Image of God

The Image of God

(By clicking on red scripture, a pop up window will come up with the scripture)

We have to submit our own instincts/beliefs on who God really is by scripture and not by our own experiences, other people's experiences, etc.

- God is transcendent- above us and beyond us

- yet he comes to us in his glory and grace and love, and patience, etc. to us (imminence) 

• we feel as if we are entitled to God's grace, so the image of God is distorted 

Here is the image of God...

Isaiah 6

V. 1- description on God- lofty chair suggests he is king over all, the superior king

  * God's robe is filling the temple

  * the train of his robe- sounds like a wedding gown for royalty, so the robe here sounds like the longest train imaginable, suggesting his majesty

V. 2- seraphim- sinless holy creatures

  * seraphim are covering their face, they can't even look upon God's beauty and royalty- they are worshipping God 

  * seraphim are also covering their feet, suggesting a humble posture

V. 3- holy holy holy- suggests how marvelous his majesty is, like lord of lords, king of kings... His holiness is unfathomable 

V. 4- the seraphim are calling back and forth with such passion and intensity that the foundations of the temple shutter/tremble 

  * this could be what worship will look like in days to come

  * the smoke may convey the purity of God since Isaiah had a burning coal touched to his lips to purify him

V. 5 only when  we see how Holy God is do we realize how ruined we are before God

  * Isaiah sees that in comparison to God, we are leveled as a people. No matter how you compare yourself to another believer, how holy they seem, we are leveled by our sin. Everyone is level

- but God, rich in mercy, is not obligated to save anyone. The fact that he saves people is astonishing.

- really who Isaiah is seeing here is Jesus.., a king on a thrown in a temple. We would imagine a king on a thrown would be in a palace. But this scripture suggests a king and a high priest is sitting here in the temple. So the only king and high priest is Jesus. Also notice how he saves Isaiah in 6-8 - we are saved through Christ!

V.9 God tells Isaiah I want you to preach what people will reject and ridicule

  * be faithful to these people even though they will reject because it will bring fulfillment in the coming messiah- the truth will prevail in the end 

Song of the Day! Our song is greater by Chris Tomlin--- Click here--> Our God is Greater

New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions

So many people go out and make New Year resolutions. New Year resolutions are a great thing, but how many people actually stick to it and follow those changes they want to make? Let’s look at a list of new year resolutions made by people this year:

1. Weight Loss/working out
2. Stop Smoking
3. Learn Something new
4. Eat Healthier and Diet
5. Be less stressed 
6. Drink less
7. Make a health appointment
8. Devote more time to hobbies
9. Visit a new destination
10. Help someone else (described: so it will make you feel better)

- All of these resolutions are not necessarily bad things. In fact many, if not all, are good ideas. However what us the common theme of these resolutions? - Self. Self improvement, making yourself feel better, satisfying yourself... you get the idea. As Christians, we need deeper and less self-centered resolutions. Resolutions that bring God all the glory! 1 Corinthians 10:31 says,  “So, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So what should a Christian’s new year resolution look like?

Sanctification- a firm resolution

- always an active (not passive) movement of my will to entrust myself to the Lord

Difference of resolutions with Christians and non-believers

- the Christian makes resolutions devoted to the Glory of God

- "I want to do something to bring God glory"

- not "I want to make myself happy"

Proverbs 28:13- turning from your sin/weaknesses

- Christian life is a Romans 12:1-3 sacrifice to bring God the glory

- We don't grow passively we grow actively 

- 1 Cor. 10 - temptation is common to men

Some good resolutions to consider:

- Resolve to not try and sanctify others (wife)

- Resolve to serve Christians in the church

- Resolve to believe God is good, wise, and sovereign when life is tough

- Engage in gospel conversations with people in my life

- Putting to death fear of man

A resolution to focus on...

- Resolve to softening our hearts while listening to the word

   ---Hebrews 3+4 - resistance to the word of God and hardness to it show that that believer was never changed

   --- those who put themselves in a pattern of not obeying God's word have their hearts hardened and therefor do not believe

-All these resolutions are Christ honoring and are essential for our walk with Christ. Not only do I challenge you to pray and actively engage in these resolutions but to also click this link and see these resolutions by a man named Jonathan Edwards when he was 19 years old.  Click here--> Jonathan Edwards Resolutions

Song of the day! Click here--> Take Me In- Kutless

Luke 2 Jesus Birth

                   Luke 2 Jesus birth

- the greatest message to hit what ever the prophets had proclaimed

- Luke is about to parallel these things side by side

      * parallel between the birth of John and Jesus and all tat happened in ch.1

      * Luke is paralleling the narrative accounts to promote Jesus's birth significance

The birth of Jesus

- the savior quietly arrives

- v. 1-7 Pregnant Mary arrives in Bethlehem 

- at this time a census was being taken for taxation by Caesar Augustus

- God leads Mary to Bethlehem through this census that Augustus put out

    - this was prophesied in Micah where he said Bethlehem is the place

- Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem looking for a place they could afford ("the inn") and there was no room there

- they were then ushered back to the courtyard where the animals of the inn were stored

- it was a cooler part of the season

    - FYI Mary was a 14-15 year old, afraid and was her first birth

    - all she has is Joseph for support, in a small dirty animal stall

    - Joseph must have felt helpless and discouraged, maybe disappointed that all he could supply for Mary was a dirty manger 

- Then it happens, Mary gives birth to her firstborn son... Jesus 

    - now full realization happened to Mary and Joseph... We're going to be the parents of the savior... Such marvelous wonder for them

- that child is not like any other birth 

    - Phil. 2:5-8- from Jesus perspective, as the 2nd in the trinity, he came in existence of God but did not give himself the equality of God 

    - v. 7 he emptied himself as a slave

- for Mary and Joseph, they marvel in the fact that they gave birth to the savior

- for Jesus at his birth, he gave himself as a worldly slave setting himself apart from God

- no god would ever be viewed in such a poor reflection... Ultimate humility 

    - amazing! Jesus humbled himself... Why? John 1:12 for Jesus to become the self revelation of God for us! The word became flesh... Gods word in the flesh... Jesus... God's self expression is Jesus

- at this moment, salvation is possible!

Song of the Day! Click here---> Jesus in Disguise- Brandon Heath