Introduction: John Huffman in his book, Who's In Charge Here?, tells about Robert Wilson, a 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[God]. 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.

Let me ask you this morning, is your God big or little? How big is your God?

I. Is He Bigger Than Just Words (v.20a)?

Background: The apostle Paul is writing the Corinthian church here, dealing with some of the individuals who had become arrogant in their teachings and speech. They were the types who ran the church, without regard to what the bible taught or what was best for the whole church. They probably had the mentality of "this is my church" verses "this is the Lord's church." As a result, Paul admonishes them to correct their behavior and way of thinking. Instead of them becoming more like Christ, they had made Christ more like them - they made God in their own image. As a result, Paul now reminds them that the true and living God is more than just empty words, but had the power to backup what He said, and that Paul would show them if he had to come there to correct them out.

Transition: Let me ask you this, is your God. . .

1. Living or lifeless?

A. The God of the Bible is the only true and living God (Jer.10:10; Psa.42:2; 84:2; Isa. 37:4; Dan.6:20; Hos.1:10; Matt.26:63; Acts 14:15; Rom.9:26; 2Cor.3:3; 6:16; 1Tim.4:10; Heb.3:12; 9:14; 10:31; 12:22; 1Thes.1:9; Rev.7:2).

- Jeremiah 10:10, "But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation."

B. Manmade gods, created in his own image, are lifeless and useless (Jer.10:3-4; Psa.115:4-8; Isa.40:18; 43:10, 13; 44:6, 8-20; 46:9 1Cor.12:2; Rev.9:20).

- Psalm 115:2-9, "Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?' But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield."

2. Fact or fantasy?

A. The God of the Bible has proven Himself over and over, since the beginning of time.

1) Through His complexity and interaction with creation (Psa.19;104:1-21;148:1-6; Rom.1:18-21; Isa.40:21-26; 42:5, 24; Job 12:7-21; 26:7-14; 36:26-32; 37:1-13).

A) Consider the Heart. What engineer could design and build a pump that (JFG);

(1) 75-year life expectancy (2, 500, 000, 000 cycles).

(2) Requires NO Maintenance or lubrication.

(3) Has a varying output between 1/4 to 1 horse power.

(4) Its weight could no exceed 10.5 ounces (300 grams).

(5) It has the capacity to pump 2,000 gallons a day.

(6) It has valves operating 4,000 to 5,000 times per hour.

B) Consider one human brain (JFG):

(1) It consists of about ten thousand million nerve cells, with each nerve cell putting out somewhere in the region of between ten thousand and one hundred thousand connecting fibers by which it makes contact with other nerve cells in the brain.

(2) Everyone of these fibers are a highly organized network in which a high amount of the communications channels flow through the brain.

(3) Even if there were only one hundredth of these connections (out of the ten thousand million) were specifically organized, this would still represent a system that is greater and more organized than what exists in the entire communications network on earth.

C) Psalm 100:3a, "Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. . ."

D) Psalm 139:14, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."

2) Through His divine intervention and interaction with man (Psa.33:6-17, 20; 34:19; 1Sam.2:6-9; Dan.6:27; 1Jo.4:10; Genesis to Revelation is overflowing with examples).

- As we will see as we go through the rest of this sermon.

3) Through His accurate, truthful and proven Word (1/4 to 1/3 of the whole Bible is prophecy; there are over 300 prophecies in the OT just about Christ -- hundreds of these have been fulfilled just as God said they would be).

- Psalm 19:7, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."

4) Through His Son, Jesus Christ (1Cor.1:30: JFG).

A) It was through Christ that God's justice was reconciled with His mercy.

B) It was through Christ that God's law was reconciled with His grace.

C) It was through Christ that God's holiness was reconciled with His love.

D) It was through Christ that God's power was reconciled with His compassion.

E) The apostle Paul reenforces this truth in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."

B. All other gods exist by empty words and worldly philosophies.

- They leave mankind lost and hopelessly unchanged.

Transition: How big is your God? He is much more than just words. Is the God that you are serving. . .

II. Is He Powerful Or Powerless (v.20b)?

Background: The word power found here in this verse appears 123 times in the NT in 116 verses, and it is a reference to true strength in contrast to mere words or appearances. As I was doing this study, I discovered something interesting. There are at least 3 words in our English language that come from this Greek word used here, dunamis. These words aptly describe God's power and how it works. . .

Transition: The first English word that we get from the Greek word, dunamis is dynamite. . .

1. Is your God dynamite or a firecracker?

A. God's power is an explosive power.

- Like dynamite.

B. It has the ability to move the immoveable.

1) The explosive power of God moved the red sea, and allowed around 2 million people to cross over to the other side on dry ground (Exodus 14).

2) The explosive power of God brought down the walls of Jericho by having the people march around the walls three times (Joshua 6).

3) The explosive power of God brought victory to Gideon and 300 men against an enemy that the bible describes as "as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude" (Judges 7:12).

4) The explosive power of God blasted away at 3000 hearts on the day of Pentecost, and these individuals became Christians (Acts 2:41).

Application: As Christians, we need to stop ringing our hands with worry, and start laying the explosive charges of God to blast away at the granite boulders of man's hearts. Our God is dynamite, not a little firecracker. The Lord Jesus said, in Matthew 19:26, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Do you believe that all things are possible with God? Do you believe that God can do the impossible? If you do, then unleash the power of God, set the charges and stand back and let Him do the impossible. If you have a loved one, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker who isn't saved, then unleash the power of God on them, the gospel and let God do His work; Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." God used 12 men to turn the world upside down, because they understood that it was God power that would do the work - they only had to lay the charges. If 12 ordinary men changed the world, would could our church do to the small town Hopkinsville and Christian country? Lay the charges of gospel daily, and watch God move the rubble away. The problem with most churches and Christians today is we really don't believe that our God has the explosive power to make a real different in our own lives, let alone the world. We have become content with just setting off the fire crackers of routine and programs that make a lot of noise, but do little to make a real difference in the church or out of the church. How big is your God? Is He big enough to make a difference in your life?

Transition: The next English word that we get from the Greek word, dunamis is dynamo. . .

2. Is your God a dynamo or a dead battery?

A. God's power is a dynamo power.

- The converting of the energy of one source into another form of energy.

B. It has the ability to change or recreate.

1) He takes a life that is dead in its sin, and recreates a new life in Christ (John 3:1-3; 1Pet.1:23).

2) He changes our old nature to a new nature (2Cor.5:17).

3) He is actively at work in the lives of believers (Phil.2:13).

Application: A Christian is to be a dynamo for God. They are to be productive, and influencing to those they come into contact with. There should be something about us that is different from the rest of the world. There should be something about us that when we come into contact with others, they are influenced like the nails were to the electromagnetic force. The reason why most of us fail to be the influence that we should is because we fail to plug ourselves into God's power. Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." In other words, to be fruitful for the Lord and to be the influence that He wants us, in the world in which we live and our church, then we need to abide, that is, learn to walk daily with Him. This is done through prayer, the reading and studying of His word, and by submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we do this, we will not only become a influence upon others, but Christ will begin to influence our lives more too. The Christian who is plugged into power of God, can't help but to be an influence upon those they come into contact with. Those who plug into anything else, will find that their little-god will leave them powerless and in the dark.

Transition: The last English word that I want to look at that we get from the Greek word, dunamis is dynamic. . .

3. Is your God dynamic or dull?

A. God's power is a dynamic power.

- energetic, vigorous, forceful.

B. It is a force in motion (as opposed to static).

1) It moved upon the waters of the earth in creation (Gen.1:2).

2) It spared Noah and his family from the flood (Gen.7-8; Heb.11:7).

3) It led and gave Abraham a new land and made him the father of a great nation (Gen.17-50; Heb.11:8, 17).

4) It freed the Israelites from their Egyptian slavery (Exodus).

5) It was God's power that sent His Son Jesus to die for you and me, to set us free from the penalty and power of sin (John 3:16; Rom.1:16).

     Ill health force the Jackson family to leave the mission field, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, turned the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.

     For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work (750 Engaging Illustrations).

Application: This is just like a lot of Christians today. Our powerlessness has become a routine. We come and go, without ever seemingly growing closer to God or even having the energy to serve Him. If this describes you, then get out of the routine, by opening the hood of your heart and check your connection with God. When we make firm our connection with God, His life and will power flow through us; Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens [empowers] me."

     If your faith has become static, then you need to plug yourself back into God's power source and be put back into motion. Here's how:

1. Be a force for God and go and share the gospel.

2. Be a force for God by reading and applying God's Word.

A. It contains all the essential spiritual vitamins and minerals that are needed for a strong and healthy spiritual walk with the Lord.

B. When we feast upon God's Word daily, we weaken our walk with the Lord, and will lose our vigorous.

3. Be a force for God by serving Him in your church.

- The Christian's calling isn't to be logs used for road blocks in the church, but we are called to be active and dynamic influences in our world and in our church for God.

Invitation:

1. How big is your God?

A. Is He a big-godder or a little-godder?

B. Is He living or lifeless?

C. Is He powerful or powerless?

A. For the Christian it starts with a surrendered heart and is followed by obedience to the Lord.

- 1 Samuel 15:22, "Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.'"

B. For the person who has never accepted Christ as their Savior, it begins with the heart of conviction and repentance, which turns to confession.

1) We are convicted of our sin by both the Holy Spirit and our conscience.

A) John 16:8, "And when He [Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."

B) Romans 2:15, "who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them."

2) We are to repent or turn away from our sinful behavior or lifestyle.

- Acts 17:30, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent"

3) We are to accept and confess Jesus Christ as our Savior.

- Romans 10:9-11, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.'"

- "kingdom," (basileia {bas-il-i'-ah: n, nom, f, sg}); kingdom of God, His dominion, rule.
- "God," (Theos {theh'-os: n, gen, m, sg}); a deity, the true God.
- "word," (logos {log'-os: n, dat, m, sg}); a word uttered by a living voice, speech, decree.
- "power," (dunamis {doo'-nam-is: n, dat, f, sg}); strength, ability, power
 

JFG - The Joy of Fearing God, Jerry Bridges, Water Brook Press, Colorado Springs, CO, 1997