When God was at His best?
(Sermon idea and title is from E.V. Hill’s message called “God at His Best” spoken at the Evangelism Summit at Willow Creek Community Church in Oct. of 1998).
Thesis: God was at His best when he forgave a sinner on Nov. 7, 1978 in a church in Mpls. Mn.. To me that was the day God was at His best! The premise is God is at His best when he saves souls.
Introduction:
There is a question that often enters my mind from time to time. It’s the question of what is the greatest thing God has ever done? Have you ever wondered about that question? Have you thought about the possible answers to this question. What was His best miracle? His greatest invention? His greatest achievement? His greatest personal mile stone? His greatest day? His greatest year?
I sat and pondered this over the last week when was God at His best? NO, really what is God’s most impressive act as God.
T.S.- Lets explore a few pinnacle moments in history and see if we can discover when God was at his best.
I. I wonder if God was at His best the day He created the Heavens and the Earth?
a. This was definitely a breakthrough week for God. He made his greatest inventions of all time during this time frame. The best day has to be found here somewhere.
i. He made a Heaven and a world one week in history. There are not many scientists or individuals who can boast about creating the Heavens and also the earth.
1. There is not a soul alive or dead that could say, “I created the earth and everything in it!”
2. I don’t ever recall any one staking the claim to creating a universe and a planet in a week’s time. Have you?
b. Lets look at the Bible and discovered How God did it back in Genesis 1:1-24.
The Holy Bible, New International Version
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 (NIV)
2Now the earth was£ formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:3 (NIV)
3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:4 (NIV)
4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:5 (NIV)
5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Genesis 1:6 (NIV)
6And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.”
Genesis 1:7 (NIV)
7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.
Genesis 1:8 (NIV)
8God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
Genesis 1:9 (NIV)
9And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:10 (NIV)
10God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11 (NIV)
11Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:12 (NIV)
12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:13 (NIV)
13And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
Genesis 1:14 (NIV)
14And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,
Genesis 1:15 (NIV)
15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:16 (NIV)
16God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
Genesis 1:17 (NIV)
17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,
Genesis 1:18 (NIV)
18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:19 (NIV)
19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
Genesis 1:20 (NIV)
20And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:22 (NIV)
22God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
Genesis 1:23 (NIV)
23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
Genesis 1:24 (NIV)
24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:25 (NIV)
25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,£ and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:28 (NIV)
28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:29 (NIV)
29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Genesis 1:30 (NIV)
30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 2:1 (NIV)
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
Genesis 2:2 (NIV)
2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested£ from all his work.
Genesis 2:3 (NIV)
3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
i. At first thought you have to say this has to be God’s best week! I agree but what about his best day?
ii. Well lets read about this inventive week in the life and times of God.
iii. Review the chart on the days of creation.
1. God started with nothingness and then decided first he needed light to help him see what he was creating. It’s always so hard to see what you are doing in the dark.
a. But that’s right God is light and he puts off His own light-but he decided since no one else could do the eternal glow he needed to create something that would project light into a hole of darkness.
i. This is the day God turned the lights on!
ii. We have day-We have night-amazing.
iii. I’m sure the angels where on the side line cheering.
1. Way to Go God!
2. Your awesome.
3. Go God! Go God!
b. So in verse 2-5 He said, ‘Let there be light and it was so!’
i. This has to be one of God’s best days!
ii. He created light! He made a day!
iii. You think this has to be God at His best because this is the day – that god literally created days! The first day has to be God’s best achievement.
iv. But I don’t think so – personally!
2. Lets look at another day in the life and times of God verses 6-8 the second day of creation.
a. On the second day He created the expanse –he created the sky to divide the water.
b. Water was what made up the area he was working in so he decided there needed to be a certain area of water and another area called sky. Much different in content and mass.
c. So we have water and sky.
d. Some who like to fly or boat, or fish would say this is God at His best.
e. I once again would have to say no.
3. Lets look at the third day of creation in verses 9-13.
a. God on this special day decided to create some dry land and he added the wonder cover of vegetation.
i. Now Biologists and ecologists would say this was God at his best.
ii. We have dry ground- we did not need flippers and gills to live here.
iii. This was the day God made the gorgeous flowers like roses, lilacs, lilies, tulips and the like.
iv. The tree huggers would say this is God at his best because I can hug pine trees, and cedar trees, and huge white pines. I can climb the oak trees.
v. This was definitely another impressive day in God’s life and times but once again I don’t think this is God at His best.
4. Maybe it’s the 4th day of creation found in Genesis 1:14-19.
a. This is the day God invented the Sun and the moon. The day he set the four seasons into motion.
b. Astrologists would say this is God at his best. What a magnificent creation when God created the sun and the moon.
c. Those who like to gaze up at the stars would say that was when God was at his best.
d. The astrologers would say this God’s best!
e. If you’re an individual who likes to ski on snow or water you would say this is God at His best.
i. If you like the 4 seasons then you would say this is God at His best.
ii. He did this so we would not be bored with the weather. He wanted to teach us to pray!
f. Once again I would have to disagree and say this is not God at His best.
5. Well how about the 5th day of creation Genesis 1:20,21.
a. This is the day that God made the birds and the fish.
b. All the fisherman are shouting this is God’s best day! The bass, the sword fish, the walleye, the perch, the muskie!
c. The bird watchers are saying who cares about the fish this is God at his best because he created the birds like robins, finches, parrots, eagles, hawks and such.
d. No once again I do not believe this is God at his best.
6. We now proceed with the 6th day of creation and ask ourselves is this God at his best?
a. Genesis 1:24-31
b. The day he created animals. For those who love their pets they would say this is God at his best.
c. The zoologists would say this is God at His best.
d. All the deer hunters would yell, “This was God at His best!” He made deer hunting available to us!
e. But he did more on this day other than create animals he created man in his image.
f. Doctors would tell you this is God at His best because the human body is so ingenious the way it was made and what it is capable of doing. Not only the physical body but then put the mind in the equation and wow! Then add another ingredient man’s spirit. This is an amazing day in the life and times of God.
g. A lot of you are thinking this is GOD at His best!
h. Once again I’m sorry to disappoint you but I don’t believe this is God at His best.
7. So we proceed to the 7th day of creation in Genesis 2:1-3
a. Here we have God resting.
b. For those of you who treasure rest from a lot of hard work you might say this is God at his best when he rested!
i. You know how great it is to sit down and rest after a hard working day.
c. But I once again have to disagree!
T.S. - Immediately you think well that rules out the seven days of creation. Maybe Pastor mike is thinking that God was at His best when he came to earth personally. Good thought lets see if that’s the case.
II. I wonder if God was at His best when he decided to be born through a Virgin named Mary.
a. Lets explore this in Matthew 1:18-25
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,£ because he will save his people from their sins.”
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”£—which means, “God with us.”24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
b. This is pretty amazing Immanuel God with us was born on the earth in human form. This is quit a move made by God he becomes a human like you an me and lives among his people.
i. He 100 % God still somehow running the universe and yet dwelling on the earth. His name was Jesus! He was 100% human and 100% God.
ii. The God who created the universe and the earth is living on it in physical form.
1. He experiences what physical pain is like.
2. He experiences emotional turmoil.
3. He experiences all the senses.
4. He actually came down from heaven and choose to limit himself in human form so he could go to the cross and die for us. WOW!
c. Christmas each year recounts this wonderful day. The world celebrates it!
i. This has to be God at His best!
ii. Once again I disagree even though this rates up in the top ten days of God’s life in my view but it is not the best day I believe.
T.S. – So you are sitting there thinking what could be God’s best day then it hits you was it the day God started doing miracles.
III. I wonder if God’s best day is when he went around in the form of Jesus and did miracles.
a. This was more than one day this went on for three years. It’s breathtaking to think of what he did.
i. See the chart of all the miracles Jesus performed.
1. These are the ones recorded in the Bible.
ii. Think about this all the miracles God has done. How long would that list be?
iii. Those who run from miracle crusade to miracle crusade would say that God id at His best when he does miracles.
b. Once again I would have to say no this is not God at His best.
i. Sorry to disappoint you-please don’t through stones at me yet!
T.S.- You sit there smirking I know what it is the day Christ died on the cross. Lets explore and see if this is it.
IV. I wonder if it’s the day Jesus died on the cross?
a. John 19 tells us about this monumental day.
b. Matthew 27 describes this day of horror for Jesus and hope for you and me.
c. All four Gospels talk about this day.
d. The New Testament focus and speaks about this day.
e. It was and is on of God’s 10 best days. For me it’s the third greatest day for God that I know of.
f. But regretfully I must inform you this is not God’s best day in my view.
i. Hold your boo’s and hisses for a moment.
T.S. Some of you would disagree me and others would say then it has to be the day he rose from the grave.
V. I wonder if it’s the day Jesus rose from the grave?
a. Matthew 28 blows the horn about it.
b. John rejoices in telling about it in chapter 20 and 21.
c. Easter celebrates this day every year – It’s a day of triumph!
d. It’s the day when we all shout “He’s Alive and I’m forgiven!”
e. I would have to acknowledge that I believe this also is one of God’s ten best days and for me it ranks number 2 on the chart of God’s ten best days. But for me it’s not God’s best day-the day God was at His best.
T.S.- You sit there in bewilderment and think what could be God’s best day from pastor Mike’s perspective.
VI. I believe the day God was at his best was on November 7, 1979.
a. That was the day the almighty god visited a sinner in a church in Mpls. Mn. and showed him how much he loved him and forgave him.
i. It’s was God’s best because it was the day that I experienced the Lord God personally and intimately.
ii. It was the day that I repented of my sins and asked for forgiveness and God’s loving grace washed through my body like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life.
iii. I felt the warm embrace of His love.
iv. I felt the warm touch of his mercy.
v. I discovered that the God who created the universes cared about what happened to me.
vi. I discovered that God was not some entity out there somewhere but he was a loving father who dies for me.
vii. It was God at His best because he took time out of his busy schedule to touch a broken lonely young mans life in Mpls. Mn. and set him on a path of peace and joy.
viii. Friends that is when God is at His best-The days he meets people like you and me personally and intimately and saves our souls and make us whole.
1. E.V. Hill says, “God’s most wondrous act is the saving of souls.”
2. Paul would agree this is God at His best. See Galatians 1:11-24
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth£ and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter£ and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they praised God because of me.
Conclusion:
We have explored the many wonderful and marvelous things God has done in this world. But the most amazing – The biggest and best day in the life of God is when he reaches down out of Heaven. He stops his busy schedule and pours out his love and forgiveness on people like you and me. My friend God loves us- This is so awesome!
If you have never experienced God’s Best then let today be the day that you allow the Lord to touch your life supernaturally. It will change you and give you hope, peace and contentment in this life.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
