God is Not Who You Want Him to Be

May 24, 2025

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in Spring 2025 Retreat

Canaan Fellowship

God is Not Who You Want Him to Be

00:00 / 00:51:53

This sermon by Andrew explores the concept of understanding God as He truly is, rather than as we might wish Him to be. Delivered with a unique approach using PowerPoint, the talk challenges listeners to confront their misconceptions about God and seek a deeper, authentic relationship with Him.

[00:00:00] Opening Prayer: Andrew begins with a prayer, asking for God’s words to speak through him during the session.
[00:01:25] Title Introduction: The sermon title, “God is Not Who You Want Him to Be,” is introduced, suggesting a potential misunderstanding that will be clarified.
[00:01:53] Interactive Questions: Andrew asks the audience who has a perfect understanding of God and who wants to know Him better, setting a reflective tone.
[00:02:36] Objectives Outlined: Key topics include the hierarchy of God, creating false images of Him, symptoms and consequences of such images, and ways to see God truly.
[00:03:23] Personal Story: Andrew shares a story about a coworker, Sam, whose unconventional view of God as a collective idea prompts a discussion on spiritual beliefs.
[00:08:02] Old Testament Reflection: Andrew admits to feeling disgust while reading Old Testament laws, revealing personal struggles with God’s nature.
[00:09:20] Core Message: Emphasizes that God often doesn’t align with human desires for an easy-to-serve deity, challenging personal sacrifices.
[00:11:47] Defining God: Citing Exodus 3:14, Andrew discusses God’s self-declaration as “I Am Who I Am,” highlighting His eternal, independent nature.
[00:12:34] Attributes of God: Lists implications of God’s nature, including:
1. No beginning or end, existing eternally.
2. Utter independence, relying on nothing outside Himself.
3. Absolute constancy and perfection, unchanging over time.
4. The standard of truth, goodness, and beauty.
[00:17:07] Boundaries with God: References the book “Boundaries” to discuss respecting God’s freedom and choices, avoiding manipulation of His will.
[00:20:01] False Images in Scripture: Examines Exodus 20 and 32, where Israelites create idols like the golden calf, distorting God’s true identity.
[00:23:27] New Testament Example: Discusses Peter’s misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission in Matthew 16, wanting a conquering king instead of a sacrificial lamb.
[00:28:53] Symptoms of False Images: Identifies signs like explaining away Scripture, not doing God’s will, and not seeking Him, as indicators of distorted views.
[00:39:13] Consequences: Warns of eternal consequences for false images, citing Matthew 7 where some claiming to serve God are rejected.
[00:42:03] Practical Steps: Offers ways to know the true God, including spending time with Him, in Scripture, with believers, and welcoming the Holy Spirit.
[00:50:33] Closing Challenge: Ends with a call to action, urging listeners to apply what they’ve learned to deepen their relationship with God.