Sermon Central
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Understanding God
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 15, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: Understanding and looking at the character of God and what we can expect from God as well as what He expects out of us.
Understanding God
Selective Scriptures
Introduction-
This morning I want to look at trying to understand God.
Looking at understanding the character of God
What God wants from us and what we can expect from God.
One of the early church leaders Augustine was once accosted by a non-be-believer who showed him his idol and said, “Here is my God; where is yours? Augustine replied, I cannot show you my God; not because there is no God to show, but because you have no eyes to see Him.”
Prayer- (That we would better understand the things of God)
We are taught that when we read something, that we should be able to answer 4 questions, Who, What, Where, and Why.
So many are like me.
Who is God?
What does God want from us?
Where is God?
Why do we struggle knowing God?
Obviously, we will not be able to answer those questions in the few minutes today, but we can find out how we can find those answers.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Today, rather than trying to understand everything about God, determine that you will take one thing you didn’t know about God and apply it to your life.
If you did that each time you heard a sermon, read your Bible, gathered for a Bible study, you would answer some of the questions that you have about God.
If you try to answer all the questions you have in 5 minutes, you will be discouraged because that is not going to happen.
I have been a Christian for over 30 years and I tell you truthfully that I do not have all the answers, but I know enough about God that I trust Him with my life and understand Him enough that His Word is faithful and He does everything that He says He will do.
Omnipresence-
Omniscience-
Omnipotent- 3 Words describing the character of God.
Here is a fact!
If you are ever to understand the things of God, you cannot base it upon weather you understand all and weather you can do all that He does.
You cannot put God in a box that you designed and expect God to fit into that box.
Omnipresence- God is everywhere! That is hard to imagine, and hard to fathom. You cannot run away from God because He is able to see all.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there; if I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.”
God is an expert at everything.
God has no teacher, He is a master teacher.
God cannot be stumped, God is never caught by surprise.
He never says “Now what”
God would be a great asset in your life! Amen.
Omnipotent- God can do everything- He is all-powerful.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.” Amen.
God knows everything
God is everywhere
God can do anything
God is all powerful
God is enough!
He has no equal and He cannot be put into a box.
We ask
“Where is God in all this?
“Why can’t I see God in this?
The kids may think that you have eyes in the back of your head, but you cannot see all, you do not know all, you do not know the future. God has the big picture.
We ask the wrong questions- Stop asking God where are you? Stop saying I can’t see God?
Start asking God- Will you reveal yourself to me?
Even though you may not understand how God works, you need to know He does! (Repeat)
When your cookie crumbles- God understands!
Take one thing this morning and apply it. Eat the elephant of knowledge one bite at a time.
Matt Chandler-
“Trying to figure out God is like trying to catch a fish in the Pacific Ocean with an inch of dental floss.”
God’s ability is not limited by man’s understanding.
The Bible has been said to be the story of God.
