God's Attributes: The Sufficiency

8/8/2019 God's Attributes: The Sufficiency

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The Attributes of

God

Attribute:a quality or feature regarded as a characteristicor inherent part of someone or something

1Friday 31 December 2010


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God is bigger than your

thoughts - much bigger -Job 26:14, whilst he waslooking at creation

And these are but the outerfringe of his works; howfaint the whisper we

hear of him! Who thencan understand the thunder ofhis power?



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The Sufficiency of

GodHe is totally and absolutelycomplete within himself

Nothing can be added or takenaway from God, there is nothingthat can compare with Him

There is no limit to God - no boxyou can put him in - we should beintimidated by him, even though heinvites us to know him - the Bible

calls this The Fear of the Lord3Friday 31 December 2010


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4 Aspects

of Gods

Sufficiency



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1. God is responsible

for his Creation

Col 1:15-16The Son is the image of the

invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Forin him all things were created: things in heavenand on earth, visible and invisible, whetherthrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all

things have been created through him and forhim.



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An infrared view from the Spitzer Space

Telescope...clouds of cold gas and dust

sculpted by winds and radiation from a

hot, massive star. Still swaddled withinthe cosmic clouds, newborn stars arerevealed - It is called the "Mountains

of Creation"

http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2005-23/ssc2005-23a.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2005-23/ssc2005-23a.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2005-23/ssc2005-23a.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2005-23/ssc2005-23a.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/about/index.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/about/index.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/about/index.shtmlhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/about/index.shtml


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Gas Pillars in the Eagle Nebula (M16): Pillars ofCreation in a Star-Forming Region.

The picture was taken on April 1, 1995 with theHubble Space Telescope Wide Field and

Planetary Camera 2. The color image isconstructed from three separate images takenin the light of emission from different types of

atoms. Red shows emission from singly-ionized

sulfur atoms. Green shows emission fromhydrogen. Blue shows light emitted by doubly-

ionized oxygen atoms.



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Ps 19:1,The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies

proclaim the work of his hands.

Evans suggests that the complexity and orderliness ofcreation prove that God is all sufficient, that there isnone like him. God pre-existed creation and thereforehas self generating power, life within himself -

John 5:26For as the Father has life in himself, so he hasgranted the Son also to have life in himself.

God created not because he had to but because it

brought him pleasure to do so

1.a. Creation Reveals

His Person



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2. God is independent

of his CreationActs 17:22-25

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects ofworship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO ANUNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing youworshipand this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lordof heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by humanhands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he neededanything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and

everything else.10Friday 31 December 2010


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2. God is independent

of his CreationActs 17:22-25

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects ofworship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO ANUNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing youworshipand this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lordof heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by humanhands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he neededanything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and

everything else.

God is independent

of creation in notneeding anythingfrom the created

order for him tocontinue being

God. God does notfunction out ofnecessity.



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2.a. No Outside

Influences

We all are influenced by manythings in our lives - family,friends, schools, education. Wecan explain our clothes interms of how the cotton was

grown, who wove the fabrics,who stitched them, where webought them.



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God has no suchexplanation - noinfluences made God

who he is - all that Godis he always was - and allhe will be he already is

Nothing can be added tomake God better.



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2.b. No Necessary

Relationships

God will be happy if you go tochurch and worship - but he is

not affected if you choose tostay at home - your pastormight not be happy though!

God does not need yourworship - we are the ones whobenefit, who are privileged toworship him



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2.c. No External

Needs

God does not need us. We do needGod.

Job 35:7-8 If you are righteous, whatdo you give to him,or what does hereceive from your hand?

Your wickedness only affects humans likeyourself, and your righteousness onlyother people.



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Luke 17:10 tells us that at ourbest our efforts are like those of

unworthy slavesIsa 40:15 Surely the nations arelike a drop in a bucket; they areregarded as dust on the scales; heweighs the islands as though theywere fine dust.

Gods self sufficiency also means

he is answerable to no-one -extending from this is the fact wedo not tell God what to do, he

tells us15Friday 31 December 2010


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2.d. Independence

Implications

1. You cannot help God out - nor canyou threaten or intimidate him

2. God can defend himself- Rom12:19 - Do not take revenge, my dear friends,but leave room for Gods wrath, for it is written:

It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.3. God does not need us - however, hedoes enjoy us and wants our fellowship



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3. We are dependent

on Gods sufficiencyGods creation is not independent of him - Acts

17:26-29 - From one man he made all the nations, that

they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their

appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reachout for him and find him, though he is not far from any oneof us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As

some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring.

Therefore since we are Gods offspring, we should not thinkthat the divine being is like gold or silver or stonean image

made by human design and skill.17Friday 31 December 2010


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3.a. Our Reference Point

We cannot know ourselves apart from God - we liveand move in him.

All of our life is meant to be lived in relationship to God.In him we find who we are - and all of our life is

appointed by God. We might strive for independence butit is all about Gods will and purpose, what he predestines



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3.b. Our Inescapable GodIn rebelling against God we simply

turn from enjoying his love toincurring his wrath - whatever yourattitude you cannot get away from

God.The sun shines all the time - Godexists, you choose if you acknowledgehim, recognise or submit to him.

God is responsible for all of creation- yet independent of it, he can dowhatever he wants but we are totally

dependent upon him19Friday 31 December 2010


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I believe in God

like I believe inthe sun, not

because I cansee it, butbecause of it all

things are seen.

C. S. Lewis

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/


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I believe in God

like I believe inthe sun, not

because I cansee it, butbecause of it all

things are seen.

C. S. Lewis

Severe solar

flare events cancripple satelliteand pose a riskto astronauts inorbit, and also

have thepotential to

knock outpower grids on

Earth.

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/C._S._Lewis/


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Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makesme lie down in green pastures, he leads me besidequiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides mealong the right paths for his names sake. Even though

I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, foryou are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfortme.You prepare a table before me in the presence of

my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cupoverflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house ofthe LORD forever



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4. We find our

completeness only in God

Gods sufficiencymeans we can only find

our completeness inhim. This is reiteratedthroughout the Bible

and Psalm 23 is a greatexample - we aresheep, He is theshepherd


fi


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4. We find our

completeness only in God

Gods sufficiencymeans we can only find

our completeness inhim. This is reiteratedthroughout the Bible

and Psalm 23 is a greatexample - we aresheep, He is theshepherd



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4.a. Spiritual Needs

Ps 23:2-3a...restores my soulGod gives you back your life - turnsconfusion into clarity, makes a mixed

up week a glorious one, turnstragedy into triumph

The broad way leads to destruction

- with lots of parties on the wayThe narrow way leads to life - lesscrowded but Jesus is there to refreshand replenish you.



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4.b. Directional Needs

Ps 23:3b - God takes a lostsheep and finds them, putsthe wrong path right.Let God be God and he willdirect you on the right

path...he does this for hisnames sake.



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4.c. Emotional Needs

Ps 23:4 - shadows come overus, we think things are bad(sheep sometimes see shadows

as night falling, even in themiddle of the day) - we mightfeel unbalanced, but God isnt.

The staffpulled sheep out oftrouble - David knew all aboutthis in his life. The rod killedpredators.



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Ps 23:5 - shepherds had acloth and pouch inside theirbelt - the pouch had fodderand grain in it for

emergencies when a sheephad to be rescued (it was laidout on the cloth) - the

shepherd kept a cup too togive the sheep a drink.

God always supplies the

needs of his people

4.d. Physical Needs



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Psalm 23:6 - Knowing Jesus Christ is good for

eternity! Your eternal destiny is in his hands.

Everything you need is covered by the sufficiency ofGod - spiritual, directional, emotional, physical and

eternal - live under his authority, in accordance withhis will and by his word and God will demonstrate hissufficiency.

4.e. Eternal Needs



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Trials simply reveal Gods sufficiencyand our insufficiency - when we walk

independently of God he allows usto be humbled for our selfsufficiency - there will come a timewhen only God can lift you up;

something a doctor cant heal, a jobyou cant find, a bill you cant pay, aperson who doesnt like you, fears

you cant overcome - at that timeyou cry out for Gods mercy, and hereplies,

Do you believe I am sufficient?28Friday 31 December 2010


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The sufficiency of God is not anabstract concept it is a realityto live your life in.

It involves giving your life toGod for what he wants for you- and all owing him to besufficient for every need. We

are only complete in Godssufficiency


R di t th


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What do we do to ensure Godis our shepherd, that we are

submitted to his will?1. Thank God that he createdyou for his pleasure - and that as

he created the people around inthis way too ask him to give youhis heart and mind towardsthem.

Responding to the

Sufficiency of God



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2. What trials do you face atpresent - ask God to deal witheach one as he sees best, in hissufficiency, and thank him for it.

3. Are there areas of life whereyou have lived independently ofGod - prayerfully search yourheart, repent and respond towhat God reveals are your

areas of independence.4. Locate a carpet of greengrass and still waters - take

time to be alone with God.

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God's Attributes: The Sufficiency

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