Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

WHO IS GOD Genesis 1:1-5 Genesis 1:1-5 (NASB) (In Genesis Chapter One the word God appears 26 times; and He 5 times).
(1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. {2} And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. {3} Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. {4} And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. {5} And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

INTRODUCTION:
In this sermon I will present simple statements base in scripture that have the phrase "God Is".
God does not try to defend His existence, He simple declares He Is. Also The phrase "IN THE BEGINNING: is used in the Bible A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES.

3 TIMES FOR GOD; 1 TIME FOR JESUS.

4 TIMES FOR THE BEGINNING OF A KINGS REIGN.

Illustration:
A mother was approached by her young son, who asked, "Mommy, did God make Himself?" Realizing that such questions by children are very important and must be answered, she dropped what she was doing and sat down with her youngster for a little talk. Pointing to her wedding band, she said, "This is a 'love ring,' which your daddy gave me when we were married. Look at it closely and tell me where it begins and where it ends."

The youngster examined it carefully and then said, "There's no starting place and stopping place to a ring." The mother replied, "That's the way it is with God. He had no beginning and has no end, yet He encircles our lives with His presence. He is too wonderful, too great, for our minds to understand. Nobody ever made God -- He always was!" Somehow the boy realized that for God to be God, He could not have been created. He had to be without beginning and without end.

I. Who Is God? GOD IS GOD. GEN. 1:1, Heb. 1:10

Introduction
This may seem redundant but God is God. His claim is followed by His actions.

(1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Hebrews 1:10 (NASB)
And, "THOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING DIDST LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE
EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF THY HANDS;

A. I HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT INCLUDES; KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

            1.    If I draw a circle and say let's make this circle represent all the knowledge of the world;
                    how much do you have?    Would you be willing to say I have some knowledge you do
                    not have?

B. I KNOW GOD IS:

1. MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIRMED THROUGH HIS WORD.

2. MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIRMED IN HIS FELLOWSHIP.

3. MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIRMED IN HIS BLESSINGS.

4. MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIRMED IN HIS PATIENCE. \

a. IN SPITE OF MY FAILURES.

6. MY KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIRMED IN HIS PROVISIONS.

Illustration
Several years ago our church was taking a religious census. We would go door to door and ask do you have a local church preference. One home the door was shut but I asked my question to the man inside through this closed door. He then said your problem is that you believe the first 4 words of the Bible.

As I walked away the answer had surprised me so much I asked myself "what are the first 4 words of the Bible? I then repeated the words "In the beginning God". I walked back up on the porch and hollered "you are right I do believe the first four words of the Bible. (I could have added and all the other words.)

Application

Do you believe these words of the Bible? They tell us about God and that He is God.

II. Who Is God? GOD IS SPIRIT.

John 4:24 (NASB)
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

A. GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY:

1. TIME.

2. PRESENCE. He Is Omnipresent,

3. WISDOM. He Is Omniscient,

4. POWER. He Is Omnipotent

III. Who Is God? GOD IS LIGHT.

1 John 1:5
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Illustration:
John Huffman in his book, "Who's In Charge Here?", tells about Robert Dick Wilson, a great professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. One of Dr. Wilson's students had been invited back to preach in Miller Chapel twelve years after his graduation.

Old Dr. Wilson came in and sat down near the front. At the close of the meeting the old professor came up to his former student, cocked his head to one side in his characteristic way, extended his hand, and said, "If you come back again, I will not come to hear you preach. I only come once. I am glad that you are a big-godder.

When my boys come back, I come to see if they are big-godders or little-godders, and then I know what their ministry will be." His former student asked him to explain, and he replied: "Well, some men have a little god, and they are always in trouble with him. He can't do any miracles. He can't take care of the inspiration and transmission of the Scripture to us. He doesn't intervene on behalf of his people. They have a little god and I call them little-godders. Then there are those who have a great God. He speaks and it is done. He commands and it stands fast. He knows how to show Himself strong on behalf of them that fear him. You have a great God; and He will bless your ministry." He paused a moment and smiled, and said, "God bless you," and turned, and walked out.

IV. Who Is God? GOD IS LOVE.

1 John 4:8 (NASB)
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Illustration:
Someone has offered this penetrating comparison of the difference between revenge, justice, and grace.

1. If someone brutally murders your son and you take things into your own hands, that's revenge.

2. If you're content to allow the law and the courts to arrest and punish the offender, that's justice.

3. But if you pardon the murderer, adopt him, and take him home to live with you as your son, that's grace!

Think about That Related to the O.J. Simpson Case ( If He Is Guilty ).

V. Who Is God? GOD IS GRACIOUS.

2 Chronicles 30:9 (NASB)
"For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."

Illustration:
One day famed British preacher Charles Spurgeon was riding home after a hard day's work, feeling tired and depressed. Suddenly the phrase "My grace is sufficient for you" entered his mind.

He then thought of the tiny fish who might be afraid lest they drink the river dry, but who hear the reassuring word, "Drink up little fish, my stream is sufficient for you."

Spurgeon also thought of a mountain climber fearing lest he exhaust all of the thin oxygen in the atmosphere being reassured, "Breathe away young man and fill your lungs, for my atmosphere is sufficient for you."

Spurgeon said that for the first time, "I experienced the joy that Abraham felt when he rejoiced in God's provision." It's true. No matter how great our need might be, God's overcoming power far outweighs it. Moody, 4-20-91

VI. Who Is God? GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.

Hebrews 12:29 (NASB)
". . . for our God is a consuming fire. "

A. A CONSUMING FIRE ALSO PURIFIES.

Illustration:
Writing in The Sunday School Times many years ago, Newman Hall told about a Christian friend who was invited to debate publicly with some men who had no use for the Lord or the church. The believer said, "When you can find me twelve families who were once Christians but by embracing your views have become more virtuous, useful, contented, and happy, I will think it worthwhile to argue with you, and not before."

Then he said, "I can find you one hundred families who were once living only for this present world, but who because of Christ have become better husbands and wives, better parents and children, more virtuous, and sober, and happy." Hall concluded, "Yes, let religion be tested by its purifying power."