Aware of God

1. What we notice first is that the Lord makes His godly ones.

A. Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas rather than sounds.

1. Line A makes a statement, then Line B can say the same thing with different words. Line A and LIne B agree.

2. Or, LIne A makes a statement and Line B contrasts. Like verse 20 The LORD keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. Key word there is “but”.

3. There are other ways to rhyme but that’s good for now.

B. When the lines agree you can compare both words used to describe the same thing.

1. Line A says all Your works will praise You. Line B says Your godly ones.

2. Those two words describe the same thing. It shows us that the godly ones are God’s works.

C. God makes you His godly one.

1. The Father always starts the birth process. Jesus said that No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him. So the Father draws you to Jesus. No one is looking for God. If you’re looking for God it means He’s looking for you.

2. God takes a sinner and makes him righteous. The secret is in this word, godly one. It’s the Hebrew word chasid. A chasid is someone who has received chased, which is the love of God.

3. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. If you receive Jesus you are receiving God’s love. You become chasid, godly.

4. When you receive Jesus you receive His death to your old life. You are finished with being a sinner. You also receive His resurrection from the dead. You live now with eternal life.

5. All this is God’s work. You believe Him and receive it as a gift. You are God’s work.

2. Eternal life means God has made you for a purpose greater than yourself.

A. Your old life was to please yourself and be happy. That’s the highest goal. When you’re happy, then you’re happy. Did you know that it’s not possible to be happy when you try to make yourself happy? Anything you do won’t last.

B. When God makes you His godly one He gives you a new purpose. Your purpose is to please God and make Him happy. God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect. It’s the best and the highest purpose. It glorifies Him, and it glorifies you. And what God does lasts forever. Everything done in love lasts forever.

C. You’re going to talk about these things.

1. Among each other. We speak from what fills our heart. You are so filled with knowing God, being aware of Him, His power and His goodness to you in Jesus, you’ll talk about it.

2. You’ll talk about this with those who don’t know God. He wants to reach others with His love through you.

a. You talk about what you’ve experienced. God loves me even though I was a sinner and unworthy. God loves you. And He’s calling you to come to Him for eternal life.

b. I was 29 years in London. I put John 3:16 on a card. I’d give it to people and ask, “Have you ever read this in your life?” Only one in 20 people had ever read it before. Then I’d ask, “Do you have eternal life?” They would say, “I don’t know.” Well, don’t you think you better find out more about eternal life?

c. I would begin worried about myself. But as I spoke I stopped thinking about myself. I was bold because I was loving that person.

3. Do you know God’s power and His glory?

A. Psalm 147:4-5. It takes power to create the stars and authority to name them. 200 septilion stars, that’s 1 x 10 with 24 zeros. However, the stars are temporary. God will finish this old creation, and create a new heaven and new earth which will last forever.

B. I found a similar phrase describing God’s power. Ephesians 1:19-21 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

1. God raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him glory and authority forever.

2. He is also going to raise us by His power.

3. This power shown in Jesus and in us will last forever.

C. We associate glory with light, and that’s true. Glory also involves invisible things, especially what Jesus talked about in John 17:22-26 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

1. The glory that the Father gave to Jesus is that He loved Him with everlasting love.

2. He gave that glory to His disciples. He wants His disciples to see His glory.

3. He wants the Father’s love which with He loved Jesus to be in us. That’s invisible and real. To be loved supremely by God. That’s fulfilling and satisfying. It’s glorious.

E. We talk about His glory and power and kingdom and love because people have never heard about it. They need to know. Psalm 63:3 Your lovingkindness is better than life. To know God is eternal life. God wants to give people eternal life so that they know Him and His love.

4. Our future will be glorious.

A. All the kingdoms on earth are temporary. They are filled with people who seek their own happiness. These kingdoms can’t continue because the people steal, lie, cheat, kill, commit adultery and sexual immorality. They blow up all their relationships.

B. God’s kingdom is everlasting because every single member is born again, raised from the dead, in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Glorified.

C. God’s kingdom is everlasting because it’s righteous. People treat everyone with love. No betrayal, only perfect faithfulness.

D. In ages to come God will show everyone the riches of His grace and glory. His greatness is unsearchable. It’s going to be wonderful.

E. Knowing the future gives us great boldness now. We know where we’re going. God Himself promised. Jesus is raised from the dead. He is the guarantee that we’re going to be raised from the dead as well.

F. We really will praise God forever and ever.

5. So what?

A. You should find out about everlasting love, and eternal life. If you haven’t, let God make you godly. Turn away from doing your own thing. Turn to Jesus and receive His everlasting love. Receive forgiveness for your sins and new life.

B. If you believe in Jesus all we’ve looked at is your present possession. Eternal life, eternal love, an eternal kingdom, knowing God whose greatness is unsearchable. Now think about it and give God thanks, like it says in verse 10.

C. Abraham thanked God continually. Romans 4:19-21 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

1. Abraham thought about his body, good as dead. He was aware: God is not depending on me to accomplish His promise.

2. He realized: If I’m going to have a son He’s going to have to raise me from the dead.

3. He promised. He is faithful. He has to do it.

4. Thank You, God, that You are going to do this.

5. He grew strong in faith giving glory to God before it happened.

E. You also, grow strong in faith, giving glory to God.

1. Thank You that I died with Christ.

2. Thank You that You raised me with Him.

3. Thank You that You are bringing me to Your heavenly kingdom.

F. God has more promises for you in the Bible. When you find them, thank God for them continually, and receive them.

G. The more you do this, the more you will be aware of God. You will know and understand what He has already given to you. You will grow in your faith in Jesus. It will overflow your life and you will be talking to people about your experience with Jesus.

H. Begin right now to worship and praise God forever and ever.

Let’s pray.