Who is this God?

Psalm: Psalm 29

Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-5
Gospel: Mark 1:4-11
Epistle: Acts 19:1-7
(This Sunday's sermon notes)

(Hebrews 4:11-13) Who is this God, 'with Whom we have to do?' This is the Sunday after Epiphany, when we celebrate God being revealed to the nations, as the Wise Men were allowed to see the Christ Child, and as we remember also Christ's Baptism for us all in the Jordan. But Who is this God, and how does He want to be known?

I.Gen. 1: At Creation, By the power of the Word and the Spirit,
A.The Father calls for light, and light steps out of non-existence and obeys!
B.The day has come, and the night flees; from chaos comes order!

II.Mark 1: Jesus:
A. Anointed, as a Man, by the Father,
B .Obedient as a Son in all things,
C. Approved before men in this moment, at the Transfiguration, in all the wisdom and miracles, in His grace and boldness before His examiners & executioners, in His mighty resurrection and ascension: as if this approval was not merely an official seal of approval, but the Father being compelled by love to break into this world again and again to say, “I love this Guy!!!”
D. By the Spirit,
E. Jesus is to us light, order, power;
F.Jesus is our wisdom:
G.We find Knowledge and Boldness in knowing Him, in being conformed to His likeness!

III.Acts 19: We often speak of life as a journey, and Jesus calls us to follow Him. Would He call us to go with Him on a supernatural journey, on our own natural strength? He wants to cleanse us, to sanctify us, to give us His power for the journey.
A.These people were disciples, believers, but what were they lacking?
i.Light? They did not understand much, because the preacher didn't either, yet.
ii.Order? Without trying too hard, we can see this picture that they really weren't about much, they were just “disciples.”
iii.Power? They did not yet know there was power to be had or asked for!
iv.At that moment, the Holy Ghost gave them supernatural
a)Knowledge-by-immediate-experience,
b)& Boldness! (Suddenly they were on the same street corner, praising God loudly, even in languages they did not know, unafraid of arrest or embarrassment. The Love of God constrained them!)

[Eph. 1:3-9] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
God is known in the vastness of the Universe, in the beauty of Nature, the finely detailed order we see in science. He also has revealed Himself to us throughout history, in the Scriptures, and in the Person and life of Jesus Christ, but
The way He greatly desires to be known is in and through each of our lives, and in all of our lives together.


All glory, thanks, praise, and honor to our Living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in time and eternity, now and forever!