Sermon Notes
“God’s Watchful Care”
Deuteronomy 11:12
(Third in the series Power in the Blood)
NOTE: This message has four points. Point 2 comes from Pat Damiani’s “When Jesus Calls My Name” on www.sermoncentral.com
Introduction: What comes to mind when you think about the eyes of God? Do you envision Him looking down upon a fallen world as portrayed in The Great Gatsby? Do you see Him turning his back on us and not looking at all? Or do you picture Him as an eternal loving Father always keeping an attentive eye upon His children?
Proposition: This message is aimed at believers. We have left the wilderness of sin; we have obtained salvation. Now the eyes of the LORD are upon us!
1. He is Jehovah (Psalm 83:18)
A. Jehovah El’ohim. “Self-Existent, Eternal Creator”
• In Genesis we see Him take a world that was in chaos: Without form, dark, void, and turn it into something beautiful.
He was before time. There is no time with God: He was and is and is to come.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Verse 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• Before you ever had a problem – he was God
• Before you were sick – he was God.
• Before you were broke – he was God.
• Before you ever went through the stuff you went through HE WAS GOD.
• 2500 times in the Word he is referred to as Jehovah El’ohim.
• Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
B. Jehovah Jireh – “The Lord will provide.”
• In Genesis 22, Abraham led Isaac up the mountain.
• Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
• 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Jesus was our Provision on Calvary.
* Isaiah 1: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
C. Jehovah Adonai – “The Lord our Sovereign Master.”
• Teacher – Nicodemus - John 3:2 came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:
• Master of the Sea and Wind. Luke 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
• Demons. - Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
• Disease. - Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
• Death - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 tells us that through Christ, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?
D. Jehovah Nissi –“The Lord our Banner.”
• In Exodus 17 Moses stood on the side of the hill as the Israelites battled the Amalekites.
• As long as his hands were in the air Israel would be winning.
• As soon as his hands lowered, they would start losing.
• Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
E. Jehovah Shammoh – “The Lord is there.”
• We can go to the cliff of the world’s highest mountain, He is there.
• We can go to the deepest cave, He is there.
• 2 Samuel 23:11-12 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
F. Jehovah Shalom – “The Lord our Peace.”
• Gideon needed a sign from God. He laid the cakes and flesh on the rock and smote it with his staff and fire arose.
• God spoke to him Judges 6: 23-24 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
• Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
• The Angels declared at his birth, Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
G. Jehovah Sickanau – “The Lord our Righteousness.”
Free from guilt or sin
• Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
H. Jehovah El Shaddai – “God Almighty.”
• After God showed himself to Abraham and Sara, He was known as “God Almighty.”
I. Jehovah Raphi. – “The Lord that healeth thee.”
• Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
2. He is our God (John 20:10-18) Note: this section is from Pat Damiani’s “When Jesus Calls My Name” on www.sermoncentral.com
As we go through life, many different people call our name. And it’s amazing to me just how many different messages that can be conveyed to us, depending on just how people call our name:
• When we’re growing up, our parents call our name. Sometimes that is done in a very calm, gentle, loving manner. But other times, especially when they use our full name, it conveys a completely different message. I only know that because my parents often had to do that with my brothers and sister: Stephen Henry Cash! Paula Beth Cash! Lee Charles Cash! Joel Andrew Cash! OK, I admit I did hear Thomas Raymond Cash once or twice.
• Then when we go to school, our teachers call our name. And the way they call our name can convey all kinds of emotions – from delight to disgust, from reward to reproof.
• My wife calls my name, too. And the way she calls my name can either let me know she’s in an amorous mood or that I’m in big trouble.
When Jesus called Mary’s name, it confirmed the resurrection.
When Jesus called Mary’s name He created a whole new relationship.
When Jesus called Mary’s name, she had to choose how to respond to Him.
Mary could have chosen to:
• Ignore Jesus
After all, until He called her name, she just figured it was the gardener. So Mary, even when she recognized His voice, could have just ignored Jesus.
• Doubt Jesus
She could have said, “Jesus is dead. There is no way that this can be Jesus. I don’t believe that He could have arisen from the dead.”
• Reject Jesus
She could have chosen to reject Him. Even if she believed that this really was Jesus and that He was alive, she could have just rejected what that meant for her life and just kept living her life without His influence.
But Mary chose to embrace Jesus. So should we!
3. He watches our every move (Matthew 6:25-33)
We, as Christians, worry without the authorization of God to do so. Three times in this chapter we are told to "Take no thought". This literally means that we are not to worry. Jesus was very clear about this.
The Command Not to Worry is based on four principles
A. We have better things to do (25b)
B. Worry is useless (27)
C. Worry shows a lack of faith (30b)
D. Worry hinders our spiritual walk
The Plan Not to Worry is built on three principles
A. The Lord cares (30a)
B. The Lord knows (32)
C. The Lord expects 3 thinga out of our lives (33)
1. Effort (seek)
2. Prioritized Life (first)
3. Spiritual Committment (The Kingdom of God)
If we are troubled with worry in our lives, the solution is simple. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” He watches our every move!
4. We need to watch Him! (Exodus 33:11-23) Our seeking God isa all about grace & glory.
Grace. Vs 11-17
A. Moses had found grace.
B. Moses’ prayer requests. Vs 13
-Not gimme gimme…
-Show me thy way? (They were one the threshold of going through the wilderness.)
-That I may know thee.
Philippians 3:10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
-That I may find grace (sustaining grace) in your sight.
-How shall it be known I and thy people have found grace?
C. God’s answer.
-My presence will go with thee
-To give you rest (peace)
-I will do this thing
-You have found grace
-I will know thee.
Glory
A. Show me your Glory? Vs 18
B. God’s answer.
1.I WILL...
--make all my goodness pass before thee
--proclaim the name of the Lord before thee
--I will be gracious
2. BUT you cannot see my face.
--Because of His holiness
-Because of His glory
3.There is a place by me. Vs 21
-A rock – Sure foundation
-A cleft – safety
-I will cover thee – Security
-You can see my back parts, but not my face.
God gives us sustaining grace.
-To guide us.
-To grow us.
-Go get us trough.
We will see His glory…
Conclusion: Since God’s eyes are upon us, how are we to respond? Let’s roll our burdens upon the burden bearer. Let’s rid ourselves of distrust and weariness. Let’s be full of gratitude and generosity, for the blood of Christ allows us to be seated with Him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!”
