## God Above All Others

## Exodus 20:3; 34:14

(Exo 20:3) "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

(Exo 34:14) "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:" Over the last several weeks we have been focusing upon God in hopes that we can get to know Him better. He is a great and mighty God! Today we want to consider some of His characteristics that remind us that He is God above all others. All other 'so-called' gods in the world fall miserably in comparison.

I. The Sovereignty of God.

A. What does it mean?

1. God's sovereignty means that He is able to do whatever He wills to do.

2. Whatever God decides to do, it is because He wants to do it; nothing is forcing Him to do it.

3. This is more a question of authority than of power or ability.

4. Certainly He is all-powerful, but He is also Sovereign.

5. He doesn't seek nor does He need anyone's permission or approval to do as He chooses.

B. God's sovereignty is revealed in Daniel 4.

1. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was a powerful world ruler who became proud.

2. As a result of this pride, God caused the king to lose his mental faculties for seven years.

3. Note: Daniel 4:34-35

4. According to this passage, this world ruler learned his lesson well.

a. God does what He wants to do.

b. No one stops Him from doing it, and no one is able to demand an explanation from Him.

C. God's Sovereignty is seen in Salvation.

1. Redemption is not man-centered; it is God-centered.

2. Most of the world's religions, and much of what calls itself 'Christianity' takes a man-centered approach to salvation.

3. However, just a futile as the builders of the tower of Babel were, so too are those who would seek to attain heaven by their good works or deed.

(Titus 3:5a) "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…"

(Eph 2:9) "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

(Isa 64:6a) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…"

4. Some may not like it, but that is the way that our Sovereign God chose for it to be!

5. Nothing we can do will change it.

6. The Scriptures teach us that Jesus willingly chose to lay down His life for you and for me.

(John 10:17-18) "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. {18} No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

II. The Immutability of God

A. The definition of immutability is that God cannot change.

(Mal 3:6) "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

1. God's essence does not and cannot change.

2. His actions and attitude can and do change.

3. God may reward a believer with something pleasant motivated by His love.

4. Or God may chasten a believer with something unpleasant but this action, too, is motivated by God's love.

Hebrews 12:6, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

B. This is emphasized in the first chapter of James.

1. Note: James 1:12-19

2. He is "the Father of lights" and with Him there is no variation or (using the illustration of light) shadow cast because of turning.

C. The practical truths found in this passage include the following:

1. We should not blame God when we respond wrongfully to events in our lives.

2. God has never and will never have anything to do with sin (v. 13).

3. We should recognize that God is the One who caused us to be born again and that He allows tests to come into our lives to help us to grow (v. 18).

4. We should be ready to listen to God's Word to learn whatever lessons He wants to teach us, and we should be slow to criticize God or to become angry (v. 19).

III. Knowing the Infinite God.

A. The more we get to know Him, the more we learn that He is beyond our comprehension.

1. So, how can we get to know Him better?

2. How can we as limited human beings relate to an infinite God?

3. How does God want us to relate to Him?

B. God wants us to relate to Him as our Father, as our Savior, and as our God.

1. In all these relationships He wants us to get to know Him:

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord" (Jer. 9:23, 24)

2. How can we come to know an infinite God ?

a. We might think that it comes through praying, reading the Bible and attending church.

b. However, the Bible declares that in order to know God one must keep His commands.

Titus 1:16, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

1 John 2:4, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

3. Not only is knowing God equated with obedience, but loving God is also equated with obedience.

John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

With this definition of knowing God in mind, if someone examined our life, would he conclude that we know God?

All of us would want to be quick to say that others would be able to tell that we know and love God. But let's honestly evaluate where our lives don't measure up to this claim.

(Nahum 1:7) "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

Have we trusted in Him? For our salvation? Do we trust in Him daily? If not, then we cannot truly know Him. He is a Sovereign God who doesn't change. He is a God above all; do we know Him?