Special Talk “The God You’re Looking For”: Special Talk 'The God You’re Looking For' February 22, 2002
Are you looking for a God…: Are you looking for a God… Who gives you lots of goodies
Who just notices your good side
Who is strong andamp; powerful
Who is righteous andamp; just
Who just loves you to death
1) Who gives you lots of goodies: 1) Who gives you lots of goodies Like a nice generous grandparent
Showers you with gifts
Automatically forgives everything
Makes you happy
But is pleasure the primary goal for life?
How would you feel if everyone else got what they wanted?
And even if we get everything…: And even if we get everything… …we will not be satisfied
The more you feed your desires, the more it wants
'Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction' [Erich Fromm, US Psychologist]
'The entire world is not enough for one man’s greed…' [M. Ghandi]
You want a God who gives more than pleasures
2) Who just notices your good side: 2) Who just notices your good side Like a smiling positive-outlook optimist
'Don’t worry, you’re ok'
But ignoring 'bad aspects' is not really loving
e.g. doctor ignoring your cancer
Besides, follow a God who’s lacking integrity?
Just arbitrary, no right/wrong to uphold
Cruel sometimes, kind sometimes
Or would you want an ignorant God who doesn’t know everything?
A God who knows us intimately: A God who knows us intimately Psalm 139 describes a God who knows us: 'You know me… You perceive my thoughts from afar… You created my inmost being…'
God sees through my mask and knows all about me
Darkest sins, deepest worries, hidden insecurities, fears andamp; anxieties, etc.
…And does something about it: …And does something about it God is not aloof, comfortable up in heaven, too busy to care
God gets down to our level
Jesus came to dwell with us
'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.' [Hebrews 4:15]
A God who knows and deals with all aspects
3) Who is strong & powerful: 3) Who is strong andamp; powerful Like a cosmic police officer
'Enforcing justice andamp; peace 24 / 7'
But then, not much room for freedom
Such display of power fosters more of a prisoner/warden relationship
Might as well make us to be robots
Bible describes God who is not just a mysterious overbearing force out there
A personal God : A personal God Bible reveals a God who speaks, loves, rejoices, regrets, pleads, suffers, etc.
Personally desiring a love relationship
And God gives us freedom to choose to love Him or reject Him
Cannot force us to love Him
A God who is powerful andamp; yet powerless
4) Who is righteous & just: 4) Who is righteous andamp; just Like a fair, unbiased judge
Blindfolded, weighing the balance
But then we would all be proven guilty
Sin = 'calling my own shots'
'I’m going to be god myself!'
Cosmic treason
The just penalty for sin is death
Being cut off from the source of life
God is a compassionate judge: God is a compassionate judge God sees the oppressed and downtrodden
Sent Jesus to: '…preach good news to the poor …proclaim freedom for the prisoners …recovery of sight for the blind …release the oppressed' [Luke 4:18]
We’re morally andamp; spiritually oppressed from sin
Pays the price for our release
Even for the most horrendous sins
A God who’s a compassionate andamp; merciful judge
5) Who just loves you to death: 5) Who just loves you to death Like a sacrificial parent
But even parent’s love is conditional
'If you do ___, then I will love you'
We’ve been let down by this many times
Your family
Your friends
Yourself
God’s unconditional love: God’s unconditional love '…Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' [Romans 5:6-8]
God loves everyone in the world
Vastly different from this world
No discrimination, no exclusiveness
Not even just for those who are good
Such amazing love: Such amazing love Jesus’ sacrificial love: [Isaiah 53:3-5]
…despised and rejected by men, familiar with suffering
…took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
…was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities
…by his wounds we are healed
A God who would love us to His death
God you’re looking for…& more: God you’re looking for…andamp; more God who provides more than mere pleasures,
…He provides the truth.
God who knows and deals with our 'bad' side,
…and strives to cleanse it.
God who is powerful and yet, to give us freedom, becomes 'powerless',
…to gain a genuine love relationship.
God who is a compassionate andamp; merciful judge
…to free us from captivity to sin.
God who would love us to the point death
…so that we may live.
And this God is looking for you!: And this God is looking for you! This all-knowing, powerful, merciful, righteous, and loving God is looking for a loving relationship with you!
'I myself will search for my sheep and look after them… I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered… I will tend them in a good pasture… I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak… I will shepherd the flock with justice.' [Ezekiel 34:11-16] Come & find out more:: Come andamp; find out more: Got Questions? E-mail me at:
[email protected]
Slide18: