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How Rich Is Your God?
"God's generous providence is everywhere
manifested in the world around us. For instance, an ocean-dwelling
turbot produces ten million eggs. A single water flea begets three
billion progeny in sixty days' time. It is conservatively reported that
there are 400,000 species of plants in the world, 50,000 kind of
butterflies and moths, 20,000 varieties of birds, and stars without
number. These represent but a few of His prodigalities(extravagancies).
And for what purpose? That mankind might
richly enjoy them..." - Illustrations From Nature
In 1 Timothy 6:17,
the Apostle Paul described the Lord God in a most remarkable way as -
"...the Living God, Who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy."
In our everyday experiences with this same
God, this statement of Paul's almost seems to be an understatement.
Which of us cannot confirm that
"God has been so Good to us all the time"? When we set our
gaze upon Him, we cannot help but be mindful of His
inexhaustible ability to supply our ever need as well as to
be mindful of His abundant blessings and mercies bestowed
upon us.
Lamentations 3:23
- The Scriptures tell of His mercies that they are
"new every morning." For each
new day, there is a rich and abundant supply.
What a God! How can we not stand back in awe
of Him!
Isaiah 55:2
- Besides His Great Mercies, He has given us His Blessed Word
which provides "fatness"
to our souls. In other words, it provides the
richest delights, spiritual food, or abundant blessings.
Colossians 3:16
- Do we then wonder why the Apostle Paul would encourage all saints to
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly(abundantly) in all
wisdom..." ?
Psalm 119:14
- It is no wonder that the Psalmist declared -
"I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much
as in all riches." To the degree that
one would be jubilant and elated over receiving a million dollars is the
measure of his great joy over the Word of God.
In this message, we would like to look
into this vast supply of "riches" bestowed
on the children of men. May this message inspire Great Praise and
Worship from our hearts as we look at our God!
1. The Riches of His Goodness,
Forbearance, & Longsuffering
Romans 2:4 -
"Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of
God leadeth thee to repentance?"
"The riches"
in this verse describe something that is very great and valuable as well
as something that is superfluous and abundant.
What "riches" was Paul referring
to?
"The riches"
of God's "goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering..."
That is, His kindness, His restraint or
holding back of His indignation or displeasure toward sin, and His
slowness to anger which gives man the opportunity to repent and get
things right with Him.
2. The Riches Of His Wisdom & Knowledge
Romans 11:33 -
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His
ways past finding out!"
"The depth"
Paul referred to here is like an abyss or an ocean. It is too vast to
measure; too incomprehensible to understand; too
unutterable to define.
God's
"riches," "wisdom," and "knowledge" are
so abundant. They are so precious and valuable as expressed through His
Redemption toward man.
His "riches"
include all of His abundant blessings and mercies poured out upon
mankind.
His "wisdom"
pertains to choosing the best means or ends of bringing man unto
Himself.
His
"knowledge" is His omniscience in knowing
man's needs and fulfilling them in salvation.
3. The Riches Of His Grace
Ephesians 1:7 -
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace."
Ephesians 2:7 -
"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches
of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
God's grace is rich in supply. It is
abounding and overflowing.
It was demonstrated when He made provision
for the salvation of not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well.
It was personally demonstrated when He
forgave us and delivered us from our sin and its evil consequences
4. The Riches Of His Glory
Romans 9:23 -
"And that He might make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory."
Ephesians 1:18 -
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know
what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints."
Ephesians 3:16 -
"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His
glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the
inner man."
Philippians 4:19 -
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His
riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Colossians 1:27 -
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory."
The "riches
of His glory" is a common Hebrew expression
meaning His rich or abundant goodness. He manifested or displayed this
rich "glory" and
continues to do so whenever He shows mercy to undeserving sinners
through His mighty work of salvation.
God's glorious wealth included the
"hope" of a better
world to come as well as the "enlightening"
of our sin-struck "understanding"
so that now we are able to comprehend Truth and live by its principles.
The "riches
of His glory" or His eternal fullness also
supplies us daily with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit which
enables us to bear our trials, perform our duties, resist all
temptations to sin, live a life of Faith and Purity, and glorify Jesus'
name.
Because of His abundant or infinite
fullness or "glory,"
through "Christ Jesus,"
He is able to "supply"
all our needs - no matter what they may be.
"The riches of the glory of this
mystery" refers to the once concealed Truth
which is so elevated in subject; that is,
"Christ in you."
Could there be a more glorious
thought? To think that God would inhabit mortal man and make him a fit
habitation for His Glory to reside.
5. The Unsearchable Riches Of Christ
Ephesians 3:8 -
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ."
Against the backdrop of him being the
"least of all saints,"
Paul paints the awesome picture of Christ and His
"unsearchable riches." In Him
are laid up the precious jewels of mercy, grace, and love. This mighty
treasure is past finding out and unfathomable. It can't be traced
out, explored, or fully appreciated.
Simply said - you can't find the
bottom of it.
Whether he was speaking about God's
"goodness," "forbearance," "longsuffering,"
"riches," "wisdom," "knowledge," "grace," "glory,"
or even "Christ"
Himself, the Apostle Paul repeatedly mentioned the vast and
incomprehensible supply the believer finds in his God.
He used such terminology as
"according to the riches," "the exceeding riches,"
or the "unsearchable riches."
As the present-day Church, we need
to ask ourselves - How Rich Is Our God?
Do we see Him as the Apostle Paul
did?
Through our prayer and
intercession, are we tapping into His vast supply?
How are we living on this earth - as a
prince or a pauper?
May this message transform our lives
insomuch that we will come to realize that in Christ Jesus, we have
"unsearchable" riches. They are "riches"
that are so deep that they are past finding out. In all of our days on
earth and even throughout eternity, we will never be able to reach the
bottom of them.
Never again do we have to live a
day of defeat or failure.
Never again do we have to feel
depressed, discouraged, despondent, or hopeless.
Our God is rich.
Galatians 4:7 - And we are
His "heirs."
May God Bless His Word. |
