God Is the Best Best Friend

Transcript

God is the BEST best Friend
Carrie Smith

He is “Wonderful.” Judges 13:18
Much of Him is unknowable. Job 11:7-9
He has revealed some of Himself to us. Deuteronomy 29:29
His name is awesome. Psalm 119:9b
He defines it for us in scripture.
Self-existent (not created)
John 1:1,2
John 17:5
Rabbit Trail!
It is VITAL that we think true, accurate thoughts about God.
Isaiah 55:9
Psalm 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God”
Omniscience
Hebrews 4:13
Omnipresence – Jeremiah 23:23,24
A BIG yet personal God. Psalm 139:1-6
He knows my sin. Psalm 90:8
He is inclined towards the righteous. Psalm 34:15
He knows my needs. Matthew 6:8

Isaiah 50:10 Nothing is unknown to God. Rely on Him!
Psalm 103:14
Job 23:10
Wisdom
Romans 11:33
From knowledge rises God’s perfect wisdom.
Trust God’s wisdom, not your own. Proverbs 3:5,6
In the end, God’s wisdom will be evident. Revelation 15:3,4
Omnipotent (all-powerful)
Psalm 62:11
Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” No
Ecclesiastes 7:13 “who is able to straighten what He has bent?”
Isaiah 59:1 “the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save”
Jeremiah 32:17 “Nothing is too difficult for You”
God, Satan and Job
Sovereign
Psalm 103:19
His Providence – the way in which God works out His sovereignty
People, animals, objects, events, time, space, location…
Goodness
Opposite example: Satan is NOT good
Isaiah 55:1 He invites us to come to Him
Psalm 25:8 He instructs sinners
Psalm 86:5 He is ready to forgive
Psalm 118:1, 119:68, 135:3 He is good
It is TRUE. You can stake your life on it.
Philippians 1:6 He will complete the good work He began
Romans 8:28 He is accomplishing HIS good in us for our good
How/when does this good process begin?
Romans 5:8 God has already given what is necessary
John 15:14 We are His friends if we obey Him, believe Him
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! Acts 16:31
His salvation for you is permanent Hebrews 7:25
God, through His Son, is the PERFECT friend. Proverbs 18:24b

Psalm 5:11,12 “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”


Home Study

It is honoring to God when we respond to life’s situation, from the smallest annoyance to the most difficult trial, by keeping all of God’s character and His ways in the front of our mind. When we see our circumstances in the context of God, we think right and then have right actions.

This is how it was put in Days of Praise on January 28, 2016:
“The true believer, with a proper understanding of God’s majesty, can see, in every situation, His lovingkindness and faithfulness. There is no better way to begin and end the day than to rehearse manifestations of His loving control over each event and circumstance and express confidence in His ability to handle new situations. “O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep.’ Psalm 92:5”

When difficulties come into our lives, we can choose to suffer through the trial in our own strength, forgetting about God and not obeying Him (i.e. not to be anxious) OR we can deal with the difficulty remembering who God is and be strengthened in it and take courage in His sovereign knowledge, control and care. You will honor God and make strides in Christian maturity – resting in Him and becoming more like Him.

With that in mind, it is very good that we remind ourselves of who God is and what He is like. So here is a little study for you. Find a verse(s) for each attribute of God listed on the back of this page. You can do this alone, or you could even use it as a little study between friends.

Resources you may want to use include:
your Bible concordance and cross references
A complete Bible concordance (there are some in the church library)
The search aspect of your Bible app on phone or computer
Use your search engine on phone or computer
Type in “bible verse faithfulness” for instance
Books on the subject
The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Our Awesome God by John MacArthur.
Incomprehensible_______________

Self-existent___________________
(not created)
Self-sufficient__________________

Eternal_______________________



Immutable____________________
(never changes)
Omniscience__________________
(all-knowing)
Wisdom______________________
(wise)
Omnipotence_________________
(all-powerful)
Faithful______________________

Good________________________

Just_________________________

Merciful______________________

Grace________________________
(gracious)
Love_________________________

Holy_________________________

Sovereign_____________________

Patient_______________________

Omnipresent__________________
(in all places)
Here’s the drill that wise believers put themselves through when encountering all the various circumstances of life.

*Mentally acknowledge your circumstance.

(i.e. the long check-out line, the slow driver, the disobedient child, the ill spouse, the unbelieving loved one…)

*Think of several attributes of God and apply them to your situation.

(i.e. certainly God knows I am in this long line, perhaps in His Providence He is caring for me by stalling my departure to avoid an accident, or perhaps He has an opportunity for me to be kind to the clerk…)

*Pray to God using His own truth and ask Him to help you get through this situation in a way that pleases Him.

*Then obey Him! Whatever scriptures apply to your situation, obey and keep obeying.