"REFLECTIONS"

On God

INTRODUCTION
  1. With this lesson we continue...
    1. Our series entitled "Reflections"...
    2. Devoted to simple meditations on various themes
  2. Again, the scriptural justification for taking time to reflect comes from Php 4:8...
    1. In which Paul concludes by saying "...meditate on these things" (NKJV)
    2. Other translations say "...think about these things" (ESV) or "...dwell on these things" (NASB)

[The NLT says "Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise". Thus we began with "Reflections On The Bible". Now we return our attention to the Author of the Bible...]

  1. REFLECTIONS ON GOD
    1. THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH... - Ac 17:24
      1. So Paul introduced "the unknown God" to the Greeks in Athens
      2. So He is proclaimed throughout the Bible to all who read it
    2. THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS... - Gen 1:1
      1. In the beginning
      2. Both the heavens and the earth
    3. THE CREATOR OF ALL LIFE... - Gen 1:24-27
      1. All living creatures, including mankind
      2. Especially mankind, created in the image of God Himself
    4. HIS OMNIPOTENCE... - Am 5:8; 4:13
      1. He is all powerful
      2. Who made the constellations, the earth's revolution and water cycle
      3. Who created the mountains, the winds, and knows the mind of man
    5. HIS OMNISCIENCE... - Ps 139:1-6; He 4:12-13
      1. He is all knowing
      2. Who knows our every thought, our every movement
      3. All things are open to Him, to Whom we must give an account
    6. HIS OMNIPRESENCE... - Ps 139:7-16; Jer 23:23-24
      1. He is everywhere
      2. We cannot flee from His presence; from the womb and throughout life He is there
      3. We cannot hide from Him; He fills the heaven and earth
    7. HIS GLORY REVEALED IN CREATION... - Ps 19:1-3; Ro 1:20
      1. The heavens (firmament) declare His handiwork
      2. The creation makes known His eternal power and Godhead
      3. No one has an excuse not to believe in a Supreme Being
    8. HIS WILL REVEALED IN HIS WORD... - Ps 19:7-11; 2Ti 3:16-17
      1. His word is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true and righteous
      2. His inspired Scriptures are all-sufficient to make the man of God complete
    9. HIS LOVE REVEALED IN JESUS... - Ro 5:8-11; 1Jn 4:9-10
      1. He loved us even though we were sinners and enemies
      2. He sent Jesus to die and reconcile us back to Him
      3. Jesus is the propitiation (appeasing sacrifice) for our sins
    10. HIS JUDGMENT PROMISED TO COME... - Ac 17:24-31
      1. We return to Paul's sermon to the Greeks in Athens (Acts 17)
      2. God made us to seek for Him, for He is not far from anyone of us
      3. God commands all men everywhere to repent, for the Judgment Day is coming
      4. In which the world will be judged by Jesus
      5. God has offered assurance of the Judgment by raising Jesus from the dead

      [God is truly an Awesome Being, transcendent yet personal, worthy of belief, praise, and obedience! Before we conclude our reflections God, consider...]

  2. WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT GOD
    1. ABRAHAM LINCOLN...
      1. Whom we quoted in our previous "reflections" on the Bible
      2. "I can see how it might be possible for someone to look around on earth and not believe in God, but I cannot conceive how anyone could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."
    2. C.S. LEWIS...
      1. Author of "The Chronicles Of Narnia", and former atheist (1898-1963)
      2. "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God."
    3. A.W. TOZER...
      1. American preacher, writer, magazine editor (1897-1963)
      2. "You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him."
    4. MIGUEL DE UNAMUNO...
      1. Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher (1864-1936)
      2. "We need God, not in order to understand the why, but in order to feel and sustain the ultimate wherefore, to give a meaning to the universe."
CONCLUSION
  1. We have reflected on...
    1. God's creativity
    2. God's omnipotence
    3. God's omniscience
    4. God's omnipresence
    5. His glory revealed in creation
    6. His will revealed in His Word
    7. His love revealed in Jesus
    8. His judgment promised to come
  2. Don't you want to know God...?
    1. "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,' says the LORD." - Jer 9:23-24
    2. The most important thing in life is to know God and serve Him!

May these simple reflections on God encourage you to seek God and learn His will for you...!