THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US
We Believe In A Personal God
Text: Luke 1:1
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand - to set forth in order a declaration…
of those things which are most surely believed among us."
INTRODUCTION
Brethren, this [the Bible] covers all “Those things which are most surely believed among us”.
This is the declaration that we hold too.
We don’t add to it…and we don’t take away from it,
Because this is just what we believe – Chapter and Verse.
And of course, this is what this whole weekly Bible Study is about.
It’s about us, as Children of God, becoming - not just vaguely familiar about what God says…
But actually sure about what we believe.
So far we have started this study by exploring the fact that – We believe in God!
And we don’t believe in Him in some vague, abstract sense either...
No – we believe very specific things about God’s Power…
About His very Nature, and Character - as revealed to us through the Scriptures.
The Bible is God’s Book - this is God’s Word to us – and It’s all about Him.
So it makes sense when setting out to define what we believe…
That we first pay careful attention to what the Bibles teaches us about God.
So far in our study we have seen the Existence of God, the Evidence of God…
And the Eternal Nature of God – all right here in the Bible.
We have discovered how God is All Present, All Knowing and All Powerful – right here.
We seen how God is Lord, how He is Light, and how He is Love – right here
Amen - This is what we believe – Chapter and Verse for all of it.
Today I want to add to our understanding of God,
By talking about how we believe in a Personal God.
A PERSONAL GOD
Our God - is a Personal God.
That means THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US
We Believe In A Personal God
Text: Luke 1:1
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand - to set forth in order a declaration…
of those things which are most surely believed among us.
INTRODUCTION
Brethren, this [the Bible] covers all “Those things which are most surely believed among us”.
This is the declaration that we hold too.
We don’t add to it…and we don’t take away from it,
Because this is just what we believe – Chapter and Verse.
And of course, this is what this whole weekly Bible Study is about.
It’s about us, as Children of God, becoming - not just vaguely familiar about what God says…
But actually sure about what we believe.
So far we have started this study by exploring the fact that – We believe in God!
And we don’t believe in Him in some vague, abstract sense either...
No – we believe very specific things about God’s Power…
About His very Nature, and Character - as revealed to us through the Scriptures.
The Bible is God’s Book - this is God’s Word to us – and It’s all about Him.
So it makes sense when setting out to define what we believe…
That we first pay careful attention to what the Bibles teaches us about God.
So far in our study we have seen the Existence of God, the Evidence of God…
And the Eternal Nature of God – all right here in the Bible.
We have discovered how God is All Present, All Knowing and All Powerful – right here.
We seen how God is Lord, how He is Light, and how He is Love – right here
Amen - This is what we believe – Chapter and Verse for all of it.
Today I want to add to our understanding of God,
By talking about how we believe in a Personal God.
A PERSONAL GOD
Our God - is a Personal God.
That means we can relate to Him and interact with Him on a very personal level.
You see, whereas most other religions of the world...
Believe that God is Almighty and All Powerful – the same as us,
Most seem to somehow miss one of the most important truths of all,
And that is that God is a Personal.
Then by definition, a “Person” is generally regarded as an individual who can...
Think and Act rationally - as a conscious Being.
This is how the Bible portrays God.
He is a Personal Being – He has all the attributes and characteristics of a person.
That is to say, He can think, act and feel the same as you and I.
The book of Genesis declares that God made us “in His own image”
In other words, He created us with many of the same characteristics that He Himself possesses.
And this is the best part of all...
If God is Personal Being – then we can have a Personal Relationship with Him. Amen!
More on that point latter – but first,
Let’s see some of the more personal attributes of our God - as revealed to us in the Bible.
1) GOD IS LIVING – (Different from Idols)
Here’s the first point - we believe that the God is a Personal Being – because He is alive
The Bible speaks of Him as being the “Living God”.
Turn with me to Joshua 3:10. Now in the immediate context here...
Joshua is speaking to Israel about their conquest into the Promised Land. Here Joshua declares:
By this, you shall know, that among you - is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
Now its important to recognise that each of these rather obscure names
Represented a nation or tribe of living people.
And Joshua’s point to Israel was kind of simple – “God will be with you...
And He will drive out all of these other nations from before you,”
“And by this... [he declares] ...you will you know...”
“That He is a Living God” – Not just a concept or idea – but a living being.
He is not a story, a myth or a legend – He is the living God.
Living God Verses Idol
And there is an important distinction to make between the “Living God” and other things such as idols.
God is alive – He is living – and He posse’s all the attributes of a Personal Being.
Now just to quickly clarify things here...
An idol can be anything else we choose to worship or glorify in our lives – above the Lord.
Now in the OT, idols were predominantly inanimate objects (they were not living)
That were crafted and sculpted by skilled arcticians from basic raw materials.
Now these idols may well have looked impressive – covered in gold and ornately decorated
But they could not hear, they could not speak, they could see
They could not feel – because they were not alive!
Make no mistake brethren – we serve a living God!
If your following along in your Bible - Turn to Psalms 135:15-17
Notice here what the Bible says about idols:
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
This is the truth - man can dress things up any way he pleases...
And attempt to worship many other things instead of God.
But those things, no matter how impressive they appear,
Cannot display even the most basic personal attributes that the Living God does.
They cannot speak, see or hear – because they are not alive.
We believe in a Personal God – Because He is a Living God.
In Exodus 20:3 The Lord simply declares: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
In NT the Apostle Paul even challenged the crowd at Lystra about their idolatry
And he said this in Acts 14:15:
Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God,
And thankfully some people saw the error of their ways – and did exactly that.
For example, when Paul wrote to the Church at Thessalonica he made reference to:
...How [they] turned to God from idols - to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
So the Bible then contrasts the living God-who hears, sees, thinks, feels, and acts like a person
With idols which are inanimate objects – having no real personal attributes at all.
Jeremiah 10:10 says: But the LORD is the true God,
He is the living God, and an everlasting king:
Brethren - this is one of the things we most surely believe
We believe in a Personal God – because He is a Living God.
2) GOD IS THINKING - (Different from the Animals)
So we know that the Lord is Personal God, firstly– Because He is a Living God
But we can also add to this the fact that He is a Thinking God.
God is not just a Living being – but He is an intelligent, intellectual Being as well.
And this might seem obvious to most...
But something that separates me as a Personal Being...
From other more basic and primitive life forms – is my ability to think!
The Bible reveals to us that God has a mind to think.
Now there are all kinds of examples of this in the Scriptures,
But to start let’s just turn to Exodus 3:14.
Now in the context here we find God revealing Himself to Moses from out of the Burning Bush.
And Moses hears and understands what God asks Him to do...
But is reluctant to go before the people – fearing they won’t believe him.
Lets pick up our reading now in verse 14:
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
a) Personal Conversation
Now we believe in a Personal God...because the Bible teaches that God,
Has the capacity for intellectual thought and thinking.
And you can see that in three different ways here in this verse.
Notice Firstly how we see God speaking. He is having a personal conversation.
“And God said unto Moses…” - verse 14
Animals don’t speak in this way…you have to be a Person to speak - right?
b) Personal Name
Secondly notice that God names himself.
And a name is a very personal thing - I AM THAT I AM – He said
Of course, we have seen in past lessons that the name Jehovah itself – means “I AM”
And this was the name God chose for Himself.
Now Animals and other things may well have names...
But they don’t name themselves...Because they don’t have the mental capacity for that.
I think it’s interesting to see where the original names of animals actually come from.
Genesis 2:19 says: And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
You see, God gave Adam the priviledge to personally name all the animals
Because he had the mental capacity to do so.
Incidentally though, God was the one who first named Adam - and then named Himself.
You see, God has a mind to think.
Personal Plans
The third thing I think is noteworthy here – is the fact that God had a plan.
Because of His intellectual capacity...we see God forming a plan for His people.
This was what He was talking to Moses about.
Now this is far beyond a personal conversation and a personal name...
Because we are now talking about a personal plan.
We know and serve not just a living God – but a thinking God.
Drop back and read with me now verse 10
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
This was God’s personal plan for Moses.
And We all know the story of Moses and the 10 plagues right.
We know about the exodus out of Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea.
We know about the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant
We know how the Law and the 10 commandments were delivered,
And we can see and understand how this was all God’s plan.
We know how God put this personal plan into affect through Moses.
Now Planning like that - takes some serious intellect,
But it was no problem for our Lord was it – because He is a Thinking God.
Have you ever thought about God’s personal plan for you – Because He has one.
Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Isaiah 48:17 says: Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
God has a personal plan for both you and I
And He has already put His mind to it.
In fact, God is always thinking about us in a very personal way
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God has an extraordinary mind-and He is constantly thinking about us…
Because He is a Personal God.
Of course, God shares His mind with us openly through His Word.
To which Philippians 2:5 says - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
3) GOD IS ACTING
Now these are just a few of the points that make God Personal
He speaks, He has a name...and He has a plan.
1) God is Living.. that 2) God is Thinking...and do you know what else 3) God is Acting
God is not idle. He constantly working and acting in our lives in a very personal way.
In fact, for those with the heart to see it... God’s works are evident in us all
Psalms 104:24 says: O LORD, how manifold are thy works!
The term manifold simply speaks of that which is “great” or “many”.
And not only are God’s acts great in our lives…
But there are many, many levels to the way in which He works within us.
Now this is the thing I want you to see...
God only acts and works - according to His will.
That’s right – we believe in a personal God – who acts according to His own free will.
He is free to do whatever He chooses.
The Psalmist wrote: But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. (Psalms 115:3).
One thing that defines God as a “person” is that He acts according to His own free will.
*Turn to Isaiah 46:9-11
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
God makes choices based on His own determination – and according to His own free will.
I would like to add to this Ecclesiastes 3:14 which says:
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.
God is Someone who is able to make conscious decisions according to His own free will...
And again, that is a personal attribute that all people share.
4) GOD IS FEELING
So then, we believe in a Personal God who is Living
Who Is Thinking...Who Is Acting...
And perhaps most importantly – who is Feeling.
Our God is a Personal God – because He feels like we do.
God Feels Anger
So what feelings then does God have?
Well for one for thing He can feel anger.
In fact there are many instances in the Scriptures where God openly shows His anger.
*Exodus 32:9-10: 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
God feels anger.
God Feels Grief
*Genesis 6:6 - And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at his heart. God feels grief.
God Feels Sorrow.
*Isaiah 53:4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
This is of course a prophetic verse referring to Jesus Christ
And trust me - Jesus knows grief and sorrow – unlike few others can.
Shortest verse in the Bible - John 11:35 - Jesus wept
God Feels Compassion.
*James 5:11 - Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
God is able to feel pity – because He is full of compassion.
*Matthew 9:36 - But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
God Feels Love
The Bible speaks about God’s capacity to love more than anything else.
Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Romans 5:8).
But God commended His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
How much does God love us?
Well He doesn’t just talk about it – because He has openly proven His love for us.
Relationship With God
Now all of these attributes as revealed to us through the Bible...
God’s living capacity to think... to act... and to feel...
Show that He is indeed a very Personal Being.
He is not distant, aluff or somehow completely out of reach – as some believe,
No - He is a Personal God.
Jeremiah 23:23 - Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Am I not right here God says – right within arms reach to you.
The God I know and love is a Personal God...
A God who can whole heartedly relate to me on every level,
A God who knows what I need...and feels what I feel.
Guys knowing and understanding this truth - is fundamental to all of Christianity.
And I’ll tell you why...
Because if God is Personal – then we can have a Personal Relationship with Him.
This is what true Christianity is really all about!
It’s not about religious tradition and ceremony.
It is not about do’s and don’ts... Or about “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not”.
Christianity is not about your righteousness, your good deeds or your good works.
Do you want to know what real Christianity is?
It’s all about man having a personal relationship with God – through Jesus Christ.
Everything else is born out of that.
CONCLUSION
So in conclusion then – what can we say to all of this?
We can say - That we believe in a Personal God
God is Living – this makes Him different to inanimate Idols
God Is Thinking – He has a personal name, He can have a personal conversation
And He has formulated a personal plan for us all.
God Is Acting – He is actively involved in our lives and He makes decisions according to His own free will
God is Feeling – He feels everything that we feel and more
And this is just so important to our faith - Because all of these things...
Enable us to have a deep and meaningful personal relationship with God.
We know and serve a personal God – who we can have a personal relationship with
And “...these are the things most surely believed among us”
You see, whereas most other religions of the world...
Believe that God is Almighty and All Powerful – the same as us,
Most seem to somehow miss one of the most important truths of all,
And that is that God is a Personal.
Then by definition, a “Person” is generally regarded as an individual who can...
Think and Act rationally - as a conscious Being.
This is how the Bible portrays God.
He is a Personal Being – He has all the attributes and characteristics of a person.
That is to say, He can think, act and feel the same as you and I.
The book of Genesis declares that God made us “in His own image”
In other words, He created us with many of the same characteristics that He Himself possesses.
And this is the best part of all...
If God is Personal Being – then we can have a Personal Relationship with Him. Amen!
More on that point latter – but first,
Let’s see some of the more personal attributes of our God - as revealed to us in the Bible.
1) GOD IS LIVING – (Different from Idols)
Here’s the first point - we believe that the God is a Personal Being – because He is alive
The Bible speaks of Him as being the “Living God”.
Turn with me to Joshua 3:10. Now in the immediate context here...
Joshua is speaking to Israel about their conquest into the Promised Land. Here Joshua declares:
By this, you shall know, that among you - is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
Now its important to recognise that each of these rather obscure names
Represented a nation or tribe of living people.
And Joshua’s point to Israel was kind of simple – “God will be with you...
And He will drive out all of these other nations from before you,”
“And by this... [he declares] ...you will you know...”
“That He is a Living God” – Not just a concept or idea – but a living being.
He is not a story, a myth or a legend – He is the living God.
Living God Verses Idol
And there is an important distinction to make between the “Living God” and other things such as idols.
God is alive – He is living – and He posse’s all the attributes of a Personal Being.
Now just to quickly clarify things here...
An idol can be anything else we choose to worship or glorify in our lives – above the Lord.
Now in the OT, idols were predominantly inanimate objects (they were not living)
That were crafted and sculpted by skilled arcticians from basic raw materials.
Now these idols may well have looked impressive – covered in gold and ornately decorated
But they could not hear, they could not speak, they could see
They could not feel – because they were not alive!
Make no mistake brethren – we serve a living God!
If your following along in your Bible - Turn to Psalms 135:15-17
Notice here what the Bible says about idols:
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
This is the truth - man can dress things up any way he pleases...
And attempt to worship many other things instead of God.
But those things, no matter how impressive they appear,
Cannot display even the most basic personal attributes that the Living God does.
They cannot speak, see or hear – because they are not alive.
We believe in a Personal God – Because He is a Living God.
In Exodus 20:3 The Lord simply declares: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
In NT the Apostle Paul even challenged the crowd at Lystra about their idolatry
And he said this in Acts 14:15:
Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God,
And thankfully some people saw the error of their ways – and did exactly that.
For example, when Paul wrote to the Church at Thessalonica he made reference to:
...How [they] turned to God from idols - to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
So the Bible then contrasts the living God-who hears, sees, thinks, feels, and acts like a person
With idols which are inanimate objects – having no real personal attributes at all.
Jeremiah 10:10 says: But the LORD is the true God,
He is the living God, and an everlasting king:
Brethren - this is one of the things we most surely believe
We believe in a Personal God – because He is a Living God.
2) GOD IS THINKING - (Different from the Animals)
So we know that the Lord is Personal God, firstly– Because He is a Living God
But we can also add to this the fact that He is a Thinking God.
God is not just a Living being – but He is an intelligent, intellectual Being as well.
And this might seem obvious to most...
But something that separates me as a Personal Being...
From other more basic and primitive life forms – is my ability to think!
The Bible reveals to us that God has a mind to think.
Now there are all kinds of examples of this in the Scriptures,
But to start let’s just turn to Exodus 3:14.
Now in the context here we find God revealing Himself to Moses from out of the Burning Bush.
And Moses hears and understands what God asks Him to do...
But is reluctant to go before the people – fearing they won’t believe him.
Lets pick up our reading now in verse 14:
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
a) Personal Conversation
Now we believe in a Personal God...because the Bible teaches that God,
Has the capacity for intellectual thought and thinking.
And you can see that in three different ways here in this verse.
Notice Firstly how we see God speaking. He is having a personal conversation.
“And God said unto Moses…” - verse 14
Animals don’t speak in this way…you have to be a Person to speak - right?
b) Personal Name
Secondly notice that God names himself.
And a name is a very personal thing - I AM THAT I AM – He said
Of course, we have seen in past lessons that the name Jehovah itself – means “I AM”
And this was the name God chose for Himself.
Now Animals and other things may well have names...
But they don’t name themselves...Because they don’t have the mental capacity for that.
I think it’s interesting to see where the original names of animals actually come from.
Genesis 2:19 says: And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
You see, God gave Adam the priviledge to personally name all the animals
Because he had the mental capacity to do so.
Incidentally though, God was the one who first named Adam - and then named Himself.
You see, God has a mind to think.
Personal Plans
The third thing I think is noteworthy here – is the fact that God had a plan.
Because of His intellectual capacity...we see God forming a plan for His people.
This was what He was talking to Moses about.
Now this is far beyond a personal conversation and a personal name...
Because we are now talking about a personal plan.
We know and serve not just a living God – but a thinking God.
Drop back and read with me now verse 10
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
This was God’s personal plan for Moses.
And We all know the story of Moses and the 10 plagues right.
We know about the exodus out of Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea.
We know about the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant
We know how the Law and the 10 commandments were delivered,
And we can see and understand how this was all God’s plan.
We know how God put this personal plan into affect through Moses.
Now Planning like that - takes some serious intellect,
But it was no problem for our Lord was it – because He is a Thinking God.
Have you ever thought about God’s personal plan for you – Because He has one.
Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Isaiah 48:17 says: Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
God has a personal plan for both you and I
And He has already put His mind to it.
In fact, God is always thinking about us in a very personal way
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God has an extraordinary mind-and He is constantly thinking about us…
Because He is a Personal God.
Of course, God shares His mind with us openly through His Word.
To which Philippians 2:5 says - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
3) GOD IS ACTING
Now these are just a few of the points that make God Personal
He speaks, He has a name...and He has a plan.
1) God is Living.. that 2) God is Thinking...and do you know what else 3) God is Acting
God is not idle. He constantly working and acting in our lives in a very personal way.
In fact, for those with the heart to see it... God’s works are evident in us all
Psalms 104:24 says: O LORD, how manifold are thy works!
The term manifold simply speaks of that which is “great” or “many”.
And not only are God’s acts great in our lives…
But there are many, many levels to the way in which He works within us.
Now this is the thing I want you to see...
God only acts and works - according to His will.
That’s right – we believe in a personal God – who acts according to His own free will.
He is free to do whatever He chooses.
The Psalmist wrote: But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. (Psalms 115:3).
One thing that defines God as a “person” is that He acts according to His own free will.
*Turn to Isaiah 46:9-11
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
God makes choices based on His own determination – and according to His own free will.
I would like to add to this Ecclesiastes 3:14 which says:
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.
God is Someone who is able to make conscious decisions according to His own free will...
And again, that is a personal attribute that all people share.
4) GOD IS FEELING
So then, we believe in a Personal God who is Living
Who Is Thinking...Who Is Acting...
And perhaps most importantly – who is Feeling.
Our God is a Personal God – because He feels like we do.
God Feels Anger
So what feelings then does God have?
Well for one for thing He can feel anger.
In fact there are many instances in the Scriptures where God openly shows His anger.
*Exodus 32:9-10: 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
God feels anger.
God Feels Grief
*Genesis 6:6 - And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at his heart. God feels grief.
God Feels Sorrow.
*Isaiah 53:4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
This is of course a prophetic verse referring to Jesus Christ
And trust me - Jesus knows grief and sorrow – unlike few others can.
Shortest verse in the Bible - John 11:35 - Jesus wept
God Feels Compassion.
*James 5:11 - Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
God is able to feel pity – because He is full of compassion.
*Matthew 9:36 - But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
God Feels Love
The Bible speaks about God’s capacity to love more than anything else.
Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Romans 5:8).
But God commended His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
How much does God love us?
Well He doesn’t just talk about it – because He has openly proven His love for us.
Relationship With God
Now all of these attributes as revealed to us through the Bible...
God’s living capacity to think... to act... and to feel...
Show that He is indeed a very Personal Being.
He is not distant, aluff or somehow completely out of reach – as some believe,
No - He is a Personal God.
Jeremiah 23:23 - Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Am I not right here God says – right within arms reach to you.
The God I know and love is a Personal God...
A God who can whole heartedly relate to me on every level,
A God who knows what I need...and feels what I feel.
Guys knowing and understanding this truth - is fundamental to all of Christianity.
And I’ll tell you why...
Because if God is Personal – then we can have a Personal Relationship with Him.
This is what true Christianity is really all about!
It’s not about religious tradition and ceremony.
It is not about do’s and don’ts... Or about “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not”.
Christianity is not about your righteousness, your good deeds or your good works.
Do you want to know what real Christianity is?
It’s all about man having a personal relationship with God – through Jesus Christ.
Everything else is born out of that.
CONCLUSION
So in conclusion then – what can we say to all of this?
We can say - That we believe in a Personal God
God is Living – this makes Him different to inanimate Idols
God Is Thinking – He has a personal name, He can have a personal conversation
And He has formulated a personal plan for us all.
God Is Acting – He is actively involved in our lives and He makes decisions according to His own free will
God is Feeling – He feels everything that we feel and more
And this is just so important to our faith - Because all of these things...
Enable us to have a deep and meaningful personal relationship with God.
We know and serve a personal God – who we can have a personal relationship with
And “...these are the things most surely believed among us”
