Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open

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2 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. Isaiah 45:1-13

3 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:1-13

4 Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it. Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, What are you making? or Your work has no handles? Woe to him who says to a father, What are you begetting? or to a woman, With what are you in labor? Isaiah 45:1-13

5 Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 45:1 13, ESV) Isaiah 45:1-13

6 Main Idea Since God is the creator and sustainer of all things, he therefore has total authority to command whatever and whoever he wants.

7 God s Authority is Based on Who He Is Isaiah 45:5-7

8 His Name: I am the LORD God s Authority is Based on Who He Is

9 God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14, ESV) His Name: I am the LORD

10 Means he is unchangeable in position, power, and plan His Name: I am the LORD

11 For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6, ESV) Means he is unchangeable in position, power, and plan

12 Means he is unchangeable in position, power, and plan Means he is unstoppable in his decrees His Name: I am the LORD

13 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (Ezekiel 17:24, ESV) Means he is unstoppable in his decrees

14 Means he is unchangeable in position, power, and plan Means he is unstoppable in his decrees Means he is unfathomable in his essence His Name: I am the LORD

15 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33, ESV) Means he is unfathomable in his essence

16 Means he is unchangeable in position, power, and plan Means he is unstoppable in his decrees Means he is unfathomable in his essence Means he is unreasonable in his commands His Name: I am the LORD

17 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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. (Isaiah 55:8 9, ESV) Means he is unreasonable in his commands

18 His Exclusivity: There is no other God s Authority is Based on Who He Is

19 A direct link to his name and character His Exclusivity: There is no other

20 A direct link to his name and character A result of being the originator of all things His Exclusivity: There is no other

21 A direct link to his name and character A result of being the originator of all things A desire not to share his glory His Exclusivity: There is no other

22 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (Isaiah 42:8, ESV) A desire not to share his glory

23 God s Authority is Based on What He s Done Isaiah 45:5-7

24 He equips to make himself knowable through his creation God s Authority is Based on What He s Done

25 He Creates God s Authority is Based on What He s Done

26 Who he is becomes evident through his creative contrast: light vs. darkness; well-being vs. calamity. He Creates

27 Who he is becomes evident through his creative contrast: light vs. darkness; well-being vs. calamity. What he s done encompasses all things everywhere at all times. Nothing is left to chance, nor is anything without purpose. He Creates

28 God s Authority Gives Him the Right To Judge Isaiah 45:9-12

29 The creator has the right to judge what he has created God s Authority Gives Him the Right To Judge

30 The creator has the right to condemn those who question his authority God s Authority Gives Him the Right To Judge

31 So What?

32 1. What authority does God have in your life? 2. Are there other voices in your life, besides God, to which you listen and obey? So What?

33 3. Do God s commands seem unreasonable to you? 4. God commands men, women, boys, and girls everywhere to repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ alone; have you done that? So What?

34 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. Remember:

35 And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Remember:

36 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11 15, ESV) Remember:

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