I Am Confused About God...What Can I Do?

Text: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 34:4-9, 14; Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:12, 17-18; Psalm 95:1-11; Heb. 11:6

Theme: God is important because He is the Source, Meaning, and Purpose of all life.

Relevance:

Who is God?

Today, there is no common understanding of who God is. Many people make up their own definition of who God is. We must be sure we are talking about the same God when we address the question, “Who is God?”

Why do we need to know teaching about God and His existence?

1. To avoid falling into ancient false belief systems already identified and discredited in Christian history.

2. To avoid being deceived by a present-day cult or false religion.

3. To strengthen my own faith and walk with God.

4. To be able to speak intelligently about God with others.

Introduction:

The greatest and most profound idea the human mind can ever conceivably entertain concerns the possibility of the existence of a personal God. The sheer importance of man’s response to this idea cannot be exaggerated, for it will not only govern his life down here but also determine his ultimate destiny. Unless one satisfactorily answers the who question, he cannot possibly solve the how, why, when and where problems of his own existence. –H. L. Willmington 

Unfortunately, we can become confused about God. In some instances it is the fact that we were taught wrong in the first place, and others simply created in their minds an idea of God from select verses in the Bible while ignoring others. Yet some individuals have blended several religious traditions together to develop their unique idea of God. Because of these contradictions, misinformation, and general confusion some have rejected the notion of a God altogether. They have wrongly concluded there is no reality to the God claims. Still there is hope of understanding the truth in this all important matter. Yes, the truth about God can be known and experienced deeply when we turn to the reliable message of the Word of God. This will require separating our personal concept of God from the reality the Bible portrays, but this is a worthwhile adventure! Let us begin....

Lesson:

I.                   Exploring Misconceptions About God—What are Some False Concepts of God?

Belief in the reality of God is one thing, but mankind’s conceptions of God are quite different, conflicting, and often erroneous.

A.     There is No God—Atheism.

1.Atheism is a denial of the existence of God. It is unnatural and an abnormal assertion on the part of people (Rom. 1:22; Ps. 14:1).

2.Some atheists have admitted they reject the concept of God because a belief in God spoils their idea of pleasure. They generally do not want to be accountable to God because they do not want the constraints, morality, and ethic that are hardwired to Him. They claim to be free thinkers, but the reality is they are slaves to their own appetites worshipping themselves.   

3.Have you ever tried to imagine what life would be like without God? There would be no absolute standard of right and wrong, no hope of heaven, no supernatural help or enablement, no higher purpose for life, and no reason to expect good, justice, or mercy. We would be subject to the random blows of fate, chance, and chaos. Order, predictability, and design would be lost or greatly diminished. There would be no reason for faith and worship and our unique character as human beings would not be true. We would be simple animals, who die and all existence is over in death. Much or what we take for granted in life would be gone if there were no God.

B.     There is No Knowledge of God—Agnosticism.

1.Agnosticism asserts the impossibility of knowing the certainty of God. It is a form of skepticism. They deny God is knowable.

2.Someone has observed the agnostic cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman—he running away!  

C.     God has Abandoned Us—Deism.

1.A philosophy that contends God exists and is the Creator of all things, but He is not a personal God. It holds that God is present in creation only in His power, but not His being and nature.

2.Deism rejects the need for special revelation—the Bible—holding that man is intellectually sharp enough to know there is a Higher Being or a Divine Architect.

3.This philosophy portrays God as the invisible Clockmaker, who wound up the universe, then left it for man to run.

D.    There are numerous gods—Polytheism.

1.This is the concept and belief in many gods as in ancient Greek mythology and Hinduism. The theory assumes the existence of many gods. This is a concept of growing acceptance in the Western world because of movies portrying 'superheroes' and special individuals as gods and demigods. 

2.In the environment of the Bible most societies were polytheistic: there were ‘many gods and many lords’ (1 Cor. 8:5). Different deities had different functions, associations, characters, and mythologies. –Harper's Bible Dictionary

3.In the Bible the gods of the heathen are declared to be "vanity," and "nothing," mere imaginary beings, without power either to hurt or to save. (Jer. 2:28; Isa. 41: 29; Isa. 42:17; Ps. 106:28.) –Hodge, Charles: Systematic Theology

E.     Matter is the only reality—Materialism.

1.Materialism is a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter. –Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

2.This theory holds that the universe has always existed and will always endure forever.  Thus no God or Creator. It ignores the distinctions between matter and mind and militates against the concept of “innate knowledge” of God. The theory states that knowledge and sensation are produced by external stimulation—experience. It holds that matter is the only reality and that everything in the world, including thought, ideas of God and truth, will, conscience, soul, and emotions can be explained in terms of matter.

3.Materialism essentially ignores the spiritual realm altogether, choosing instead to live self-indulgently for this temporal world.

F.      God is all and all is God—Pantheism.

1.Pantheism denies the personality of God—God and the universe are one and the same. It holds that all finite things are divine. In other words God is nature—a mountain, rock, tree, an animal. All of nature is God.

2.New Age environmentalism is a present day example of pantheism. It’s “mother earth” concept is nothing more than the worship of created things. Hinduism is likewise pantheistic holding all life to be sacred (Rom. 1:25).

II.                Examining Our Concept of God—How Can We Test Ourselves to Detect False Ideas About God?

Explore these passages of Scripture to identify modern forms of idolatry and misconceptions about God (Exodus 20:1-6; Deut. 5:6-11; 2 Kings 17:1-41; 1 Kings 18:17-46; 1 Samuel 7:1-17). This is an Idolatry Detection Examination. Think about how you spend your time, treasure, and energy.

A.     What or who have I put “before” God? Entertainment, internet, sports, job, education, plans, spouse, body, possessions, wealth, or fame (Ex. 20:3)

B.     What or who is most important to me? (Ex. 20:3)

C.     What “images” of God have I erected literally or conceptually? Divine Santa Claus, Cosmic Killjoy, A Force, Loving passive Grandfather, The Man Upstairs, or an unreasonable Tyrant (Ex. 20:4). Beware of the person who ignores the Bible revelation of God and says, “To me, God is like….”

D.    What or who do I “bow down” to with total allegiance and loyalty? (Ex. 20:5)

E.     Does my love for a person, place, thing, or idea provoke God to jealousy? (Ex. 20:5)

F.      What or whom do I respect and fear most or as much as I fear God? (2 Kings 17:7)

G.    What ‘secret devotion’ would I be embarrassed for others to know about? (2 Kings 17:9)

H.    What ‘religious’ practices do I rationalize to justify my participation in them? (2 Kings 17:13, 14)

I.       What commands of God’s Word do I explain away to accommodate my beliefs or behavior? (2 Kings 17:15, 16)

J.      Who do I admire greatly and find it difficult to evaluate them objectively or who do I defend tenaciously? (2 Kings 17:21, 22)

K.    What beliefs or superstitions do I mix with my Christian faith? Fate, luck, karma, fatalism ect. (2 Kings 17:16, 17)

III.             Correcting Our Misconceptions of God—What Can We Do To Refuse The Lies and Embrace More Truth About God? 

God forgives and restores His people to fellowship with Himself even after extended periods in deep dark sin and/or idolatry. He graciously protects and gives us victory over our spiritual enemies. One key is immersion in the Word of God! 

A.     Text: 1 Samuel 7:1-17, read and study this chapter in God’s Word carefully. It will serve as the point of instruction to help us regain our spiritual equilibrium and make things right with the Lord.     

B.     Chapter Outline:

I.                    The Ark of the Lord is situated in Kirjathjearim for twenty years (v. 1, 2)

A.     A place was prepared for the Ark of the Lord (1)

B.     A person was prepared to keep the Ark (1)

C.     A period of twenty years the Ark remained there (2)

II.                 Israel repents of idolatry and devotes themselves to serve God exclusively (v. 3-6)

A.     Israel mourns after the Lord (2)

B.     Israel repents of idol worship (v. 3, 4)

C.     Israel gathers in Mizpeh for rededication (v. 5, 6)

D.     Israel confesses her sins against the Lord (v. 6)

III.               The Lord defended Israel and delivered her from Philistine attack (v. 7-12)

A.     The Philistines plan to attack Israel (v. 7)

B.     Israel pleads with Samuel to cry out to God for them (v. 8)

C.     Samuel offers a burnt offering and prays to God for his nation (v. 9)

D.     God responds in great power to deliver and help His people (v. 10-12)

IV.              The Lord subdued Israel’s enemies continually under Samuel’s judgeship (v. 13-17)

A.     The Philistines were subdued during Samuel’s judgeship (v. 13)

B.     Israel’s lands were restored to them from the Philistines (v. 14)

C.     The Ammorites were at peace with Israel (v. 14)

D.     Samuel was a faithful and effective judge throughout his life (v. 15-17)

C.     Chapter Summary: Our God is a Restorer, Reviver, Protector, and Helper and He gives His people victory over all their enemies. Even after extended periods in deep dark sin, He remains our help and hope for revival and revitalization. He will even revitalize us after periods of deadness, unfruitfulness, and barrenness. When we humble ourselves in repentance and rededication, He will graciously receive us, even after periods in idolatry. He will give His people victory again in spite of our many defeats when we trust His great power and strength.

D.    Applications:

1. Does the passages expose any SIN I need to confess and forsake?  1Sam. 7:5. Perhaps prayerlessness or a weak and inconsistent prayer life is a problem. Irregular prayer habits, no family prayer time. Perhaps prayer is not a passionate experience; it has become dull and routine.

2. Is there and ERROR in belief or behavior to avoid or correct? 1Sam. 7:2, 3. The people “lamented” after Jehovah, but they had not repented of their idolatry. They were practicing some form of syncretism—a blend of idolatry with the worship of Yahweh. God wanted them exclusively to Himself and true worship.

3. Is there a WARNING for me to recognize and heed? 1 Sam. 7:1-3. Israel was living under harsh Philistine dominance and oppression. They were a depressed and defeated people suffering under the cruelty of the Philistines. Sin may be pleasurable for a season, but we will live with the awful consequences and painful memories of our shameful decisions. We must constantly remind ourselves that sinful living has grave consequences.

4. Are there any COMMANDS for me to obey? 1Sam. 7:3, “If ye do return unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the strange gods…” Returning to the Lord requires a complete rededication; He wants a total commitment to Him as we forsake all forms of idolatry. Many times traditions, pride, power, money, prestige, property and false concepts of God are not forsaken hindering our full devotion to the Lord.

5. Are there any INSTRUCTIONS for me to follow? 1Sam7. How to Have Victory in the Lord

                                                                     i.            Desire and pursue genuine fellowship with the Lord (v. 2)

                                                                   ii.            Return to the Lord through self-examination, confession, repentance, and obedience (v. 3, 6)

                                                                  iii.            Remove all idols from your heart and mind to serve The True and Living God exclusively (v. 3)

                                                                 iv.            Restore prayer as a spiritual discipline both individually and cooperatively (v. 5, 6)

                                                                   v.            Submit to the authority of God’s Word, His judgments, and His genuine leaders (v. 6)

                                                                 vi.            Expect the enemy to discourage and frustrate your rededication, but decidedly resist him (v. 7)

                                                                vii.            Cling to the Lord by faith during trials and testings—fight your battles in prayer (v. 8)

                                                              viii.            Keep the Cross of Christ central to experience victory over your enemies (v. 9)

                                                                 ix.            Trust God for victory over your spiritual enemies; rely on Him to protect you through the battles (v. 10)

                                                                   x.            Understand that your spiritual enemies are no match for Almighty God (v. 10)

                                                                 xi.            Enter each battle with confidence in the Lord, that He will give another victory (v. 11-13)

                                                                xii.            Trust God to enable you to restore and regain loses in relationships and opportunities in His timing (v. 14)

                                                              xiii.            Commit yourself to a life of devotion to the Lord and victorious living (v. 13-17)

Our worship, service, relationships, and devotional lives should all be positively impacted by the realities of God as revealed in the Bible. A great exercise we could engage in is to take one truth about God and think on it, memorize it, and commit it to heart. Also commit to memory a related verse reference to strengthen your knowledge of that truth about Him. This will not only help our personal perception of God, but it should influence our faith interactions with Him also. Likewise this information provides us with insights to intelligently communicate what the Bible says and what we believe about God to others. These timeless truths also protect us from false ideas about God and enable us to recognize false forms of worship or error-ridden systems of theology. Yes, even if we have made the mistake of embracing a wrong idea about God, we can repent before the Lord. He will forgive us and cleanse us. He will help us know Him according to the truth as stated in the Bible.