texts as Jehovah. It is God’s name. Baal is not God. The God of the Hebrews, the Lord, or Jehovah, He is God.
Consider Elijah’s words, “If the Lord is God, follow Him.” The Lord has established, through many demonstrations of power, judgment and mercy, that He is the Creator of the universe. He is the first cause. It is to Him we will one day give an account, “according to what [we have] done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Are you following the LORD?
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Sermon: The Relationship Between God and Man
Our God is Sovereign and Holy. He requires holiness of us. When we do good, He blesses us. When we choose to do evil, God’s righteous nature requires punishment. But, it is His desire the men be saved, not lost.
In Days of Old
God is powerful, sovereign, and has imposed His will on men in ages past. This was especially true with Israel, who inhabited the land of Canaan only because of God’s intervention. “For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them” (Psalm 44:3).
But, how did the Psalmist know of this great victory? “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old” (Psalm 44:1).
Today, we are blessed to have such deeds preserved in the Bible itself. The annals of God’s demonstration of might, justice and mercy to His people. These things strengthen and establish our faith.
“In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever” (Psalm 44:8)
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Sermon: The Glory of God
God’s glory compels His children to live by faith, to be holy in conduct, and to offer continual praise to His name. If we do so, we are promised we will share in His glory!
Be Still, and Know that I Am God
The 46th Psalm does a wonderful job of expressing the powerful protection God affords His people. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling” (1-3).
Our protection is sure. It is sure because of God’s infinite power. It is sure because of His constant presence and awareness. It is sure because of His great wisdom and knowledge. It is sure because He loves those who are His. Truly “the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (11).
In our knowledge that God is our refuge there is strength, peace and hope. There is also a reason for us to offer Him our praise and thanksgiving! “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (10).
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Sermon: God Is
This lesson is a discussion of some of the most important attributes of God. He is 1) Right; 2) Good; 3) Loving; and 4) Longsuffering.
“Him who ought to be feared”
“You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared” (Psalm 76:7-11).
Fear of God is sadly lacking in our day. Men have forgotten previous judgments, and a generation has arisen that scoffs at the Almighty. They really shouldn’t do that. It is not in their best interest to anger the Divine. And yet they rage in their ignorance, and secure for themselves the eventual, eternal judgment of God.
When that day comes, no man will stand before Him. All will be brought to their knees, “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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 shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).
If we confess Jesus today, it will bring us the salvation He offers (cf. Romans 10:10). If we wait until judgment, it will be a confession of His power and authority over us, and the justness of our condemnation. Regardless, the Almighty God of heaven “ought to be feared.”
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Sermon: God’s Plans
Sermon by Brantley Gallman
Daniel 2 gives a good example of the grand and sovereign plans of God.
FB: The Promised Mercies of God
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1).
The poet’s proclamation was made within the specific context of the promises made by God to King David. “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations” (verse 3).
God is certainly faithful concerning His promises to man. He always has, and always will do as He says. The “Son of David”, Jesus the Christ, reigns in Heaven today.
Consider this truth, and remember the promise of mercy that God has given to us. As Paul wrote:
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8)..
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FB: Blessed is the nation who God is the Lord
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:11-12).
In the verses previous to our text, the Psalmist notes, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing…” (10). Men (and nations) have long sought to establish their will without regarding the will of the God of heaven. Such efforts are foolish. Regarding the nations, Paul said that God, “has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” He does so, “that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27).
The Psalmist notes that if God has chosen a people, they are blessed. That was certainly the case with Israel, who obtained and gloried in God’s protection, so long as they were obedient to His will.
In these last days, Christians are the people of God. As such we are blessed and protected by our God. This is important to know and to meditate upon, as we face opposition from the world around us. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).
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Man Can’t Do It…But God Can!
Early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he had a dream. The dream made him anxious, and he sought it’s meaning. His astrologers, sorcerers and magicians were more than willing to provide an interpretation, but Nebuchadnezzar obviously did not trust their powers of divination. So, he created a test. Before giving him the interpretation, they had to describe the dream itself. They replied, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean” (Daniel 2:10). Their explanation did not impress Nebuchadnezzar. He became angry, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be killed!
Nebuchadnezzar’s disgust was understandable, even if his murderous response was not. These dream interpreters were not claiming psychological insight. They claimed to be able to “divine” the interpretation. That is, they claimed a supernatural ability to determine a dream’s meaning. Logically, if one possessed such supernatural powers, “divining” the dream itself would be as simple as the interpretation. By their inability, they showed themselves to be charlatans.
