Excerpt from John Lusk's message Last Sunday Jul 13, 08
Just a few notes i have taken down from the lesson our brother discussed on our Evangelistic Service
Who is God?
Our view of God defines how we live our lives
-some try everything to be wealthy, have several titles after their names, go to the gym to be more fit and strong etc.
but God says in Jer. 9:23-24
23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
-our purpose is to know God
-there are ways to know God:
*nature - when were one with nature we are amazed about how beautiful it is and think "i'm close to God'"...
*conscience/reason
*through His people - the fellowship
*through His words - the Bible, we simply don't put it on display, it should be read.
Who Is God?
1. God is light
1 John 1.5
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
John 8:12
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The Bible says God is light. John Lusk compared this to a light house. It serves as a guiding light for people that might be caught up in a storm in the seas or probably lost out there, a guide to safe harbors.
Like this, God is our guide because as it is:
Isaiah 60:2
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
we are covered with the darkness of deceit,guilt etc
so, let us pursue the light,
walk in the light,imitate the light and point others to the light.
2. God is love
1 John 4:16
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1 Cor 13:4-8
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
-now, substitute "love" with God in the passage and you'll see that God is patient,God is kind...
Isaiah 60:2
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
we are covered with the darkness of deceit,guilt etc
so, let us pursue the light,
walk in the light,imitate the light and point others to the light.
2. God is love
1 John 4:16
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1 Cor 13:4-8
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
-now, substitute "love" with God in the passage and you'll see that God is patient,God is kind...
3. God is fire
Heb 12:28-29
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire".
Deut 4:23
23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
God is serious, a jealous God. Anything that is put before God is consumed by Him.It maybe an immoral relationship, impurity,lust the list goes on.
God is not to be triffled with. Do not play games with God. We have to take a stand for Him, pushing ourselves to worshipping Him acceptably not just by trusting tradition over God's words, just having comfortable commitment,just reading the Bible a few times.We need to be serious. Don't go to a church that will make you feel just comfortable, push yourself to worship God acceptably.Amen
