God The Father Almighty Series

GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY

Text: Gen. 1:1-4

Introduction

1. Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like

But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night

And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone

2. You're a good, good Father

It's who You are,

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am,

3. Every week, Christians around the world stand and confess words that have been spoken for centuries: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” These are not empty words. They are a declaration of faith, a statement of identity, and a foundation for how we understand God, ourselves, and the world we live in.

4. This single line of the Apostles’ Creed tells us who God is, how God relates to us, and why the world exists.

5. Read Gen. 1:1-4

Transition: Let’s take a look at what we believe about…

I. God the Father and the Beginning of Time

A. The first thing the Apostle’s Creed tells us is “God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”

1. What does it mean when it refers to God as “Father?” It’s talking about relationship.

2. In the ancient world, gods were seen as looking down on the world without any involvement or concern for creation.

3. However, in Christianity, God is seen as relatable. God is seen as a Father figure that cares and provides for His children.

4. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Rom 8:15-16).

5. The word “Abba” means “Daddy,” and it’s a term of endearment. (Another reason we should lift our hands in worship – just saying).

6. When we say that God is Father, we are saying that we are not abandoned or orphaned, but rather we have a Father who loves us, cares about, and meets our needs.

7. It also tells us that we are not accidents; we have a purpose and a reason for being.

8. Most importantly, it tells us that we are not alone. Our Father is with us and is looking out for us.

B. It also tells us that our Father is Almighty.

1. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.” (Gen 17:1).

2. When we think of the term “almighty,” we tend to think of power and control.

3. However, when we talk about the Father as almighty, we are not looking at ourselves as being subject to a ruler, but as a God who is able to take care of us.

4. We see God the Father as being “transcendent,” which means which means over and above range of normal or merely physical human experience.

5. So, when we say God is almighty, we are saying that He is over and above any power on earth.

6. Furthermore, it means that God’s abilities are limitless. God has no limits! Therefore, we can trust and rely on Him no matter what the circumstance.

7. He is able to meet our needs because He is limitless and because He cares for us as His children.

C. Then the creed tells us that God created heaven and earth. In Gen 1:1 it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

1. The verse starts with “in the beginning God.” This tells us that God is eternal. He always is, always was, and always will be. Before anything existed, God was there.

2. Then it tells us that “God created the heavens and the earth.” Everything that exists begins and ends with God.

3. The history of the world begins with God. The Hebrew word for “created,” is always used of God’s divine creative activity, never of human beings.

4. He did not need anything to start with except Himself. There was no “primordial soup,” or a “big bang” that caused the world to be, only God.

D. Then in v. 2 it says, “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

1. When it says, “the earth was formless and empty,” it’s saying that God laid the foundation and put up the frame, but He wasn’t done yet.

2. When you’re building a house, you don’t put up a frame and say, “Okay, let’s move in!” No, you’ve got to have a roof, walls, floors, lights, and so on.

3. The same is true for the earth. God wasn’t done yet. You’ll notice throughout the rest of the creation text, when God created something like light, land, and sky, God said, “it’s good!”