The Characteristics of God

This message was written 07/17/2002 and Revised 6/15/2003

Author: Roscoe L. De Chalus

Lord of Hope Ministries

Prelude Song: Awesome God “Rich Mullin”

Congregational: Mighty is our God

Scripture reading: Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End, the first and the last.

Video Presentation: In the Beginning

Announcements: Welcome visitors, church happenings and the Offering.

Opening Prayer: Lord, please help us to understand your characteristics so we may love and relate to you better. Please bless the message for your glory in Jesus name Amen.

The Message:

Awesome, Creative, Divine, Just, Living, Loving, Merciful, Omnipotent, Unchangeable,

Eternal, Everlasting, Faithful, Omnipresent, Omniscient, One, Orderly, Patient, Forgiving, Glorious, Good, Perfect, Pure, Righteous, Sovereign, Spirit, Holy, Infinite, Invisible, Supreme, Transcendent, Triune, Trustworthy, Wise

Have you ever wondered what God is really like? The bible teaches us a great deal about God and reveals many of the Lords attributes (Characteristics).

First in order for you to began understanding you need to know what the word attribute means. An attribute of God describes some aspect of the nature of God.

Thinking about the thirty-three attributes of God mentioned previously will help you in understanding what God is like.

Here are some definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary of some of the words I mentioned that may need to be explained:

Awesome:
1 : expressive of awe <awesome tribute>
2 a : inspiring awe <an awesome task> b : TERRIFIC 2, 3; especially :

Divine:
Etymology: Middle English divin, from Middle French, from Latin divinus, from divus god -- more at DEITY
Date: 14th century
1 a : of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God or a god <divine love> b : being a deity <the divine Savior> c : directed to a deity <divine worship>
2 a : supremely good : SUPERB <the pie was divine> b : HEAVENLY, GODLIKE
- di·vine·ly adverb

Bottom of Form

Omnipotent:

1 often capitalized : ALMIGHTY 1
2 : having virtually unlimited authority or influence

Bottom of Form

Omnipresent:

Present in all places at all times.

Bottom of Form

Omniscient:

1 : having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight
2 : possessed of universal or complete knowledge
- om·ni·scient·ly adverb

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Transcendent:

1 a : exceeding usual limits : SURPASSING b : extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience c in Kantian philosophy : being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge
2 : being beyond comprehension
3 : transcending the universe or material existence
- tran·scen·dent·ly adverb

Bottom of Form

Triune:

Three in one: a often capitalized : of or relating to the Trinity <the triune God> b : consisting of three parts, members, or aspects

Main Entry: 1tri·une
TRINITY 1

Bottom of Form

Let us look at the following scriptures to see some examples of how the Bible speaks the Lords natures:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth (Creative ability).

John 3:16 (Gracious Redemptive God)

Chapter 3 - Nicodemus meets with Jesus

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a

ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:

for no man can do these miracles that thou doest,

except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I

say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot

see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when

he is old? can he enter the second time into his

mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he

cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that

which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born

again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest

the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it

cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is

born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these

things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of

Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do

know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive

not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not,

how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly

things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that

came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in

heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but

have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should

not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the

world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that

believeth not is condemned already, because he hath

not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of

God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into

the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be

reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his

deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in

God.

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into

the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them,

and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,

because there was much water there: and they came, and

were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's

disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he

that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest

witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come

to him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing,

except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not

the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the

friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth

him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's

voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of

the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he

that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth;

and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his

seal that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:

for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things

into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:

and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;

but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Now let us take a look at 1 Kings.

1Kings 19:9-18 (Focus on verses 11 thru 13) (An example of how he speaks, leads..)

Chapter 19 - Elijah encounters God at Horeb; God calls Elisha

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and

withal how he had slain all the prophets with the

sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So

let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not

thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about

this time.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life,

and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and

left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the

wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper

tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;

and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my

life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold,

then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise

and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on

the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he

did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time,

and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the

journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the

strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto

Horeb the mount of God.

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there;

and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he

said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God

of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy

covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy

prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;

and they seek my life, to take it away.

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before

the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great

and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in

pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not

in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the

Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not

in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped

his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the

entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a

voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here,

Elijah?

14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God

of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken

thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy

prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;

and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to

the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest,

anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be

king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of

Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy

room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the

sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth

from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the

knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth

which hath not kissed him.

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of

Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen

before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed

by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said,

Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and

then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back

again: for what have I done to thee?

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of

oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the

instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and

they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah,

and ministered unto him.

The Lord is a just God. You can count on him no matter what!

The Lords characteristic’s gives me encouragement, hope, peace and a sense of protection. Depending on where you are in life his characteristics when dwelled upon will give you what no one else can give.

Know that there is a loving God that cares for you and can fill the emptiness some of you may be feeling.

Take some time out to look over his attributes. Let them dominate your thinking at this time. We will pray for God to speak or reveal an attribute that can speak to your circumstance afterwards. Take 2 minutes..

Note: There are more characteristics of God that I did not list. Our Language does not contain enough words to describe our incredible God.

Lord God, please reveal to all those who seek you your incredible characteristics (Attributes) to serve as a reminders of how awesome you are. Abba father please show up in our circumstances and let all of us know that you are God. For you are our God for evermore. In Jesus Name Amen!

In closing today’s message I want to encourage you to pick a word daily that describes Gods characteristic (Attribute) and let it speak volumes to you. Ask God how to apply who he is to your life.

Let’s stand for closing prayer.

Closing prayer:

Lord, please show us more of you daily. We yearn to be connected to you for relationship. Thank you for defining more clearly your character in the words of this message.

We are so grateful that you can be everywhere at the same time helping us all. You are truly the most incredible Lord for all. We choose you! Your characteristics are so awesome father. Thank you for choosing us to be yours in Jesus name Amen.