Topical Sermon: "So Where is Their God?"

Scripture Reading: Psalm 115:1-8

"So Where is Their God?"

Intro.
1. Man has corrupted himself with the sin of idolatry, Rom. 1:18-25.

2. Men do not know God & serve things that are not divine, Gal. 4:8.

3. Isa. 45:15-23: Creation, Revelation, Salvation – no other gods.

I. TO WHOM WILL YOU LIKEN GOD? Isa. 40:18

A. God is not the Things in this World, Isa. 40:25-26 (Gen. 1:1).

- Pantheism: “literally means “God is All” and “All is God”. It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent.” (Wikipedia)

1. Not in the water…God created the water.

2. Not in the rocks…God created the rocks.

3. Not in the trees...God created the trees.

4. Not an animal…God created the animals.

5. Not the natural forces…God created the natural forces (Col. 1:17).

B. God is not an Image Made by Man, Isa. 40:18-20; Deut. 4:15-18; 5:8.

-He is not like such things nor honored by such things, Acts 17:28-29.

C. God is not Man, Num. 23:19 (Psa. 50:21).

1. God is spirit, not flesh, Isa. 31:3; Jno. 4:24.

2. God became man in Jesus: God in flesh, Jno. 1:1-3, 14; Col. 2:9.

D. God Has no Equal, Isa. 40:25 (46:5).

1. Idols cannot answer & save, 46:5-7; 45:20-21.

2. No other God, 44:6; 45:5, 21-22; 1 Cor. 8:4-6.

II. GOD IS…

A. Eternal, Psa. 90:2; 1 Tim. 1:17.

1. Self-existing, without beginning or end.

2. Idols are made by men! Exo. 20:23; 32:1 (Isa. 44:15); Jer. 16:20

B. Unchangeable in His Nature, Mal. 3:6.

1. His character & nature are unalterable; who God is never changes!

2. God changes his mind & His law – depending on His purposes & man’s obedience to Him (Jer. 18:7-10; Jonah 3:10; Heb. 7:12).

3. Idols change at the will of man!

C. All Powerful, Job 42:2; Matt. 19:26; Rev. 4:8.

1. Evidence is in His creation, Rom. 1:20 (Psa. 19:1).

2. Idols are powerless! Isa. 44:9

D. All Knowing (possesses all knowledge), 1 Sam. 2:3.

1. Complete understanding of man, Psa. 139:1-4.

2. God knows the heart & gives accordingly, Jer. 17:9-10.

3. Idols know nothing! Isa. 44:9, 18-20

E. Ever-Present, 1 Kgs. 8:27; Jer. 23:23-24.

-Idols are never present! 1 Kgs. 18:24-29

III. THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, Isa. 40.

A. God Forgives Sin, Isa. 40:1-9.

1. For His name’s sake, Isa. 43:25. (His praise & honor.)

2. By the Son of God, Jesus.

a. Prophet Isaiah predicted a forerunner, Lk. 3:1-6.

b. John announced Jesus, Mk. 1:1-3; Jno. 1:23, 29.

3. Savior of the world, Jno. 3:16; 1 Jno. 4:14.

B. God Rewards those who are Faithful to Him, Isa. 40:10-11 (62:11-12); Rev. 22:12; Rom. 2:4-11.

C. God is the Wise One, Isa. 40:12-14.

1. Declares end from the beginning, Isa. 42:8-9.

2. Idols declare nothing! Isa. 41:21-24

D. God Rules the Nations, 40:15-24 (44:28-45:1, 13).

1. He rules over men’s kingdoms, Dan. 4:25 (Acts 17:26).

2. Idols rule in nothing! (1 Sam. 5:1-7)

E. God is the Creator & Sustainer of Mankind, Isa. 40:25-31.

1. The heavenly bodies (40:26) & all the earth (40:28).

2. God made everything; Life is sustained by God as testimony of His power, presence & goodness, Acts 14:13-17.

Conclusion

1. Heb. 11:6: Believe God is real & true & that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

2. Gal. 4:9: Those who know God cannot go back to those things that are powerless (weak) & destitute (beggarly, poor):

a. Idols (1 Ths. 1:9).

b. False doctrine (Gal. 4:9-10).

c. Immorality (Rom. 12:2).

3. Acts 4:24: “Lord, you are God...”