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We've been kind of looking at the attributes of God and actually this is now the fifth Time we're looking at it and there's a couple more parts. I want to go through but we'll get through this and then.
Just kind of following the outline. It's best I can or as Wise as I think I can of what Sproul says in his book because he deals with that. And then after we get through a couple more of the attributes then we'll move on to something else.
But I think it's worth our time as I've said and I will continue to say I don't know if there's a more worthy way.
To.
Well, it's it's one of the wordliest ways to grow close to God is to Have a better understanding of who he is because again a better understanding of who he is yields to us a better understanding of who we are and And and the response will be more and more Praise and worship towards him.
So with that in mind, we've kind of looked at a couple of different things. And so this morning I want to look at the fact that God is omnipotent and certainly that's something that we've talked about before.
But I do think it's worth and some of these verses are repetitive that we've looked at but I want to look at these at least these that we That I've written down on the board and then then we can go a little bit further but this whole idea of God being omnipotent, so What does that mean what does it mean that When we say God is I'm or if you say anybody is omnipotent.
What are we really declaring? All-powerful, right because that's really what that that's really what I'm the means is all and then whatever you put attached to it Just like we'll look at his omnipresence and his omni science and and all those other things.
So it really is if you will Unlimited power and I don't know about you. But that is an awesome thought to consider and I think we had discussed this briefly if you had Unlimited power Over everything would you feel Comfortable with handling that in a righteous way.
I think that would be very dangerous for For us as because we're in that sense. We're Underneath the curse. I don't think that that would be something that anyone or anything other than a righteous holy, just gracious glorious God could could manifest right just think about it again.
We we need people have great authority and great power and how many times we read about how they abuse their power and how they Use their power for evil rather than good and and so when we think about God being omnipotent It's not just something to just say well, yeah, that means God could do whatever he wants But there's there's much to be thought behind that.
Especially as far as when we consider ourselves because if we consider ourselves It's almost like the lottery I think I read was the other day The Powerball thing that whatever is mega mega millions, whatever one person wanted in Georgia.
Was.
980 million dollars. Of which if they take it in cash they get 400 was like 452 million something like that, right? Could you imagine and just think of it in that in that way? How would you React if all of a sudden somebody walked up to you and said here's 450 million dollars.
I mean how many of us would would say I don't want that kind of I don't want that kind of headache Responsibility. Well, that was the whole point they got 980 million but if they took a lump sum they got I guess yeah, and I guess my whole point is would any of us truly want to have such unlimited resources.
Knowing that we would have a lot more family a lot more friends and probably a lot more enemies at the same time and and so many times people who Come into that kind of resource. They will Disappear because again you have to deal with it.
It's that whole thought of being if you will unlimited in in this world sense, but anyway, can God do anything if He decides to do it and that's I'm just gonna read this whole thing. Or part of it from Sprawl again.
Remember we discussed this whole thing about God making a rock so big he can't pick up and we had conversations about that and it really is. There are certain things that God says he cannot do now. Understand and I know we had a conversation about it.
Why can he not do? Certain things what and the answer would be what? Right, it's it's it's not that God cannot do it's God would not do. God will not do that which is Contrary to his nature. And again, that's what makes it so astounding that that the God that we serve is Not only omnipotent.
But he's also gracious and just and that statement in Genesis 18. Because in its genesis 18 where where it says that shall not the judge of all the earth do right? That is one of the most Spectacular Statements that could be made concerning God that God always does right?
So This is how he says he says every theologian is sooner or later asked a question by a student that is posed as an impossible nut to crack. The the old query is this can God make a rock so big that he can't move it.
And then he goes on and he says this the problem resembles. He's talking about something else. He says this problem resembles Another teaser what happens when an irresistible force Meets an immovable object.
What happens when an irresistible force Meets an immovable object we can conceive of an irresistible force. We can likewise conceive of an immovable object. What we cannot conceive of is the Coexistence of the two if an irresistible force ever met an immovable object and the object moved.
It could no longer be called immovable if the object didn't move then our Irresistible force could no longer be properly called Irresistible. We see then that reality. That reality cannot contain both in the irresistible force and an unmovable Object so when you think about that and that's what people try to do they try to I don't know foolishly try to to.
Trick God.
In their mind and justify. And I think I even mentioned this before. I had somebody that asked me that very question a long time ago and the manner in which he asked it was really full of pride and arrogance as if.
He got God he.
God couldn't answer that question so Is there is there a reality that God cannot do certain things. Is there enough. Is there evidence in the scriptures that God says He cannot do certain things. Yeah, let's let's look at a couple of them and and again some of these are repetitive, but I do think that It's worth our time so go to Hebrews chapter 6.
Let's just look at it and See how it's laid out for us and and again it might be a little different in different translations. But never nevertheless the truth is still remains the same so I'll start and this is in Hebrews 6 and I'll start at verse 12 because It kind of sets the context for for this thought and says.
And he's talking about Abraham. So in verse 13 it says. For when God made a promise to Abraham because he could swear by no one greater He swore by himself saying surely I will bless you and multiplying.
I will multiply you. And so after he had patiently endured he obtained a promise. But men indeed swear by the greater and an oath of confirmation is for them an end to all dispute thus God.
Will.
Determining to show more ability more abundantly to the as a promise the immutability of his counsel Confirmed it that by two immutable things in which he is it is as what it says it is impossible For God to lie.
We might have a strong consolation. Who have fled for refuge to lay hope of to lay Hold of the hope that is set before us. And then it goes read verse 19 this hope We have as an anchor for our souls both sure and steadfast And which enters the presence behind the veil now.
When you think about that and as I've been trying to say God's attributes are really something to.
Give us.
More and more Strength more hope. More if you will even in essence more rest to trust in God. Isn't that great that we can say? Whatever Situation we're in our God Cannot like and that makes what does that do to?
When you think about what does Peter say he says that we've been given what exceeding precious and great. What? Promises. Does that not make this the thought of the promises? Rock solid in our minds that dead God.
Has.
Swore by himself to do certain things and and those very things that he has Said he will do. We can trust that not only is he able But what he will do just like it says in Philippians Wonder it says that God who began a good work in you will what?
He will continue it until the day of Christ. So it's a and that's why I like verse 19 here so much. That hope this hope we have as an anchor of our soul both sure and steadfast and which enters the presence behind the veil.
So glorious to think about the attributes of God and again to if you will not just to know that God is omnipotent from a doctrinal standpoint and that's what we're looking at some of the scriptures that support that but but from a From a soul enriching experience to to know that my God is not only The true God, but that he is absolutely unlimited in his power and in his majesty.
So So I think is it fair to say that God cannot lie?
Well.
Let me ask you a question because I'm not sure when it says it is impossible for God to lie. What other translations does anybody have besides the New King James. It says impossible, right. So when you think about that, are we are we willing to say that God Cannot do certain things.
Yeah, can I say something. Not really, okay, maybe next week.
Please I think and I like you and I had discussed right? Right. The problem is Twofold on the unbeliever side. They're using human categories and applying them to God. So when it when they say can't They're talking from a human standpoint but unfortunately many believers Don't understand or don't perceive or discern Those categories and so when they hear the word can't right they confuse ability.
Right integrity. Yeah, so God can't because he won't right and that's the whole point, right? It's not an issue of inability, right? It's a it's a it's a matter of God wouldn't Do anything that's against his character.
So I agree. It's hard to if you will explain that to people but at the same time I think that there is enough evidence from the scriptures that I Could rightfully say and if someone wants to listen to me explain it, that's one thing.
But if if you're just gonna try to jump on the train and say see gotcha God then then basically you're on your own. But I do think we could say God Cannot do certain things With the caveat he would not For no other reason than he is God.
Right, right, sir.
James White made this guy. He was like a chemist God's name, but Cory Muller showing that Keith knows I'm talking about he was the guy he was known. He was like a white supremacist Lutheran. I can't got kicked out for Lutheran Church because he was like super racist.
But anyway, he said can God make people fly? Can God make? Humans swim. You say some most abstract questions and say I got you got you saying got you guys. He was can't fly. Yeah.
And again.
You know what in many ways it is an issue of the heart and and the mind.
For us.
Like it says in Hebrews those that come to God must what first believe that he is. Well, what is he is mean if you go behind that if you dig through that You'll come up with the very things that we're talking about right.
That God is is Self-existent. That God is is Omnipotent. God is omnipresent. God is omniscient. God is holy. So again, if if we approach this whole thought of God In his being in his character as me and men We're gonna stumble but if we consider it as he says and declares himself to be then it might not.
Be as.
Troublesome to people. So here's another one, right? Can God change? Is that is that. Is there a Dual way of understanding that. Because I'm looking at Malachi right. Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. For I am the Lord I do not change.
Not I can't change. I do not change. And why does he not change? Go to exactly what you said because he's God. Right. Because he is who he is. That's one of the things and and I I think we've talked about this before.
There's no reason right. And there's nothing not because God is.
God.
Is not in that way like us and yet he is in the person of his son who came down and took on the form of a serpent servant, but God is simple. And I know we've talked about this not simple as if you don't understand.
But simple in that God is not made up of various parts God is Who he is has always been who he is will continue to be always who he is. I've read something out there and I thought it was really cool. I Talked to you before about I think when the sky is pink in the morning It's a picture of the blood of Christ and and that when the Sun goes down at night It's another picture of the blood of Christ but I was reading something the other day and they were talking about the rainbow and I had never really thought about it and they said when you look at a rainbow and you see all the different colors and Yet you see one complete rainbow that they were pointing out that that's the various attributes of God that blend together and Make this glorious Beautiful rainbow in the sky and I thought that I said, you know what?
To me that was a really good observation. So if you take all these characteristics of God that God Is all-powerful that God is All-knowing that God is everywhere at every moment in the present. Which again is enough to blow our minds right because we're creatures of space and time well when you think about that and so now I'm going to look at the rainbow and I'm going to think about the very Reality that the all the attributes of God are Related in a way that we could not fully understand.
Just like if you will just like the Trinity because remember we talked about that who could really comprehend that into the fullest of thought I Would say none of us can't we can come close in in some ways, but we can't relate to that.
What else good cannot God do so let's just say he can't lie With the understanding of what we're saying he can't change What else God can't do is there anything else. Can God do this. Can God can God is God the author of evil is God subject to that or is that against his Holy character.
Yeah. It's. Would we be right to say our God could do anything? He pleases to do but God cannot.
Sin.
Is that is would he be would he be in line with the scriptures if we said that. Yeah. Yes, no. Yeah, I think we would because again he. Cannot because he would not and he would not be because it would be against his his righteous.
Being.
What's the one if you had to pick one attribute that would be the Attribute from which all other things flow. What would it be? Would it be that God is all-powerful? Would it be that God is all-knowing?
What would be to you the one? Characteristic or the one attribute of God that is. If you will the ocean from which all the things flow I would say is glory slash sovereignty. Okay, okay.
Self-determination.
Okay.
Absolutely would determine all the things I'm we're gonna look at a couple of those scriptures to support that.
This kind of goes on when I was watching Charles Spurgeon Sermon I'm so much Jacob and he saw, you know that verse that kind of right trips you up by. He made a you saw. He said each saw. Spurgeon kind of put it this way Gus, you know Salvation is his glory.
For damnation. It's our Fault basically and he's saying that God cannot tempt us. So even though yeah, God knew that God knew God pretty much knew beforehand. Jacob was the.
One.
Yeah, yeah, but God didn't like you gotta make you eat sauce. Oh, right, right.
God. God is not the author of evil. Although many people will say that right and many people will twist that too I would suggest that as we talk about the different things and I'm not disagreeing What would you have said that the one attribute of God for me from which all the others flow is that God is holy?
That God is.
Perfect.
Righteous.
Glorious.
Self-determining and it again, that's why it's such a Profound comfort for me to know that the judge of all the earth shall do right because he always Does right and that's what it says. Shall not the judges of the earth do right?
He always does right. He not the author of evil he cannot do certain things because it would be against his his nature and and and God would not. To your point there is no reason for God to be anything different other than the The everlasting God.
And and and so as we think about these things, let's look at a couple more videos I do to me. They're just so comforting. And you know where I find more comfort. I find more comfort in the attributes of God when I'm struggling.
Then when I do when I'm when I'm in the valley. It's a lot easier for me to look up and to consider than when I'm on the mountain. Because man has a tendency to do what I will continue to say it man has a tendency to make Too little God and too much a man, right?
And and so when I'm in the valley These things become even more comforting to me then when I'm if you will feeling good and How often do we feel good? I mean we all have issues working in our lives. But again as you think about it in Psalm 115 we don't have to turn here.
It says our God is in the heavens listen. He does whatever.
He pleases.
And again, if that was just some King saying that I would say retro. But it's not it's the King of Kings. It's the Lord of Lords. It's the one who is absolutely Holy in all his ways and that's what it says, right?
God is holy in all his ways and righteous in all his acts and To me, that's a comfort. So Let's just look at one in Ephesians chapter 1 and again. Familiar to us. Yes, and sometimes the familiar ones are the ones that we glance over and do not take.
And.
Meditate on so I mean we could read anywhere in Ephesians 1, but let me just focus in on Verse 11. Well, let me read 10. So talking about how he has chosen us, right? He says that in the fullness that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together In one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on the earth in him.
Then verse 11 in whom we have obtained an inheritance Being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. Does that not speak of omnipotence? Does that not speak of someone a Being a supernatural being a divine being a glorious being who again Takes counsel from no one.
We've read that in Romans 11 remember it. Talked about that in Romans 11 and it says that that God has in that way no counselor. Can any of us say that we are of such a nature that we would feel comfortable with no counsel from anyone but ourselves.
Pride that's foolishness, right? Because I I don't know about you. I can't trust myself for two minutes. Can you I? Can't trust my thoughts. I can't trust my emotions. I can't trust my decisions now I'm not saying that I don't know what to do in certain situations, but I'm saying in the reality is If you think about it and We read how God works all things according to the counsel of his will which is what I think you were saying that God has Self-determination and God's gonna God's gonna do what God's pleased to do, right?
And that's what we just read in in Psalms and you know in in.
In.
Luke 1 it just just remind you it says for with God nothing is impossible. Which one of us can rightfully claim? With me, there's nothing impossible. Basically, it's the other way around. And then does that not one second?
Does that not highlight the fact of what Jesus said when he said in John 15 without me you can what? You could do nothing. And and so when we you look at the contrast between those two statements that that for with God nothing is impossible and certainly that's in the account of when the angel came to Mary and told us she was going to have a child and his and who he was and how it was going to take place and.
What a great contrast between nothing is impossible and for us when Jesus says without me you can do nothing.
So good.
If we don't definition evil originally Evil Essentially is so God can't create you because evil is any outside of him.
Right, and and that's impossible.
And again, I think these scriptures are helpful because what they do is they allow us to not only use them for ourselves in our own meditation, but also to use them when People ask ridiculous questions like can God make a rock so big can't pick it up.
You know about the human being he was I was saying he asked me what kind of people and I'm like. Not only does kill people when he's Doing justice when he's when he's Acting on his justice, you know, so he's not just doing it for fun.
No, because in essence everything fulfills the will of God, right? But but God does say that and where is it? Is it Deuteronomy? 32 where God says I kill and I make a life and. And he says who made the blind who made the deaf who made the dumb have not I says the Lord.
So there is a reality that you and I have to understand that. Not only can God do whatever he pleases to do, but God will always do what's right. Whether or not man Comprehends it understands it Submits to it.
It doesn't it doesn't matter. And again that kind of power and that kind of authority is is to me Proverbs 21 30 says this and I'll just read it to you. So you don't have to turn it but Proverbs 21 30 says there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. Again, I submit to you that though those kinds of statements are to secure us to strengthen us to.
It's interesting and we're gonna read in Jeremiah 29 this morning. If you read Jeremiah 29 Before just recently you'll find that it says that God has hope in our future. He's talking to Israel. And so when you think about it, I don't know how it affects you, but I know it affects me regardless of the Situation I'm in.
I can always have this hope of what yet lies beyond. Not only my situation. But what lies beyond the river if you will lies what's beyond this world that I have a sure hope and. And it's because my God our God does whatever he pleases to do and he always does.
What's right? So? And I read this to you last week in Job 23. It says that he's unique and who can make him change and the last part is so Astounding and whatever his soul desires that he does. Man, that's that's awesome.
Isn't it? That's uh, it's almost scary to me and if God wasn't of such a character and being that he was always Holy and righteous and gracious and compassionate and just and and and angry. Did that would be truly terrifying to say.
To hear someone say that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you, but I can find we can find comfort. That our God is not only all-powerful. But that our God is always right again, not not in. Not an easy thing when.
The.
Wind's blowing in your face at 40 miles an hour, right, sir.
And I know I keep going back to this point. But I think it's just so important because after all so many years of being in error.
Yeah.
Possible I Realized that I think one of again one of the biggest challenges that we as humans face is putting God in human categories so that this is why I realize now that Is to renew the mind we do to mine which backs up Everything that you're saying right now, right?
This is why we need because there's no counsel and fallen man He's he's gonna naturally put God in human categories, but we need to recognize That they're doing that so that we can properly and appropriately right right address their one their their false sometimes of what it's false dichotomy or whether it's logical fallacy or or to The fact that we can't put God in those same categories.
We have to stay to our Commitment, which is yes. God is omnipotent. God is omniscient and God's Revelation is where we need to start from when we address all of these things that we've been talking, right?
Because if we come at it from merely a human standpoint. It doesn't it doesn't make sense, right? It doesn't connect. It doesn't. It doesn't compute and and yet we have God's Word. Which is of such a nature.
To not only renew our Souls, but renew our minds like you said right. Because that was the promise of the new covenant, wasn't it? I'm gonna give you a new mind and a new heart. Yeah, and I'm gonna write my laws in your mind and I don't think it's just the laws of the Ten Commandments if you will and then it's the war of The Word of God and in its totality and that you and I can comprehend.
What does Paul say he prays in? Ephesians if he prays that you're the eyes of your understanding would be what? Enlightened opened and that you might know what is the height and the depth and the breath and the length of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
And again, that's such a thrilling thing.
I.
Heard y 'all complain for so long right so so long I heard y 'all complain and and take what I do for y 'all for granted and worship false gods. So right now now having you walk in circles for a whole generation and you remember how?
In the Old Testament, it says and God almost if you will Speaks in a way so that men can understand it where he says you think my ways are unequal. My ways are not unequal. It's your ways that are unequal, right?
And it's the reason that You're in the situation that you're in is because you have rebelled resisted refused My counsel because again as God's counsel is always right. So let me let me I think we got time for one more verse and I want to look at this because this is in Isaiah chapter 14.
Think this is one of the.
Richest.
Statements concerning the fact that God does whatever he pleases to do that God always does what's right that God is is righteous in all his ways. And Isaiah chapter 14, it's in the context of judgment coming on Babylon and judgment coming on a Syria and all the different things.
And This chapter is probably known in a great way because many people think it's talking about The fall of Satan in the opening verses there, but just pick it up with me in verse 24 The Lord of hosts has sworn saying Surely as I have fought So it shall come to pass.
Now you could stop for about three hours just to try to meditate on that one. Surely as I have thought so it shall come to pass and as I have purposed So it shall stand and I will break the Assyrian in my land and on my mountains tread him on the foot.
And then his yoke shall be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth. This is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
The verse 27 for the Lord of hosts has purposed and Who will annul it? His hand is stretched out and who will turn it back? That's that's a tremendous statement if you will and It kind of goes along with what's said in Psalm 2 if you think about it, right?
Why did a nation rage? Why do they imagine vain things and the kings of the earth sit together against any take counsel against the Lord and Against his anointed and and what does it say? God will do.
God says God will laugh and then he will vex them in his hot displeasure. Just you again, all these attributes that we're looking at and considering they tie into so many more scriptures if we will have to me it's It's foundational truths and and that's one thing that many to your point as you said uh, brother many people today don't have enough foundational truth.
And pretty much just like jesus said that house is based on built on the sand. And as soon as the wind blows right what happens the house falls apart. It's this these the things that we're considering and I think this was at least in part the purpose of sprawls book was It's not just essentials so you can have certain doctrines in your mind.
It's essentials that are absolutely needed and I don't know about you. You can never get enough essential. Because Would you agree that when? We're up against it when the wind's blowing in our face when we're in situations when we're in trials, it's easy To lose sight of what god has said.
Agree.
It again when you're on the mountain, it's easy to believe god. When you're in a dungeon it's a little harder to not only remember but trust. Wait, that's and that's what it says, right? That's what the psalm says.
Wait on god.
Um.
Rest in him. And that's what again these these truths Should help us. I wanted to say and we've got to close but I wanted to say one of the problems with me with the arminian understanding of the sovereignty of god is this very thought.
Because.
I know they will say That god can do whatever he wants. And many of them will say well god Raises kings and takes kings down and god does this and god Does that? But it really troubles me. I'm not saying they're not christians.
Please don't misunderstand me, but it really troubles me that god is.
Absolutely.
Omnipotent and sovereign over everything except The willingness in the heart of man. I just it just doesn't compute and I really believe that. One of the greatest issues with arminian thinking is pride That's just my opinion because they will not Submit to the very authority of god over even the workings of the human mind and the human soul.
So.
Yeah last statement. Go ahead.
You know, that's right. So i'll raise joe. Okay, cool. God. God. Sorry.