Heavens Light 2-13-10 God is GOD Part 1

God is GOD

 Part 1

Revelation 15:3-4

Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. 4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee,

For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.” NASB

 

 

There was a day in the public culture in America that when someone spoke about God there was a general understanding of who or what God is and what the term meant in general. Sad it is……. that day has long since past. For many people in our culture, God does not even exist at all.

 

But even for those who still believe in  God, to the twenty-first century mind God is little more than an abstraction, an impersonal force, or if a Being at all, One far removed from this world and having little or nothing to do with our daily life.

 

Man therefore is a God unto himself. He is a “free agent” and therefore the regulator of his own life and circumstances. Such was the Devil’s lie at the beginning – “You shall be as God” (Gen.3:5). And a great lie it is, for man is not a God, and man does not regulate his own affairs apart from the Providence of God.

 

But this great deception has not just affected the public culture alone, but has had a huge impact on the way that we understand God in the evangelical Church. More than this, because of the great failure on the part of Church leaders in not properly presenting the fundamentals of our faith through clear exposition and teaching from Scripture, the biblical understanding of God is largely obscured if not completely redefined in the minds of many in the church. There has been a huge downgrade of theology and doctrine concerning God and His nature in the American Church in the last two hundred years. This has plunged the American Evangelical Church into a serious state of ignorance and robbed her of the glory of God and the greatest treasure she possesses, God Himself.

 

Therefore I would like to address once more by way of reminder to us a few basic attributes of God, specifically focused on His Godhood.

 

AW Pink comments on this topic…..

 

“The Godhood of God! What is meant by the expression? This: the omnipotency of

God, the absolute sovereignty of God. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that God is God. We affirm that God is something more than an empty title: that God is something more than a mere figure-head: that God is something more than a far-distant Spectator, looking helplessly on at the suffering which sin has wrought. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” We affirm that God is something more than a disappointed, dis-satisfied, defeated Being, who is filled with benevolent desires but lacking in power to carry them out. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is “the Most High.” We affirm that God is something more than One who has endowed man with the power of choice, and because He has done this is therefore unable to compel man to do His bidding. We affirm that God is something more than One who has waged a protracted war with the Devil and has

been worsted. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is the Almighty. To speak of the Godhood of God then, is to say that God is on the Throne, on the Throne as a fact and not as a say so; on a Throne that is high above all. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that the Helm is in His hand, and that He is steering according to His own good pleasure. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that He is the Potter, that we are the clay, and that out of the clay He shapes one as a vessel to honor and another as a vessel to dishonor according to His own sovereign rights. To speak of the Divine Despot doing “according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him what doest Thou?” (Dan. 4:35). Therefore, to speak of the Godhood of God is to give the mighty Creator His rightful place; it is to recognize His exalted majesty; it is to own His universal scepter.”

 

In order to address this topic I would like for us to turn to a passage in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, where we see some basic theological statements describing God in the prayer of King David. In the context of this passage, the people of Israel have generously responded to God in giving much treasure toward the building of the first temple in Jerusalem, a plan that was first in the heart of King David, but later carried out by God’s decree, by Solomon David’s son. It is in celebration of this fact that David offers up His prayer to God.

 

Notice with me some of the key aspects of God’s nature here. He is highly exalted and forever blessed or praised. God is Almighty, a being of immense and transcendent power, He is all-powerful or omnipotent. He is Self-Existent, and He is Sovereign and He is Providential…… He is gracious and He is benevolent. God is a Being of infinite proportions and highest Authority and so He is said to be God over “Heaven above and the Earth below.”

 

Simply stated, God is GOD!

 


1 Chronicles 29:10-13

An Exposition – God is GOD

 

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – 10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. NASB

 

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – 10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

 

A. David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

 

Notice David “blessed the Lord.” This is to say he lifted up his voice and praised God. He gave God the glory due His name and praised Him “in the sight of all the assembly.” But this is a statement of fact, that is, God is “blessed, forever and ever!” This is to say that God will be forever praised and highly exalted as God. All His creatures will bow the knee and give Him the glory due His name, or they will be banished from His presence forever, a terrible fate indeed. He is the center focus in Heaven for all eternity, and we will forever ENJOY and ever spend the eons of all ages lifting up the high praises of God and celebrating the majesty and beauty of His glorious person. This is the purpose for which we were made, and the reason for which we were called by God and saved from sin; and also, by the way, the most fulfilling enterprise that we as human beings can engage in. Make no mistake, it will be our JOY and PRIVILIGE as it will take the endless ages for us to see and appreciate all of the immense riches of God Almighty through Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

1 Chronicles 29:11 – 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. NASB

 

A. 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty – What words can describe the greatness of God and His power? Surely we cannot describe the greatness of God because He is infinite and we are finite. Listen to the verse as it speaks of His greatness……His IS the power and glory and victory and majesty……

God is the source of all power

Jeremiah 32:17– 17’Ah Lord GOD! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee, NASB

God’s is the glory – this is to say that God is so intense in His perfection and virtue and goodness, that it causes His being to shine forth with a brightness brighter than the sun….and for Him to be famous and renown in all creation….who will NOT glorify God and exalt His majesty?….

Revelation 15:3-4 – Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. 4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.” NASB

His is the victory…..He will always prevail with victory against His enemies –

Isaiah 42:13 – 13 The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies .  NASB

The dignity of His majesty is the most regal and beautiful, stately and splendid, magnificent  grandeur of all.

Psalms 96:4-9 – For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9 Worship the LORD in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. NASB

 

B. indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O LORD – The Scripture plainly declares that God created all things and is the Possessor of everything. Since God is the creator of all things, He also is the rightful owner and proprietor of all things. He possesses everything and therefore has a Sovereign Right or prerogative to do as He pleases.

Deut 10:14 – 14 “Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. NASB

Job 41:11 – 11 “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.  NASB

Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. NASB

Psalm 89:11 – 11 The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine; The world and all it contains, Thou hast founded them. NASB

Here God is pictured as RULER or DESPOT……He is the great KING and the heavens and earth are His dominion….. God rules and does as He pleases with anything and everything that He has made. God is totally free to do whatever He pleases.

Daniel 4:34-35 – For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’ NASB

Psalms 135:5-6 – 5 For I know that the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. NASB

 

C. and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. – The Scripture plainly declares that God is the highest authority and that He is the One who establishes all other authority in heaven and earth. This is to say that God is Sovereign or the Supreme Authority…..

Romans 13:1 – 1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. NASB

God is highly exalted above everything that is. Therefore God exalts Himself above us and everything and commands that we worship Him, because it is right and proper to do so.

Exodus 20:2-3 – 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. NASB

Consider how appropriate this is? Would it be right for some other being to occupy God’s great seat of authority? Would it be proper for a creature to somehow be exalted above the One who created it? Indeed this cannot be, otherwise He would not be God. This is why idolatry is the great sin of mankind, as we seek to give improper place to some thing other than God who should properly be exalted in our view as King and Sovereign over us! This is high treason against the greatest majesty that exists!

 

Who can speak of what a great sin that unbelief in God truly is? Who can describe the folly and shame that this represents? Shall we slap the hand that feeds us? Shall we rail with clinched fist against the One who holds our life’s breathe in His hands? This is why God exalts Himself above us and commands that we worship Him, because it is right and proper, it is in reality the highest good of the creature to worship and praise the creator!

 

More than this, it is the most loving thing for God to do…..because only when we finally relate to God properly, through our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel, bowing the knee to His authority through repentance and Faith….only then can we live and be saved from death….in fact this is eternal life, John 17:3 “that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent…..you cannot live until you come to God through Christ, and if you never do, you will die and forever abide in death….

 

In fact God warns us that we must humble ourselves under His mighty hand for He has fixed a day of reckoning for all those who reject His authority…..

Isaiah 2:11-12 – 11 The proud look of man will be abased, And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty, And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased. NASB

 

But not only is God Sovereign, but He is Providential….that is, He exercises providence over all things in order to achieve His own ends….look with me again at verse 12…..

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. 

 

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

Or read about the Christian Gospel here:  http://www.ligonier.org/welcome_whatisthegospel.php

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org

 
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Shaan Sloan
Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ
505-3485092
The Lord is the Strength of My Life