God: Lesson 1 - Elohim

God as Elohim

As we have seen, "EL" is a term meaning elevated, lifted up, highest of the high, supreme.


"Elohim" is a plural term used to denote the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These three clearly exhibit themselves in the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17. But they are also clearly seen in the Genesis account of the creation of the world and especially of man himself.
 
The creation account tells how Elohim spoke everything into existence, but molded the dust of the earth to make man. This special relationship of Elohim with man is also seen as the breath life is breathed directly into man by his Creator.

If God is our creator and we are His children, then we it explains how we also are able to be creative and productive. If He is our Father, than we should reflect His influence in our lives. Are we a creator or a destroyer? Are we a producer or a consumer? Are we a peacemaker or a trouble maker? Who is our Daddy? Do we bring peace and unity or are we like the ruler of this world…causing disunity and chaos?

Elohim has attributes of being all knowing, all loving, all present, and all powerful. This is the great “I AM” – “Yahh”. All creation praises Elohim. If we have a relationship with the Highest of the High, then we also praise and give glory to all that is provided for us.

We see that there were 3 beings: one is the architect who planned the world before the world existed (Ps 139:13-16); one is the builder through which nothing was made without Him (John 1) and one is the interior decorator who makes order out of disorder (Genesis 1:2). All three have a singular purpose and a singular goal: bringing men back to their original purpose – having a close and abiding relationship with God.

In these three we live and move and have our very being (Acts 17:26-28) and without them nothing is possible. If we walk away from our purpose, to glorify the God of Heaven and Earth, then we walk away from all love, joy, peace, comfort, and wisdom.

In 2 Thess 1:7-9, we are told that we must know God and obey the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ or be very disappointed at his appearing. Learning to KNOW God is why we have begun this study so that He will come to know us (Matthew 7:21-23).

We recognize the word “name” actually means position, rank, authority, characteristics, attributes

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of your Lord your God in vain” Actually means, “You shall not take the position/authority/rank of  The Great “I AM” your “EL”, the Supreme Almighty and destroy His glory or make it useless or idolatry.

Tozer p.3 “The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is—in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own image….The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unwarothy of Him.

We can do this with our tongues or in our hearts.

Waiting on God,  Andrew Murray p. 21

“And so the Christian needs ever, when he has studied or heart God’s word, to ….. from his thoughts and waken up his heart to open itself before God, and seek the living fellowship with Him.

This is now the blessedness of waiting upon God, that I confess  the impotence of all my thoughts and efforts, and set myself still to bow my heart before Him in holy silence, and to trust Him to renew and strengthen His own work in me.”

“EL” –elevated. An old word that has been used in many languages. Elevations that we see in civilizations that raise up monoliths, like Stone Hinge, mountains, towers (turrets) and  church spirals. The pleural form is used by the Holy Spirit to express whose power and words created the world.

P6 -7  “Let us meditate on the divine glory of God who purposes working out in us  until we know the truths it implies. Our heart is the scene of a divine operation more wonderful than Creation (Col 2:12) We can do as little towards the work as towards creating the world, except as God works in us to will and to do (Phil 1:6; 2:13)

God only asks of us to yield, to consent, to wait upon Him, and He will do it all! Let us meditate and be still until we see how blessed it is that God alone will do.  There can be no good but what God works; to wait upon God, and have the heart filled with faith in His working, and in that faith to pray for His mighty power to come down, is our only wisdom. Oh for the eyes of our heart to be opened to see God working in ourselves and in others, and to see how blessed it is to worship and just wait for Hm.”

Does God truly work in our lives as He did in creation?

Handouts:

(1)    Calling upon God (Acts 22:16)

(2)    I believe in the Power of God – “miracles”

Be Still and KNOW that I am God (Elohyim).  I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalms 46:10-11

In truth, we find that God has no “name”. Instead, we find that he has “rank”, “attributes”, “characteristics” which He hopes to reveal to those who have faith in Him. He has traits and descriptions of His nature. Christ has the” name above all names”, rank above all ranks, King of Kings and Lord of Lords--Immanuel (With Us is “EL” or God with Us)

A Need for Reverance

He wants us to realize His Power, Majesty, Might, and to approach Him with a need for reverence.

The need to glorify our Maker, to acknowledge Him, not in some of our ways, but in all our ways. This is the goal of this class. Acknowledge who He is to the dying world. Acknowledge His love, mercy, grace, and plan for all men.

Yet, we hear the name of Jesus used in jokes, irreverent comments, swearing, vainly using His name and attributes in blasphemous conversations.

Define Blasphemy

Define Reverence

Define Glory, Praise, Honor

Being a witness to those who do not know God.

During the Olympic games the gymnast that won our first gold medal, Gabby said, "I give all the glory to God. Its a win-win. As the glory goes up His blessings come down".

What is your witeness. Each of you, in the light of these lessons, should begin to compose your own witness, a desire to give God glory, honor, praise, with reverence through your own lips and life by proclaiming His charcteristics.

We are often a brotherhood that diminishes the ability of the saints to declare their faith through faith talk-- statement before the presence of many witnesses. We are fooling ourselves if we believe that our silent, quiet lives are pleasing to God or beneficial to a dying world.

We say we "contend" for the faith. We fight for the clarification of basic tenets of faith like baptism which really only has two scriptures telling us that it places us in Christ (Col 2:12 and Galatians 3:24-25. Yet how many Scriptures are there which tell us to declare God's glory among the nations.

1 Chronicles 16:24

Ps  86:9, 12; 96:3

Ps 97:6

Is 24:15; 25:3; 42:12

Is 66:19

Romans 1:9; 15:6, 9*

1 Cor 6:20

Hebrews 13:15

Rev 15:4 If not on earth...then not in Heaven

What is the Good Confession? 1 Tim 6:13

We all have a testimony: John 3:11; Acts 10:42; 20:21, 24; Gal 5:3; 1 John 4:14; 3 John 1:3, 6, 12

The Lord is Near Phil 4:4-7 - Rejoice in the Lord always...because the Lord is near. In everything be prayerful always giving thanks to the Lord and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds

 

LOOKING INTO THE WORD

Characteristics of God

 

	Lesson		Scriptures	Discussion
	God's "Name"			We need to know how God describes Himself
	The Nature of God
	-- God is Creator		Gen 1:1-26 2:4,7 5:1-2 Neh 9:6 Job 38-41 Ps 89:47 90:1-2 104 (all) Is 40:28 42:5 45:12,18 64:8 65:17 Acts 14:15 17:24 1 Pet 4:19
	-- God is Everlasting, Eternal		Ex 3:14-16 Deut 33:27 Is 40:28 51:6,8 57:15 Amos 4:13 Mal 2:10 Jn 18:24 Eph 3:9 1 Tim 1:17 Heb 1:10-11 Rev 4:11 5:13 10:6
	-- God is Omnipotent		Gen 11:7-8 Job 11:7-12 42:2 Nahum 1: all esp 2,3,5,7,14 Rom 9:20-23 1 Cor 1:24
	-- God Renews		Gen 6:3 Deut 32:39 1 Sam 15:29 1 Chron 29:14 Is 40:28 66:1-2 Matt 5:45 2 Cor 9:10-11 1 Tim 6:13	God creates our life support system, renews the earth, never tires or grows weary, and is unchanging
	-- God is God of all (Jew and non-Jew) through faith in His power		Deut 32:6,8 Rom 4:29 9:24-33
	-- God is Multi-personality		Gen 1:26 2:all 3:22 11:7 Job 26:13 Is 9:6 Jn 1:1-5,10,14 12:44-45 14:7, 10-11 17:5,21 Acts 17:25,28 1 Cor 8:6 Heb 1:1-4,10-11	Three beings exist with all the characteristics of Deity: God, the Father who conceived creation, God, the Son, through whom all things were created, God the Holy Spirit, who organized creation with law and purpose.
	-- God is awesome in Power		Gen 1:1 17:1 Deut 10:17 Job 9:22 Is 40:23-24 Dan 2:20-22 3:17,29 4:17,25 6:26-27 Matt 10:28 Lk 8:24-25 12:5,32 Jn 10:29
	-- God is Impatient		Gen 6:3,6 Ex 32:4-13
	-- God is Exacting, jealous, wrathful		Gen 6:12-13 Lev 10:2 Num 3:4 11:1 12:3-14 Deut 4:24 32:35 Judges 9:53-57 1Chron 13:10 Ps 11:5-6 Is 57:18-21 Matt 18:34-35 Lk 18:7-8 Jn 15:2 Acts 5:1-10 17:30 Rom 11:21-23 Eph 5:6 Heb 10:30-31 12:15-17, 26-29
	-- God is faithful, reliable, compassionate, merciful, graceful, generous, just		Gen 7:1 8:1,21-22 20:17 Ex 2:24 9:15 19:4 20:18-21 33:20-23 Deut 4:31 7:9 8:18 Num 14:18 23:19 Josh 11:20 2 Chron 12:7 Neh 1:5 9:6-8,17b,19,31-33 9:35 Ps 25:6 145:17-20 Matt 7:11 Lk 1:68-69 6:35-38 11:13 Jn 3:33 6:40 Acts 14:16-17 Rom 1:2 2:4 3:25 8:32 9:14-16 10:3 11:29-33 15:5 1 Cor 1:9 1:30 10:13 2 Cor 1:3-4 5:21 Eph 1: all 2:4, 20 1 Tim 2:4 6:17 Titus 3:4 Heb 6:10 10:23 James 2:5 4:6 1 Pet 2:3 2 Pet 1:3 3:8-9 1 Jn 3:1
	-- God is All Knowing		1 Sam 16:7 2 Chron 2:9 Job 11:11 31:4 Is 57:15-21 66:2 Matt 24:36 Mk 13:32 Acts 2:23 1 Jn 3:30
	-- God is Blameless, Righteous		Ps 11:7 2 Sam 22:31 Rom 4:25-26 Titus 1:2
	-- God is Omnipresent (The “I AM”)		2 Chron 2:9 Ps 139:8-12 Acts 17:27 Heb 4:13 Ex 3:14 Deut 33:27 Mk 12:26 Jn 8:24, 58 (“He” added by translators) 18:5,6,8 (“He” added by translators)
	-- God is Shield, Dwelling place, Rock, God of Peace		Gen 15:1 Deut 33:29 1 Sam 2:2 2 Sam 22:47 1 Cor 14:33
	-- God discerns men’s hearts, will judge world through Christ, justifies through Christ, gives victory through Christ		1 Sam 16:7 1 Chron 28:9 2 Chron 16:9 Ezra 8:22 Ps 11:5-7 139:1-5 Acts 17:31 Rom 2:16 3:26 5:1-2, 8-11 6:23 7:25 8:3, 29-30 1 Cor 15:57 2 Cor 1:21 Eph 2:5-10 Phil 2:9-11 1 Pet 1:3 1 Jn 9-10
	-- God exists and controls physical environment		Josh 10:12 Job 28:23-27 Ps 19:1 Acts 14:17 Rom 1:20	Physical earth evidence of God’s existence
	-- God is a revealer of Mysteries		Dan 2:28 Acts 15:18
	-- God makes all things possible		Gen 18:13-14 Matt 19:26 Acts 2:22-24,36
	-- God is God of the Living		Matt 22:32 Mk 12:27 Lk 20:38 Acts 3:13
	-- God is Spirit		Jn 4:24
	-- God is giver of all Spiritual Blessings including the gift of the Holy Spirit		Lk 11:13 Jn 14:16 Acts 5:32 Rom 5:5 1 Cor 2:12 6:19 2 Cor 1:22 5:5 Gal 4:6 Eph 1:3, 13-14 3:16 1 Thes 4:8 Titus 3:5-6
	-- God's Ways are not Our Ways		1 Sam 15:29 16:7 Lk 16:14 Rom 11:33 1 Cor 1:25, 27-28 2:14 Titus 1:2
	-- God controls destinies of nations and peoples		Gen 11:7,8 Deut 7:21-23 Josh 10:10-14 Acts 17:26 Rom 13:1
	-- God is author and architect of plan of salvation from the beginning of time		Rom 8:29-30 9:23 1 Cor 2:7-9 Gal 1:4 Eph 2:10 1 Thes 5:9 Titus 2:11
	-- God Inspired all Scripture		2 Tim 3:16-17
	-- God Raises the Dead – Delivers us from Death		2 Cor 1:9-10 4:14 5:18-19 1 Pet 1:21
	-- God is Builder and architect of the Heavenly City		Heb 11:10, 16
	-- God is Impartial Judge		Deut 10:17 Rom 2:11 3:22-31 1 Pet 1:17 Rev 18:8
	-- God is Light		1 Jn 1:5
	-- God is Love		1 Jn 4:8, 16,19
	-- God Hears & Answers Prayers
	WHO IS GOD?		Evidence of Inspiration þ God created Matter: God speaks matter into being! (Gen 1:1) In modern physics we learn that pure energy can create matter, but how did the writer of Genesis know about modern physics? þ God created ORDER: The order God created is still seen today. Man can not break the bonds of order found in nature – no matter how far out into space he travels. God’s order rules the universe. Even the stars function according to the rules established by God. o God gave each thing in nature a boundary and a place (science calls this a niche). (Job 14:1-6) o God gave each thing in His creation a purpose (to bear fruit, to shine in the day, etc.) (Ps 199:89-91) o God created time for man (Gen 1:14) and seasons (Gen 8:22) (Do you know why it was so long before seasons were created?) Remember, God created time and He is not bound by it. A thousand years is as one day to the Lord. (Ps 90:4; 2 Pet 3:8) Christ is the beginning and the end of all (Rev 1:8) God IS. God can see the beginning and the end of time on earth. Time comes and goes but God just IS. “Even from eternity I AM” (Isa 43:13) God explains when Moses asks who He is, “And God said to Moses, “ I AM the AM”; Ex 3:14a (Ex 6:3; Jn 8:24, 28, 58; Heb 13:8; Rev 4:8) He always HAS BEEN, IS, and will ALWAYS BE. He exists in the “IS” state. IT is difficult for us to grasp with our human understanding. þ God gives us KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL; God walked with man in the beginning. (Gen 3:8) When man had no sin the presence of God was not frightening. When man sinned the presence of God as unbearable and man hid himself from the holiness of God (Just as darkness flees at the first sign of light) o When man sinned he became aware of SELF. Man began at that moment to put SELF on the throne of his heart. Man reasoned with SELF in the center of his reasoning instead of God in the center. The tree of knowledge of good and evil opened man’s eyes to a new standard, the standard of our carnal nature. Man judged good and evil with SELF as the standard instead of God. This is now the standard we must overcome in order to be pleasing to God. We must fight against our nature (flesh) in order to walk in the Spirit (God’s standard). o God drove man out of the garden in order to keep man from partaking of the tree of life. This was to save man from becoming an eternal being. It was God’s grace that kept an evil and corrupt man from living forever in his evil and corrupt state. Can you imagine never dying while suffering, in pain, in sorrow, corrupt and decaying? That would be Hell on earth. Instead God promises in Gen 3 to send a remedy for this terrible situation. He begins to reveal His will to man as man must deal with his new state of corruption and sin. God’s Word brings wisdom as to how we can be at peace and joy while still on this earth. þ God is OMNIPRESENT: God is every place. He is not restricted by location. We must be thankful that our God is a Spirit and not flesh. As Spirit it is possible for Him to be unrestricted by this world. (Is 40:28; Ps 146:10; 90:1-2; Job 36:26; Jere 23:23; Heb 1:12; 1 Tim 1:17; Acts 17:24-31) þ God is RIGHTEOUS, JEALOUS, WRATHFUL JUDGE: As surely as there is a God, there will be a day when He will judge the world. The world will glorify its creator. (Job 13:20-22) Job knew the awesomeness of God as frightening and all the more so to sinful men. Since all of us have sin in our lives, we are unable to stand before God. Sin separates man from God just as Adam and Eve were separated from the presence of God (Is 59:1-2) Because sin cannot stand before God, fear and trembling arise in a sinful heart. Those who stand before God full of sin on that last day will plead for the mountains to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of God. A few men on earth had righteous hearts as we read in the Bible. There were able to walk and talk with God and craved to be in His presence. o Enoch was such a man. He was righteous in all his ways and God walked with him (Gen 5:22) Enoch did not claim citizenship on this earth and was taken up by God to the eternal world to enjoy a far better life (Heb 11:5) o Paul craved to be in the presence of God. He did not fear the end of this life and looked forward with great anticipation to it. Indeed, he claimed his citizenship in Heaven. (Phil 1:21-24; 3:7-21) o God always seeks HUMBLE men to walk with Him. (Micah 6:8) Righteous men seek God and are not afraid of His awesomeness and yet have reverence for His mighty power. Wicked men shy from His presence. How can sinful man become righteous in order to stand joyfully in the presence of God? (1 Cor 15:51-58; 2 Cor 5:9-10; Col 3:2-6; 1 Thess 1:10, 3:13, 4:14-18; 2 Thess 1:7-10; 2 Tim 4:7-8; Heb 9:27-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15; 1 Jn 2:28-29; 4:17-18; Rev 22:1-5, 12-20)

 

Introduction: God

Introduction: God, Pass by Me

These lessons will go along with Cassandra Martin's Book "God, Pass By Me: Seeing God's Glory...." You may acquire a copy from 21st Century Christian ISBN-13:978-089098-257-0 (2809 Granny White Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37204)

2 Thessalonians 1:7 tells us that the Lord of the Universe will reap vengeance on those that KNOW (eido)  not God (Theos) and obey not the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-3; Romans 6:3-11).

·         “eido”: to intimately experience and understand – have a deep relationship with, tell about, behold and proclaim

·         “Theos”:  being the GodHead (Supreme Beings)–the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

We have to know  God– experience Him intimately and wholly.  We have to know Him well enough to witness, praise, acknowledge, and to recognize His power, follow His leading, proclaim Him among the nations, place Him in the proper position in rank and authority, and allow Him to direct our lives. We have to KNOW His plan through His Son and understand from experience the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect:  W. Tozer asserted, in His Book, The Knowledge of the Holy, 

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

·         Write this statement in your PEP Journal (Prayer, Epiphany, Praise)

The word, “God” most likely comes from a 16^th century Germanic term “gott” meaning “good” and  only slightly describes the Lord of the Universe. It was used by translators in the first printed Bible as a matter of convenience. It should also be realized that it is not important that we be able to say the Hebrew or Greek terms as much as it is important and imperative that we KNOW the Supreme Being of Heaven and Earth and how He wishes to be referred to as revealed by the terms He uses to describe Himself. These terms we NEED to KNOW. These attributes we must hold sacred. These are terms we cannot use in vain. (Ex “Evan Almighty” Gen 35:11, “Holy Cow” Ps 89:18, “Awesome” Exodus 15:11, “Reverend” Ps 111:9)

To KNOW God is more than being able to cite a few details about Him. In fact, KNOWING God is not done with the "head" or the mind. It is done with the HEART.

In terms of the American culture, our Father has no official name. Instead, He reveals to us His attributes, rank, position, and nature. Perhaps it is unfortunate that the translators of the Bible used a singular word "God" instead of translating the information we need to know more about our God. There is nothing worse than “non-information”, as in words like “thing” and “stuff”.  In this study we want to draw closer to and deepen our relationship with our God making this perhaps the most important study in which we participate in connection to our own salvation.

Tozer (ideas and thoughts from The Knowledge of the Holy)

The problem we have in this century is that the Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for one so low as to utterly be unworthy of thinking, the worship of men and their accomplishments. This, the Church has not done deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge. The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of all lesser evils everywhere among us. We have lost the majesty of God and His Divine Presence in every aspect, corner, and activity of our lives. We have lost the spirit of minute by minute worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence.

A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way in curing our irreverent lives. The study of His attributes will promote the practice of meditation on the being of God. No religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. When we view God as less than He is we have committed idolatry – the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and moves to the Heart – “When they knew God,” Paul wrote, “they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in the imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” 

When viewed from the perspective of eternity, the most critical need of this hour may well be that the Church should purify and elevate her concept of God and glorify His power. We Christians are the Church and whatever we do is what the Church is doing. The matter, therefore, is for each of us a personal one. Any forward step in the Church must begin with the individual. What can plain Christians do to bring back the departed glory among God’s people? Is there some secret we may learn? Is there a formula for personal revival we can apply to the present situation, to our own situation? The answer to these questions is yes. Yet the answer may easily disappoint some persons, for it is anything but profound. The secret is an open one which any man may read. It is simply: Acquaint yourself with God. KNOW GOD and build a minute by minute relationship with HIM. To regain her lost power the Church must see heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God.

Begin praying that God will reveal Himself to you during this study. Begin praying that you will be open to understanding Him (knowing Him) in the depths of your heart.

The "names" (attributes) that we will be studying in these lessons are to help us build a closer relationship, reverence, and awe for the Power of His Presence. We need to KNOW His position, His rank, and His Sovereignty. We need to humble our busy lives to our correct position – one who waits for God to do His work in us and through us. These attributes cannot be understood by the "natural" mind; only through the spiritual understanding of the Heart.

Prov 3: 5 “Trust in the Lord in all your HEART and lean not on your own understanding.”

It is with the Heart that we learn to KNOW God. It is with our faith that we walk in the path of God. “If the Lord wills, I will to such and such”….instead of “I will do….” (1 Cor 4:19; James 4:15) We can do nothing outside of the power of God.

GROUP WORK (10 minutes) :

In your small group read Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" p. 20 & 21 (You may download the book from here)

From the Bible, give examples of those who knew the Scriptures but did not KNOW God.

 

Let’s look at our Introductory Lesson in God Pass by Me..., page 1.

In this text, Moses asks the Great I AM for a favor. Let’s see what, why and how this favor was granted. As you read, circle the following terms so that we can define them more fully:

--glory

--goodness

--name

--Lord

--God

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. …. But He said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.” Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished…..” Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped.

Let’s take this text apart and better understand here what happened on Sinai.

(1)    Why do you think Moses asked to see God’s Glory? When had he seen it before? How did he know about it? What was Moses really asking for?

(2)    What does the word “glory” mean?

(3)    Was God really in the burning bush? Acts 7:35

(4)    Was God really on Sinai? Acts 7:38

(5)    “Shekinah” is the Hebrew term for the Presence of God. It refers to God’s awesome power, shining majesty, spender, beauty, and glowing manifestation (as in the Transfiguration of Christ).  I like to refer to this as the “finger tip” of God making Him known in our fallen world. Why can God not manifest Himself fully on this earth? Why did He send Jesus to be born of a woman? Why did Christ have to “empty” Himself and take on a form of a man?

When we understand the power of God to speak and create the entire Universe, we begin to understand a little of His Awesomeness.

In the passage above, God said “I will proclaim my name”. The word here for “name” is a word that means, “rank, position, or character”. It is not the term used to refer to a name like, “Ralph”. God said he would reveal His nature. In these lessons when Cassandra uses the word, “name”…. scratch it out and put the term “attribute” instead.

What did God call Himself in this passage above?  As He passed by Moses, our English Bibles say He proclaimed “The Lord, The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God”.

What He said was, “The I AM”, The I AM” or self-Existent one “is the compassionate and gracious EL”.

“EL” – A term from which we derive words like “elevated”, “elevator” refers to the Highest of the High, Lifted UP, and Sovereign Ruler of Rulers, Lord of Lord, King of Kings, above all rule and authority.

Elohim is the pleural of EL and is used for the Godhead: Associated with Creator of Heaven and Earth. Most High Ruler, Elevated Above all Heaven and Earth, Supreme Sovereign

Be Still and KNOW that I am God (Elohyim).  I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalms 46:10-11

We will see “EL” in words like “Elohim” the pleural term for the Highest of the High. In “El Shaddai” and in Immanuel  or “with us is the Highest of the High”. In our Bibles, the translators decided to use “God” each time for “EL” and other descriptive attributes. It is not wrong to use the word “God”, if you think of “The Highest Good”. But it really is not in the text in any shape or form. It is convenient to use the word, “God”…but it is also dwarfing the potential perhaps for knowing how God describes Himself and how He wants to be known.

A trend began in the late 1990’s to start using the Hebrew words for the attributes of God. Perhaps that was a good trend…perhaps not. In my humble opinion, God wants us to KNOW HIM by understanding His true nature and attributes. He wants us to KNOW and to PRAISE Him among the nations, using His attributes…just as the Psalmist did (1 Corinthians 14:6).

Let God be Near You! Let God Reign in you!

Let God's power shine through us! Let God be God and let us become humbled by His Presence. Let us lift up our voices and declare Him among the heathen, the nations, the darkness. Let us declare the great and glorious day of the Lord. Let us believe.

Homework: write your testimony so that you can share with others next week about who God has been in your life.

Meditations and Reflections:

(1)    Who is God? Let Him reveal Himself to you. He is known through His creation. There is no EXCUSE.

(2)    What are His attributes? Grow closer to Him by learning about Him and believing in Him. Let Him invade your HEART.

(3)    This is NOT about you working harder. This is about you waiting on God. Listen, be still, and watch as the glory of God passes before you. There is no good work that is not done by God.

(4)    Glorify His attributes among the nations. Learn how to share YOUR STORY.

(5)    Honor God, His attributes, His rank, His position and do not use them in vain.

(6)    It is all about the Great I AM, not who I am.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD

Below are some of the "characteristics" or "names" God has used to describe His own Nature. In II Thessalonians 1:7-9, we are told what will happen if we do not choose to KNOW GOD. What does it mean to "know God"? The first step is to know and understand His nature. Become familiar with these characteristics as we continue to study the Nature of God

	GOD "names"		ELOHIYM - examples
	Genesis 1:1		'elohiym, el-o-heem'; plur. of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but spec. used (in the plur. thus, esp. with the art.) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
	Genesis 2:4		3068. Yehovah, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Comp. H3050, H3069.
	Genesis Chapter 2		Uses both Elohiym & Yehovah (LORD GOD)
	Gen 3:5 NASB		"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Uses Elohiym to describe what man would try to become – his own judge.
	Gen 5:24 NASB		Enoch walked with Elohiym: And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Man becomes shachath:H7843 ="corrupt " while God remains - "is"
			Elohiym tells Noah to build an Ark of safety
	Psa 48:10 NASB		As is Thy name, O God (Elohiym), So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
	Psa 70:4 NASB		Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; And let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "Let God (Elohiym) be magnified."
			GOD MOST HIGH - Elohiym Elyown
	Psa 57:2 NASB		I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.
	Gen 9:26 NASB		Noah came out of the Ark to worship Yehovah, Elohiym He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
	Genesis 14:8		Melchisedek was a priest of the MOST HIGH GOD And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High
			GOD of Elevation or Lofty or Supreme- Elohiym Elyone
	Psa 59:5 NASB		Lord God of Hosts: yehovah:H3068 'elohiym:H430 . tsaba':H6635 And Thou, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.
			LORD - Adonay
	Gen 15:2 NASB		Abraham worshipped 136. 'Adonay, ad-o-noy'; an emphatic form of H113; the Lord (used as a prop. name of God only):--(my) Lord. AND 'adonay:H136 yehovih:H3069 And Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
	Psa 71:5 NASB		For Thou art my hope; O Lord (Adonai) GOD (Yehovah), Thou art my confidence from my youth.
	Psa 71:16 NASB		I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, Thine alone
			GOD - EL
	Genesis 16		Sarah refers to God in his generic name known by tribes all over the earth. 10. 'el, ale; short. from H352; strength; as adj. mighty; espec. the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Comp. names in "-el."
	Job 8:5 NASB		Job also uses the form “el” & 'elowahh” & “shadday” (ALMIGHTY) to refer to God. The book of Job deals with the oldest form of knowledge. "If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty,
	Gen 17:1 NASB		Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless When establishing His covenant with Abraham, God says His name is : Yehovah, shadday:H7706 'el:H410 (or Jehovah, El Shaddai = I AM Almighty God) 7706. Shadday, shad-dah'ee; from H7703, the Almighty:--Almighty. In other words, God is able to establish and keep His covenant now and forever with all power and might. It is Elohiym that speaks to man (Spirit, angel, voice of God). Description of God and where He dwells: . yehovah:H3068 . 'elohiym:H430 . shamayim:H8064 . . 'elohiym:H430 .
			Shamayim is the lofty places – showing God’s reach into the Heavens as well as on the earth.
	Gen 24:3 NASB		and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,
	Gen 28:3 NASB		The God of Blessing: 3 . 'el:H410 shadday:H7706 (God Almighty) "And may God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.
	Exo 9:1 NASB		The God of Promise: yehovah:H3068 'elohiym:H430 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
	1 Ki 18:39 NASB		And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God."
	Exo 34:6 NASB		Compassionate God: yehovah:H3068 . yehovah:H3068 'el:H410 rachuwm:H7349 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;
	Psa 79:9 NASB		God of my Salvation: . 'elohiym:H430 . . yesha':H3468 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.
	Psa 94:22 NASB		God of Refuge: . yehovah:H3068 . . misgab:H4869 . . 'elohiym:H430 But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.
	Isa 40:28 NASB		Lord God, Creator: 'elohiym:H430 . yehovah:H3068 . bara':H1254 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
			God, whose name is Jealous: 'el:H410 . . yehovah:H3068 . shem:H8034 . qanna':H7067 . . qanna':H7067 'el:H410
	Exo 34:14 NASB		for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God
			Merciful Lord God) LORD GOD: 'adonay:H136 (136. 'Adonay, ad-o-noy'; an emphatic form of H113; the Lord (used as a prop. name of God only):--(my) Lord.) yehovih:H3069
	Deu 3:24 NASB		'O Lord GOD, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Thine?
	1 Ki 8:53 NASB		"For Thou hast separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Thine inheritance, as Thou didst speak through Moses Thy servant, when Thou didst bring our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord GOD."
			Eternal God: qedem:H6924 'elohiym:H430
	Deu 33:27 NASB		"The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!'
			God of Knowledge: yehovah:H3068 . . 'el:H410 . de'ah:H1844
	1 Sam 2:3 NASB		"Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.
			God, My Rock: . 'elohiym:H430 . . tsuwr:H6697 (Diety). . . yasha':H3467 . yasha':H3467 (Salvation)
	2 Sam 22:3 NASB		My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, Thou dost save me from violence.
	Ezra 5		All through the book of Ezra God is referred to as Elahh….probably due to the influence of captivity and foreign languages. Foreigners refer to the “great God” rab:H7229 'elahh:H426 of Israel. (Ezra 5:8 NASB) "Let it be known to the king, that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands. God of Heaven & Earth: 'elahh:H426 . shamayin:H8065 . 'ara':H772 (Ezra 5:11 NASB) "And thus they answered us, saying, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
			Great God: yehovah:H3068 . gadowl:H1419 'elohiym:H430
	Neh 8:6 NASB		Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
			Great Awesome & Fearful God: 'elohiym:H430 . gadowl:H1419 . gibbowr:H1368 . . yare':H3372 'el:H410
	Neh 9:32 NASB		) "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who dost keep covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before Thee, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and on all Thy people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.
			God of Truth: . yehovah:H3068 'el:H410 . 'emeth:H571
	Psa 31:5 NASB		Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
			Living God: 'elohiym:H430 . . chay:H2416 'el:H410
	Psa 42:2 NASB		My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
			Holy God: . 'elohiym:H430 . . . qodesh:H6944
	Psa 77:13 NASB		Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?

Sowing with Purpose & Waiting on God

INTRODUCTION

In this fast food generation where we plan, decide, purchase, and implement things within a single afternoon, it is difficult for us to imagine having to "wait on God". So let's take these first few moments together to "wait" and contemplate the Lord and His will for us.

Psalm 52:9
I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
Psalm 62:1
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
Isaiah 64:4
For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

God's time is not our time. God's ways are not our ways AND THANK GOODNESS! It is not in man to direct his own path. But that is exactly what we do!! We make lists, plan activities, make decisions, and purpose in our hearts to accomplish tasks all the day long without thought of "waiting on the Lord". In the big scheme of things, God has an unfolding story and plan for man. We can either live within that plan to glorify Him in that story or live outside. The next set of lessons we embark on will hopefully prepare us to better live within the power and plan of God.

ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW: I encourage you to follow this Blog to stay up with the lessons and to keep posted. You can do this in two ways: (1) Follow (left hand side menu) and (2) Go all the way to the bottom and signup for Email updates. Also, hope you'll participate in online discussions!

LESSON SERIES DESIGN & GOALS:

(1) Each lesson is designed to answer an authentic question about being a true follower of Christ. We will introduce a SPIRITUAL SEED THOUGHT and then discover how that thought grows in each heart of those who participate in these lessons.

(2) Each lesson has the specific goal of "changing behavior".  Jesus changed lives in the 1st Century and continues a desire to change lives in this century. Without transformation, there is no life in Christ. You will get the opportunity in each lesson to make a change for the better.

(3) Each lesson will require creative thought and application. Our God is the great Creator and His children are creative (not destructive). We will be continuously praying for God's creative Spirit to move us in a direction that would address the needs of those who are lost.

(4) Each lesson will require some time and commitment to furthering God's Will in the lives of those around you.

LESSON 1

We will be taking a look at how authentic Christians participate in the plan that God has for man. There will be challenges and a need for specific commitments during the course of these lessons. There will need to be a "team effort" to gain the most from a community of believers, a community of followers, a community of active spiritual warriors.


WHAT IS A "SEED THOUGHT"? Jesus refers to the Gospel as the "seed" in Matthew 13. Let's contemplate this passage.

Matthew 13:19-22

¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
²⁰ The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
²¹ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 
²³ And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

In each verse above, our Lord assumes the "seed was sown!" Are we sowers or "thorns"? Do we throw the seed or do we horde it?

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"SEED THOUGHTS" have the potential of changing lives. Understanding "seed thoughts":

(1) Once the thought has been planted, it takes time for us to witness its affect.

(2) Seed thoughts can be planted at anytime, anywhere, by anyone. It does not require a pulpit minister to sow a "seed thought".

(3) How should a seed thought be planted? The "seed" should be carefully selected and intentionally sown. When you have prayed about which seed thought to sow and in which heart, only then should you carefully, purposefully, lovingly, and tenderly plant the seed.

(4) Which seed thought should be planted? As Jesus met people during His ministry, He planted the “seed thought” that each one needed. He spent a few minutes hearing their needs and then gave them the seed that they needed to fully and faithfully follow Him.

(5) What does a “seed thought” look like?

After a short conversation with the woman at the well, Jesus gave her this seed thought:

John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

NOTE: Jesus rarely, if ever, preached an entire sermon to an individual, but He did give them “seed thoughts.” He didn’t expect them to always “get it” right then because He was planting a seed that others might water or time & God's Power might bring to fruition.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 Can you give other examples of “seed thoughts” in the New Testament?

Why are seed thoughts important? Just as a farmer trusts God to bring the harvest from a tiny seed in the earth, so Christians must trust in the Power (Dunamis) of God to work His Way and Will in the hearts of men (Phil 2:13).

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Seed thoughts are important because this is where we begin when sharing the Light with the world. We plant seed thoughts and allow God ‘s Power to bring the increase. We WAIT on GOD to do His good Will.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Look at the Scenarios below and write a seed thought for each.

What “seed thought” might you plant if the following were the case?

Scenario 1:

A  young man who is going through a terrible divorce and child custody suit

Scenario 2:

A young person has just been arrested for a DWI due to their partying life-style. They are miserable and feel defeated by life.

Scenario 3:

A recent high school graduate is mad at the world and very depressed. They post on Facebook that they are worthless and wish they had never been born.

Scenario 4:

Your co-worker is griping about another co-worker not doing their job.

Scenario 5:

Your child comes home from school and is crying because someone is bullying him.

Scenario 6:

You have a relative that is “not inclined” religiously to any type of faith or religion.

Scenario 7:

Your doctor is Muslim and you have an appointment with Him this afternoon.

 Assignment 2: you are to create 4 more scenarios and suggest 4 more seed thoughts.

Assignment 3: What are some of the seed thoughts that Jesus asked us to plant?

FINALLY:

Too often we are silent because we think we don't have enough time to deliver the "full gospel" message. Too often we are tongue-tied because we don't know what to say. These lessons should help us loosen our tongues and become ready in season and out of season to be a sower of a spiritual "seed thought" among our fellow man.

Here is my prayer for all of us this week:

Help us Lord to learn to open our lips and to proclaim You among the nations and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Keep our minds centered on our packets of "seed" that you have given us in these earthen vessels. Give us PURPOSEFUL and creative ways of being a sower of seed. Help us to shine in a dark world. Keep our hearts near You and in Your Will. Take away any fear we might have of speaking gentle seed thoughts to those who are dying in darkness. Help us to have the Mind of Christ. Fill our hearts with the joy of our salvation. This is my prayer in the name of Christ, our Lord.

Here is my seed thought for all of us this week:

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

RESOURCES:
-- http://www.biblegateway.com