GOD’S APPROVAL RATING
Psalm 111:1-6
PUBLIC POLICY POLLING
“If God exists, do
you approve or
disapprove of its
performance?”
Psalm 111:7-9
His hands…
precepts…
covenant…name
God’s performance
Approve – 52%
Disapprove – 9%
Not sure – 40%
-Personal Godhttp://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_721.pdf
2
PUBLIC POLICY POLLING
“If God exists, do God’s performance
you approve or
Approve – 50%
disapprove of its
Disapprove – 13%
handling of
Not sure – 37%
natural disasters?
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_721.pdf
3
PUBLIC POLICY POLLING
“If God exists, do
you approve or
disapprove of its
handling of
animals?
God’s performance
Approve – 56%
Disapprove – 11%
Not sure – 33%
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_721.pdf
4
PUBLIC POLICY POLLING
“If God exists, do
you approve or
disapprove of its
handling of
creating the
universe?
God’s performance
Approve – 71%
Disapprove – 5%
Not sure – 24%
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_721.pdf
5
THE BIBLE (PSALM 50:16-23)
“Since God exists,
does He approve
or disapprove of
how you are
living?
Galatians 6:7-8
Acts 17:30-31
2 Corinthians 5:10
6
DO NOT COMPLAIN AGAINST GOD!
•Job learned not to, Job 38:1-4
(21:4-7, 13-16; 23:1-7; 42:1-6)
•Israel in the wilderness,
Psa 106:24-27
•We must not murmur, 1 Cor 10:10
7
GOD’S USE OF
DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES
•Past: The Bible identifies God’s hand at
work
•Present: God’s word does not specifically
identify God’s hand, but generally tells
us of God’s providence and discipline
through such events, Rom 8:28; Heb 12:
5-7; Jas 1:2-4
8
LOCUST PLAGUE AGAINST JUDAH:
DIVINE JUDGMENT AND CALL TO REPENT
-JOEL•“Has anything like this happened in your
days?” Joel 1:1-7; cf. Eph 5:14
–Day of the Lord (judgment), Joel 1:15; 2:13; cf. 2 Pet 3:10
–Call to repent, Joel 2:12-14
•Resulted in blessings from God, Joel 2:18-27
•cf. Repent…seasons of refreshing, Acts 3:19
9
CALAMITIES IN ISRAEL:
“PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL”
-AMOS•God sent famine, Amos 4:6 (Deut 28:18-20)
•God sent drought, Amos 4:7-8 (Deut 28:23)
•God sent crop failure, Amos 4:9 (Deut 28:38-40)
•God sent plagues, Amos 4:10 (Deut 28:21-22)
•God overthrew them, Amos 4:11 (Deut 28:25)
•Yet, Israel would not repent! Now, Israel
would meet her God in judgment! Amos 4:12
10
CALAMITIES IN ISRAEL:
GOD’S APPROVAL RATING? AMOS 4:13
-God is Sovereign•God is all powerful
•God is all knowing
•God judges the earth
•What shall we say and do?
–Honor and reverence Him, Psalm 111:7-10
–Repent of our sins against Him, Luke 13:1-5
–Be thankful, not complainers, 1 Ths 5:18
11
JESUS’ APPROVAL RATING (MK 7:37)
• Many showed their disapproval by
complaining about and refusing His
teaching, Jno 6:60, 63, 66
– Do you complain against His truth today?
– Do not say you cannot understand and
obey His word, Rom 10:6-8; Eph 5:17
– What approval rating are you giving the
word of Christ in your life? Col 3:17
12
JESUS’ APPROVAL RATING (MK 7:37)
• Many showed their disapproval by
refusing to confess their faith in Christ,
Jno 12:42-43
– Are you confessing Jesus every day?
Matt 10:32-33; Mk 8:38
– Do your words and actions show you
are not ashamed of Him, or that you
disapprove of Him? (Matt 7:21)
13
JESUS’ APPROVAL RATING (MK 7:37)
• Many showed their disapproval by
crying out for His death, Luke 23:20-24
– The sin of apostasy crucifies Jesus again,
Heb 6:4-6
– When a Christian falls away he shows
his disapproval of Christ!
14
JESUS’ APPROVAL RATING (MK 7:37)
• Many showed their disapproval by
mocking Jesus, Matt 27:39-44
– We show our disapproval of the suffering
Savior when we are unwilling to suffer with
Him and bear His reproach, Gal 2:20;
Heb 13:12-13
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THE FAITHFUL ALWAYS
APPROVE OF ALL GOD HAS
DONE, IS DOING AND WILL DO!
Psalm 145:1-7