TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” Psalms 115:3-8 1/17/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” (2 Chron. 20:12) Our greatest need is to see God!

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.” --A.W. Tozier They teach that there is no truth, religious or otherwise. Such arguments and pretensions have set themselves up against a knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:5) and must be demolished.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” Three deeply held convictions: 1. We derive our knowledge of God from the Bible alone, and not from personal preferences or experiences. 2. The clearer we see God, the clearer we shall see ourselves. 3. The better we know God, the more fervently we shall worship Him.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” There are two ways to attain knowledge of God:  To begin with man and reason upward.  To begin with God and accept his revelation to us. –Idolatry is giving our own opinions of God, formed after our own likeness.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; (Psa. 115:3-5)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 6 they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; 7 they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. (Psa. 115:6-7) –In America these days idols are everywhere.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. (Psa. 115:8)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be”

Common reasons to prefer our own ideas about God:  PEOPLE ARE IMPATIENT WITH GOD’S SILENCE!  PEOPLE WANT A GOD WHO IS MORE TOLERANT OF THEM, LESS DEMANDING, LESS JUDGMENTAL.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 21 These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. (Psa. 50:21)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be”  The essence of idolatry is to entertain wrong thoughts about God. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? (Ezek. 14:2-3)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” The reason people practice idolatry is because they are rebellious and don’t know the God of the Bible. If you don’t know God, you automatically replace God something other than God. What is the ONE thing we replace God with?

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be”  Self –“Lord I’ll give you anything but ___.” –“Lord I’ll do anything for you but ___.” –“Lord I’ll change anything in my life for you but ____.” –An idol can be anything.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” When the self is in the driver’s seat, instead of the Word of God, people create gods that reflect what they want.  The god of health and wealth.

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be”  The god of emotional need. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matt. 10:34-35)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law (Matt. 10:34-35)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be”  The god of my personal self- authentication. 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isa. 5:20)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. (Isa. 5:21)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” (Jer. 10:5)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” Jeremiah teaches us two very important things:  Idols must be carried.  I can make my idol any shape I desire. 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Ro. 3:18)

“God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matt. 11:28) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:20)

TEN LIES ABOUT GOD “God Is Whatever We Want Him to Be” Psalms 115:3-8 1/17/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles