Behold Your God

Jul 12, 2024

Behold Your God

Introduction

  • Reminder for listeners to actively engage during sermons: Proverbs 2 emphasizes the importance of inclining one’s ear to wisdom and seeking understanding.
  • Focuses on the act of actively seeking and asking the Lord for wisdom, likened to searching for hidden treasures.

Isaiah on Beholding God

  • The verse in Isaiah: "Behold your God." Importance of contemplating the specific attributes of God in daily life.
  • Self-reflection: What occupies our thoughts daily?
  • Encouragement to specifically think about God's attributes as revealed in scripture.

The Self-Sufficiency of God

Definition

  • English Definition: Able to live or function without help or support from others; able to provide for oneself.
  • Theological Perspective: God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything; He has no needs.
  • Notable Quote: "Need is a creature word."

Biblical Evidence

  • Acts 17:24-25 - God doesn’t need anything. He gives life and breath to all.
  • Psalm 50:10-12 - God owns everything and lacks nothing.
  • John 5:26 - The Father has life in Himself and grants the Son to have life in Himself.
  • Psalm 36:9 - God is the Fountain of Life. All creation depends on Him.

Contrast with Creation

  • All creation is dependent on God for existence and sustenance.
  • Genesis 1:1 - God created the universe.
  • Job 34:14-15 - The entire creation would perish without God’s sustenance.

Dependency of Humanity

  • Every human depends on God for sustenance.
  • Acts 17:25 - He gives breath and life to all.
  • Daily dependencies: food, water, sleep, health.
  • Human frailty highlights the sufficiency of God.

God’s Self-Sufficient Relationship

  • Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect relationship.
  • John 10:15 - Intimacy within the Trinity.
  • John 14:23 - Promise of fellowship with the Trinity.
  • John 17 - Unity, love, and glory within the Trinity.

God’s Fulfillment and Joy

  • God is complete and joyful within Himself. He did not create man out of loneliness.
  • God created out of a desire to demonstrate His glory and goodness.

The Privilege of Knowing God

  • The joy of knowing God despite His lack of need for us.
  • Encouragement to be thankful and pursue intimacy with God.

God’s Purpose and Will

  • God does not need anyone to fulfill His purposes.
  • Acts 17:25 - God’s independence from human hands.
  • Psalms 115:3 - God does all He pleases.
  • Daniel 4:35 - No one can stay His hand.

Using Us Despite No Need

  • Privilege to be used by God who does not need us.
  • Importance of being ambassadors for Christ out of privilege, not necessity.

Self-Sufficiency in Believers

The Issue

  • Believers should not be self-sufficient but completely dependent on God.
  • Mark 10:15 - Entering the Kingdom requires child-like dependence.
  • Psalm 118:8, Psalm 146:3 - It’s better to trust in God than in man.

Indicators

  • Anxiety and feeling overwhelmed.
  • Prayerlessness, both in big decisions and daily life.
  • Relying on past victories or reputation rather than on God.

Contributions to Discouragement

  • Seeing one's weaknesses can lead to drawing back, but we should press on relying on God’s strength.
  • Developing true confidence in God’s sufficiency.
  • Example: Moses expressed inadequacy, and God reassured His sufficiency.

Relying on God’s Sufficiency

  • Encouragement to trust in God’s ability to provide and sustain.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:8 - God is able to make all grace abound, providing sufficiency in all things.

Conclusion and Encouragement

  • Psalm 108:13 - With God, we shall do valiantly.
  • Daniel 11:32 - Knowing God leads to strength and exploits.
  • Psalm 18:29 - Faith in God enables overcoming obstacles.

Final Prayer:

  • Prayer for help to see God’s glory and trust in His self-sufficiency.