Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Study 4: The Immense God of the Universe

Intro:
Prayer for humility

Questions:
Does God hear us when we pray?
Does God always answer prayers the way we want Him to?
Who is in control of the universe?
Why does God allow bad things to happen?

Body:
God does hear his people:
James 5:16 prayer of a righteous man
Romans 8:26-27 the spirit interceding with moaning
1 Samuel 1-2 Hannah’s prayer

He does answer our prayers. Sometimes the answer is no:
2 Samuel 11-12 David and the baby
James 4:2-3 ask with wrong motives
Romans 8:28 all things for good
Isaiah 55:9 My thoughts are higher than your thoughts
Lamentations 3:38-40 “why should any mortal offer complaint”

God controls all things:
Isaiah 36 the defeat of Sennacherib
Proverbs 21:1 the heart of the king is water
Mark 2:1-12 the paralyzed man
Psalm 97:1-6 Mountains melt like wax

To be God is to be absolutely free. He decides what is right and wrong:
Romans 9:14 “there is no injustice with God”
Romans 9:21 ignoble and noble vessels
Job 40:6-14 God’s rebuke to Job
Job 42:1-6 Job’s repentance
1 Colossians 1:16-22 “in Him all things hold together”

Closing:
Prayer

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