GOD THE FATHER
Psalm 145
INTRO: In Hanover County, Virginia, about 20 miles north of Richmond, there is a theme amusement park known as King’s Dominion. This sermon deals with God’s dominion over the earth. The Baptist Faith and Message states: “There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.”
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
The Bible never argues for the existence of God. It simply states it clearly and decisively. Most of us need no assurance of His existence. We have experienced it. We have known the joy of answered prayer. We have experienced His love in our salvation. We have felt His presence in times of loneliness. We have known His guidance and power in the trying times of our lives.
Many present-day attacks are made on the existence of God. More than 830 million people live under Communism, whose continual propaganda is atheistic. Communism denies God. Russia has recently broken free from the domination of the Communist party. However, Russia has higher moral standards that the United States, which professes to be a Christian nation.
Some aspects of science attempt to deny God. Science, as a method of inquiry, as a tool of research, as a discipline to study, is a valid one. But science, when it gets into the realm of philosophy or religion, is out of place.
Philosophy is a valid study, but it cannot replace the Bible. It cannot prove the existence of God. And, without denying the valuable insights of psychology, it can be merely a humanistic study.
More than half the authors of the 100 greatest books of the last century were antagonistic toward Christian principles. As to TV, it usually ignores God and tries to make conduct which, according to biblical standards, is not acceptable to God. We must return to the Bible for our belief in the existence of God. “In the beginning God...” (Genesis 1:1).
ILLUS: It is possible for a man to believe intellectually in God, yet not allow God to have dominion in his life. For instance, consider the painter, Van Gogh. He was born the son of a Lutheran pastor and was a student of theology. He served as a missionary in a Belgian mining community. Yet his art is without any spiritual content. His life was unhappy.
II. THE NATURE OF GOD.
Note God’s spirituality. He is not a body of flesh and blood as we are. He is not subject to limitations of time, space, sickness, and death. He is a Spirit and not a ghost.
Note God’s personality. He is not just a force, influence, or power. God does what any person could do. He acts, grieves, feels, loves, punishes, and thinks.
Note God’s triune nature. He is one God, not three — on God in three Persons or personalities. It is impossible to understand the Trinity. We believe it because the Bible teaches it. In essence, the Trinity is “one plus one equals one” (not three). The Bible says God is a Spirit.
ILLUS: A little girl was drawing a picture of God. Her mother told her that nobody knew what God looks like. The girl replied that they would when she finished drawing His picture.
III. THE WORK OF GOD.
He is the Creator, as noted in the book of Genesis. He is the Preserver of what He has created. He is the Ruler of His universe. The universe is the King’s dominion.
God is still on His throne. He has not abdicated, in spite of the world’s unbelief. This universe will remain the dominion of the one true God.
IV. THE CHARACTER OF GOD.
The Baptist Faith and Message says He is “infinite in holiness and all other perfections.” He is described in Psalm 145 (Note verses 3, 8, 9, 17, 18). Here God is seen as great, gracious, compassionate, merciful,
good, righteous, and near to those who call on Him.
God is no mere “man upstairs.” Neither is He a benevolent old Santa Claus. He is our heavenly Father.
What should be our response to God? We cannot ignore Him. We can be indifferent to Him only at our own peril. The Baptist Faith and Message says, “to Him we owe our highest love, reverence, and obedience.”
CONC: God is on the throne of this universe! Is He on the throne of your heart? Let the King of Kings have dominion over your heart and life!
