How Do You Describe God

How Do You Describe God?

September 21, 2008

Introduction

How do you describe God? As we begin our study this morning, I’d like to suggest that there are two different extremes, or ways in which we think of God. One of these extremes is to think of God in a very personal friendly ways. Some have even addressed God as “Dad.” The other side is think in terms of God in a very serious, and perhaps distant way. Which way is the correct way to think of God?

As I have said of other things, the best answer may be a balance of the two, but this morning, we want to think in terms of the awesomeness of God. Some of the new praise songs deal with the awesomeness of God, and this morning we want to look at the awesomeness of God.

Body

I. Consider experiences with the awesomeness of God.

A. Remember Moses experience with the awesomeness of God.

(Exo 3:5 NKJV) "Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

B. The experiences of the children of Israel were spectacular. The 10 plagues in Egypt.

The parting of the Red Sea.

The raining of the manna

The fall of the walls of Jericho,

And the list goes on in the conquest of Canaan, etc.

C. The experiences of the Daniel in the lion’s den.

(Dan 6:{22} "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."

II. Others have observed the awesomeness of God.

A. Consider David as he observed the awesomeness of the universe.

(Psa 8:3-4 NKJV) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, {4} What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

B. Consider David as he observed the awesomeness of his own body.

(Psa 139:13-14 NKJV) For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. {14} I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

1. Crissy has a very serious health problem right now because her liver and kidneys are failing to function.

2. “For You formed my inward parts;” Lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, stomach, and the list goes on -- Our inward parts.

3. Try another list: Our outward parts if you will. Our eyes, our ears, our nose and mouth.

4. Try our hands and the skillful things they can be trained to do, and all the necessary things they do every day.

5. Our legs and feet that get us about. Our back bone that allows us to be upright and to move.

6. Yes, in numerous ways, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

B. Consider Job as he challenged God.

(Job 31:35 NKJV) "Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!"

1. God comes on the scene.

(Job 38:1-6 NKJV) "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: {2} "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? {3} Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. {4} "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. {5} Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? {6} To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,"

2. Job answers God.

(Job 42:1-6 NKJV) "Then Job answered the LORD and said: {2} "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. {3} You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. {4} Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' {5} "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. {6} Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.""

III. As an awesome God, He is one Who expects us to surrender to Him.

(Deu 10:16-17 NKJV) ""Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. {17} "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe."

A. “and be stiff-necked no longer.“ He expects us to bow to Him.

B. We are to honor Him and acknowledge His greatness

(Deu 10:21 NKJV) ""He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen."

(Psa 66:3 NKJV) "Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You."

(Psa 99:3 NKJV) "Let them praise Your great and awesome name; He is holy."

B. Daniel was one who did honor and acknowledge His greatness.

(Dan 9:4 NKJV) "And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,"

IV. How should we respond to God?

A. We are reminded to acknowledge God.

(Prov 3:6 NKJV) "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

B. We should show our appreciation and thanksgiving to God

(Col 4:2 NKJV) "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;"

C. In time, God will demand our honoring Him and submitting to Him.

(Rom 14:10-11 NKJV) But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. {11} For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."

(Phil 2:9-10 NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

Conclusion

Our God is an awesome God! That means:

We need to address Him in honor and reverence

We need to encourage others to trust in Him.

We need to bow to Him in honor and obedience.

We need to worship Him in a way that shows our adoration.

We need to thank Him and show our appreciation for what He has done.

We need to understand that someday we will stand before Him to give account for the things we have done.

Link to a 4 minute video: How Great is Our God

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

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