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Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
November 6, 2011

Ephesians 3:14-19

A. To truly know God we must know how He has revealed Himself in the
Bible.

B. "We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love."
I John 4:16

C. "People have a great avoidance mentality when it comes to God…it is
often fear driven." Pastor Rick Warren

I. WHY SOME PEOPLE AVOID GOD.

A. Because we are afraid we will have to give up our fun.
*We think being spiritual is being miserable.
* We are a society of people looking for a fun fix.
* "God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
Timothy 6:17

B. Because we are afraid we will lose our freedom.
* The world defines freedom as a life without any restraint.
* Our choices carry with them consequences.
* A relationship with Jesus Christ is most freeing.
"If the Son sets you free, you will be really free!"
John 8:36

II. HOW MUCH DOES GOD LOVE US?

A. "I pray that you will grasp how WIDE and LONG and HIGH and DEEP
is the love of Christ."
Ephesians 3:18

B. First God's love is wide enough to include everyone.
"The Lord is loving toward all He has made."
Psalm 145:17
"God so loved the world…." John 3:16
"I have come that you might have life; life to the full."
John 10:10

C. Second, God's love is long enough to last forever.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love."
Jeremiah 31:3
"God's love will last for all time." Psalm 89:2

D. Third, God's love is high enough to be everywhere.
"Neither height not depth, nor anything else in all creation will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord." Romans 8:39

E. Fourth, God's love is deep enough to meet my needs.
"My only hope is your love…for my problems are too big for me to
solve and are piled over my head." Psalm 40:11
(Living Bible)
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath you are His
everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27


Transcript of this message

0:00:01.869,0:00:07.270
We've been talking about the
character and nature of God

0:00:07.270,0:00:09.159
who God is

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and if we want to understanding who God
really is

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then we must

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See

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the viable for that description
that understanding

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that revelation

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the reason being is God is not just what
we make up in our mind

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but God is who He revealed himself to be
through his word

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now oftentimes when I

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interact with people about what they
believe about God that I find myself at

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the end saying no

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wonder

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no wonder you're running from God
instead of running to God

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you're running from God because well,
the caricature that you have of God

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does not line up

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With how God has revealed himself in the
Bible

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John wants us to know the bottom line

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when it comes to who God is

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first John four sixteen

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we know and rely on the love of God has
for us God is love

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now God

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is love not love is God I

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was an adolescent

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during the sixties and early
seventies

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free love

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and oftentimes even on the side of
vehicles and t-shirts

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In psychedelic

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writing

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they would say a love is God

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oh

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No, God is love that's what the Bible
says

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God is love

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some people

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don't understand that God is love

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they think God has come to this world to
condemn us and punish us

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And as Rick Warren points out so aptly people
have an avoidance mentality when it

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comes to God

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they're running from God and they're
running from God because they fear God

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what are two of the top fears that
people have about

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being in a personal relationship with God
number one is the idea that if you

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get in a relationship with God
there goes all your fun

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that to be a Christian

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Means misery

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that it's going to be a

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miserable experience to be in a
relationship with God

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now we are all fun fixed society, aren't
we? we all are

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no matter what you suffer from

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the solution

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To that in one way or another is
just go have some fun

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Vacation, go out to eat

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buy something

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do something fun

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and we're really moving around in our
lifestyle to go from one fun thing to

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another not that it's

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a bad thing to have some fun in your
life

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I think it

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should be and it's been my experience

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that it's great fun to be a Christian

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now I know the bad rap

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because I've

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hung out with some of those Christians
that well

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you know you think when they were
baptized they were submerged in lemon

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juice

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the equation simply is if you're having
fun it's got to be bad

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ahh but that's not what the Bible says
at all

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what is that Paul writes Timothy

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he says God richly provides us
with everything for our, what? our

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enjoyment

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God wants us to enjoy life in fact

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now that I have become a Christian I
enjoy life more than I did before

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before I was a Christian

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you know, now that I'm a
Christian I actually remember the

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parties I go to

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I remember actually how I got home from
a party

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and instead of being destructive so to
speak

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in terms of having fun I discovered
that there is a creative way

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to have fun

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that's not only good for me but good for
those around me as well

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yes is it a good thing to wake up in the
morning and not have a hangover

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not smell like pot, you know

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God wants us to enjoy life

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all the fun is not taken away in fact I
think

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God's direction and wisdom who he is
directs us to the most fun that there is

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in terms of enjoying life

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the other fear people have is oh, there
goes my freedom

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if I become a Christian then I
really won't be free

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and the idea

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is that real freedom defined by
society is living a life without

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restraints

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the problem is all of the choices
that we have in life

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what comes along with those choices are
consequences

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and the scriptures

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direct us in what

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those good choices are

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the good choices that lead to good
consequences

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in fact

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find me the

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the direction in the Bible that really
has

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a downside to it in terms of the
consequences

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I can show you the down side to the
Consequences of

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having an

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unrestricted life

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when we want to have fun and freedom we go
to Vegas

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Right? I'd love to be a psychologist

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interviewing people getting off the
plane in Las Vegas

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because they're on the way, they think
to the best kind of fun in the world

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which is a an unrestricted kind of fun but
I will tell you this there are

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consequences

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to that fun, yes

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what happens

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happens in Vegas may stays in Vegas

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but I'll tell you what that visa cards
going to find its way to your house

0:07:08.629,0:07:13.439
those sexually transmitted diseases you
picked up those will come up home with

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you too

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oh you mean there's consequences

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sexual freedom, yeah

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you mean there's consequences to

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you using your visa card, your MasterCard
or discover card have I left any out?

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American Express

0:07:35.569,0:07:36.740
You mean

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there is a consequence to you

0:07:38.810,0:07:43.079
using that in an unrestricted way

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Yeah, there is

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what the Bible declares and what has
been my own personal experience

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is that if you want freedom

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you will find that exclusively real
freedom

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exclusively

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In a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ

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John eight thirty six

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if the Son sets you free, you will be
really free

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truly free

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honestly free

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eternally free

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immediately free

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and we could use a little more of that
kind of freedom in our life, couldn't we?

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the counter to the fears that we have
about being in relationship with God

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is to discover that God's primary
message to us is one of love

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this is how Paul penned it

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in our scripture passages morning

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verse eighteen I pray that you will
grasp how wide

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Long, high and deep is the love of Christ

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God's love for us is wide

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and it's wide enough because it's wide
enough to include

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everyone

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love given away is

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Multiplied, isn't it?

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and we often think that somehow God
doesn't have enough love for us because

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God's focusing all his love

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on those other people

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David says in Psalm one forty five

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the Lord is loving towards all he has
made

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the greatest self esteem

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booster in all of life

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is that God created you and God loves
you

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that you've been created in the image of
God and above everything else that's been

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created

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you are the greatest expression of God's
creative ability

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and no matter how many other people God
loves, he loves you

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He loves you

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God's desire is that everybody would
know that love that's what John three

0:10:10.640,0:10:17.290
sixteen is all about God so loved the
world

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God does not want to exclude

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anyone

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and it's true that not everyone will
respond to God's invitation to be a love

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relationship

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that's true too

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but God is

0:10:34.270,0:10:38.379
available God is ready to be in
relationship with everyone

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that would be

0:10:39.540,0:10:42.100
that we desire to be in relationship
with Him

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and that's where the real life is John
ten, ten

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I've come that you might have life

0:10:47.460,0:10:51.600
and have it to the full

0:10:51.600,0:10:56.400
Wide fullness is found in Jesus Christ

0:10:56.400,0:10:58.430
God's love as long enough that it

0:10:58.430,0:11:03.730
lasts for all eternity the Bible says

0:11:03.730,0:11:09.860
Jeremiah says I have loved you with an
everlasting love

0:11:09.860,0:11:16.460
Psalm eighty nine two says God's love
will last for all time

0:11:16.460,0:11:21.160
now we have trouble understanding that
because human love has its limits

0:11:21.160,0:11:23.800
doesn't it

0:11:23.800,0:11:26.589
in fact it's interesting God's love is a

0:11:26.589,0:11:31.809
living love and if we're honest our
love as human beings has a tendency to

0:11:31.809,0:11:36.010
die off doesn't it

0:11:36.010,0:11:43.010
has a tendency to fade and fatigue
over time

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God's love is so long

0:11:46.480,0:11:51.690
that it will last us for all eternity
it'll last us today but it'll last

0:11:51.690,0:11:56.970
this longer than a lifetime

0:11:56.970,0:12:01.600
and again the more you read the more you
understand

0:12:01.600,0:12:03.580
that life

0:12:03.580,0:12:09.850
as it's described eternally with God
that's the best choice on this planet

0:12:09.850,0:12:16.850
It beats out whatever anybody else has
to offer you I guarantee it

0:12:17.210,0:12:20.460
I'll take the Biblical
definition

0:12:20.460,0:12:22.440
of heaven

0:12:22.440,0:12:28.280
over any other definition any other
world religion wants to give to the term

0:12:28.280,0:12:35.280
eternity or heaven or beyond or the
other side

0:12:35.470,0:12:37.990
Why? because I know God's love

0:12:37.990,0:12:44.990
will last for eternity it'll be all that
I need all that I want it to be

0:12:45.420,0:12:46.730
what is the height

0:12:46.730,0:12:49.480
of God's love

0:12:49.480,0:12:54.000
Paul writes neither height nor depth nor
anything else in all creation

0:12:54.000,0:12:58.839
will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our

0:12:58.839,0:13:01.960
Lord

0:13:01.960,0:13:06.950
that means that there is not a
circumstance in life

0:13:06.950,0:13:12.000
no place you can go nothing you can
experience in your life that's outside

0:13:12.000,0:13:18.360
the boundaries of the love of God. God's
love is high and so it is everywhere

0:13:18.360,0:13:20.110
everywhere

0:13:20.110,0:13:24.880
and we often want to say well God's love
could never be there

0:13:24.880,0:13:31.880
we often say that there are parts of our
life where God's love couldn't be there

0:13:31.920,0:13:35.370
it does not as I've mentioned to you
earlier it does not matter what you've

0:13:35.370,0:13:39.120
done in your life

0:13:39.120,0:13:43.050
God will forgive you why because God's
love is everywhere

0:13:43.050,0:13:48.720
there is not a circumstance that you
experience in life

0:13:48.720,0:13:54.160
void of God's love because God's love is
everywhere

0:13:54.160,0:13:58.090
and I am like you when difficulty comes
my way

0:13:58.090,0:14:02.550
you know the first or the second thing I
want to do is say okay God where are

0:14:02.550,0:14:05.840
You?

0:14:05.840,0:14:11.770
assuming that for some reason if God were
there we would be opted out of

0:14:11.770,0:14:16.150
are suffering, no

0:14:16.150,0:14:18.400
in fact Paul says that

0:14:18.400,0:14:25.400
as Christians we will suffer as Christ
suffered

0:14:26.200,0:14:28.900
God will be with us

0:14:28.900,0:14:33.300
in the midst of all the troubles and
stress and difficulties

0:14:33.300,0:14:37.070
and disappointments in life

0:14:37.070,0:14:39.200
and yes I think those are

0:14:39.200,0:14:43.620
diminished to some degree because
of our faith but they're not completely

0:14:43.620,0:14:45.460
eliminated

0:14:45.460,0:14:47.859
why as I mentioned a few weeks ago

0:14:47.859,0:14:52.310
we live in a sin affected world

0:14:52.310,0:14:55.839
other people around us are sinners and
don't tell anybody

0:14:55.839,0:14:59.890
but you're a sinner too

0:14:59.890,0:15:04.580
and all that sin has a negative impact
on our life

0:15:04.580,0:15:06.710
one way or another

0:15:06.710,0:15:13.710
and that's the way life in this world
will be until we get to eternity

0:15:16.880,0:15:22.860
but there is not a circumstance or a
setting in life not even life and death

0:15:22.860,0:15:25.690
can separate us from the love of God why

0:15:25.690,0:15:28.660
because it's everywhere

0:15:28.660,0:15:32.450
and then finally God's love is deep
enough to address

0:15:32.450,0:15:38.420
any particular need that we have

0:15:38.420,0:15:40.610
my only hope is your love

0:15:40.610,0:15:45.910
for my problems are too big for me to
solve and are piled

0:15:45.910,0:15:51.910
over my head. I love that illustration

0:15:51.910,0:15:56.610
have you ever been in over your head in
life

0:15:56.610,0:16:00.369
you're all old enough that that's happened
at least once or twice

0:16:00.369,0:16:04.800
if not a couple of dozen times

0:16:04.800,0:16:06.680
sometimes

0:16:06.680,0:16:11.210
life seems to be piling up over our
heads

0:16:11.210,0:16:15.570
We're in over our head we jumped in with
Both feet and now

0:16:15.570,0:16:20.890
we feel like instead of swimming we are
drowning

0:16:20.890,0:16:22.710
and in this day and age that's

0:16:22.710,0:16:24.080
any easy

0:16:24.080,0:16:27.950
somewhat common feeling, isn't it?

0:16:27.950,0:16:30.040
because if it's not

0:16:30.040,0:16:31.880
the economy it's our health

0:16:31.880,0:16:36.550
if it's not our health it's our children
if it's not our children it's our spouse

0:16:36.550,0:16:41.410
if it's not our spouse it's our neighbor
and if it's not our work it's what's

0:16:41.410,0:16:48.410
happening in our group over here

0:16:49.770,0:16:51.610
there is not a need

0:16:51.610,0:16:54.360
no matter what you are despairing

0:16:54.360,0:16:56.200
no matter what your trouble is

0:16:56.200,0:17:03.200
no matter where you are stressed out no
no matter what your worry

0:17:04.689,0:17:08.180
God's love can address and will address

0:17:08.180,0:17:09.350
that setting

0:17:09.350,0:17:14.350
that circumstance of your life one way
or another

0:17:14.350,0:17:16.430
I'm not talking

0:17:16.430,0:17:21.460
just off the top of my head

0:17:21.460,0:17:24.419
when I talk about the love of
God

0:17:24.419,0:17:28.160
this meal reminds us

0:17:28.160,0:17:29.930
about the width

0:17:29.930,0:17:36.930
and the length and the heights and the
depth of God's love

0:17:38.130,0:17:40.860
Jesus understood

0:17:40.860,0:17:45.890
the worries and the concerns of the
disciples

0:17:45.890,0:17:49.679
it was a common meal

0:17:49.679,0:17:53.350
They had so-to-speak ordered pizza in

0:17:53.350,0:17:57.460
for the gathering

0:17:57.460,0:18:04.169
a very simple meal but God gave it a
profound meaning

0:18:04.169,0:18:07.090
he took the bread he broke it and he
said

0:18:07.090,0:18:10.600
this is my body

0:18:10.600,0:18:15.800
I am willing to sacrifice it for you

0:18:15.800,0:18:20.390
and then He took the cup and He poured it out

0:18:20.390,0:18:27.250
and he said this is my very blood
that I will shed for you

0:18:27.250,0:18:31.020
may I ask you this morning is there a
greater expression

0:18:31.020,0:18:33.720
of love

0:18:33.720,0:18:38.170
than a person's willingness to lay
their life down

0:18:38.170,0:18:40.560
for another

0:18:40.560,0:18:45.370
and when we couple that with the idea
that this is the God who created

0:18:45.370,0:18:52.370
everything that we enjoy and who
we are

0:18:52.390,0:18:56.530
wow

0:18:56.530,0:19:00.960
you mean Jesus Christ came into this
world not to be served

0:19:00.960,0:19:04.539
but to serve

0:19:04.539,0:19:06.809
Yeah, now that's a God

0:19:06.809,0:19:11.620
that's a God you want to have a personal
relationship with that's a God you want

0:19:11.620,0:19:17.420
To run to and not from

0:19:17.420,0:19:24.420
and frankly he's paid a pretty high
price to be in relationship with us

0:19:26.270,0:19:28.530
as we remember all that

0:19:28.530,0:19:32.800
God has done for us in love

0:19:32.800,0:19:34.810
I do want us to

0:19:34.810,0:19:41.050
be reminded that God is here for your
needs as well

0:19:41.050,0:19:43.500
whatever problem you face

0:19:43.500,0:19:47.160
as perplexing as it might be

0:19:47.160,0:19:51.740
no matter the grief and the loss that
you suffer this morning no matter what

0:19:51.740,0:19:54.230
you're worried about

0:19:54.230,0:19:58.570
stressed out about

0:19:58.570,0:20:01.540
When Christ gave his life, he gave his life

0:20:01.540,0:20:07.000
so that we might have love in the midst
of all that trauma and all that turmoil in

0:20:07.000,0:20:07.720
life

0:20:07.720,0:20:14.720
he does want to be the still point in
our rapidly turning world

0:20:16.400,0:20:20.450
and he can do that because he's
everywhere

0:20:20.450,0:20:26.150
he can do that because his love lasts
for all eternity

0:20:26.150,0:20:29.410
he could do that because he desires to
include

0:20:29.410,0:20:35.419
everyone here today in this meal

0:20:35.419,0:20:38.230
and the scriptures are clear anyone

0:20:38.230,0:20:43.870
who would confess that Jesus is the
leader of their life

0:20:43.870,0:20:45.780
this meal is for you

0:20:45.780,0:20:51.410
anyone who today who wants to decide to
embrace God's love in a personal way

0:20:51.410,0:20:54.520
that's another way to say it

0:20:54.520,0:20:56.549
old school we use to say if

0:20:56.549,0:21:01.830
Jesus is your Lord and your savior

0:21:01.830,0:21:05.380
this table is for you

0:21:05.380,0:21:08.590
as we share the bread spirit these words

0:21:08.590,0:21:12.140
this is Christ body broken for you

0:21:12.140,0:21:16.440
I'd encourage you to take the bread
individually

0:21:16.440,0:21:22.190
because it does take a an individual
response to be in relationships

0:21:22.190,0:21:23.490
with Jesus Christ

0:21:23.490,0:21:24.420
and then

0:21:24.420,0:21:26.620
these words as you share the cup

0:21:26.620,0:21:30.900
this is Christ blood shed for you and I'd
ask you to hold the cup because we take

0:21:30.900,0:21:33.890
it all together

0:21:33.890,0:21:39.010
we are in community with one another and
as one part of the body hurts the whole

0:21:39.010,0:21:41.630
body hurts

0:21:41.630,0:21:47.720
when one person is experiencing one
thing we all share that

0:21:47.720,0:21:50.820
both ease and challenge

0:21:50.820,0:21:56.830
celebration and death

0:21:56.830,0:22:01.830
God has a plan and the purpose for you
and he has a plan a purpose for us all

0:22:01.830,0:22:03.740
together

0:22:03.740,0:22:06.149
and we celebrate that and more

0:22:06.149,0:22:09.040
as we continue to worship Him

0:22:09.040,0:22:10.469
will the servers please come forward

Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africanns Albanian Shqipe Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

God is Trustworthy



God is Trustworthy

Choosing the best way to live



The best way to live is to trust in God who is in control of everything. Visit http://Godlife.com Has closed captions and can be viewed in other languages by pointing at [cc]. New messages every week - please feel free to subscribe. Go to http://sccSundayMessagecc.blogspot.com for more like this.

Sequim Community Church, 98382 WA
Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
October 23, 2011

I Chronicles 29:10-14

A. "Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your
kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything."
I Chronicles 29:11

* Sovereignty simply means that God is in control of
everything.

B. God is sovereign over:
* Nature (Psalm 148:8)
* History (Isaiah 14:2627)
* Our lives: when we were born (Acts 17:26); how long we will live (Job
14:5); our natural talents (Exodus 31:13)
.
I. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AFFECTS OUR PLANS.

A. Our plans have a limit.
"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose
that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"We may make our plans, but God has the last word."
Proverbs 16:1 (Good News Bible)

B. We need to be flexible with our plans.
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or
that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.
Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow!' Instead, you
ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'"
James 4:1315

"We should make plans counting on God to direct us."
Proverbs 16:9 (Living Bible)

II. IT IMPACTS OUR PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE A PURPOSE.
"At present, you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials.
This is no accident it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely
more valuable than gold..." I Peter 1:67
(Phillips)

* Job is an example (the wealthiest man in the world).
"The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were His to take away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21

* Joseph is an example (his family rejected him).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Genesis 50:20

* Our response to problems:
"This is the reason we never lose heart. These troubles (which are
temporary) are winning for us a permanent, glorious, and solid
reward out of proportion to our pain." 2 Corinthians 4:1617

III. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY MEANS OUR PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL.
A. Praying is not a waste of time.
"(God)...is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or
even dream of infinitely
beyond our highest prayers, desire,
thoughts or hopes." Ephesians 3:20
(Living Bible)

B. Prayer will accomplish whatever God wants to accomplish.

Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

The Greatest Difference Maker in Life



God's grace is amazing. It makes the biggest difference in our lives.  

Visit http://Godlife.com

Has closed captions and can be viewed in other languages by pointing at [cc].

Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
October 16, 2011
Ephesians 1:4-8

A. Most of us are pros at performance so we know little or nothing about grace.

"You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God."
Psalm 86:15

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you...."
Isaiah 30:18

B. God's grace is:
* Unconditional (Romans 11:6).
* Unlimited (Ephesians 3:18-20).
* Unending (2 Thessalonians 2:16).

I. GOD'S SAVING GRACE REMOVES OUR GUILT.
A. Because no one is perfect we all have guilt.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23

"By the death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God which He gave to us in such large measure." Ephesians 1:7-8

B. We don't have to earn it, just accept it.
"For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not your own doing but God's gift. There is nothing to boast of, since it is not the result of your own efforts."
Ephesians 2:8-9

II. GOD'S STRENGTHENING GRACE RESHAPES OUR LIVES.
A. God's grace helps us to be the better people we want to be and who God wants us to be.

"Your spiritual strength comes as a gift from God, not from
ceremonial rules." Hebrews 13:9

B. It's about growing in relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live in Him." Colossians 2:6

III. GOD'S SUSTAINING GRACE REMOVES MY HURT.
A. God is both transforming us and healing us.
* We all have pain and we all lose hope.
"My grace is all you need and for my power is strongest when you are weak." 2 Corinthians 12:9

B. God comforts us and heals us as we pray.
* Not me, I'm...
"Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive the grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:19

* Pray for God to:
Remove it.
Give strengthening grace.

C. "Be careful that none of you fails to respond to the grace of God for if you do there can spring up in you a bitter spirit which can poison the lives of many others." Hebrews 12:15

Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

How to handle change



God is never "here today, gone tomorrow"  

Visit Godlife.com  Has closed captions and can be viewed in other languages by pointing at [cc].

Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
October 9, 2011

James 1:16-17

A. Change is constant and is occurring at an ever increasing
rate.
B. Change creates stress in our lives.
C. God is reliable, He never changes. This is known as

God's immutable nature.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not
change life shifting shadows." James 1:17

"I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6

I. THREE THINGS ABOUT GOD THAT NEVER CHANGE.

A. First, God's love for us never changes.
"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself."
Jeremiah 31:3

* We are the object of God's affection.
* People change, they're fickle; that's frustrating.
* God never has a bad day!

"Your love never changes, so save me!"
Psalm 119:15

B. Second, God's Word to us never changes.

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

"I have known from my earliest days that your words will last forever." Psalm 119:152

* Human knowledge changes.
* Our methods have changed but not the message.
* We're tempted to ignore what God really says in His Word.

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise person who built their house on the rock." Matthew 5:24

* God's Word stabilizes our life.

C. Third, God's purpose for our lives will never change.

"The Lord Almighty has sworn, 'Surely as I have planned
it, so it will be, and as I have purposed so it will stand.'"
Isaiah 14:24

"His plans endure forever; His purposes last eternally."
Psalm 33:11

* Our plans change because we don't know it all or see it
all and/or we lack the resources to move forward.

"God is not like a human, He does not change His
mind." I Samuel 15:29

"His ways are eternal." Habakkuk 3:6

* God's purpose for you has not changed;
He wants to save you (John 3:16).
He wants to give you a full, meaningful life
(John 10:10).

Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

Getting Plugged in to God's Power

Tips on getting closer to God.  Visit http://Godlife.com 

Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
October 2, 2011
Isaiah 6:1-4

How the power of God changes our lives.


 A. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty..."                 Isaiah 6:3

"O Sovereign Lord!  You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm.  Nothing is too hard for you."                          Jeremiah 32:17

B. God is omnipotent which means He is all powerful; that His power is unlimited.

I. EVIDENCE OF GOD'S POWER.


A. First is creation.

"The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of His craftsmanship.  Day and night they keep on telling about God."     Psalm 19:1-2

B. Jesus' life displayed the power of God.

II. GETTING PLUGGED IN.


A. God wants to share His power with us.

"I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him...the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead."                        Ephesians 1:20

B. God wants to power us up:

* God wants to give us the power we need to get started.

"I often find that I have to will to do good, but not the power!"   Romans 7:18 (Phillips)

"No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right.  I want to, but I can't."                     Romans 7:18 (Living Bible)

          

 "For God is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose,"                                                                                     Philippians 2:13 (Phillips)

* God want to give us the power we need to keep going.

"I am worn out, O Lord...Give me strength; I am completely exhausted, and my whole being is deeply troubled."                                      Psalm 6:2-3 (Good News)

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk and not faint."                                                        Isaiah 40:28-31 (Good News)

III.GETTING POWERED UP.


A. We must admit our lack of power.

 "God said to me [Paul]... 'Where there is weakness, my power is shown more completely.'  So I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because that means a deep experience of Christ's power...'"             2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (Phillips)

         

B. We must believe in faith.

"Everything is possible for those who believe."                                                                            Matthew 9:29

C. We must act in faith.

"So you see, faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds [faith actions] it is dead and useless."                                                   James 2:17


Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

Where is God when you need Him?




"Where are you God when I need you?"

Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
September 25, 2011
Psalm 139:7-12

Have you ever Asked, "Where is God?", Sometimes we ask this because we are investigating God. Is He in Heaven?, In our hearts?, or does He reside in a building like the church? Others ask this question because they feel alone, lost, or confused with life and faith, and need to know that God is with them and is ready to help.

A. God is omnipresent which means that God is everywhere.

"I can never escape form your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence…your hand will guide me and your strength will support me." Psalm 139:7-10

"I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place. Do you not know I am everywhere in heaven and earth?" Jeremiah 23:24

B. God is always with us, we just need to be aware of it.


I. WHERE IS GOD WHEN I'M IN TROUBLE?
A. When we're lonely, the Bible says, God is our companion.
"Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful, because I am lonely." Psalm 25:16

* "God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!" Hebrews 13:5
* "Your presence fills me with joy." Psalm 16:1

B. When we're worried, God is our confidence.

"When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of
difficulty, you won't drown. When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won't be burned up."
Isaiah 42:23

* "I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart
is glad, and I rejoice." Psalm 16:8-9

C. When we're tempted, God is my counselor.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.

When you are tempted He will show you a way out so you can endure." I Corinthians 10:13

* God uses many good means to give us direction, counselor and encouragement.

D. When we're discouraged, God is my comfort.

"The Lord is near to those who are discourage. He saves those who have lost all hope." Psalm 34:18

* "…and He will you another Comforter who will never leave you." John 14:16
* "The Lord stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. So I walk in the presence of the Lord. I kept on
believing, even when I said, 'I'm completely crushed'…" Psalm 116:8-11


II. HOW TO HEIGHTEN YOUR AWARENESS OF GOD
A. Invite Jesus to become the leader of your life. (John 1:12)
B. Create some quite time to focus on God. (James 4:8)
C. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. (Psalm 62:8)


Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

Who is God and what He knows about you



Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
September 18, 2011
Hebrews 4:12-13


A. What we think about God is the most important thing about us.
B. When it comes to really knowing God and getting face to face with Him the best
resource by far is the Bible.

I. WHERE IS GOD? WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF GOD'S KNOWLEDGE?


A. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is ---- and
exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are
accountable." Hebrews 4:13

"His understanding has no limit." Psalm 147:5

B. God is omniscient which means His knowledge is limitless:
* God knows all about Himself (I Corinthians 2:11)
* God knows all about creation (Genesis 1:31)
* God knows all about historypast
(Acts 15:18); present
(Proverbs 15:3) and future (Isaiah 46:10)

II. HELP ME GOD! WHAT GOD ONLY KNOWS ABOUT US


A. God knows all about our faults, failures and fears.
"For our ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all our
paths." Proverbs 5:21

"My sins, O God, are not hidden from you; you know how foolish I
have been." Psalm 69:5 (Good News)

"So don't worry…your heavenly Father already knows what you need
(before we ask [Matthew 6:8])….and He will give you everything that you
need" Matthew 6:31-33

B. God knows all your feelings and frustrations.
"…you God have listened to all my troubles and have seen the crisis
in my soul." Psalm 31:7

"He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic for He knows what
we are made of dust." Psalm 103:13-14

"Cast all your cares on the Lord, for He cares about you!"
1 Peter 5:7

C. God knows our future.

"Every day of my life was recorded in your book before any of them
ever began." Psalm 139:16

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…plans to give
you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

D. God knows all the good we have done.

"We should not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Translate this message into another language. Translating into these different languages is easy. Examples are Africaans Albanian Shqip Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Han Croatian Hrvatski Czech Danish Dansk Estonian Eesti Filipino Finnish Suomi French Galician Galego German Deutsch Dutch Nederlands Greek Haitian Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Magyar Icelandic Bahasa Indonesia Indonesian Irish Gaeilge Italian Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Bahasa Melayu Maltese Malti Norwegian Norsk Persian Farsi Polish Polski Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Español Swahili Kiswahili Swedish Svenska Thai Turkish Türkçe Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Cymraeg Yiddish

These are common words in the video in other languages: Gott Gud Isten Bhagawan Boze Bog Deus Allah Dio Dios Dieu Dieus Jumala Khudah Perendise Perendia Yesu Masiha Kami Sama Isa al Maseeh Kristus Jesu

4/03/2011


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Getting Closer to God

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