Names mean something. In the Bible names really mean something. Moses wanted not just to know God's name but what it means as well. The Lord gave him two answers: "I Am" and "Lord God" or Yahweh. What do these names mean and what do they mean to us?
I. "I Am" means that He is the Living God. A. Do you remember the "God is dead movement" in the sixties? A professor announced that God had died - really. Billy Graham said that he knew he wasn't because he had just talked to HIM that morning. B. The point is that God is always "I Am" meaning that He is always living. "I Am" literally means that there was never a time when God did not exist, and never a time when he will cease to exist. He lives! Period!! 1. He lives beyond us. Isaiah 55:9 explains this. 2.He lives for us. Jeremiah 29:11 explains this. The living God is on your side and wants the best for you. 3. He lives in us. "You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart. C. God is definitely not dead. II. Yahweh, Jehovah or Lord God, means that God is preeminent - above all others and all else. (Isaiah 43:11) Alpha and Omega A. He is preeminent because He is unchanging. Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 B. He is preeminent because He is ever loving. 1. God is not always pleased with us, but He always loves us. 2. He loves us enough to discipline us. 3. He loves us in spite of ourselves. C. He is preeminent because He is all-sufficient. 1. He has promised to meet our needs. 2. He will meet our needs. The God of today is still the same God in the Bible. He is alive, always has been and always will be- the great I Am. He is the Lord God, Yahweh, Jehovah, the preeminent God.
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There are many forces of influence in our lives: parents, peers, preachers, teachers, coaches, etc. But all of these boil down to two major influences - God and the devil. We experience the pull of both. Let's take a look at how this works.
I. Philippians 3:13-14 - The Upward Pull A. Fact: God is seeking to pull us upward. B. This upward pull is constant. 1. We never grow to the point that Christ says "that's enough." 2. We never reach a point that we do not need more of God. 3. We need the upward pull. C. We tend to resist the upward pull. 1. We resist by becoming smug and complacent. 2. We resist by becoming content in what we consider our achievements. II. 1 Peter 5:8 - The Downward Pull A. Fact: The devil is seeking to pull us downward. 1. The Bible amply illustrates this: Garden of Eden, Job, Peter's denial, etc. 2. The devil is the author of: spiritual complacency, internal conflict, internal conflict, etc. B. We must resisit the downward pull. 1 Peter 5:9 1. We resist by faith in Christ to deliver us. 2. The devil is not afraid of us, but he is afraid of Jesus. C . The downward pull is constant too. It is a fact that the devil never leaves us alone.... III. Matthew 25:40 - The Outward Pull A. Fact: How we react to the upward pull and downward pull will determine how we react to the outward pull. B. Notice the importance of the outward pull in Matthew 25: 40 and 45 1. Serving our fellowman through witness and ministry is the same as serving Christ - when it is done in His name. 2. Every obvious act of ministry slighted is a slight to Christ. C. The outward pull is not just a nice thing for Christians to do; rather, it is kingdom imperative. God and the devil are not equal foes. Through Christ and through our faith in Christ we can win the battle. Which "pull" are you responding to in your life today. In your heart, Verse 1 is a bold and true statement. It shows that God really cares, for He "searches" and "knows." He is not unconcerned about our lives. One of the fundamental questions in people's lives is: does God really know and does God really care?
I. Verses 2-4 - God knows....What? A. Verse 2a - He knows everything about us...... B. Verse 2b - He knows our thoughts..... C. Verse 3 - He knows our actions...... D. Verse 4 - He knows our words....... II. Verse 5 - God is present. A. Verse 5a - He is all around us and on every side. B. Verse 5b - He close by....not just around the corner but lives in us through the Holy Spirit. 1. for power 2. for protection 3. for perseverancde C. He is present with and within you!!!!! III. Verse 6 - God is deep. A. Verse 6a - "Too wonderful" or "too deep" 1. His knowledge is too great for us to fully understand. 2. His presence is too great for us to comprehend. 3. Mainly what we can do is claim it all by faith. B. Verse 6b - "Not attain unto it..." The good news is that we don't have to, for we just trust all to Him. C. God works deeply within each of us. Make these verses personal. Know that He knows you, that He is present within you, and is too deep and wonderful for you - that's what makes Him God!!!!! Get a picture in your mind of families or loving couples holding hands. It is a gesture of love. Our text talks about holding hands with God. Think about that and the blessings that can come from that.
I. God is the One doing the holding. "I will...." A. Presence of God with us. (Read Psalm 16:11) In vs. 10 look at the ways His presence helps us. B. Protection of God for us. (Read Psalm 56:3b) We hold our children's hands to keep them out of danger. C. Promise of God to us. 1. "I will hold your hand...." 2. Vs. 12 II. Great truths gleaned from this promise. Vs. 13 A. Holding hands denotes guidance. B. Holding hands denotes love. C. Hold hands denotes closeness and togetherness. III. Gracious words that are spoken as God holds our hands. A. "I will hold thee...." Read John 10:29 B. "I will help thee...." Vs. 10b C. "I will uphold thee...: Vs. 10c God is either holding your hand or offering to do so. Offer you hand to Him. Note: If you are like me, you have preached Psalm 23 many times. This week I discovered a new approach to preaching the great psalm. "It just keeps on preaching." Bro. Joe
Psalm 23 tells us a lot of things, but for right now we need to consider what it tells us about God. It gives a great description of who God is and what He does in our lives. I. Vs. 1 - Who is God? A. He is a shepherd. A shepherd totally protects his sheep. B. He is "my" shepherd. He is our personal God. Jesus Christ wants us to take Him personally as He serves as our "Good Shepherd." C. Because of this, "I shall not want..." This does not mean that He gives us everything that we want, but everything that we need to live successfully. II. Vss. 2-3 - What does God do for us? A. He gives us rest -- "green pastures" B. He calms us down - "still waters" C. He "restores our souls..." D. He helps us to live righteously. "paths of righteousness" III. Vs. 4 - Where is God? A. He is with us in the dark times of life as well as in the good times. B. He is with us to guide us through. C. He is with us to protect us. "rod and staff" D. He is with us to comfortt us. "they comfort me." IV. Vss. 5-6 - Why, then, should we rejoice? A, He anoints us with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is illustrated by oil, which was used in the Bible to anoint people. B. He causes our cup to run over. C. He gives us His goodness and mercy everyday. D. He takes us to His "house" when our days are over. I hope that this look at who, what and where God is, and why we should rejoice because of it, has given you a new appreciation for His work in your life, as well as a new appreciation for the great psalm. Our title is taken from vs. 13: "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." This verse pictures God holding our hands, which denotes His intimacy with us, holding hands today denotes intimacy. Think of the blessings that can come from holding hands with God.
I. Vs. 10: Look at the "I wills." God is the One doing the holding. A. This tells us that God is with us. Vs. 10a - "Fear thou not; for I am with thee." B. This tells us that not only is God with us, He is working on our behalf: Vs. 10b - "Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." C. Vs. 13 is a promise of God to us. "I will hold your right hand...." II. Vs. 13 - Great truths gleaned from this promise. A. Holding hands denotes some things that are important to us: 1. It denotes guidance. Psalm 32:8 2. It denotes love. 3. It denotes togetherness. B. Holding hands promises a bright outlook on life: 1. God says: "I will hold thee..." Read: "I will hold onto thee..." John 10:29 2. God says: "I will help thee..." Who can say that they do not help in this life? Isn't it wonderful that the eternal God will help us. C. God is holding, or will hold, your hand. Take this promise as a personal word to you and put your hand in the hand of God. Vs. 1a - Waiting patiently for God's timing is important. Those who pray and wait patiently get to see and appreciate what God can do for them. Here is what we discover when we wait patiently for God:
I. Vs. 1b - We discover that God hears us. A. Those who want to rush God or run ahead of Him, think that He is not listening - but He is. B. "Inclined unto me..." He leans toward us not away from us. C. "Heard my cry..." We have the Lord's ear 24 hours a day. He will always hear us when we pray. He never turns a deaf ear. II. Vs. 2a - We discover that God delivers us. A. In our impatience, sometimes the wonder of God's deliverance escapes us because we are hung up on God doing it our way. B. Jesus delivers us from the horrible pit of sin and its consequences through His blood. C. We are delivered from the miry clay of, for example: 1. worldly living 2. self-living III. Vs. 2b - We discover that God establishes us. A. In our impatience we cannot appreciate the solidity of our position in Christ. B. He puts our feet on the "Rock of Ages." 1. solid 2. sure 3. secure C. He establishes our steps. 1. NIV: "Gives us a firm place to stand..." 2. Our walk in the Spirit helps us take the right steps, like a child learning to walk. IV. Vs. 3a - We discover that God renews us. A. In our impatience we sometimes miss the wonder of renewal. B. First, He makes us new, as in 2 Corinthians 5:17 C. Second, He renews us from day to day. (This is the spirit of Ephesians 2:10.) V. Vs. 3b - We discover that God uses us. A. In our impatience are often not useable. B. God wants us to be available for His use and His purposes. C. The great result of our being used: 1. "Many will see it and fear..." 2. "and will trust in the Lord." Pray and wait patiently for God and He will do all of these things as He did with David. |
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