God Is Great God Is Good

23, June 2002

Dakota Community Church

God is Great

God is Good

Introduction:

It is possible to know a lot about somebody without actually knowing them!

I have read Don Cherry’s autobiography.

Kathy has been researching U2.

Information is not the same as intimacy. When info is all we have, image can deceive.

Many have heard bad information about God – He has an image problem because Christians so often misrepresent Him.

Question:

Have you ever heard someone saying something bad about someone you are close to? You say that can’t be true – they wouldn’t do that.

What is God like? This is a question, which has exercised the minds of mankind. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was in deep concentration over her drawing. Her mother asked her what she was drawing and received the curt reply, “God.” Her mother protested, “But no one knows what God looks like!” The little girl replied, “They will now!”

What is God really like?

Psalm 103: 1-6

1 Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

- Forgives all your sin.

- Heals all your diseases.

- Redeems us from hell and protects us.

- Rewards us.

- Promotes us.

- Gives us recognition.

- Satisfies our desires with good things.

- Rejuvenates us with youthful energy.

- Defends us and gets us justice when we are oppressed.

That one scripture passage alone blows away half the theology I’ve heard.

WHY?

Isaiah 14: 12-17

12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!

13For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;

14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16"Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying:

"Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,

17Who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities,

who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

The vast majority think hell is a party and heaven is about floating around on clouds playing harps.

God is not waiting and hoping for you to screw up!

There is no lever He pulls on a trap door to hell!

What does the Bible say He is really like?

1. Loving and patient.

2 Peter 3:9

9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Joel 2: 12-13

12 "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love

Ill.

A young lady who occasionally walked through the park after work, stopped to have her picture taken by a photographer on this particular day. She was very excited about her picture being taken. As she walked out of the park, she looked at the Polaroid picture in total amazement. She turned and headed back to the cameraman. When she got their she stated, "This is not right! This is not right! You have done me no justice!" The photographer looked at the picture and looked at her and stated, "Miss, you don’t need justice, what you need is mercy."

2. Constant companion.

Hebrews 13: 5

5Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalm 139: 7-10

7Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me

Ill.

Friday at quitting time, Jim said, ‘Boss, have you got any extra work I can do tonight?’Sure do but I can’t pay you overtime.That’s okay; I just don’t want to go home. Why not?Well, I’ve been in the doghouse since last night.I see...Why? What did you do to deserve that?I still don’t know - it must be one of those woman things.I was minding my own business relaxing in front of the TV.My wife enters the room & asks, "What’s on the TV?"And honestly, I swear all I said was, "Dust!"She’s been mad ever since!