GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD
INTRO: Thesis: God is better than the idols we bow before!
1. Hideyoshi, a Japanese warlord who ruled over Japan in the late 1500s, commissioned a colossal statue of Buddha for a shrine in Kyoto. It took 50,000 men five years to build, but the work had scarcely been completed when the earthquake of 1596 brought the roof of the shrine crashing down and wrecked the statue. In a rage Hideyoshi shot an arrow at the fallen colossus. "I put you here at great expense," he shouted, "and you can't even look after your own temple."
2. Though God’s Law (O.T.) contained some 613 commandments there were 10 written with the finger of God (Ex. 31:18).
a. Recall the 10 commandments
b. Emphasize the first two (No other gods and no idols).
c. After giving the commandments, God said, “Ye shall not make with Me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold” (Ex. 20:23).
3. “Thus saith the Lord the King Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God” (Isa. 44:6, Jesus Rev. 1:8). Also read (Isa. 44:14-17).
4. Psalm 115:3-9
a. False gods have no promises (5) – mouth, but they speak not.
b. False gods have no protection (5) – eyes, but they see not.
c. False gods hear no prayers (6) – ears, but they hear not.
d. False gods have no power (7) – hands and feet but they do not, nor move.
5. Some is Paul’s day “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever, Amen” (Rom. 1:25).
6. Idol – 1. an image of a god, used as an object or instrument of worship, 2. any object of ardent or excessive devotion or admiration (Webster’s).
7. In other words an idol is the object of our affections, efforts, attention, time and resources (Col. 3:5) – “covetousness/idolatry.”
a. What is the object of our affections, efforts, attention, time and resources?
b. Is your god sex, silver and stomach?
c. Is your god pleasure, possessions and position? (Thesis)
BODY: Read Ps. 84:10-11
I. GOD’S POWER (SUN)
A. Idols have no power (the move not)
B. Sun 93 million miles away, surface temp 12,000 deg. F. Core 27 mil. Deg. F. 1,300,000 earths could fit inside.
1. “The sun is like a giant nuclear engine. It gives off more energy in a single second than mankind has produced since creation” (Thompson, Spiritual Sword, April 05).
C. God is our strength (Ps. 18:1; 2 Tim. 4:16-17).
1. God can do all things (Job 42:2), nothing is too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17); with God all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).
2. “The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
D. “Sun of righteousness” “healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2).
II. GOD’S PROTECTION (SHIELD) (Eph. 6:16).
A. Abraham Lincoln’s Bible opened to Ps. 37:1, 7
B. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee (Isa. 26:3).
C. Jn. 16:33 – “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”
III. GOD’S PROVISION (GRACE AND GLORY)
A. Grace (Divine mercy – underserved compassion, Divine love – desiring the best of the one loved, and Divine kindness – moral goodness).
1. Titus 2:11-12; Eph. 2:8-9
B. Glory (Distinction God gives His children)
1. Rom. 8:16-18; I Jn. 3:1
IV. GOD’S PROVIDENCE (GOOD THING(S)).
A. “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Ps. 34:10).
B. Mt. 6:33 – Obligation, Order, Object
C. Phil. 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
CONCL:
1. God can take a common one like you and me and do great things: Fisherman, tax collectors, tent makers turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). A shepherd boy became a giant-killer, mighty warrior, king of Israel and a great-grandfather of Jesus.
2. With God all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).