My King, My Daddy
Two very different aspects of God we need to come to grips with
Introduction:
Shock and Awe bombing, quickened pulse, lump in my throat, sweaty palms, (also what is behind the scenes, kids crying) witnessing the power of something
Jessica Lynch—teacher wanna be, POW, daring rescue, the picture of Jessica on the stretcher (compared to her graduation pic). Brought the war to a close personal event. Names, faces, real people
Images provide a framework for today’s
Shock and Awe & Up close and personal
Isaiah 6—Shock and Awe
Romans 8—Up close and Personal
Key Point: The God of the universe is at once both a “Shock and Awe” God, and “Up Close and Personal.” Only God makes it possible for us to thrive under both sides of Him.
Transition: The first image of God we will examine today is the:
1. The Shock and Awe God: Moves His People from Ruin to Purpose
Isaiah 6:1-8 (read)
1. What must it have been like for Isaiah to see God in the temple?
o I have seen important people, Orange Bowl, coaches luncheon. Autographs, feeling a bit of awe (show helmet)
o Nothing like encountering God!
1. God of the universe
2. Throne
3. Strange seraphs (6 wings, exotic faces, sounds of wings and voices, shaking of door posts—like earthquake in S. Ill)
4. WWE/Rock concert nothing in comparison
5. WOE IS ME! He is SHOCKED and AWED God is perfect, sinless, mighty, Isaiah is no match
6. We need to capture, (recapture) that aspect of God
o Read the prophets, speak bluntly of the sinful situation, their dire circumstance, but continued pride and rebellion.
o We often think of the God of the flannel graph, etc. but he is grander than any flannel graph board, etc.
o Reading the prophets helps us recover this God
o Catholic grand buildings: conveys transcendence of God
2. You don’t want to be on the wrong side!
o Israel is turning things upside down and inside out (evil for good, dark for light)
Isa 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Isa 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.
Isa 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
and champions at mixing drinks,
Isa 5:23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.
Isa 5:24 Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay
and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty
and spurned the word e of the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 5:25 Therefore the LORD’S anger burns against his people;
his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,
and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets.
o Isaiah Faces His own Ruin
1. When faced with God, Isaiah’s sense of guilt runs to his Core
• Sneaking over to the girls’ locker room
• Games over! Nothing left but fear and ruin!
3. “Shock and Awe” shows His merciful side
o Cleanses Isaiah with a burning coal from the alter
o What Jesus does for us
4. Isaiah moves from Ruin to Purpose
o Thrive because we are Freed from our guilt
o Thrive because we are Freed to serve the King “Here am I!”
1. not wilting under the guilt
2. but THRIVING in the service of God
Transition: Though God is high and lofty, he has another, more intimate side. He is also:
2. The Up Close and Personal God: Moves Us from Fearful Slaves to the Father’s Sons
Romans 8:15-16
Like a 5x7 that we could put on our mantel or shelf
Our God is a DADDY. God enters into a personal relationship with us, giving us his Spirit as proof AND an aid
NOW we can Approach and come near to God, (not be afraid)
Psalm 68:5 father to the fatherless.
Jeremiah—God is a father who is a friend (but Israel still discarded God . . . to wood: “you are my father—tried to substitute the real relationship with a fake)
NT expands the father image, referring more frequently to God’s fatherhood, and also showing that He is a father who is close with his beloved children
(you remember the scene) Mark 14:36 “Abba” father, not my will (kids find it easier to say—mama, daddy)
Not Swedish pop group . . . (cool they’re in the Bible.)
Our Daddy in heaven loves us, and as HIS children, he sees to it that we THRIVE under his Fatherhood:
1. Thrive as His holy children:
Having a Dad should be a good thing! These boys were proud of their dads:
Illus:
My dad faster than yours
• 90 mile an hour fast ball and run and catch it as it reaches home plate
• Arrow, holds up target to hit bullseye
• Works for state, and even tho he works each day till 4 pm, he gets home by 3:30!
Image tarnishes
Like the girl making dinner for boy. Goes into kitchen for some glasses. Boyfriend notices a small vase, “what is this?” Ashes, OH! I am sorry! Yeah, he’s too lazy to go to the kitchen to get an ash tray. My kids won’t say that.
Maya’s image of me is tarnished (a few years ago)
“What’s that on your chin? That is goofy! What’s wrong with your hair? It’s different!”
No mistaking they are mine My kids take after me (GOOD AND BAD) (hair,, goofy jokes)
We need to take after our Dad in heaven
Unlike us, He is perfect!
his holiness We should be like God. We struggle with sin. We don’t often look like God (the only perfect father)
Bible says (in Romans) With Spirit’s help put to death the sin (a duty as His child)
As we reflect him more and more, we thrive, because we are becoming like our Dad, and we rejoice, because HE made it possible.
2. Thrive as we bask in His attention and love (Cast your cares on him. He wants to hear from us)
Talk about things with him, “Dad, I am feeling this” etc
Reassuring for children to know dad cares and “is there.” Soldiers videotaped reading stories: sense for child that dad is still there.
God is there for us at all times: we cry out by His Spirit “Abba, Father, Daddy”
No time we can’t say that!
3. Thrive for eternity, as heirs to his wealth, inheritance (v. 17) (my kids get squat). Rev 21 is a fav of mine. A sure gift!
CONCLUSION
Narnia: Beavers: “how great Aslan is” “Is he safe?” (p. 80)
We Have to come to Grips with Both sides of God
Our God is our King: fear, awe, respect
Our God is our Dad: familiarity, relationship, respect,
Both images still include something of the other:
• King (still reaches out to Isaiah to make him acceptable).
• Dad: (still required to be holy, put sin to death.) 1 Peter 1:14?
Regardless: God Reaches out and ensures that we, his people, his children, will thrive!
