The Nature & Character of God

The Nature & Character of God Teaching

How would you introduce God?

Where are you in this scene?

Your approach to God is based on your knowledge of God.

John 5:39-40

It’s time to deal with the wrong ideas about God...

Time for a new pair of glasses?

and... Your knowledge of God is based on your approach to God.

Romans 1:21-23

USE the little that you know about God, and your knowledge will increase.

Mountains of Nepal (free WIFI, no ventilation in the house)

It’s one thing to have access to the truth. It’s another thing to use it.

Knowing facts about God is one thing...

Experiencing him and being changed by him is another thing.

The Pursuit of God

It's all about positioning.

The position of purity

Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (NIV)

The position of humility

Job 42:3, 5-6 - "I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.'” (NLT)

The position of faith

Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)

What is God's position?

James 4:8- "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (NASB)

2 Peter 1:3-4 - "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

God's Promise for Power

How does God reveal himself?

Look at Jesus, Find Your Father

The Nature of God

It's just who he is.

God is the Creator

Genesis 1:1
Hebrews 11:3
Colossians 1:17
Job 38

and he is still creating...

God is Timeless

1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:17-18

God is All-Powerful

Jeremiah 32:17
Matthew 19:26

How have you seen his power?

God is All-Knowing

Psalm 147:5; Romans 11:33-34; 1 John 3:20

Read Psalm 139:1-6. How does this make you feel?

Now, read Psalm 139:17-18. How does this make you feel?

God is EVER-Present

Psalm 139:7-10

John 4:24

John 14:16-19

God is Trinity

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

God is relational to the core.

Genesis 1:26

John 14:23

God is Infinite

Psalm 145:3

God is Personal

John 1:14

Zephaniah 3:17

John 11:35

The character of God

It's who he chooses to be.

God is Holy

Exodus 19

1 Peter 1:15-16

Is it really possible to be holy?

God's holiness is compelling. His purity attracts us.

He gives this gift of beauty and intimate relationship with himself to us. We can enter into his holiness.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Run to him.

God is Love

What is Love?

John 3:16 & 1 John 3:16

Love is choosing the highest good for another. It's all about the sacrifice.

God's love is...

unconditional - Ephesians 1:4-8

persevering - Romans 8:37-39

accepting - 1 John 3:1

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Ephesians 3:14-21

God is faithful

Deuteronomy 32:4; Lamentations 3:22-25; 1 Corinthians 10:13

God always keeps his promises.

God is consistent.

Scriptures

Psalm 102:25-27
Hebrews 13:8

Meaning

God is not moody.
Same God in both testaments
God remains consistent in character, while still interacting with humans.

God is patient

Scriptures

Nehemiah 9:30-31
1 Timothy 1:16
2 Peter 3:9

God is just.

Isaiah 42:1-4 - “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope" (NIV).

See also Isaiah 58:6; 61:8

The ultimate display of God's justice is in the reality of hell. This is not a fictitious, storybook land. It is the real end for those who consistently reject the relationship with the Father through Jesus (Matt. 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-15). It is with no delight that the Father sends His beloved creation into hell. It is with unimaginable grief that He acknowledges His child's real choice to rebel against His love. His arms are held open wide as He reveals His character over and over to a rebellious people (Rom. 1:18-20). "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Heb. 3:12-13).

God is merciful

Daniel 9:18 - "Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy" (NIV).

Ephesians 2:4-5 - "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved" (NIV).

God is humble

Isaiah 53:2

Philippians 2:6-11

God is gentle.

Matthew 11:28-30

Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NIV).

God is beautiful

Psalm 27:4 - "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple" (NIV).

Revelation 21:10-11 - "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal" (NIV).

God is generous

Romans 8:32 - "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" NIV

Ephesians 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (NIV).

God is wise

In our world of smart phones and smart watches, God stands out above the rest with his wisdom. He knows the correct path to take, the correct response, the details of how things work, and the discernment of when to speak. He is wise, not just smart.

Jeremiah 51:15 - “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding" (NIV).

Romans 11:33 - "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out" (NIV)!

God is protective

Psalm 18:16-19 - "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me" (NIV).

Applying God's character

Deal with unbelief and accusation.

Hebrews 3:7-15
2 Corinthians 4:4

Renounce the lie that my Father is...

distant, disinterested

Your Father is intimate and involved (Psalm 139:18).

insensitive, uncaring,

Your Father is kind and compassionate (Psalm 103:8-14).

stern, demanding

Your Father is accepting and filled with joy and love (Zeph. 3:17; Rom. 15:7).

passive, cold

Your Father is warm and affectionate (Isaiah 40:11; Hosea 11:3-4).

absent, too busy

Your Father is always with you and eager to be with you (Heb. 13:5; Jer. 31:20; Ezek. 34:11-16).

impatient, angry

Your Father is patient and slow to anger (Exo. 34:6; 2 Peter 3:9).

tries to take the fun out of life

Your Father is trustworthy and wants to give you a full life (Lam. 3:22-23; John 10:10).

condemning, unforgiving

Your Father is tender-hearted and forgiving. His arms are always open wide to you (Psa. 130:1-4; Luke 15:17-24).

nitpicking, perfectionistic

Your Father is committed to your growth and proud of you as His growing child (Rom. 8:28-29; Heb. 12:5-11; Phil. 1:6).

Deal with mistrust.

Romans 8:31-32 - The life, death and resurrection of Jesus means we can trust God.
Write down the mistrust in God's character. Lay it down at the foot of the cross.

Declare God's character. Declare your trust in Him. Declare your loyalty and allegiance to His character and ways. Say "Yes" to Him.

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