Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Dec. 10, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
THE GREATNESS OF GOD
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia Scripture
Reading: Deut. 32:1-4 Text: Deut. 32:3 Deuteronomy 32:3
Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Introduction: Though there be gods many (small g), there is but one true God. The Lord God is a GREAT God. The Bible says: Psalms 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Psalms 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, From the above verses and others we understand that: God is the great Savior God is the great Supplier God is the great Shepherd God is the great Sovereign His glory is great: Psalms 21:5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. His goodness is great: Psalms 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! His judgments are great: Psalms 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. His mercy is great: Psalms 57:10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. We serve the true God. We know the true God. I want to encourage you tonight to ascribe GREATNESS to the true God.
I. GOD IS GREAT IN HIS ABILITY Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. Notice the words, “thy great power.” A. He has the ability to see what no man knows B. He has the ability to shake like no man has experienced 1. He shook the dry bones in the valley for Ezekiel. 2. He shook the prison for Paul and Silas. 3. He shook the place where the early church gathered together for prayer. C. He has the ability to sentence so that no legal argument can be made for contest or appeal.
II. GOD IS GREAT IN HIS ANGER Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. God is angry with the wicked every day because of A. Their rejection of His love B. Their rebellion against His law C. Their resistance against His leadership
III. GOD IS GREAT IN HIS AUTHORITY Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. A. He has the final authority to determine the standards B. He has the final authority to declare the sentence C. He has the final authority to deliver the sinner 1. If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 2. What God hath cleansed, call not thou common or unclean. 3. The devil has no authority to accuse or condemn you once you are saved!
IV. GOD IS GREAT IN HIS AFFECTION Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, A. God’s love has a great supply The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin. Refrain O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure The saints’ and angels’ song. When years of time shall pass away, and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, When men, who here refuse to pray, on rocks and hills and mountains call, God’s love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam’s race-the saints’ and angels’ song. Refrain Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. Refrain B. God’s love has a great subject – people 1. John 3:16 – the WORLD 2. Red and yellow, black and C. God’s love has a great solution for their problems 1. The blood of Christ 2. Eternal salvation 3. Great peace 4. Wonderful future
V. GOD IS GREAT IN HIS ACCESSIBILITY Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. A. His accessibility is great because of the suffering He experienced 1. “… was in all points tempted like as we are …” 2. Physical pain 3. Weariness 4. Desertion and loneliness “Will ye also go away?” “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 5. Betrayal – Judas, Peter 6. Mocking 7. Shame and humiliation 8. False accusations B. His accessibility is great because of the sinlessness He exhibited 1. Heb. 4:15 “… yet without sin.” C. His accessibility is great because of the simplicity He extended 1. “Come unto me” 2. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 3. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.