Friday, February 3, 2023

The Weekend Sermon -- The Attributes of God -- Part 6

      Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon. Before we start, I have something I would like you to pray about. My brother is in the hospital with a cardiac condition. Please pray that he will be well. Thank you. 

     Today, we will continue with our series of messages designed to help us understand a little bit better what the God we worship is like. One of the attributes of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the fact that He is unchanging. 

     The way that I understand this attribute, this means two things. First of all, in His nature, God is the same. I also believe that this attribute of God signifies to us that God is a God who will always keep His word and His promises. He does not change in regard to what He tells us that He will and will not do. 

     Let us focus on the first aspect of God as unchanging. Without getting too deep into theology, there are some who are now teaching that God is in process. He is not static, but He is in the process of becoming. This is not in keeping with the Scripture. Malachi 3:6 tells us, "For I the Lord do not change, therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."  We also learn from Psalm 102:25-27 -- "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They will perish, but you will remain. They will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe. and they will pass away, but you are the same, your years have no end."

     God is fully divine in His nature. There was never a time when He was not God, and they will not be a time when He is not God. Our God is the king of all creation. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. As God told Moses at the burning bush, "I Am who I Am."

     Now, as I said, I believe that the unchanging nature of God has another aspect. Because God is unchanging, He cannot lie. He will always keep His promises, and we can rely on His word to us and all people. Numbers 23:19 tells us, "God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?

     We know as Christians that Jesus is divine. He is the incarnate Second Person of the Holy Trinity. One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 13:8 that reads, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

     It is important for us as believers to know and understand that God in unchanging. He has told us that if we come to Him, He will receive us and forgive of us our sin. He will not remember our sins against us anymore. We can know this and believe it because God has given His promise to us, and He will keep His word. We know that Jesus has told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. He told us that He is the resurrection and life, whoever believes in Him though He were dead yet shall he live. Because of what Jesus has told us, we know that death is not the end for the one who is in Christ. We will be with Him forever. 

     Jesus told us that one day He would come again and the earth would be made new. We can place all of our hope and confidence in this because God keep His promises. He does not change, He does not change, He does not break His promises. 

     Jesus said that whoever comes to Him, He will not cast them out. That still holds true. If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin, you can come to Him this very day, and I hope that you will. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

      I want to report that I am doing a lot better with my health. I thank the Lord for this, and I thank you for your prayers. Also, things at work are going a lot better. 

     Please continue to pray that all of the sickness that is besetting the world right now will go away. RSV, flu and Covid are still in my country. China is having a Covid outbreak. There is cholera and malaria around the world. Some countries are dealing with Ebola. Pray that the sick will recover. Also pray that those who are suffering from treatable diseases will be able to get the help that they need. 

     Pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for Haiti. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Yemen and Syria. Pray for peace in the Central African Republic and Congo.

     There is a bad ice storm in the US. Pray that those without power will get their power back on quickly. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week please pray for those in the nations of  Japan and Ivory Coast. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a midweek post. May God bless you all. 

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