Download... November 20, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
It's God's good plan, that mankind reconnects with Him, which can only be done through Jesus Christ. He is more than just a "symbol", for all who are truly united in His Image.
TEXT: GENESIS 1:26-27
26 And said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Today, people are still "creating" God, in their "own" image. Man often also creates gods of whatever they have their heart set upon, other than Him, ...which is obviously a problem.
For God says, "He" makes man in HIS image. ..."In the image of God, created he him; male and female created he them." So we need to leave it as GOD made it, in His image, as the story here in Genesis records it. One might ask, "Are you a Creationist, ..or of the Intelligent Design persuasion? What we better do, is leave it, just as it is recorded. God did what He said, creating man in His image, with a spirit like Himself. Humanity was created and filled with a spirit, so there could be always a way to connect with God.
So many theories, sometimes based in recent news of the changing speculations and questions, for instance in the size of the universe, and the speed of light's actual effect upon that. But a particular case, in point of God's designs, is for instance, 'the wonder' of birds seeming to know to go south with the coming cold. The salmon also knows to swim at certain times, back to the place to where they were spawned. So is it any wonder God has also created a "tracking device" within every soul of mankind's spirit to seek God?
Regardless what men "speculate," God is still the creator of man in His Own Image, and all things according to His Word. As Bro Goble commented, it is so wonderful, that God and all His creations are bigger than we can ever comprehend in concept. Even more wonderful to know, is the fact that God created all mankind in His Image, and to be in the midst of that, is much bigger than us. Created... with a "thirst" that needs to be quenched spiritually! The mere animal species, (i.e. chimpanzees, etc.) do not have that 'spiritual' searching instinct. The language of humans are created much more complex, than any other creatures, remarkable as some of them are.
God has created mankind with the capacity to speak more magnificently with their mouths, including the ability to commune with God. An with that still existing potential, ...even after man violated that "connection." The very existence of today's sinful mankind illustrates their separation from Almighty God, caused by their desire to serve self more than The Creator, ...Almighty God. What God has created works, when it is allowed to operate by Him in an individual life. It is only individually 'halted,' when men persist to pursue self, or selfishness. What man is able to achieve, is limited, likened to having bookends for beginning and end.
Mankind often assumes he's so "wise," with his continual "declarations." But God is without limitation in any form, no "bookends" to any of His abilities or power. Yet men are even declaring "We are on the verge of understanding more about the universe, etc. People are still attempting to be so "wise." The knowledge of the foolish is greater the most "worldly wise," when he serves and trusts God! God gives us each the knowledge of the need to rerturn to our Creator. Yet man still questions that which is bigger than his comprehension. An example of a biblical character who was only "worldly wise," that God transformed to the submission of God's Divine Wisdom, is found in Acts concerning Christ "arresting" Saul on the road to Damascus, who later became Paul. Acts 9:1-6 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synaogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; The first Adam was created in God's own image. After man sinned, the relationship changed, and separated him by his own will of self and sin. Man is still "creating God mentally" in the image of his own chosen thoughts and self. For when man chooses to believe his own thoughts, it equates to his own mental creating, of his 'own' concept of God. Of course people often "create" gods of many things, other people, riches, material goods, ideas, etc. But that's not what we are talking about here. Men also, too often, tend to have created in their minds, a God who's agenda, thinking, etc., match their own chosen ways. Essentially "creating" God ...in their Own image.
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Later in New Testament times, Jesus repeated the commission that if we seek with all of our heart, mind, etc., we will find Him. Your finite mind alone cannot comprehend this. But God does give enough faith, to be able in seeking Him, ...to find Him. Finding Him because he Seeks God in His image, and not because of a chosen mentality of man's ideas.
I Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Why, does one think this verse is here? For only those who have not yet found God? It says...continually. It is the essence of our purpose on earth. Seeking to know God's image in a more profound, and deeper way. The opposite of man's persistence of "creating" God according to his own thoughts and ways mentally.
Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Depart...from evil. Pursue peace (found only in God's ways). Rules, those good of themselves, are only finite, although conceptually from the Creator. Even God's pure "rules" are not without man's comprehension affecting them, ..but must not be allowed to be remade to "man's image." God's image is to create purely for our soul's benefit, to help us to be connected to Him, who is beyond our understanding. That's where seeking becomes necessary...to go deeper than our earth- made- mind itself can, which is bound by it's limitations. God has created us in His image to be able to seek His limitless knowledge,mercy,love, etc. There is nothing that the Creator of the universe, cannot solve for us as long as we do not begin to "create" God in our own limited image. Seek God,..so you might know more about His plans for you.
Psalms 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Bro Goble told of a "professor" who said he didn't believe in a God. Bro Goble then quoted Psalms 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. ...So all those choosing to believe there is no God, are being essentially dishonest. Again, Psalms 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Only a saint of God can truly say, to the best of his knowledge, "I seek God with my whole heart." Seeking God, is like going on a treasure hunt. An unsaved person might go from church to church, seeking God. It's a "treasure hunt, that can only be found, if one within their own heart recognizes and acknowledges right from wrong, and their spiritual need to be delivered from selfishness and sin.
Many say that they "don't like church telling me what's right and wrong." Will you then listen to your own conscience? To truly and honestly seek God, is to be on a treasure hunt! Some might "claim" the treasure, but not actually "dig it up." They rather choose their own ideas of "treasures," collecting religious ideas. God wants us to truly seek and dig for His treasures. Does this mean we can by works have God's treasures? No. But we need to open our heart to God's directions to His own holy image. Nothing about God resembles the often accepted and wicked religious pursuits. We must abandon the filthy garments of self righteousness.
When first saved...we still have the carnal sin image within our heart, from Adam's fall. Consequently We need to seek full surrender to God, to have greater victory over self. If you were the only one on the planet, this exhoration would still be written. For God has provided it for you to possess His treasures. But if we choose to live by our own chosen perceptions of God, (self "creating" His image), ...we won't find Him!
I Samuel 15th chapter. When Samuel (God's chosen prophet) told King Saul to destroy all, yet Saul left the enemy's King and choice animals (for sacrificing) for Israel...Samuel chastened him, with "Why do you choose your sacrifices instead of obedience?" God gave us (beginning with Adam) an intellect to see our need of Him, and to seek only His Image. If you allow your ways to dominate...you essentially create God in your own image. Human nature is as a "wild card", leading to many confused theories, based in thoughts created by self, giving so much further confusion.
Be careful about saying "The Lord showed me." Not that God doesn't show people things, but we need to be careful in assuming "the Lord showed me." Seeking means, I'm willing to be wrong because I have not yet found the answer. It means you're willing to be wrong...then you can handle what is right! This willingness applies to our spouse, children, friends, or any acquaintances. That leaves God being created ONLY in His Image, ..in our hearts.
When we truly seek, we don't seek to create God, but find God only in His image. When we seek what we've not yet found, we are willing to find God in His image, not our will. What you've already found in God, ...Always seek to Keep it!
