God Is Great, God Is…
UNSHAKABLE – Part 3
February 21, 2010
Chris Goins
“The design of the universe…is very magnificent and shouldn’t be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, all though he strikes me as a basically very religious man.”
“He [Einstein] must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had ever imagined, and they were just not talking about the REAL THING. My guess is that he simply felt that religions he’s run across did not have proper respect…for the author of the universe.” ~ John Piper, Lecture – How Not To Blaspheme God, Beeson Divinity School; Also included in Piper’s book, Let The Nations Be Glad, page 18.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ~ A. W. Tozer
“Visit a church on Sunday morning – almost any will do – and you will likely find a congregation comfortably relating to a deity who fits nicely within precise doctrinal positions, or who lends almighty support to social crusades, or who conforms to individual spiritual experiences. But you will not likely find much AWE or sense of MYSTERY…
The New Testament warns us, ‘…offer to God an acceptable worship with REVERENCE and AWE; for indeed our God is a CONSUMING FIRE…’ [Hebrews 12:28-29, NRSV]. But REVERENCE and AWE have often been replaced by a yawn of familiarity. The consuming fire has been DOMESTICATED into a candle flame, adding a bit of religious atmosphere…but no heat, no blinding light, no power for purification.
When the true story gets told, whether in the partial light of historical perspective or in the perfect light of eternity, it may be well revealed that the WORST SIN of the church at the end of the twentieth century has been the TRIVIALIZATION of GOD.” ~ Donald McCullough, The Trivialization of God.
“What makes it difficult for us to see the truth about God…isn’t [God’s] overwhelming immensity but our overwhelming self-centeredness…” ~ Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep, page 39.
Eight Important Truths About Us and Our Great God:
1. I’m created. God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1).
Genesis 1:1 (NIV), In the beginning GOD CREATED the heavens and the earth.
2. I have a beginning. God is eternal. He has no beginning and He has no end. He exists completely outside of time and space.
Psalm 90:2 (NIV), Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (See Revelation 1:8)
3. I am dependent. God is self-existent and independent. He doesn’t need or rely on us or the rest of creation for anything… He has life in Himself and draws His unending energy from Himself.
Acts 17:24-25 (NLT), He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
4. I’m limited by time and space. God is omnipresent. Because God is Spirit, He is present at every point of space with His whole being at all times…
Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV), Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are b; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
5. I am limited in knowledge. God is all-knowing. He is omniscient. He fully knows Himself and all things actual and possible - everything past, present and future – in one simple and eternal act.
Psalm 139:3-4 (NIrV), You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live. 4 Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
6. I am limited in power. God is Almighty. He is omnipotent. He is able to do anything and everything that is consistent with His character and Holy nature.
Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT), O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
7. I am messed up. God is holy. He is transcendent. He exceeds all limitations… He is above and beyond us in every possible way (Isaiah 6:3).
8. Limitations define my existence. God is sovereign. He is sovereign over every molecule in the universe. He is sovereign over every kingdom and earthly power or authority. He is sovereign over every human heart.
Isaiah 40:10, 12, Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Isaiah 40:22 (NLT), God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.
Isaiah 40:26 (NLT), Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.
NOTE: At this point, the actual message available in a downloadable mp3 contains a lengthy description of the greatness of God as revealed in the Universe. Visit a2's website or type "a2 Church" in the iTunes Search Engine for downloadable mp3's.
See Psalm 8:1, 3-4; 19:1
Isaiah 40:10-11 (NLT), Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Sources: Indescribable and How Great Is Our God by Louie Gilio; Dug Down Deep by Josh Harris; Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.
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