Do Not Create God in Our Own Image

<Zec 7:4-14; Isa 44:6; Rev 1:8; Jn 1:3>

1. The problem with mankind is always shaping God into the God we want.

· Because do not want to deal with own sins.

· McCullough’s book: The Trivialization of God.

· Shrink God into a God who supports us, whom we can understand, and whom matches our experiences.

· Abraham Lincoln: My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.

· Only wants a “God who listens to us”, but not willing to obey God.

2. God asks: Are you worshipping for Me, or for yourselves?

· Read <Zec 7:4-14>.

· When Israelites first fasted, it was done with contrition and repentance, but later on it was done for self-interest.

· God does not object to fasting, but He does not want people to have a form of godliness but deny its power <2 Ti 3:5>.

· True inner worship and practical obedience after that matter more than outward worship.

· Concerned about what God does not command, but neglect what God commands.

· Have outward pious acts, but tolerate sins in the heart.

· When we come before God, is it for Him, or for ourselves?

3. Do not “made your hearts diamond-hard” <Zec 7:12>.

· This is man’s most serious problem.

· A. R. Fausset: Hard hearts must expect hard treatment. The harder the stone, the harder the blow of the hammer to break it.

· Sometimes, in order to teach us not to sin, God allows us to go through the dreadful consequences of sins.

4. Must know God based on who He says He is.

· God is the “I AM WHO I AM” God <Ex 3:14>.

· God is self-existent and transcendent.

o Read <Isa 44:6; Rev 1:8; Jn 1:3>.

· God is self-sufficient and independent.

o God does not depend on anyone or anything, but everything depends on God.

· God is also immanent.

5. We must be shaped by God, instead of creating our own God.

· We are created in the image of God, not the other way round where we create our own God.

· We must conform to God, rather than God conforming to us.

· Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “If you were to feel more interest in Christ you would be less interested in yourself.” 

· When we are called to believe in the Lord, we are called to live for the Lord rather than for ourselves.

· Read <1 Co 10:31>.