Why Jesus and Not Some Other God?

December 18, 2010

Why Jesus and Not Some Other God?

December 18, 2010

Why are you a believer in God at all?

Why are you a believer in God at all?

There are 1.1 billion Atheists out of a world population of 6.8

billion.

That means 16% of the world’s population doesn’t believe in any

god or that a god exists.

There are 1.1 billion Atheists out of a world population of 6.8

billion.

That means 16% of the world’s population doesn’t believe in any

god or that a god exists.

Atheists are becoming increasingly vocal and are beginning to sway

public opinion away from following any god.

Atheists are becoming increasingly vocal and are beginning to sway

public opinion away from following any god.

So what about you? Do you believe there is a God

because someone told you there was or have you come to conclude there is a God because of rational

observation of the world around you or some supernatural event in your

life?

So what about you? Do you believe there is a God

because someone told you there was or have you come to conclude there is a God because of rational

observation of the world around you or some supernatural event in your

life?

I came to believe in the possibility of God because someone told me that God

existed. From that point I set out on a

personal journey to find out for myself if it was true.

I came to believe in the possibility of God because someone told me that God

existed. From that point I set out on a

personal journey to find out for myself if it was true.

Your faith will never mean much to you until you have come to your own conclusion about God’s existence.

So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a

God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

Your faith will never mean much to you until you have come to your own conclusion about God’s existence.

So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a

God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

Over the last 6,000 years, historians have cataloged over 3,700

supernatural beings, of which 2,870 can be considered deities.

In truth, the possibilities are nearly infinite. In Hinduism there are 330

million "gods or goddesses.”

Over the last 6,000 years, historians have cataloged over 3,700

supernatural beings, of which 2,870 can be considered deities.

In truth, the possibilities are nearly infinite. In Hinduism there are 330

million "gods or goddesses.”

Christmas is the time of year that 2.1 billion people in the world

celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as God and Savior of the world.

Of all the gods in the world, why did you choose Jesus?

Christmas is the time of year that 2.1 billion people in the world

celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as God and Savior of the world.

Of all the gods in the world, why did you choose Jesus?

Over 1/3 of the world’s 6.8 billion population are Christians.

Over 1/3 of the world’s 6.8 billion population are Christians.

Is there any real difference between one of the thousands of

other gods and Jesus?

Is there any real difference between one of the thousands of

other gods and Jesus?

Some people have asked me if I have studied other religions,

implying that how would I know Jesus is the one true God if I didn’t

know about the other gods out there.

Some people have asked me if I have studied other religions,

implying that how would I know Jesus is the one true God if I didn’t

know about the other gods out there.

Interestingly, the God of the Bible has made it pretty easy to figure out.

If you choose to worship Jesus and pray to Him, He will work in your life

in a real, tangible way. You will clearly observe Him answering your prayers and understand His direct

involvement in your life.

Interestingly, the God of the Bible has made it pretty easy to figure out.

If you choose to worship Jesus and pray to Him, He will work in your life

in a real, tangible way. You will clearly observe Him answering your prayers and understand His direct

involvement in your life.

Try that with any of the other gods.Try that with any of the other gods.

How foolish are those who manufacture idols to be their gods. These highly valued objects are really worthless.

They themselves are witnesses that this is so, for their idols neither see nor

know. No wonder those who worship them are put to shame. Who but a fool

How foolish are those who manufacture idols to be their gods. These highly valued objects are really worthless.

They themselves are witnesses that this is so, for their idols neither see nor

know. No wonder those who worship them are put to shame. Who but a fool

would make his own god--an idol that cannot help him one bit! All who

worship idols will stand before the LORD in shame, along with all these craftsmen--mere humans--who claim

they can make a god. Together they will stand in terror and shame. The

blacksmith stands at his forge to make a

would make his own god--an idol that cannot help him one bit! All who

worship idols will stand before the LORD in shame, along with all these craftsmen--mere humans--who claim

they can make a god. Together they will stand in terror and shame. The

blacksmith stands at his forge to make a

sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him

hungry and thirsty, weak and faint. Then the wood-carver measures and marks out a block of wood, takes the tool, and carves the figure of a man.

Now he has a wonderful idol that cannot even move from where it is

sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him

hungry and thirsty, weak and faint. Then the wood-carver measures and marks out a block of wood, takes the tool, and carves the figure of a man.

Now he has a wonderful idol that cannot even move from where it is

placed! He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the cedar in the forest to be

nourished by the rain. And after his care, he uses part of the wood to make a fire to warm himself and bake his bread. Then--yes, it's true--he takes the rest of

placed! He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the cedar in the forest to be

nourished by the rain. And after his care, he uses part of the wood to make a fire to warm himself and bake his bread. Then--yes, it's true--he takes the rest of

it and makes himself a god for people to worship! He makes an idol and bows

down and praises it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep

himself warm. Then he takes what's left and makes his god: a carved idol! He

falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. "Rescue me!" he says.

"You are my god!“

it and makes himself a god for people to worship! He makes an idol and bows

down and praises it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep

himself warm. Then he takes what's left and makes his god: a carved idol! He

falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. "Rescue me!" he says.

"You are my god!“

Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol

never stops to reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and

roast my meat. How can the rest of it be

Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol

never stops to reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and

roast my meat. How can the rest of it be

a god? Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?" The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He is trusting

something that can give him no help at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, "Is this thing, this idol that I'm holding

in my hand, a lie?“

Isaiah 44:9-20 (NLT)

a god? Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?" The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He is trusting

something that can give him no help at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, "Is this thing, this idol that I'm holding

in my hand, a lie?“

Isaiah 44:9-20 (NLT)

Other gods can not help you in times of need. They are deaf, dumb and mute. They are man made deities

that are absolutely powerless.

Other gods can not help you in times of need. They are deaf, dumb and mute. They are man made deities

that are absolutely powerless.

On the other hand, it is through our faith in Jesus as God, that He takes

an active role in our lives.

Jesus is anxious to show us that He really is the one true God in the

world.

On the other hand, it is through our faith in Jesus as God, that He takes

an active role in our lives.

Jesus is anxious to show us that He really is the one true God in the

world.

“According to your faith it will be done to you.”

Matthew 9:29 (NKJ)

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJ)

“According to your faith it will be done to you.”

Matthew 9:29 (NKJ)

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJ)

Once you start to follow Jesus by faith, you quickly encounter a

problem.

You discover that He is a God that can not be manipulated.

We want a God that is active in our lives, but we want Him to what we

want Him to do.

Once you start to follow Jesus by faith, you quickly encounter a

problem.

You discover that He is a God that can not be manipulated.

We want a God that is active in our lives, but we want Him to what we

want Him to do.

Before God can do great things in our life, He starts off by teaching us that to be His disciple we must first learn that we serve Him. He doesn’t

serve us.

When people don’t get what they want from God, they prefer to follow

a different type of god.

Before God can do great things in our life, He starts off by teaching us that to be His disciple we must first learn that we serve Him. He doesn’t

serve us.

When people don’t get what they want from God, they prefer to follow

a different type of god.

But let’s assume that you have chosen to follow Jesus because you

are sure he is the one true God. How does He begin to reveal

Himself to you?

But let’s assume that you have chosen to follow Jesus because you

are sure he is the one true God. How does He begin to reveal

Himself to you?

He starts by testing your faith.He starts by testing your faith.

Faith is like a muscle. It must be stretched and pulled to be

developed properly.

You don’t develop faith by sitting on your blessed assurance in church somewhere. You must exercise it.

Faith is like a muscle. It must be stretched and pulled to be

developed properly.

You don’t develop faith by sitting on your blessed assurance in church somewhere. You must exercise it.

“... the testing of your faith develops perseverance ... so that you may be

mature and complete ...”

James 1:3 (NKJ)

“... the testing of your faith develops perseverance ... so that you may be

mature and complete ...”

James 1:3 (NKJ)

“What is man that you make so much of him, and that you give him so much

attention -- that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?”

Job 7:17-18 (NKJ)

“What is man that you make so much of him, and that you give him so much

attention -- that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?”

Job 7:17-18 (NKJ)

Fact: Every moment of the day you have opportunities to exercise (test)

your faith.

The problem is that most of us don’t recognize problems as opportunities

for God to show up because we really don’t believe that God is actively working in our lives.

Fact: Every moment of the day you have opportunities to exercise (test)

your faith.

The problem is that most of us don’t recognize problems as opportunities

for God to show up because we really don’t believe that God is actively working in our lives.

When a Christian lives his life with this attitude, we effectively reduce

Jesus to just one more benign, ineffectual god out of a list of several

thousand to choose from.

When a Christian lives his life with this attitude, we effectively reduce

Jesus to just one more benign, ineffectual god out of a list of several

thousand to choose from.

One god among many is not what the Bible teaches about

God, nor does it teach about a powerless Christian lifestyle.

One god among many is not what the Bible teaches about

God, nor does it teach about a powerless Christian lifestyle.

“... For a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith...may be

proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is

revealed.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJ)

“... For a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith...may be

proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is

revealed.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJ)

Once you begin to master your trials by exercising your faith in Christ, He will then begin to reveal the power

you have inherited as a child of God.

Once you begin to master your trials by exercising your faith in Christ, He will then begin to reveal the power

you have inherited as a child of God.

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of

this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work

of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of

this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work

of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in

you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus

Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NKJ)

you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus

Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NKJ)

You should discover somewhere in your Christian journey that there are no accidents in the Christian life.

Not every trial that happens in your life is God’s will, but God will use

every trial to build your faith in Him and to show His power in your life.

You should discover somewhere in your Christian journey that there are no accidents in the Christian life.

Not every trial that happens in your life is God’s will, but God will use

every trial to build your faith in Him and to show His power in your life.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the

earth.“

Acts 1:8 (NKJ)

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the

earth.“

Acts 1:8 (NKJ)

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of

Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ)

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of

Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ)

When you start to understand God’s power, what do you use it

for and how do you use it?

When you start to understand God’s power, what do you use it

for and how do you use it?

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask

alms from those who entered the temple;

who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask

alms from those who entered the temple;

who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave

them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what

I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and

walk."

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave

them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what

I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and

walk."

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and

entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising

God. So when Peter saw it, he

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and

entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising

God. So when Peter saw it, he

responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this

man walk?

Acts 3:1-12 (NKJ)

responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this

man walk?

Acts 3:1-12 (NKJ)

Power to participate in miracles. Power to participate in miracles.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to

one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,

fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:15-16 (NKJ)

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to

one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,

fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:15-16 (NKJ)

Power to see God answer your prayers.

Power to see God answer your prayers.

So Jesus said to them, “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 (NKJ)

So Jesus said to them, “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 (NKJ)

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have

faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be

removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.

Matthew 21:21

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have

faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be

removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.

Matthew 21:21

Power to witness the impossible.

Power to witness the impossible.

No other god will work to develop and strengthen your faith.

No other god will share its power with you.

No other god will work things out for your benefit.

No other god will work to develop and strengthen your faith.

No other god will share its power with you.

No other god will work things out for your benefit.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that

were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose

land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:15 (NKJ)

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that

were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose

land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:15 (NKJ)

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