The Nature of God
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Introduction
Introduction
Goal: Remove any shades from our eyes so we can know God more intimately
Goal: Remove any shades from our eyes so we can know God more intimately
3 weeks ago Ron shared on the need to remove the shades from our eyes
Last month I shared on what our nature is -one that is divine
The subject of the nature of God is very very huge
I could describe the many many titles that God has, his attributes, or the specific names that God gives himself, but I want to focus on a few areas, a few aspects of God’s character
-do not call him Lord, and then not do what he is asking
Before we look at scripture, how would you describe the difference between God the Father, and Jesus?
In your relationship with God, how do you feel about God as your Father? Is it different than with Jesus?
Do you see a difference in how God was in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament? What?
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
God never changes
God never changes
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
For I am the Lord, I change not;
Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
God doesn’t have bad moods
If anything, he is in a good mood all the time!
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Jesus perfectly portrayed the heart of God the Father
Jesus perfectly portrayed the heart of God the Father
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
God Described in the Old Testament
God Described in the Old Testament
When we are in the presence of someone we can discern and understand at a whole new level.
This happened to Moses where God described himself
It is always best to go to the source
King James Version Chapter 34
5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
King James Version Chapter 34
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
King James Version Chapter 34
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
The LORD, (,)
The LORD, (,)
The LORD God,
merciful and
gracious,
longsuffering, and
abundant in goodness
(abundant in) truth
Keeping mercy for thousands,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that
will by no means clear the guilty;
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Jealous ()
How do we see God when we go through hard times?
How do we see God when we go through hard times?
When we are going through a hard time, what do we focus on?
Do we seek to justify our self?
Do we assume that we are innocent? Say we are no worse than “Joe or Mary” so why is this happening to me?
Do we assume that we are innocent? Say we are no worse than “Joe or Mary” so why is this happening to me?
Do we get caught up in trying to understand why it happened? Job did that and it led him to the place where he was justifying himself and essentially blaming God for all these problems.
Job’s Story
Job’s Story
Perfect?
Perfect?
Job was a man that honored God (read v. 1)
He was perfect (also translated as blameless)
God says this and Job says this
This is in the sense of being complete
We know that this doesn’t mean he was sinless -see
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
King James Version Chapter 1
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We are called to walk in the light -see
Jesus said in -Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect
In the context of loving everyone -even those who don’t love you in return
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The blood of Jesus washes away our sin
Job was perfect in one sense, but he was NOT sinless
In the context of loving everyone -even those who don’t love you in return
Who was Responsible for Job’s problems?
Who was Responsible for Job’s problems?
God? Satan? Job? The Sin of Others?
Satan?
Job?
The Sin of Others?
The curse of sin in the earth?
God or Satan?
In satan told God to touch what Job had, but in verse 12 we can see that satan was the one who did the damage
In satan tells God to touch Job’s body, but in verse 7 we can see that satan was the one who gave Job the boils.
What we do know is that in Job says that the thing with he greatly feared came upon him.
Fear has consequences
Fear is a perverse form of faith
We know from scripture () that whatever is not of faith is sin, and you cannot greatly fear something and also have faith in your heart about that same thing.
We know from scripture () that whatever is not of faith is sin, and you cannot greatly fear something and also have faith in your heart about that same thing.
The devil works through every legal right that we give. Coming into agreement with lies empowers him
In satan told God to touch what Job had, but in verse 12 we can see that satan was the one who did the damage
In satan tells God to touch Job’s body, but in verse 7 we can see that satan was the one who gave Job the boils.
We may not understand why bad things happen, but never question God’s goodness
We may not understand why bad things happen, but never question God’s goodness
Job’s three friends continually pointed to the fact that sinners are judged and implied that Job’s sin brought this on him
Job continually brought all the reasons that he was righteous and without sin
God took issue with that in , , He said that Job was
Contending with him to instruct him
Reproving him
Questioning his judgement
Possibly condemning God
God was looking to be exalted and magnified
Jesus said in that he has come to bring life and life more abundantly. We can know that to be true regardless of how things seem right now.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Sometimes we need a revelation of who God is or who we really are. This is what happened to Job. He repented before God.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:
But now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent
In dust and ashes.
Job
God is Sovereign. What does this mean?
God is Sovereign. What does this mean?
Definition according to Dictionary.com when used as an adjective
Belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.
6. having supreme rank, power, or authority.
Having supreme rank, power, or authority.
7. supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.
Supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.
8. greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.
Greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.
9. being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.
Being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.
Is God in Control? Does God’s will automatically happen?
The reason I am asking this is because this will have a big impact on how you view God.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Do we seek to justify our self?
In it says that God does not want anyone to perish (or die without the Lord)
In it says that it is God’s will for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
God desires all men to be saved!
We have a choice! -just like God told the Israelites (in ) “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life”
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
What choices are you making today?
God doesn’t micromanage everything. His desire those who serve & worship Him because they love Him.
If God is good, why do bad things happen?
If God is good, why do bad things happen?
Our poor choices can be one reason we are reaping something bitter. We can’t blame God.
Other times it is the natural forces of this sin cursed world or ignorance.
Famine (Acts 11:28)
The bubonic plagues where millions of people died
Only in the 1940’s did penicillin begin to be massed produced and because of that millions of lives have been prolonged.
Story of the boy who fell out of a truck window
The father used that situation which caused him pain, to teach him, but if Joshua would have been like the sovereignty teachers of today, he would have gone out and told all his friends that his father made him fall out of that truck to teach him to obey. That’s not so. I did what I could to restrain him. I would be very hurt if that’s the way Joshua thought I was.
Some times it is an attack of the enemy (who has come to steal kill and destroy)
We can see this in the lives of people all around us who don’t honor God
Marriages, families & even churches are destroyed because of the legal rights that people give the enemy.
Marriages, families & even churches are destroyed because of the legal rights that people give the enemy.
One time in the Bible we read that a man was blind so that Jesus could heal him
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Paul is one example where God didn’t provide the healing or deliverance
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
It is scriptural to require a direct word of the Lord before believing that God doesn’t want to save, heal or deliver.
Do we get caught up in trying to understand why it happened? Job did that and it led him to the place where he was justifying himself and essentially blaming God for all these problems
In Job says that the thing with he greatly feared came upon him.
We know from scripture () that whatever is not of faith is sin, and you cannot greatly fear something and also have faith in your heart about that same thing.
We may not understand why bad things happen, but never question God’s goodness
Job’s three friends continually pointed to the fact that sinners are judged and implied that Job’s sin brought this on him
Job continually brought all the reasons that he was righteous and without sin
God took issue with that in ,
God took issue with that in ,
King James Version Chapter 34
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Believe God for More
Believe God for More
He desires to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think
The LORD, (Ex. 34:6,7)
The LORD God,
Vince -our 4th child, born Nov. 1, 2011
merciful and
gracious,
longsuffering, and
abundant in goodness
(abundant in) truth
Keeping mercy for thousands,
We knew God desired life, we prayed and believed God for healing
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that
For years, I struggled to believe that I could believe God’s promises
will by no means clear the guilty;
God is faithful -he is greater than our weakness
Closing
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Jesus said it was better
Jesus said it was better for us that he goes away because then the Holy Spirit would come
Jealous
Do we believe that? Or do we say if only Jesus were here, then my problem would be solved.
As believers, the Holy Spirit lives within us
God desires us to know him with our heart, not our head
God is always good. He is the best father we could ever ask for. Jesus said that he desires to give us good things.