OceanSide church of Christ

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AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

HIGH AND LIFTED UP

Lesson #2

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   God is a being who possesses many attributes.  We will see this in our upcoming lessons.

 

B.   The aspect of God that we will study in this lesson is not covered very often.  It involves the fact that God is high and lifted up.

 

I.             GOD DWELLS ON HIGH

 

A.   Psalm 113:5

 

Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high?

 

B.   Isaiah 33:5

 

The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high:  he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

 

C.   Isaiah 57:15

 

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place…

 

II.                GOD IS DESCRIBED AS BEING HIGH

 

A.     He is called “the Highest.”

1.        Ps. 18:13

 

The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

 

2.       Luke 1:35a

 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee…

 

B.      He is called “the Most High” (Ps. 9:2)

 

I will be glad and rejoice in thee:  I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

 

1.        Lord most high (Ps. 7:17)

2.       God most high (Ps. 57:20)

 

 

C.     He is called “the high God” (Ps. 78:35).

 

And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer.

 

III.             GOD’S POSITION IS HIGH (Isa. 6:1)

 

A.     He sits upon His throne that is “high and lifted up” (Isa. 6:1).

 

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his  train filled the temple.

 

B.      He is called “higher than the highest” (Eccl. 5:8).

 

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter:  for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there is higher than they.

 

C.     He is called the “Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3)

 

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged out sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

 

D.     Another way of describing His position is to say that He is “above all.”

1.        I Chronicles 29:11

 

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:  for all that is in heaven, and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

 

2.       Ephesians 4:6

 

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

3.       He is above all…

a.       gods (II Chron. 2:5; Ps. 95:3)

b.      The earth (Ps. 83:18)

c.       People (Ps. 99:2)

d.      Nations (Ps. 13:4)

 

E.      It is God who rules over the kingdoms of men.

1.        He is the governor among the nations (Ps. 22:28).

2.       He removeth kings, and setteth up kings (Dan. 2:21).

3.       The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21).

4.      Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above (John 19:11).

5.       For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1, see Dan. 5:18).

 

IV.              ALL THAT COMES FROM GOD IS HIGH

 

A.     His righteousness (Ps. 71:19)

 

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things:  O God, who is like unto thee!

 

B.      His mercy (Ps. 103:11)

 

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

 

C.     His knowledge (Ps. 139:6)

 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

 

D.     His ways and thoughts (Ps. 55:8-9)

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

V.                 JESUS IS ALSO HIGH AND LIFTED UP

 

A.     He is the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32).

 

B.      He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3)

 

C.     He is a high priest who has been made higher than the heavens (Heb. 7:26).

 

D.     He has ultimate authority over all.

1.        He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).

2.       All authority has been given to Him (Matt. 28:18).  (NOTE:  The Father is exempted, see I Cor. 15:27).

3.       Ephesians 1:21

 

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

 

VI.              MAN CAN BE CLOSELY ATTACHED TO THE MOST HIGH

 

A.     Children of the most High (Ps. 82:6)

 

B.      Servants of the most high God (Dan. 3:26; Acts 16:17)

 

C.     Saints of the most High (Dan. 7:18, 22, 25, 27)

 

D.     Prophet of the Highest (Luke 1:76).

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Psalm. 92:8

 

But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.

 

B.      God is high.  We are lowly.  We ought, therefore, to be subject unto Him at all times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

God Is High and Lifted Up

Lesson #2

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.    What immediately comes to mind when you hear the words “God is high and lifted up?”

 

2.    What place do you think about when you hear “God dwells on high”?

 

3.    Why are men constantly trying to build things that are the highest? (Ex., highest building, highest roller coaster, highest bridge)

 

4.    God is “higher than the highest” (Eccl. 5:8).  Why do you think so few seem to acknowledge His position and authority over all?

 

5.    Why is it important to keep in mind that God removes kings and sets up kings (Dan. 2:21) and ordains the powers that be? (Rom. 13:1).

 

6.    What is the significance of God’s attributes such as righteousness, mercy, and knowledge being high?

 

7.    List two examples of God’s thoughts being higher than our thoughts.

 

A.

 

B.

 

8.    Why is the fact that Jesus is also high very important?

 

9.    How do you feel knowing that you can be closely attached to the Most High God?

 

10. Psalm 92:8 says that God is “most high for evermore.”  What does this mean?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

God Is High and Lifted Up

Lesson #2

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.    What immediately comes to mind when you hear the words “God is high and lifted up?”

 

A.   I think of something that is above me. 

 

B.   I think of God’s being in heaven while I am on earth.

 

C.   I think of God’s towering over me.

 

2.    What place do you think about when you hear “God dwells on high”?

 

A.   I think of heaven and beauty of that place.

 

B.   I am also intrigued.  God has a dwelling place, yet God is able to be at all places at all times.  How can a God that is everywhere be contained in one dwelling place?

 

3.    Why are men constantly trying to build things that are the highest? (Ex., highest building, highest roller coaster, highest bridge)

 

A.   Men want the honor and the praise of doing what others have not done.

 

B.   Men want the fame of having gone where others have not gone.

 

C.   Men want to possess the knowledge that they are the best and out shine all of the rest.

 

4.    God is “higher than the highest” (Eccl. 5:8).  Why do you think so few seem to acknowledge His position and authority over all?

 

A.   One reason is because we are not able to see God.

 

B.   Another reason is because God works solely through His providence today. 

1.    We do not literally hear his powerful voice.

2.    We do not literally see His powerful acts.

 

C.   Another reason is because man has assumed much of the authority that belongs to God.  If man is supreme, then why does he need God?

 

5.    Why is it important to keep in mind that God removes kings and sets up kings (Dan. 2:21) and ordains the powers that be? (Rom. 13:1).

 

A.   If God sets up kings, then man should honor the king.

 

B.   If an evil king rules, we know that God can remove him just as quickly as he put him in power.

 

C.   The powers that be need to keep in mind who it is that appointed them.  God did.  They should be submissive first and foremost to Him.

 

6.    What is the significance of God’s attributes such as righteousness, mercy, and knowledge being high?

 

A.   When God acts using these attributes, He acts perfectly when he displays them. 

1.    We may not understand.

2.    We may not agree.

3.    We may not like the things God does.

4.    But, God’s deeds are high.

 

B.   Since God’s actions are high, we can trust the things that He does.  He will never make a mistake.  He will never do something wrong.  He will never be unfair or partial.

 

7.    List two examples of God’s thoughts being higher than our thoughts.

 

A.   The use of baptism in the plan of salvation. 

1.    It is so simple.  All one must do is to be immersed.

2.    It is so profound.  It symbolizes the burial of the old man.

3.    It is so significant.  In those waters, one touches the blood of Christ for cleansing.

4.    It is so representative.  One is following in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

5.    It is so challenging.  It requires the utmost of man’s faith to accomplish.

 

B.   The need for church discipline (II Thess. 3:6).

1.    Man does not do it quickly enough.

2.    Man does not believe it works.

3.    Man does not appreciate when it is done.

4.    Many completely disregard this command of God.

 

8.    Why is the fact that Jesus is also high very important?

 

A.   Because Jesus was made flesh and dwelt among men, man has a tendency to put Jesus below the Father.  Any time we think of one having less authority, we diminish our awe and respect for that person to some degree.

 

B.   Jesus has authority and power.  Man should honor Him and submit to Him just as they would the Father.

 

9.    How do you feel knowing that you can be closely attached to the Most High God?

 

A.   It is an honor and a privilege being a child of God.

 

B.   It is humbling to know that we are one of His servants.

 

C.   It is reassuring knowing that we have His love, care, grace, and precious resources at our disposal.

 

D.   Think of that.  The most powerful being in the Universe knows my name and as the utmost desire for my well-being.

 

10. Psalm 92:8 says that God is “most high for evermore.”  What does this mean?

 

A.   Man will never be able to remove God from His lofty position.  Men will come and go, but not God.  Men have come and gone, but not God.  He remains.

 

B.   God will be God forever and ever and ever.