THE IMAGE OF OUR INVISIBLE GOD

1. THE IMAGE OF OUR INVISIBLE GOD We can’t see or hear invisible, so how is it possible to make an image? (It is pure fakery to think a camera can take a picture of a “ghost”)

2. Satan and his “army” of demons are invisible spirits/angels who attempted to overthrow God. • This happened before the Garden of Eden • Angels had all the “light” of God, and intelligently, deliberately chose to mutiny. Evidently that is the reason God has no plan to save them from the Lake of Fire. • Satan entered a creature and used it to appear and speak to Adam and Eve. Demons use people and things to do their evil work in the human realm.

3. THE 2nd and 3rd Commandments TNIV Exodus 20: 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.

4. Jesus is the one and only true image of God TNIV Hebrews 1:1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation (image)of his being,

5. Consider the “jump” from prayer (9-14) to this mind expanding description of Jesus! Why? TNIV Col. 1:15 The Son is the imageof the invisible God, the firstbornover all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He isbefore all things, and in him all things hold together

6. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

7. The Beloved Son was in total harmony with the Father in all He was, said, and did John 5:19“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 5:21 just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

8. Jesus never once acted on His own. He was always in total harmony with the Father John 5:30 I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified con-cerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form 6:38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 6:46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 8:19 “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

9. Jesus was God totally integrated with a human body, but the people could only see the body John 8:28 “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!” cp. Ex. 3:14

10. Jesus was One with the Father. Let us see God qualities in His behavior, words, and actions” John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

11. Jesus Demonstrated Creation Power Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

12. Jesus Demonstrated Foreknowledge Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

13. Jesus Demonstrated God’s Glory Exodus 24:17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

14. Jesus Demonstrated God’s Grace in Promising His Holy Presence to remain with mere Humans Joshua 1:5 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

15. Jesus Demonstrated Divine Jealousy Deuteronomy 32:16 They provoked God to jealousy with their vanities. Matt. 21:12-13 Jesus drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers

16. Jesus Demonstrated Divine Longsuffering Numbers 14:18 The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy Mark 9:19 O faithless generation, how long shall I bear with you?

17. Jesus Demonstrated Divine Presence. He was unseen, but present, when Thomas spoke doubt Psalm 139:3-10 There is nowhere you can go and get away from God. John 20:25-29 Thomas disbelieved Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Later, Jesus faced him with his words

18. God saved Israel from Red Sea waters. Jesus saved people from Sea of Galilee waters Exodus 14:29 The children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea. Matthew 8:24-26 A great storm was about to capsize their boat, l but Jesus spoke to wind and sea and there was instant calm

19. Jesus Claimed Self Existence. He needed nothing and no one to keep Him alive and well Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “I AM” (the Light of the world, Bread of life, Son of God, Good Shepherd, way, truth, life, true vine, Door, resurrection)

20. The Son is the image of the invisible God Col. 1:15 God became Jesus to reveal Himself to humanity, but we are not supposed to think God is a white 6’1” male, with shoulder length hair and beard. Jesus came to reveal the Person of God, not the appearance of God

21. Revelation 3:20 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. The unsaved person blocks Jesus out of heart and life. So, they themselves close the door to eternal life. Jesus accepts rejection He waits for each of us to turn around (repent) and open the door to faith to believe

22. At the moment of receiving faith, God adopts us into His eternal family and begins to train us. Not to prove ourselves worthy by obeying laws and rules But to accept His Lordship and obey out of thankfulness

23. I see other saints as sincere in their faith and in their commitment to His Lordship We are all on different rungs of the growth ladders Servants of King Jesus dare not condemn one another Rom.14:4 Who are you to judge (condemn) another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. He will be made to stand. God is able to make him stand