Is Your God Too Small?

How would you describe God in one sentence to an eight year old? What words would “have to be” in your one sentence description of Him? What would be the most difficult aspect of explaining to an eight year old what God is like? Why is it so important that we see God as He really is?

1 John 3:2 (NLT) - Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) - So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord— who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

1. God is not LIKE US! Isaiah 40:25-28 (NLT) 25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. 27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? 28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) 33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! 34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? 35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. Three Facts to Consider

2. Left to ourselves, we tend to REDUCE God to MANAGEABLE TERMS ! Romans 1:21-22 (NLT) 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. Exodus 32:1-6 (NLT) 1 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” 2 So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Three Facts to Consider 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” 5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” 6 The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.

3. God can only be known as He REVEALS HIMSELF to us! Through:1. NATURE Romans 1:19-20 (NLT) They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. Three Facts to Consider For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

3. God can only be known as He REVEALS HIMSELF to us! Through:1. NATURE 2. THE WORD John 1:1-4 (NLT) - In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. Three Facts to Consider 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

3. God can only be known as He REVEALS HIMSELF to us! Through:1. NATURE 2. THE WORD 3. HIS SON - JESUS John 1:14 (NLT) - So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. Three Facts to Consider John 1:17-18 (NLT) - For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

1. Is it really possible to completely see God just as He is? Answer = YES and NO! Exodus 33: Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” 19 The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. Three Questions to Ponder 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then Moses said to the Lord, “Show me your glory.” 1 Corinthians 2: And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

2. What must I do to see God as He really is? Answer = SEEK HIM! Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) - 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Three Questions to Ponder How? = Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT) My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

3. How do you know if you are seeing God as He is or not? Answer = J.I. Packer’s four evidences of a real knowledge of God 1. Those who know God have great energy for God. 2. Those who know God have great thoughts of God. 3. Those who know God show great boldness for God. 4. Those who know God have great contentment in God. Three Questions to Ponder