Category: God
Subject: God
Sermon: May the Lord Bless You
The sermon is an analysis of Psalm 20. The lesson examines the petitions made to God by Israel on behalf of David. Applications are made.
Sermon: Trusting God to Save
Psalms 3,4 and 5 are used to show David’s trust in the Lord to protect him from his enemies, and ultimately save him. As David, we can trust God.
God, The Architect of Redemption
The Psalmist affirmed in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” This truth is evident to the unprejudiced mind. While some seek to convince man that design in the universe is illusory, nature offers a compelling and convincing argument for a Maker. “There is no speech nor language Where their [the heavens and firmament] voice is not heard” (vs. 3).
From the Preacher’s Pen: We Need God!
In my study of the Thessalonian epistles, I came across a concise statement of God’s sovereignty written by David Lipscomb, dealing with the passage of 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7. The comment is located under verse six, which states, “since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you.”
While God permitted them to suffer persecution as a means of testing and strengthening their faith and love, He recompenses tribulation on those who troubled them. God uses wicked men to try the faith and love of His servants, to test their worthiness, and then so orders that these wicked persecutors are punished for the evil they brought on His servants. God works in and through His people, and overrules and controls the courses of the wicked (emphasis mine, SC).
(Gospel Advocate Commentary, page 88)
It is a lesson we should always keep before us, God is in control. Paul affirmed this fact in Acts 17, in his sermon on Mars Hill, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (24-25). God does not need us, we need Him! What a humbling thing to know and remember!
Sermon: God Said It!
If God said it, that settles it, and we had better believe it. God is sovereign, and His will must be obeyed. Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”
Invitation: We Are Not Alone!
Invitation delivered by: Ben Schmidt
In 2 Kings 6:12-ff, the prophet Elisha showed his servant that with God, we are never alone. This is a lesson we should learn as well!
From the Preacher’s Pen: God’s Justice and Mercy
The world has a skewed view of the Almighty God of heaven. Some consider Him to be a hateful, vengeful God. When they consider God’s treatment of the pagans in Canaan, of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other examples of God’s judgment, they see only His reaction, not the just causes that precipitated that judgment.
Others go to the other end of the spectrum. They see the love of God expressed in Jesus’ life and death and consider Him to be a benevolent God that will overlook sin, and allow all men a heavenly home.
Both images are partly accurate, but entirely wrong because they are incomplete. They emphasize one aspect of God, while rejecting another! God is both just and merciful. Any accurate view of the Almighty must balance these two attributes. The Psalmist, in Psalm 85, expresses that balance well.
“Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven” (10-11).
The Psalmist understood the fierceness of God’s anger. Israel was guilty of sin, and so God showed them His wrath. However, upon their repentance, the Psalmist confidently called upon God to “Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And grant us Your salvation” (7). Eternal salvation is available to all who fear Him, showing God’s justice, and His mercy!
Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner
God hates sin. There is no doubt concerning this, as the scriptures use that very term to describe God’s attitude toward various sins. For example, the sin of idolatry. Deuteronomy 16:21-22 records, among other admonitions in that context, “You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the Lord your God. You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the Lord your God hates.” Likewise, in Malachi 2:16, it is written, “‘For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.’”
From the Preacher’s Pen: Winter Weather and God’s Word
Job’s friend Elihu, in describing the majesty of Almighty God, said among other things:
“From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen” (Job 37:9-10).
With the weather of the last couple of days, we are reminded of the power of our God. It is one of a myriad of ways that nature proclaims His glory. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
The same God that made the universe has revealed His will to man. Consider His words recorded by the prophet, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The Almighty God who created the universe has promised us that His word will be accomplished on the earth. The only way this can be a pleasant truth is if one is in accord with that will. To oppose it is foolish. Those who do so are destined for ruin. There is, however, victory in Jesus!
Mining the Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-25
The circumstances of Jesus’ birth are established forthrightly by Matthew and Luke. While modernists struggle with the concept of a child being born of a virgin, the believer accepts God’s intent, purpose and ability to bring this event about.
Matthew reveals the following in this short section of his gospel:
- After Joseph and Mary were betrothed (a type of engagement), Mary became pregnant.
- At this time Mary was a virgin, the conception was the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Joseph was informed of God’s plan, and scuttled his plans to put away Mary (as he obviously had thought from her pregnancy that she had been with another man).
- God’s plan was that the virgin would bear a son named Jesus, who would be the Savior of mankind (vs. 21).
- The birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). That prophecy refers to the child as “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” Thus, Jesus was declared from birth to be God on earth (cf. John 1:14).
- In answer to the vision from God, Joseph did not have sexual relations with his wife until after she gave birth to Jesus.
This account marks the beginning of the events leading to the ultimate redemption of mankind (cf. John 17:3).
Invitation: The Wisdom of God
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
The talk contrasts the wisdom of God with the words of men. (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
Sermon: There Is Only One God
The text of 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 is examined. Paul prohibits idolatry. He states that when we offer up worship to idols, we provoke the Almighty God.
Idolatry is alive and well today, in various forms.
Sermon: God is Impartial
The lesson establishes that God is impartial, and discusses the ramifications of that fact as it impacts the redemption of mankind.
Sermon: The Unknown God
Lesson 7 of 8 in a series on Awesome Texts.
The Apostle Paul preaches the gospel of Christ to the Athenians on Mars Hill, explaining to them who the Unknown God truly is, and what He requires of man. (Acts 17:16-34)
