I. INTRO:
1. How do we properly respond to Gods awesomeness and greatness in a world bent on
ignoring or merely tolerating Him?
2. There is no way we can ever fathom all of who He is.
3. God will not be tolerated. He instructs us to worship and fear Him.
Rev. 4:1-3 (NIV) 1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.
Rev. 4:10-11 (NLT) 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
II. THE BIGNESS OF GOD
1. When we realize this - we realized how insignificant we are.
2. This powerful and awesome God desires to make us significant by
entering into a relationship with us.
1) Luke 14:15-24 (MSG) 15 That triggered a response from one of the guests: "How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God's kingdom!"
16-17 Jesus followed up. "Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, 'Come on in; the food's on the table.'
18 "Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, 'I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.'
19 "Another said, 'I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.'
20 "And yet another said, 'I just got married a.nd need to get home to my wife.'
22 "The servant reported back, 'Master, I did what you commanded— and there's still room.'
23-24 "The master said, 'Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.'"
3. Do we disgust God when we weigh and compare Him against the
things of this world.
4. How many of us believe we have as much of God as we need, so
we don't include Him in our lives and give Him leftovers.
5. Do I make excuses in my life when it comes to worshipping and
having a significant relationship with Him? My excuse -
busy schedule, my bills or fatigue but simply its my priorities -
they are higher on the list than Him.
III. DON'T ASSUME YOU ARE GOOD SOIL
Matt. 13:1-15 (NLT) 1 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’
1. Seed Scattered - Word of God
a) The wayside
b) Strong place
c) Among thorns
d) Good ground
2. Is it possible many churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed
because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from
God.
3. Would you like to break free
a) from the status quo?
b) Are you hungry for an authentic faith?
c) God is calling you a passionate love relationship with Himself.
d) The answer isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts - its falling in love with God.
