Sermon notes from Sunday 23 September 2018 am Mr S Condy
Psalm 46
Uncertainty. As we go through life every single day there are lots of things that are uncertain. We are unsure of what we feel when we listen to the news. We live every single day full of uncertainty. That is why I love baking, you mix the ingredients and put it in the oven. Even at that it is full of uncertainty because if I leave it too long in the oven it will be burnt and tasteless. If you put your trust in the Lord there is one thing you can know, that you can be absolutely sure of - that God is true. As we dig into the word of God we can know it is true, God is faithful. When you read Psalm 46 we see that the Psalmist starts off full of uncertainty, he had fears and worries. As you read on to verse 10 we hear these words "be still and know that I am God." You can know God this morning, the one true living God. Whenever you read that part and it says be still we think it mens to go to a quiet place and be still. Yes it is good to be still in God`s presence and hear his word but the original Hebrew word means to let go, to surrender, I cannot but God you can. Maybe you are going through difficult times, you don`t understand times when you feel afraid. God says be still, I cannot but I trust fully in who you are. As we go through the Bible right from Genesis to Revelation there are lots of names and titles for God. He wants us to see who he is and what he can do. To know the great creator I want to know you intimately, to have a close intimate relationship with you. Who is God?
He is Elokim. The most used name and title for God in the Old Testament. When you come to Genesis chapter 1 it is used 32 times. That alone means God is infinite, there are no limits, he cannot be measured, he is all powerful, he is in control of all things, a supreme judge over all the earth. In the beginning Elokim created the heaven and the earth. God is mighty and strong, that he was able to create the universe simply by speaking and it was so. Just reading about trees makes you realise there are 16000 different species. How amazing is God. Whenever you read about the human body 242 billion new cells are created in your being every day. God is so indescribable, whatever difficulty or trial you are going through today if you are a child of the king remember he is Elokim.
He is also El Shaddai.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55 verses 8 and 9.
Sometimes we can think why is this happening but remember El Shaddai - God`s ways are not our ways. You have to be still to fully trust and let go. His ways are greater than our ways.
He is Yahweh, The name given to God. In the English Bible the word LORD is always in capitals. It means "I am who I am". We see it in Exodus. He is the foundation of truth in a world full of so much uncertainty. He is truth. John 14 verse 6 "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me " He is the foundation of truth, no beginning and no end, absolute standard of goodness, divine truth and beauty, there is no-one like him. Be still, let go, why because he is the great creator, the great God almighty. I am who I am.
He is Jehovah shalom. I am the God of peace. We can let fear infiltrate our lives every day even when nothing has happened. Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it goes nowhere. He is Jehovah Shalom. He repeatedly says throughout scripture "do not fear". We have no need to fear because God is in control of our lives. What a wonderful thing to know. John 14 verse 27 "my peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. " If you have put your trust in him today you don`t need to fear. He has given you promise after promise that his ways are higher. He is in the midst of the valley. You will be with him for all eternity. That is incredible to be thankful for. I am safe with Jesus, my eternity is sealed with him because of what he has done on the cross. He has done all for you to have your sins forgiven.
Elohim, Shaddai, Yahweh, Jehovah Shalom. He is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our God is our banner. He meets us in the battle and fights for us. In Exodus 14 verse 13 the children of Israel came before the Red Sea, the mountains were surrounding them on one side and they could hear the army of Egyptians rushing towards them. They asked where is God even though they could say he was faithful in the past. "Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today ye shall see them again no more for ever." The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace. Whenever it is easy to fear, God`s ways are higher than Israel`s. All they had to do was just be still.
God is El Shaddai the great almighty
God is Yahweh
God is Shalom, our peace
God is Nissi, he will fight for us when we are in the battle and facing trials.
If you put your trust in God remember who God is, fully trust him even though you don`t know what is happening. If you don`t know God as Saviour he has made a way to have your sins forgiven and know peace that one day you may go to be with him in heaven. If you don`t have that peace and certainty of one day being with him for ever and ever you can know him today.
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