For Father's Day Let Us Consider "God Our Father"

JUNE 21, 2020 STUDY NOTES FATHER’S DAY BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES FOR FATHER’S DAY LET US CONSIDER “GOD OUR FATHER” INTRODUCTION The Word of God does not argue for the existence of God The Bible begins with the revelation of the person of God, Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. It is foolish to deny that God exists, Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Many current events taking place in America confirm the truth of that verse By “faith” we accept God as He is, Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Creation reveals that God is the One and Only True God of the Bible, Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands Creation is a display of the knowledge of God, Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: There is no excuse for not believing in God, the whole created world reveals God and His power Only '“faith” can understand creation, Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Creation is the work of God (not gods) only God can create, God put the universe in order The world that we see was made-out of nothing from the only “Perfect Existing One” “Faith” believes God, the order of the universe reveals God, Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? We can see the greatness of God in creation, the Mighty God created and sustains the universe Man, by himself cannot know God, God is revealed through His Word and His Son, Jesus Christ When we receive Jesus into our life, we begin to learn of God’s greatness We begin to learn of the nature of God through our own personal experience with God THE NATURE OF GOD: God is a spiritual being, Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Jesus came in the flesh to reveal to us the invisible God God is a spiritual being, but the Bible speaks of God having physical members God is revealed as being capable of performing physical acts Performing the things which are the functions of the physical members The Bible speaks of His finger, God can write to us, He wrote a message to Belshazzar, Dan 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. The Bible speaks of His face, there is a personal relationship with God in the face of Christ, 2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks of His arms, His strong arms delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, Deu 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. The Bible speaks of His eyes, we can trust the guidance of God, Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The Bible speaks of His mouth, we have heard His promises, Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The Bible speaks of His hand, He lifts us up and secures us, Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. The Bible speaks of His ear, He listens to us, Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: We can sit at His feet and worship Him, Psa 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. The earth is God’s footstool, Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? It is God’s nature to protect and provide for those who love and obey Him, Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD: (SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER) What kind of a person is God? What has God been doing in the past? What is God doing today? Is God the same today? What will God be like in the future? Is the future in God’s Hands? A study of some of the attributes of God will give us the answer to these and other questions His attributes are His nature and essence, God did not acquire these attributes He did not come to be of this character over a period-of time through experience God ''is'' what each attribute ascribes (Example: “God is Love”) But this is not all that God is, He is much more than all these attributes can describe God is “God,” as He revealed in, Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. He is the God who exists because He is God, He has always been God, He will always be God ETERNAL: God has always existed, God has existed for all eternity, the God of no beginning or end God is without beginning, God is without ending, there was nothing before God There was never a time when God did not exist There will never be a time when God ceases to exist God has never, nor will He ever be, without existence, God is self-existent God lives in the eternal “now,” the past and the future are just as the “present now” to God OMNIPRESENCE: The whole person of God is everywhere present at-all times We can always experience the presence of God, God is always there to help us There is never a time or place where God is not present OMNISCIENCE: Al1 knowledge; there is nothing that God does not know God is the only one who has “all knowledge,” and no one is-able to teach Him anything He knows time from beginning to end, Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. He knows all simultaneously, He knows all possibilities, He knows all that will happen God knows what would happen, if what happened, had not happened Have you ever wondered about that? OMNIPOTENCE: The All Powerful and the Almighty God “EL-SHADDI” is a name for God meaning “God Almighty” It is the name that is often found in the promises of God to His people God is-able to do anything and everything that does not contradict with His Person, Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. God is-able to do more than we will ever allow Him to do, Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, IMMUTABLE: God is the unchanging God, God is forever the same, Jas 1:17 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’s nature never changes, He is changeless God never differs from Himself, God has never been unlike God God is “God,” God is always true to Himself fulfilling His purpose in all things (NOTE): God will change His mind God will change His mind or course of action based upon the response of man The attitude and action of man can determine the action of God But God does not change His goal for man or creation His purpose for man will always remain the same The decision to change will never violate the person or purpose of God He has a plan for all mankind that will not change and promises that will not change God has promised to save and forgive the believer, God has promised to judge the lost That is why there is still hope for America, 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. LOVE: God is Love, 1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. The chastening of God’s Children is a sign of His Love, Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. God's love knows no selfishness, God s love always seeks the best for those loved But the love of God cannot operate separate apart from His other attributes In His love, He must remain true to His Person His love for the believer cannot be fulfilled in those who reject His Son and die in their sin The love of God for the world will not nullify the judgment of God upon the lost world MERCY: When God “does not” bestow upon us what we deserve, instead God bestows kindness Sinful man deserves Hell, but by the “mercy” of God the believer does not receive Hell “Mercy” is one of the richest words that the Believer can find in the Bible The Mercy of God is Great, Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, GRACE: When God bestows upon us what we “do not” deserve We do not deserve Heaven, but by the grace of God the believer receives Heaven Grace is the “unmerited favor” of God, God's grace came to us in Jesus, Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. God's grace is free and imparts a new nature, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: FAITHFUL: God will always be faithful to His Word God will be faithful at-all times under every circumstance God is faithful to keep His promises concerning the Person and Work of Jesus God is faithful to keep His promises to us HOLY: God is separate from all that is unclean, He is separate from sin God is naturally right, God is absolutely pure There is no evil present in God, He is essentially perfect God does not conform to any other standard, He is the standard The “holiness” of God is the standard for the Christian life, 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. SOVEREIGN: God is in control of all things at-all times God is the supreme authority over all creation, Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. RIGHTEOUSNESS: All things of God are always right God is always right, a11 of the acts of God are always right No decision or action of God ever violates His nature of righteousness He is righteous in His reward of those who are saved He is righteous in His punishment of the wicked His righteousness demands that He punish all unrighteousness His righteousness demands that He provide a way of salvation for sinful man TRUTH: God is the ultimate truth, there is nothing untrue about God As Truth, God will never contradict the truth of His nature, words, or works, Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. LIGHT: In God there is no darkness at all Light was in the beginning because God is light, and God is the beginning The Light of God shows us how we are to live GOOD: The earth is full of His goodness, God is kind and tender David was filled with confidence because the Lord was his Shepherd, Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. WISDOM: The display of the knowledge of God God knows what is right and knows the right time to do it and can do it the right way, Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. THE NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD God is known by many different names and titles Each one reveals something special about the person and character of God By His names and titles, He reveals Himself to us But there is no greater revelation of God unto us than the title “Father,” Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. A title that was used only within the family circle, Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. God is the Father of all creation, 1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. God is the Father of the Nation Israel, Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. God is the Father of Jesus, 1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. God is the Father of all who believe in Jesus, Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: The Eternal Family of God is not through creation The Eternal Family of God is not through Israel The Eternal Family of God is through Jesus Thank God for the FAMILY OF GOD, Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: HYMN #23 GOD IS SO GOOD