Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, September 2, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

A SENSE OF WONDER

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 30:5-19

Text: Proverbs 30:18

Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

Introduction: All of us have five senses … unless you lose them, such as when you marry 😉 … sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Additionally, we refer to horse sense, business sense, common sense, good sense, management sense, nonsense.

Today I want us to think on this subject: A SENSE OF WONDER.

Most kids have this at some time in their development. It is evidenced by their questions:

“Why don’t the stars fall down?”

“How does the fish keep from drowning?”

When it comes to the things of God, I don’t want to “grow out” of having a sense of wonder. I want to KEEP a sense of wonder about the Lord and His workings. Don’t you?

Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Spend time alone – sing, study, pray, THINK.

2. Look at everything in the light of God’s word.

I want to mention a few things this morning about our Lord and His works that give me “A SENSE OF WONDER.”

I. THE MARVELS OF CREATION GIVE ME A SENSE OF WONDER

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Psalms 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

A. I am amazed at the excellence of God’s creation

Isaiah 12:5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

B. I am amazed at the extent of God’s creation

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Abraham could not number the stars, because there are too many.
God has not only numbered all of the stars, but He has also NAMED them.
Psalms 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

C. I am amazed at the enjoyment of God’s creation

God’s creation brings peace and pleasure.
That is why people leave the structures of men, the buildings, the elevators, the television, the sidewalks, and they go to the woods for vacation and look at the trees, the flowers, the squirrels, the streams, and the birds.

II. THE MAKEUP OF MAN GIVES ME A SENSE OF WONDER

Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

A. I am amazed at the entrance of man into the world

The birth of a child is an amazing thing!
Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

B. I am amazed at the endurance of man in this world

Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

C. I am amazed at the exit of man from this world

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Man doesn’t die exactly like an animal does; when man dies, he faces God and an eternity in either heaven or hell!

III. THE MARRIAGE OF A MAN AND WOMAN GIVES ME A SENSE OF WONDER

Proverbs 30:19 … the way of a man with a maid.

Ephesians 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

God began the home on earth before He started either human government or the local church

He uses the marriage relationship to symbolize the relationship between the Lord and His people.

One of the most beautiful things on earth is the RIGHT kind of marriage.

A. It speaks of sacrificial love

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

B. It speaks of submissive loyalty

Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 or the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

It has been observed that some married couples tend to look alike after being married many years. So may we, without even TRYING, resemble our Lord because of years of closeness to Him in prayer, adoration, and faithful service.

IV. THE MERCY OF GOD IN SALVATION GIVES ME A SENSE OF WONDER

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

A. I am amazed at the people to whom God’s mercy is extended

Guilty people
Vile people
People who were headed for eternal hell! (Sing my new song, “Saved By The Mercy Of God,” with Grace and Joy)
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)

B. I am amazed at the price that was paid to obtain it

Jesus had to take upon Himself a human body, live 33 years without sin, die painfully on the cross, be buried, and rise again the third day.

C. I am amazed at the product derived from it

- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.