Who
Is A God like You?
Micah
7:18-20
Introduction:
1.
What is your perception of God?
a.
Distant and unfeeling or close and caring
b.
old and out of touch or real and relevant
c.
Hard and unyielding or compassionate and concerned
2.
This passage speaks volumes about God, giving us hope,
comfort, security, and confidence.
1. Micah 7:19 He
will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes,
Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
2. Isa. 43:25
"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.”
3. 1 Cor. 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some
of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
4. Psalm 32:1-5
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How
blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose
spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I
acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I
will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And Thou didst forgive the
guilt of my sin.
1. Do you think
God enjoys being angry? Do you enjoy
anger?
2. I am told
that anger produces a toxin in the body, which poisons the heart. Some die young because of anger.
3. Psalm 103:8,9
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in
lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us; nor will He keep His anger
forever.
4. God gets over
His anger and renews His compassion; He wants to reconcile! Some people get offended and never want
reconciliation
a.
divorces take place because people can’t work out problems
b.
churches fight because they can’t work out their differences
c.
Friends separate because they can’t say “I’m sorry” and “I
forgive you.”
5. Eph. 4:26, 27
be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do
not give the devil an opportunity.
6. Eph. 4:31, 32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
7. James 1:19,20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to
speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the
righteousness of God.
1. Nothing
delights God more than to show mercy and lovingkindness
a.
we do not have to beg God
b.
God is not forced to show love, He delights in it!
c.
Ezek. 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure in the death of the
wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from
his ways and live?”
d.
God’s delight is in Satan’s defeat; what thrills God
frustrates Satan.
2.
Luke 15:4-10
a.
"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more
joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who need no repentance.”
b.
"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
1. Our task is
to trust God—trust His forgiveness
2. 1 Thess.
5:23,24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He
who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
3. The greatest
need you have: pardon, forgiveness