seeing him who is invisible seeing him who is invisible hebrews 11:27 hebrews 11:27

Seeing Him Who is Seeing Him Who is Invisible Invisible

Hebrews 11:27Hebrews 11:27

Seeing Him Who is InvisibleSeeing Him Who is Invisible

I. Moses saw Him who is Invisible. I. Moses saw Him who is Invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27, “Hebrews 11:24-27, “By faith Moses, By faith Moses,

when he became of age, refused to be when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for not fearing the wrath of the king; for he he endured as seeing Him who is endured as seeing Him who is invisibleinvisible..””


A. Moses endured (persevered) A. Moses endured (persevered) as if God were visibleas if God were visible. He saw Him . He saw Him with the with the eyes of faitheyes of faith and to him it and to him it was as if he could see Him with his was as if he could see Him with his physical eyes.physical eyes.


B. This indicates that he served B. This indicates that he served the one and only true and living God the one and only true and living God who sees, hears, helps. (The visible who sees, hears, helps. (The visible gods cangods can’’t see, hear or help).t see, hear or help).


C. Moses knew that the Invisible C. Moses knew that the Invisible God is far greater and mightier than God is far greater and mightier than the visible Pharaoh, plus all the the visible Pharaoh, plus all the visible but powerless gods of Egypt.visible but powerless gods of Egypt.


D. Moses exemplifies faith as D. Moses exemplifies faith as described in Heb. 11:1, described in Heb. 11:1, ““Now faith is Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.the evidence of things not seen.””

And v. 6, And v. 6, ““But without faith But without faith it is it is impossible to please impossible to please Him, Him, for he who for he who comes to God must believe that He comes to God must believe that He is, and is, and that that He is a rewarder of those He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.who diligently seek Him.””


II. God is Spirit, therefore II. God is Spirit, therefore invisibleinvisible. . A. John 4:24, A. John 4:24, "God "God is is Spirit, and those who Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." and truth."


B. 1 Tim. 1:17, B. 1 Tim. 1:17, ““Now to the King Now to the King eternal, immortal, eternal, immortal, invisibleinvisible, to God , to God who alone is wise, who alone is wise, be be honor and honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.glory forever and ever. Amen.””

John 1:18, 1 John 4:12, John 1:18, 1 John 4:12, ““No one has No one has seenseen God at any time. God at any time.”” John 6:46, John 6:46, "Not that anyone has "Not that anyone has seenseen the the Father, except He who is from God; Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.He has seen the Father.””


III. To III. To seesee God, the God, the full displayfull display of His of His glory, would be fatal for man. glory, would be fatal for man.

A. Gen. 32:30, after Jacob A. Gen. 32:30, after Jacob wrestled with the Angel he said, "I wrestled with the Angel he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." life has been preserved." – This implies that such an This implies that such an

experience could have resulted in experience could have resulted in death for him.death for him.


B. Exodus 19:16-21, B. Exodus 19:16-21, ““there were there were thunder and lightning flashesthunder and lightning flashes…… a a very loud trumpet sound, so that all very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people trembledthe people trembled…… Mount Sinai Mount Sinai was was all in smoke because the LORD all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in firedescended upon it in fire……When the When the sound of the trumpet grew louder sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.answered him with thunder.””


C. Deut. 4:12, "And the LORD C. Deut. 4:12, "And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but words, but saw no formsaw no form; ; you you only only heard heard a voice.a voice.””

No danger of idols duplicating His No danger of idols duplicating His voice!voice!


D. Exodus 33:19 D. Exodus 33:19 ““Then He said, Then He said, ‘‘I will I will make all My goodness pass before you, make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before youLORD before you…… But He said, But He said, ‘‘You You cannot see My face; for no man shall cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And the LORD said, see Me, and live. And the LORD said, ‘‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.you with My hand while I pass by.””


This implies that without these This implies that without these precautions the nearness of God precautions the nearness of God could have been fatal to Moses.could have been fatal to Moses.

This text is the basis for This text is the basis for ““Rock of Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.myself in Thee.””


This should teach us great reverence This should teach us great reverence toward God. We want to be near toward God. We want to be near Him… but at the same time there Him… but at the same time there should be should be reverential fearreverential fear!!

We show this reverential fear in the We show this reverential fear in the services, arriving on time, remaining services, arriving on time, remaining seated, being attentive, participate seated, being attentive, participate in the worship, not distract or be in the worship, not distract or be distracted.distracted.


IV. Actually the presence of God fills IV. Actually the presence of God fills the world. the world.

A. Jer. 23:24, A. Jer. 23:24, ““Do I not fill heaven Do I not fill heaven and earth?and earth?””

Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 139:7-12, ““Where can I go Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?from your presence?””


B. He is everywhere at the same B. He is everywhere at the same time. Matthew 10:29 "Are not two time. Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.apart from your Father's will.””

How can God be aware of every How can God be aware of every sparrow in the world? Because Hesparrow in the world? Because He’’s s therethere, near every sparrow and every , near every sparrow and every other creature He has made.other creature He has made.


C. Matt. 10:30 "But the very hairs of C. Matt. 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.your head are all numbered.””

Most people donMost people don’’t know how many t know how many hairs there are on their head, hairs there are on their head, but but God does!God does!


D. D. ““All along on the road to the soulAll along on the road to the soul’’s s true abode, theretrue abode, there’’s an Eye watching s an Eye watching you... Thereyou... There’’s an all-seeing eye s an all-seeing eye watching you.watching you.””

When I was a little boy, this song When I was a little boy, this song had a lot to do with keeping me in had a lot to do with keeping me in the straight and narrow!the straight and narrow!


V. The Invisible God is made Visible V. The Invisible God is made Visible in Creation.in Creation.

A. Rom. 1:20, A. Rom. 1:20, ““For since the For since the creation of the world His invisible creation of the world His invisible attributes attributes are clearly seenare clearly seen, being , being understood by the things that are understood by the things that are made, made, even even His eternal power and His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without Godhead, so that they are without excuse.excuse.””


B. Psalm 19:1, B. Psalm 19:1, ““The heavens The heavens declaredeclare the glory of God; And the firmament the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.shows His handiwork.””

The whole creation does The whole creation does –– the earth, the earth, animals, fish, fowl! We can SEE God!animals, fish, fowl! We can SEE God!

““I canI can’’t see God!t see God!”” Can you see a Can you see a treetree…… birds birds…… flowers flowers…… stars? stars?


““When we behold the wonders of When we behold the wonders of creation, the flowers that bloom, the creation, the flowers that bloom, the raindrops as they fall; the spacious raindrops as they fall; the spacious skies and lifes perpetuation…” “Lord, I skies and lifes perpetuation…” “Lord, I Believe” Believe”

““O Lord my God! When I in awesome O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed, then throughout the universe displayed, then sings my soul… How great Thou art!”sings my soul… How great Thou art!”


C. This is not C. This is not ““pantheismpantheism”” (that (that all the forces and manifestations of all the forces and manifestations of the universe the universe areare God). No, this is not God). No, this is not true. true.

God is a PERSON. We are made in God is a PERSON. We are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and we the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and we are persons, as God is a Person, with are persons, as God is a Person, with intelligence, will, emotions intelligence, will, emotions –– that that’’s s where we get these qualities.where we get these qualities.


D. So, yes, it is true that we D. So, yes, it is true that we cannotcannot see God see God –– the full display of the full display of His glory. This would kill us.His glory. This would kill us.

And yet we And yet we cancan ““seesee”” His Deity, His Deity, power, glory, majesty and other power, glory, majesty and other attributes, every day, all around us, attributes, every day, all around us, in this world that He made and that in this world that He made and that He sustains.He sustains.


VI. God is clearly revealed (VI. God is clearly revealed (““seenseen””) in ) in the Scriptures, the Word of God. the Scriptures, the Word of God.

A. The Scriptures reveal and A. The Scriptures reveal and describe the describe the divine attributesdivine attributes, , qualities, characteristics of God: qualities, characteristics of God: omnipotence, omniscience, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, righteousness, omnipresence, righteousness, holiness, justice, love, mercyholiness, justice, love, mercy……


B. The Scriptures reveal the B. The Scriptures reveal the willwill of God for us, the plan of salvation, of God for us, the plan of salvation, with promises and threats. with promises and threats.

Most people are unmoved by these Most people are unmoved by these facts because they canfacts because they can’’t see God t see God with their eyes nor hear Him with with their eyes nor hear Him with their ears. their ears.

They canThey can’’t t seesee the glories of heaven the glories of heaven or the horrors of hell, so they arenor the horrors of hell, so they aren’’t t realreal to them. to them.


They wonThey won’’t SEE heaven or hell -- with t SEE heaven or hell -- with ““eyeseyes”” of faith (Rom 10:17), and the of faith (Rom 10:17), and the ““eyeseyes”” of understanding (Eph. 1:18). of understanding (Eph. 1:18).

The problem is that they wonThe problem is that they won’’t t take take GodGod’’s words word for it. for it.


C. Psalm 119, the longest C. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a poetic chapter in the Bible, is a poetic masterpiece describing the masterpiece describing the excellencies of the Word of God. excellencies of the Word of God.

Psalm 119:18, Psalm 119:18, ““Open my eyesOpen my eyes that I that I may may seesee wondrous things from Your wondrous things from Your law.law.””

In this manner we all can SEE the In this manner we all can SEE the Invisible God -- in His Inspired Word.Invisible God -- in His Inspired Word.


D. If we truly want to D. If we truly want to ““seesee”” God God we must we must ““Search the Scriptures.Search the Scriptures.””

We must let the We must let the ““Word of Christ Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdomdwell in us richly in all wisdom”” (Col. (Col. 3:16)3:16)


E. The person who is not E. The person who is not interested in reading and hearing interested in reading and hearing the Scriptures simply is not the Scriptures simply is not interested in interested in seeing Godseeing God..


VII. God is clearly revealed in Jesus VII. God is clearly revealed in Jesus Christ.Christ.

A. John 1:18, A. John 1:18, ““No one has seen God No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He who is in the bosom of the Father, He has has declareddeclared Him.Him.”” Explained, made Explained, made known. known.

The word The word ““declareddeclared”” is the word from is the word from which comes the word, which comes the word, ““exegesis.exegesis.””

Christ is the Living Word, the perfect Christ is the Living Word, the perfect revelation of God to man. revelation of God to man.


Col. 1:15, Col. 1:15, ““He is the image of the He is the image of the invisible God invisible God …… 2:9 For in Him dwells 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.bodily.””

Heb. 1:3, Heb. 1:3, ““who being the brightness who being the brightness of of His His glory and the express image of glory and the express image of His His personperson…”…”


B. John 5:18, B. John 5:18, ““Therefore the Jews Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal His Father, making Himself equal with God.with God.””

John (not the Jews) said this!John (not the Jews) said this!


C. John 5:22, C. John 5:22, ““For the Father For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.Father who sent Him.””


D. Jesus clearly D. Jesus clearly usedused (demonstrated) the attributes of (demonstrated) the attributes of Deity:Deity:

He even forgave sins and was He even forgave sins and was worshippedworshipped

Only Only GodGod forgives sins and only forgives sins and only GodGod can be worshipped.can be worshipped.


E. Jesus definitely declared E. Jesus definitely declared Himself to be God.Himself to be God.

He even applied Exodus 3:14 to He even applied Exodus 3:14 to Himself: Himself: ““Jesus said to them, "Most Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AMAbraham was, I AM”” (John 8:58). (John 8:58).


F. The Jews recognized this: John F. The Jews recognized this: John 10:31, 10:31, ““Then the Jews took up stones Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, answered them, ‘‘Many good works I Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone which of those works do you stone Me?Me?’’ 33 The Jews answered Him, 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, saying, ‘‘For a good work we do not For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and stone You, but for blasphemy, and because because You, being a Man, make You, being a Man, make Yourself GodYourself God..’’""


G. John 14:7-9, G. John 14:7-9, ““If you had known If you had known Me, you would have known My Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you Father also; and from now on you know Him and know Him and have seen Himhave seen Him. Philip . Philip said to Him, said to Him, ‘‘Lord, show us the Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.Father, and it is sufficient for us.’’ Jesus said to him, Jesus said to him, ‘‘Have I been with Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? known Me, Philip? He who has seen He who has seen Me has seen the FatherMe has seen the Father; so how can ; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?you say, 'Show us the Father'?””


So do we So do we really want to really want to ““seesee”” God God? ? Here He is! We can see Him, listen to Here He is! We can see Him, listen to

Him, walk with Him, live with Him, Him, walk with Him, live with Him, imitate Him.imitate Him.

How? By being constant companions How? By being constant companions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!


But there is one other very But there is one other very important way people can see God:important way people can see God:

VII. Not only in His Creation but also VII. Not only in His Creation but also in His New Creation.in His New Creation.


A. Ephesians 2:10, A. Ephesians 2:10, ““For we are For we are His workmanship, His workmanship, created in Christ created in Christ JesusJesus for good works, which God for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.walk in them.””

Matt. 5:16, "Let your light so shine Matt. 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your before men, that they may see your good works and good works and glorify your Fatherglorify your Father in heaven.in heaven.””


B. Eph. 3:10, B. Eph. 3:10, ““to the intent that to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God now the manifold wisdom of God might be might be made known by the churchmade known by the church to the principalities and powers in to the principalities and powers in the heavenly the heavenly placesplaces…”…”


C. Eph. 4:22, C. Eph. 4:22, ““that you put off, that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was new man which was created created according to Godaccording to God, in true , in true righteousness and holiness.righteousness and holiness.””


D. We can see God in the life of D. We can see God in the life of Paul. Gal. 2:20, "I have been Paul. Gal. 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but who live, but Christ lives in meChrist lives in me; and ; and the the life life which I now live in the flesh I which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.loved me and gave Himself for me.””


E. We have E. We have ““put onput on”” Christ. Gal. Christ. Gal. 3:27, 3:27, ““For as many of you as were For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have baptized into Christ have put on put on ChristChrist..””

This means that now we are This means that now we are identified with Him.identified with Him. We are We are ““ChristiansChristians””! !

Others are to Others are to ““seesee”” Jesus Jesus living in living in usus…… And in so doing they And in so doing they see God in see God in His new creationHis new creation..


F. What attributes of God are F. What attributes of God are seen in His people? seen in His people?

Power, wisdom, holiness, lovePower, wisdom, holiness, love…… Gal. 5:22, Gal. 5:22, ““But the fruit of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit

is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-controlgentleness, self-control…”…”


Conclusion.Conclusion. A. Men believe in what their five A. Men believe in what their five

senses senses ““telltell”” them: see, hear, taste, them: see, hear, taste, smell, touch. smell, touch.

Otherwise many refuse to believe. Otherwise many refuse to believe. God is Spirit and, therefore, invisibleGod is Spirit and, therefore, invisible

But He is But He is seenseen: in the Scriptures: in the Scriptures…… in in ChristChrist…… in everything that He DOES: in everything that He DOES: in the in the materialmaterial realm and in the realm and in the spiritualspiritual realm. realm.


B. The Scriptures present a perfect B. The Scriptures present a perfect portrayal of God. portrayal of God.

-- Jesus Christ presents a perfect -- Jesus Christ presents a perfect portrayal of God. portrayal of God.

-- And also God can be seen -- And also God can be seen (imperfectly) in His people -- godly (imperfectly) in His people -- godly people, Christians, the church of the people, Christians, the church of the living God!living God!

Just think! As we live according to Just think! As we live according to His will, people can SEE GODHis will, people can SEE GOD…… in usin us!!


C. Matt. 5:8, C. Matt. 5:8, ““Blessed are the pure in Blessed are the pure in heart for heart for they shall see Godthey shall see God..””

1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:2, ““Beloved, now we are Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall be like Him, for we shall see we shall see Him as He isHim as He is..””


Do you know what the next verse Do you know what the next verse says? says? ““And everyone who has this And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.He is pure.””

Rev. 22:3, Rev. 22:3, ““His servants shall serve His servants shall serve Him. They shall Him. They shall see His facesee His face..””

““Face to face with Christ my Face to face with Christ my SaviorSavior…”…”

““Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face, there to sing forever face, there to sing forever …”…”

seeing him who is invisible seeing him who is invisible hebrews 11:27 hebrews 11:27

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