The Real God - Seeking God, Part 2

How do you know if you really know God or you just know a lot about God today will learn for test where you can know how deeply and authentically actually know God thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with your finger Living on the Edge features the Bible teaches.

Understanding discipleship friendship series called real God how he longs for you to see. It's a study of seven key attributes of God's care before getting to those though Chip asks a foundational question. Is your God too small.

It helps with perspective sets up with Cheryl over the next several programs about who God says he is the nature of Scripture and through Jesus you begin this message in our previous programs of humanistic, maybe catch up later on the Chip Ingram well here's Chip with part two of his message seeking God see if we can clear view of the real God. Some of the things that we have slowly slowly slowly come accustomed to and think is normal. As Christians, which shock us and one is the idol of happiness and self-fulfillment. The other idol I think is what I call that the salad bar approach to Christianity, and in the way goes is something that were seeing in Bible or in the church is now, and it's like God had a good day when you get the 10 Commandments is not a great day. 8/10. Now you get to choose which to you don't like in our day. This one about adultery or sexual purity.

I think that was very old-fashioned was probably for the community of that time and in our more existential wiser way. I don't think it really applies today all this one don't know we don't were just know that we did you know a thing about greed greed is good. He actually hadn't seen the movie will cut that one out and we we have taken the Bible and we decided selectively which parts are true which parts are not true instead of it being the authority and we created it around a lifestyle and a American dream, vision, and we have taken a book, remove the God of authority and the God that is holy, and the God who loves us and the God wants our best and we have basically said how again. Can this and so when you decide what's true and what's not true. There is a new God on the throne, and that you and I mean it's massive across America right we have tens of thousands of people flocking to services where part of the Bible is taught as though it's some sort of a positive thinking self-help manual instead of the holy creator of the universe sent his son and that he's asked us to join him in a mission to rescue people off this world called the Titanic sinking and we have the only hope and that needs to be our priority and by the way, by the way, as that your priority and he is Lord and as you serve him.

He is so kind and so generous that the byproduct is very, very often, and amazingly deep in that marriage. The byproduct is a level of joy regardless of circumstance of the byproduct is that your kids will see that in catch the vision and probably following your steps, but it's a byproduct. And so what happens is when you make the means the end, it becomes an idol. It's what it's what happen.

I believe with Abraham. Why would God ask Abraham to give his son. I mean, you wait 100 years for something you think that by 1213 the kid got it was an idol.

So anytime we worship an idol. Two things happen. The idol can't deliver, and we take God out of the equation. Our life so the whole point of Abraham giving Isaac was for his good to free his heart.

Isaac can't deliver fulfillment.

Isaac can't fulfill my will.

Isaac is a gift. It's to steward. Children are a gift from the Lord. And so that moment for him to take Isaac up was a moment of Lordship to believe that he could trust what God's word in Hebrews 11 says what he went there believing that though he slay him he would rise. And, you know, just we might as will just start this time off together. Just ask yourself before you hit the pillow.

Do I have any Isaac's and usually there good things to good job can be a great marriage. If you want your kids hectic in the ministry. Believe me, so what we want to do is to pause and say okay Lord I I know that you're not like me. I know that I will reduce you to manageable terms and third God can only be known as he reveals himself to us and he does that in three ways, and these will develop throughout the whole time Belinda given to the 1st Way, God reveals himself to us is through nature. Psalm 19 wants as the heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech night after night they reveal knowledge or things I do. I I like. I just like to get up early just work for me and so it's always dark and often when I get up units when I spend time with God and my warped personality. Sometimes I think of all the things of God to do and I start feeling pressure and so all I usually list the things I'm thankful for to get my perspective and then write a little box in my journal and I'll put a box mental right and I'll turn the pressure into a prayer request and some of it sometimes and I like eight 1012 going all my gosh that's just today and and then I often you get that 2nd cup of coffee and I'll and I'll go outside and when I go outside and holy stars look my little boxes all those stars how to think minute and look at these for thousands of years you hold, you know, every name, this is just the Milky Way there's only a billion stars. Only billion and you know all their names by the word of your power you're holding them right now outside the Milky Way. There's between 200 and 300 billion galaxies. I'm going to cast my cares upon you because you care for me here, and all-powerful God. And yet you care about.

One little guy in California named Chip. You know I feel those pressures are committed to giving me the grace to either say yes to say no or to do whatever you want me to do so I'm gonna go back inside. I'm just gonna remember who I'm really talking to. And sometimes it's three minutes, sometimes it's 10 and then I go back and I said okay Lord what you want to do what you not want me to do what could someone else do that okay I know these okay I get a record this video and prepare me I need to have a hard conversation.

I need an just changes just changes when when's the last time you were out in nature and so the theologians call it general revelation in Romans one, the apostle Paul would say were all without excuse, because from from the stars and the balance of nature and the mystery and that the harmony of nature along God's invisible attributes, his eternal existence and his very character is revealed.

What kind of a God has a bird that lays an egg here and flies thousands and thousands of miles away already here and a year later drops in a 12 inches from the same spot what what kind of a God has GPS in into whales that travel and crisscross what God has 600 different kinds of beetles. He's a God of variety, a God of beauty, a God of power, a God of lava, God, desiring but you know what he can just be the God of help me get to this.I need parking spot hope to be on sale now we go to summer prayer meeting skin. Other like anatomy meetings help Ethel's to help Bob shoulder George's ear to help him clean out about Albert Bob. It's a second time through. If you listen to us. Pray you would think honestly what we really feel like it.

I can only pray about things. I think I can control, and since God is obviously unaware all this. What I'm trying to do is take this awesome powerful God and bring them into my little world begin to do what I think you do then listen to how the apostle Paul prays I pray that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened.

I pray that you might grasp the height and depth and length and breadth to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. I pray that God will give you insight into his will be you could discern good from evil in order. You might walk in a manner worthy of him.

I pray that you would understand the depth of his love for you.

How precious of an inheritance. You are to him and the power that dwells within you. I pretty might be filled with the knowledge of his will mean those prayers in Philippians 1 and Philippians 3 and Ephesians 3 in Philippians Colossians mean I'm not the apostle Paul knew not the apostle Paul about it sure seems like he's asking not so much about tactical things and I don't think it's wrong. I pray for tactical things. I think he actually believes that if people's could see God for who yes if people could be aligned if God would reveal himself, and they would be open they would follow his will.

All those tactical things probably get take care of the second way reveals himself through his word, John chapter 1 in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God through him all things were made without him nothing was made that has been made in him and was life and the life was a light of the world. I mean, I love you might just in your notes a finger put Hebrews 1 is my favorite passages in times past, God has spoken to us through the prophets and the apostles, but in this last days he spoke to, through his son, who is the icon the exact image or representation of the father. It's it's the picture of. If you've ever he took a piece of putty and it took like a silver dollar or something like that and if you press it into the pizza party and then pulled out real carefully. You have the exact image right that's the word Jesus is the exact image. Colossians 2 all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ, if you really want to know what God is like it's Jesus very last night right he's getting. He wants the disciples to stay on track and he's talking Tony's preparing him and it's really encouraging because there really slow which gives me a lot of hope to talk to me, will you know the way I go except Thomas will have a you know what Lord this is the Ingram translation.

I think you talking in circles. Candidly, Jesus. I really don't know the way, I don't really get it in Jesus at Tom's on the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father except by me and then Philip frustrated will such Lord will be enough.

This just shows the father in Italy. How long have I been with you if you see me you seen the father. If you want to know how does the your image of God. How does God respond when you really mess up when you do something that's willful, malicious, sinful, shameful you wish you hadn't done it, and you feel terrible about it and you're coming to God half. How will God treat you exactly the way he did.

The woman caught in adultery. If you want to know how God thinks of you and how he relate to you when you know some of the times are killing and read the Bible got the quiet time going.

We gave a little extra money commissions think I'm feeling pretty hopefully the way he feels about you is Jesus with the Pharisees, if you know when your heart is hungry and your and you don't know the direction you wish you knew what to do when you're messing up and you're making progress and you say, Laura, would you just tell me it's how Jesus related to the disciples. Did you realize he never got mad at them. One only issue.

All in all the Gospels. Only one thing. Oh you of little I have God's agenda is so simple we make it so complicated.

Here's his agenda. Trust me, trust me in the hard marriage. Trust me with your kid. Trust me with your money. Trust me with the decision a little question that I write down in hard situations. Question what does it look like to trust God in the situation, not how do I fix it. Not God will you do this, this, this and that. What's it look like to trust God in this marriage. In this decision and this financial loss in this hard conversation coming up what's because here's the thing. Without faith it's impossible to please him, you can build a ministry you can build a business you can have a decent looking family. Without faith you can't please God.

The heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus is to trust him and you can't trust someone you don't know you only trust people that this is their character.

This is their track record and over and over and over all the lessons to the disciples were what you can trust my word because when you see my word. It's always faithful. So many of the miracles. Why did he do on the way he did him when he wanted to, see what he do he spoke. We could on hand signs when the little girl was dead. Howdy didn't touch her little girl, I say to URIs, but I am see call demon come out if I'm a disciple I'm thinking I'm not sure about this, whatever he says you can trust it and that's for us so he reveals himself through nature through his word and ultimately through Jesus. No man has seen God at any time. John one tells us, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We beheld his glory, glory is the only one.

And then he says to us. No man is seen God at any time, but he has explained the words executed. Jesus explained the father you want to know what God's like it's Jesus. So I think it's no matter where were reading in the Bible. Don't go too far away from the Gospels of got a buddy he's a Bible, a Holick.

He's my hero when it comes to the Bible he just I've never been around it.

We went overseas together when I was young and he was the first guy that started memorizing small books of the Bible and every time I'm with Glenn.

It's the biggest chip I just learned something like this is, no matter where you really ready for this. What if you just read is like three chapters just three chapters in the gospel can imagine only three chapters to read three chapters everyday in the Gospels, you can get through the Gospels like 15 times in a year. Can you imagine 50 times you really see Jesus on think it Glenn you're still blown me away. But what he saying is, no matter what were doing. Jesus is the focus. Jesus is the focus get to know Jesus, you get to know God okay the big question, and now this is the one will impact in our time together. What must I do to see the real God as a use. What must I do to see the real God as he is the answer is seeking seeking Jeremiah 2911. Follow along as I read Fry know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. God's not the four C's personal plans to give you a hope and a future.

The God that you're talking to wants to give you hope deep in your soul in the future and he understands. Then you will call on me and you will come and pray to me and I will listen to you and you will seek me and you will find me. What's the condition when you seek for me with all your heart and then all I can say is it's it's almost mind-boggling God says I'll be found be found if you this isn't for superstar Christians. This isn't just for people went to Bible score seminary. This is a people who are smarter than the rest of us.

Jesus would make the same statement, seek and you will find right knock and the door will be opened, ask, seek, knock. He wants to meet you. But here's the deal.

How do you seek God for you really know him. It's not through external religiosity is not through just intellectual, cognitive, information about them. There is a way to seek God and the wisest person who ever lived. Solomon lines out for us. Notice what he says in Proverbs 2 outputting your notes. My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commandments within you put a little arrow and right initiative in God's word. I will you will never find a man or woman that knows God deeply. That is, in a manner woman in this book, treasure his commandments received his sayings. Second, make your ear attentive to wisdom. Incline your heart to understanding the little arrow and right teachable attitude. This isn't like oh I would like to understand the outline of the book of Philippians.

All I want to understand what's the major themes of the Pentateuch. Although this all have a reading program every three chapters of a day to keep the devil like none of this is God.

I want you to speak to me this is me questions I got issues. I got struggles on open your word. I will write you to speak to me in specific ways because here's the deal. If you'll speak. I'll obey. That's when God speaks I want to become a smarter sinner to become a more obedient son or daughter so so I'm to read this and I don't understand at all and I may not understand it all, but I will. I want you to speak to me. I have a teachable spirit. Incline your heart to understanding.

Third, for if you cry for discernment lift your voice for understanding, put a little arrow and right passionate prayer, passionate prayer, the kind of prayer God answers this is a no-no. All is good for her father on MLB un-American, remember, and remember him a modernist couple. Naomi don't sleep some about my soul to keep calculator I'm getting to this is the kind of prayer. We got a kid in ICU and the doctor says I don't he's going to make this the kind of prayer. When your wife or your husband positive results. It's cancer and it's serious.

How do you pray in note noble form prayers you bear your heart for God. God I'm asking you, would you intervene save my point.I'm cedarwood you know God.

It search my heart there some between us.

Let me know passionate prayer it's crying out to God. God wants to hear from you. This is it. This is a religious people.

This people who long to know God notices says if you seek for her. Speaking of this this wisdom is knowledge of God is silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure. Look at the result then purpose clause you discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God, cervical disc discover you'll get it from a preacher you will get it from a book, you will get it from someone else you will discover, you want God to speak to you and he wants to speak to his word and he wants to speak through his spirit. And yes he speaks to people but Solomon is saying as you did again as you make it a priority health speak. He wants to speak next to the one where it says seeker for silver right priority priority right first priority. If I told you right now that and if you have a really big backyard and then just limited to like 30 feet out and across to a small backyard. This illustration works by told you that in your backyard why you are here $10 million was buried in your backyard. We've restarted everything you have no idea where to look.

It's only 6 feet deep. You have three days to find. From the moment you get home you have three days if you don't find it in three days. It will be returned to me now you get home. Your three day starts the moment you hit the driveway. I can't quite imagine you going well you know the NFL season started. I think all a look at all look for little bit later but you know members big-game cowboys apply. Pittsburgh Steelers your love them or you know I think it is Sunday afternoon. You know, naps are really important. On Sunday afternoon.

I knew I think I'll take a nap.

Or we could all start tomorrow I can start tomorrow because the kids have a ballgame tomorrow I have a ladies luncheon in the afternoon because I just what you do you know what some of you some of you would be buying shovels at Ace Hardware on the way home and some of you are high tech is shovels are you can make the backhoe will be delivered at 4:35 PM feminist you knock down the fence in this backhoes digging up your whole backyard your neighbors what you're messing up our yard. What they forget. I'll buy you new backyard about three days. You wouldn't care what if you had if you would have that kind of passion for $10 million in your backyard. What if you had that kind of passion to know God, you would receive his commands. They would incline your heart, understanding that you would cry out with passionate prayer and that you would seek it as first silver and as for hidden treasure. Then here's the promise, then, not someone else you will discern.

First of all, the fear of God.

You will learn paint your body. He's God, and then in discrete words of toes or again the great paradox of the faith is that you will be afraid in all and yet because of Jesus fearful, but not be afraid to come and come to the heavenly father who is eager to be your friend back in just a minute, but just a quick reminder this message seeking God is from his series, the real God.

In this eight parter chip explains that we naturally tend to imagine God with human characteristics.

Moody, impatient, unforgiving, because it's what we know about ourselves and others, but nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to God. That's why it's essential to see him as he really is. That's what this series the real God is all about. If you're ready for a clear understanding of who God is and how that changes everything you've ever thought about them. The best way is to do this study with a small group of friends.

So for a limited time. We've discounted these resources because we want to do everything we can to help you get to know the real God. For more information or to order your small group materials today go to LivingontheEdge.org Special offers on the chipping remap or give us a call at AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003 chip as we dig into this series were also in a season when people are thinking about starting small groups in their homes or church work with a few friends over coffee so of all the series we have available and discounted right now.

Which one would you recommend will Dave.

It's interesting that you asked me that because I have a very quick answer. AW toes or has a quote that really change the course of my life.

He says what comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. Everything rises and falls with her view of God.

It was on to say, there's a secret of the soul that we unconsciously gravitate toward our view of God. What I want people to know is that how you see God if you see him accurately.

It affects your emotions, your view of yourself. Every decision if you don't seem as good you can trust them if you don't seem as sovereign life just seems like up and down random chance but it's not enough to read a book about God is not enough just to study about God. Real learning occurs when you take that study and then you get with a group of people and you begin to dialogue and share and pray, and you begin to take the truth about who God is and begin to talk with one another about what does that look like in your everyday life. And so that's why are the real God. Small group resource is my number one recommendation for everyone.

Of all the things I've studied all my life. In fact, that little book by toes or is still in my briefcase. I must be a slow reader because I've been reading the same book for over 30 years.

But what I really mean by that is been studying the character of God.

And as I've done that with other people clearer. That gets the more accurate.

That gets the more transformed my life and the life of others become. If you're ready to get back into community. I would say to our listeners.

Now is the time in the real God would be my number one recommendation will to help you make getting to know God. Your number one priority and to encourage you to do this study with a small group of friends. We've temporarily discounted the small group resources for the real God doing this series together will get you into a deeper level of understanding.

As you process and talk about these key attributes of who God really is included in each discounted workbook is a unique code to unlock the online videos get the workbooks, user codes and you're good to go. To take advantage of this limited time offer. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or tap special offers on the chipping remap for more information.

Give us a call at AAA 333-6003.

Without your strip with his application.

You see, as we learn today. It really is possible to see God. To know him exhaustively. No accurately yes how by the spirit of God dwelling in you, the Holy Spirit enlightened your mind so that you can understand and see God for who he is. That's why the first step to seeing God is becoming a believer or a follower in Christ and then once you're in the family. This is so critical. You must get to know him, you must see him accurately and we learn today. There's three ways that God reveals himself number one through nature.

Number two through his Word, the Bible and number three. Through Jesus. So let me ask you, are you seeing God clearly then, if your immediate response is what we and I don't know.

Gosh, I'm not sure what will let me ask you this. Are you in the Bible on a regular basis.

I don't mean because you ought or should you feel guilty I mean are you in the Bible with a heart that says Lord, I want to know you Holy Spirit open my eyes. Let me see your glory in your love and your holiness and your kindness. Let me see you as you are.

You see being in the Scriptures is critical. The second and I'm making a little challenge here because I think we, as evangelicals often miss this first one. Nature are you spending any time do you plan any time at all to look for God in nature to catch his Majesty in his beauty and his holiness. Just the other morning, I tend to get up a little bit early in the morning so it's dark and I got out and took the paper.

It's my little deal and I throw it up on the porch and I open my car door and I just started to get in and I glanced up, I glanced the moon was coming awesome all the stars and I did something I rarely do I mean it was 30 seconds. I shut the door.

I leaned against my car and I thought the God who made all the stars made me that God has the power to call out the starry host one by one knows my name knows what can happen today and he loves me and is revealed himself to me through Christ can I encourage you once you take a walk in nature. Few near the ocean go look at it you don't go in the backyard find something beautiful and stare at it and remember that God wants to reveal himself to you seeking just before we close.

I want to thank each of you who's making this program possible through your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians. If you found ships teaching helpful, but you're not yet on the team. Would you consider doing that today to donate. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate all me up or give us a call at AAA 83336003, let me thank you in advance for whatever the Lord leads you to do: selects time for everyone here. This is Dave saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge