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The beginning of apostasy is when Christians fail
to grasp certain doctrines basic to an understanding of the
Kingdom of God. The inerrancy of the Scriptures, the person and
work of Jesus Christ, the nature of sin and salvation in creation:
these are all basic doctrines that are often misunderstood and
misinterpreted by young believers. And one of the most pre-eminent
doctrines that you must understand is "Who is my Creator, and
what is His Nature?".
God is not a created being, but is the Creator.
As Creator and Most Sovereign He has certain attributes
(characteristics) that distinguish Him as
separate from what He created.
What
is an "attribute" of God? Why should I understand His
"attributes"? What are the dangers of not knowing His
attributes?
If you fail to understand these attributes you may
fall into many of the mainline cultic representations of God: the
God of Manifestation (Monotheism
or Sabbelianism)
Adam-God (Mormonism)
Angelic God (Jehovah's
Witnesses)
Immaterial God (Spiritists and the
Wierwielites)
Material God (Gnosticism)
God Just Like Us
(Humanism, Open Theism, Emerging Church,
& Post-Modernism).
All of these cultic views (and there are many more
abounding) present plausible explanations for their view of YHWH,
but these
views are ungrounded in scripture and therefore patently false.
In this study we will look at each of the attributes of
God, one point at a time, as clearly illustrated through the Holy Bible.
The Biblical text we will be using is the King James Authorized Version
(1789), though I do not discount other scriptural translations
available today. At times I will add original language (Greek, Hebrew,
Chaldean, Syrian) breakdowns of certain key words within the text to make
it clearer for the reader, though these key word
annotations will always be clearly highlighted
as to make them stand out from the KJV translation.
OmniPotence of
God
Fatherhood of
God
OmniPresence of
God
OmniScience of God (In Work)
The
Omnipotence of God
The American Heritage
Dictionary defines
omnipotent
as:
om·nip·o·tent
(ŏm-nĭp'ə-tənt) adj. Having
unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful.
n. One having unlimited power or
authority.
The Christian Apologetics
Research Ministry (carm.org)
defines omnipotence
as:
An
attribute of God alone. It is the quality of having all power
(Psalm 115:3). He can do all things that do not conflict with His
holy nature. God has the power to do anything He wants to.
Psalms 115:3
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased.
Our society today seems to be going haywire! The
Roe vs Wade judgment in our Supreme Courts made abortion (a nice
term for taking the life of a child) legal in all states. The
United States Supreme Court narrowly
(April 18th, 2007) The Supreme Court narrowly upheld a federal law
today banning partial Birth
Abortion, a
terrible procedure that allows the doctor to deliver
all but the head of the baby - then a knife is driven into the
brain of the child while yet in its mother's womb. Pornography
is rampant and abundant on television, in the movies, on the
internet. A recent television show advertised a "coming out
party" for the female lead, that she was going to "come
out of the closet and admit her homosexuality" on prime time.
The week of it's airing, this show was seen by over 16 million
Americans, and highly praised for upholding the virtues of the
alternate lifestyle
of homosexuality.
The free love teachings
of the 60's, 70's, and 80's has turned into the AIDS
and HIV epidemic of the 90's. The
unbeliever - and sometimes even professing
Christians
- have sexually shared one another to
the point of creating a strain of disease so potent that no one
knows how to eradicate it. If only the guilty were suffering we
would be less concerned, but addicts who
sold their blood to hospitals (to gain funds for more drugs)
tainted blood supplies, and innocents used
these supplies unknowingly. Those who led clean and wholesome
lives are dying for man's folly, and children who have yet to
share the joys of this life are cruelly cut off.
Why do the innocent suffer while the heathen
prosper? King David asked the same question of God:
Psalms 2:1-3 "Why do the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and
against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast
away their cords from us."
David, like us, was human, and in his human
frailty cried out to God "WHY, WHY IS THIS SO?". Yet God
answered quickly:
Psalms 2:4-9 "He that sitteth in
the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall
he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree:
the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten
thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break
them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's
vessel."
God
answers, I AM IN CONTROL! God is in control, though all about us
may seem lost and undone. God is in control for He is omnipotent,
all powerful.
Though at times God
may allow the human to exercise his free-will, and though this
free-will may lead to horrible (or so it seems) consequences, God
is yet in control.
A wonderful illustration of the All Power of God
is found in the life of Stephen, a
faithful Deacon of the early Church.
Stephen faced certain death at the
hands of unrighteous though self-righteous unbelieving religious
people. Though brutally stoned to death, Stephen felt no pain or
suffering. In fact, the last thing he saw before falling asleep in
the Lord was Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God the
Father. As
he died the whole grisly scene was witnessed by a chief among
sinners, Saulos Paulos Benjaminos. In part, because of the dying
witness of Stephen, Saul later became Paul the Apostle,
the Divinely Inspired author for a large portion of our New
Testament. God is in control.
The
Dispensations of History Were
Formed by God's Command
Hebrews 11:3 " Through faith we understand
(NOEO = PERCEIVE IN OUR MINDS)
that the worlds (AION = AGES, DISPENSATIONS)
were framed (KATARTIZO = TO BE PUT
IN A APPROPRIATE POSITION, ARRANGED)
by the word (RHEMA = SPOKEN WORD)
of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear."
Man likes to think that he controls history,
but God is the only controller of time from eternity past.
Each
dispensation,
or period of human history, was spoken into existence by God, decreed
by our Father.
The Age of the Gentiles, from Adam to
Moses, was commanded by God. When God gave the Law to Moses He established
the Age of Israel, which lasted until the crucifixion of His only begotten
Son. We entered the Church Age because God decreed His Son pay the penalty
for our sins, and we will remain in the Church age until God sends His
Son back to get us at the Rapture of the Church. Man likes to think that
by some social order, by some special formula of government, that we can
bring a Millennial peace upon the earth. This is a lie created by the
Father of Lies, Satan, to make man feel godlike and powerful. Only God
will establish the Millennial dispensation, only He will maintain a thousand
year period of peace on the earth.
God
Owns What He Created in His Omnipotence
Psalms 24:1-2 "The earth is the LORD's,
and the fullness thereof; the world, (TEBEL
= INHABITED EARTH, EARTH WITH ALL LIVING FORMS ON IT)
and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it (YACHAD
= LAID A FOUNDATION) upon the seas,
and established (KUWN = MADE FIRM,
SURE, RELIABLE) it upon the floods."
With the rising surge of liberalism in
the American Media, we often express shock or outrage when someone (usually
a child) loses their life in the course of a natural disaster. As humans
we should feel a certain amount of grief at losing a loved one, or one
so young that they could have hardly experienced life. But we cross the
line from grief into outright sinful disobedience when we begin to call
God to account for that loss. "Why was God so unfair, Why did He
allow this to happen?" is not only blasphemous, but moot.
We
ask "Why did God allow this?" This is human. But Beloved, our
Creator owns what He has created,
and has every right to do with it and us as He sees fit.
Isaiah 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.
Romans 9:20-21 Nay but, O
man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say
to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (21) Hath not the potter
power over the clay, of the
same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
As humans we cherish the freedoms (also
called ability to exercise the
free-will) we have. And rightly
so. But the free-will that we have, we have because our benevolent Father
allows us to exercise it.
The
free will that we have, we have because God has decreed
it. God did not create robots, but people made
in His image and after His likeness
to follow Him.
God could have created unthinking and
unfeeling robots, placing them in the Garden of Eden. Instead He decided
that He wanted a family, creatures created in His image with the ability
to interact with Him. He gave us that free-will that we so prize. Nevertheless,
there are times when God, in His infinite wisdom, decides to turn history
or events so they might correspond with His eternal plan. In doing so,
there are times when the results seem harsh, even unfeeling. We must always
remember that we are the created,
not the Creator, and that we
do not have the ability to yet understand the Almighty's design amongst
His creation. Be comforted in knowing that He does have a Plan, and He
does control His creation in the best way possible for us all.
God
is Self Sufficient in His Omnipotence,
and Remains The Author of Life
Acts 17:24-26 "God that made the
world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord (KURIOS
= LORD, MASTER) of heaven and earth,
dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshiped with men's
(ANTHROPOS = MANKIND'S)
hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and
breath, (PNOE = OXYGEN, THE AIR
WE BREATHE) and all things; And
hath made of one blood (HAIMA =
BLOOD. REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR, ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME BASIC BLOOD
AS DESIGNED BY GOD) all nations
of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined
(HORIZO = TO MARK OFF BOUNDARIES
OR SET LIMITS TO) the times (KAIROS
= PERIODS OF TIMES, DISPENSATIONS) before
appointed, (PROTASSO = SPECIFICALLY
COMMANDED OR DECREED BEFOREHAND)
and the bounds of their habitation;"
Not too many years ago Time
Magazine ran a cover story that,
in essence, reported that God
was dead. Why was God dead,
you might ask. The reporters did a survey among the "general populace",
and based on that survey determined that few Americans were attending
Church on a regular basis. Since few were attending Church, and God was
not being worshipped, He was in fact "dead" from lack of followers.
The
Bible does not depict God as some celestial Yoga who loses omnipotence
as man loses faith in Him. God said it - and
it is settled whether you
believe it or not!
This is entirely the fabrication of some
reporter's warped heathen view of the Godhead. Though God created man
with free-will because He desired
a family He could interact with, He
does not need that family, nor
it's belief, to help Him retain power. As we read above: "Neither
is worshipped with men's (ANTHROPOS
= MANKIND'S) hands, as though he
needed any thing." God does
not need you,
or need
me, He wants
us as His obedient children, and has gone to great lengths (the Cross)
to try and attain us. But if we all decide tomorrow that there is no God,
that God is merely a figment of our imagination (or as that misguided
Karl Marx
stated, "religion is the opiate of the masses"), God is still
Almighty God! In His omnipotence He still controls (as He wills) His creation,
He still exercises absolute authority over Heaven and earth.
God
Omnipotently Created Man in His Own Image
Genesis 1:26-27 "And God said, Let
us make (ASAH = TO MANUFACTURE OR
CREATE SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING)
man in our image, (TSELEM = SHADE,
IMAGE, LIKENESS, RESEMBLANCE) after
our likeness: (DEMUWTH = MODEL,
PATTERN) and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle,
and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth. So God created (BARA
= TO FOR, SHAPE, MAKE, CARVE) man
in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male (ZAKAR
= MALE OF THE SPECIES) and female
(NEQEBAH = FEMALE OF THE SPECIES)
created he them."
How
do we know that the entire Godhead
was present at creation?
Here is a clear proof of the Triune God
exercising His omnipotence in creation. Note
the use of Let
us
make
and our
image and
our
likeness.
The entire Godhead was present at creation, Father Son and Spirit, and
all three each had equal input in creating us in the image of God.
Though man has figured out how to create an artificial heart, and how
to medically transplant organs from one donor to a recipient, and even
how to fertilize an egg in a test tube, man cannot
create life. God took base dirt,
formed it into a human shape, and breathed into it animate life. And not
just animate life, but life that took on many of the attributes of God:
the ability to think, to reason, to form conclusions, the ability to create
things such as art and mechanical forms, the ability to not only possess
the function of free-will but to act on it.
Man
cannot create life, only God can. The recent "miraculous discovery"
of cloning is no great thing with God. So man took cells from a sheep,
and cloned them into another sheep. So what? If you start with life you
can carbon copy
what is already there.
For instance, I created this document
that you are now reading. You can make copies of this document. Did you
"create" this document when you did that? NO! You took my creation
which already existed and copied it. The creation originated within me
(with the Holy Spirit's guidance), and you just Xeroxed the creation.
The scientist that clones sheep is only carbon copying creation, but he
did not create life. When
a scientist can take a bucket of completely dead dirt (irradiated free
of bacterial growth, completely devoid of life) and make a rat out of
it (much less a human) then I'll be impressed. Until then, it's just a
cheap parlor trick, just like that trick of taking a live egg out of a
woman, fertilising it with human sperm, and being astounded when life
is formed. God gave man and
woman the ability to create life by reproduction, it's just a cheap trick
to "scientifically" circumvent the womb.
In His omnipotence He created life out
of nothing, He created you. You are in His image, and because of that
you have worth. You are worth so much to Him that He sent His Son to die
for you. Think on this the next time you are feeling depressed and worthless!
You are cherished!
God
Omnipotently Decreed Lines of Authority
and Design In Creation
Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said,
It is not good (TOWB = GOOD, PLEASANT,
BEAUTIFUL) that the man should be
alone; I will make (ASAH = TO MANUFACTURE
SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING) him
an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every
beast (CHAY = LIVING CREATURE) of
the field, and every fowl of the air; (SHAMAYIM
= HEAVENS, SKIES, HEIGHTS) and brought
them unto Adam (ADAM = RED CLAY,
REFERS TO WHAT HE WAS MADE OUT OF)
to see what he would call (QARA
= NAME, PRONOUNCE) them: and whatsoever
Adam called every living creature, (NEPHESH
= BREATHING CREATURE, LIFE) that
was the name thereof. And Adam gave (QARA
= PRONOUNCED NAMES) names to all
cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but
for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused
a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs,
and closed up the flesh (BASAR =
LIVING BODY) instead thereof; And
the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought
her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone (ETSEM
= BONE, BODY FRAME) of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called (QARA
= NAMED, PRONOUNCED A NAME) Woman,
(ISHSHAH, FEMALE MATE)
because she was taken out of Man.(ISH
= MALE MATE) "
So called "liberated" women
often find this doctrine offensive, but God in His omnipotence created
a proper line of authority (or government, if you prefer) among men and
women. Man
was created out of the dirt of the Garden that he was to govern, created
life out of lifelessness. Woman, on the other hand, was taken from the
living tissue of man, in essence a "reverse clone" of man (how
did we get on this cloning subject?) Woman was not created to be man's
slave, nor as a second class citizen without voting privileges, nor as
a mindless servant to do her master's bidding.
Woman was created to be man's helper, companion, friend, lover, wife.
She was created to respond to
her man in love, whereas man
was to maintain the role of leader
and guide within that union
of marriage. Man's first act as leader was to name his mate, which he
did. Man was to protect her from harm and to guide her in the ways of
righteousness, which he didn't
do, hence the Fall from Eden.
Never mind, we're still mixed up on the
proper God given roles of man and woman even today (especially today).
If God in His omnipotence created man with one role, woman with another,
it seems to me that the best life for both sexes would be to follow these
roles. Again we come to that little issue of the "free-will".
Through abuse of the free-will we can ignore God's best for us, and turn
to the worst. Recognize though, that God's best for us was created sinless
in the Garden, and we could learn a lot from watching Adam and Eve's example
(both good and bad).
God
is Omnipotent Because of His Other Attributes
Psalms 139:2-13 "Thou knowest (YADA
= TO PERCEIVE, KNOW FOR A CERTAINTY)
my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest (BIYN
= STUDY) my thought afar off. Thou
compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it
altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand
upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? (RUWACH
= SPIRIT. A REFERENCE TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHICH IS EVERYWHERE)
or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven,
thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, (SHEOL
= THE UNDERWORLD, REALM OF THE DEAD, GRAVE)
behold, thou art there. If I take (NASA
= RAISE, LIFT UP, BEAR UP, CARRY OFF, TAKE OFF)
the wings of the morning, and dwell (SHAKAN
= RESIDE, SETTLE DOWN, REST) in
the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead (NACHAH
= TO GUIDE OR LEAD. ORIGINALLY USED OF LEADING TROOPS INTO BATTLE) me,
and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall
cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth
not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the
light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: (KILYAH
= KIDNEYS, REINS, USED IN SCRIPTURE TO REFER TO THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF
MANKIND) thou hast covered me in
my mother's womb."
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 "Thine, O LORD
is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, (TIPHARAH
= ORNAMENTAL SPLENDOR, BEAUTY, MAGNIFICENCE)
and the victory, (NETSACH = COMPLETENESS
OR REACHING OF THE GOAL) and the
majesty: (HOWD = DIVINE SPLENDOR)
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the
kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and
honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is
power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength
unto all."
God
is necessarily omnipotent because of His other attributes. Why?
Can
you imagine a Being with All Power (omnipotent), but who did not have
the knowledge to know when and where to exercise that power? Often as
humans we commit actions, often with the best of intentions, that do not
work out as we planned.
Illustrate
Some time ago as the chairman of Deacons at a small Church an individual
came to me expressing a desire to be a Deacon. After reviewing the qualifications
of the Deacon in 1 Timothy 3, I, along with the Deaconate, unanimously
felt that the time was not yet right to ordain this brother into this
ministry. You might feel this to be judgmental, and even self righteous,
but God the Holy Spirit sets the gifts and offices in the Church as He
sees fit, and we were in one accord that the time was not yet right. This
was a decision based not on outward appearances, but on scriptural resolve.
I later had to apologize to this same brother because, in the interim,
one of our other Deacons (who
was perhaps ordained too hastily), when approached by this dear brother,
told him that "David doesn't feel that you're ready to be a Deacon
yet". This brother, who
was a friend, left our Church in anger because the situation was handled
poorly by not only a misguided Deacon, but myself as well. We have since
reconciled, but so much hurt could have been avoided had the situation
been handled differently.
Our
Father doesn't have to use 20-20 hind-site like we often do. When He commits
an action He knows what it's eventual outcome will be before
He ever commits that action.
Though we as humans may be temporally hurt by His actions, in the end
the result is what's always best for us. That's the difference between
humanity and it's Creator.
God's
Omnipotence is Seen In Nature
Psalms 19:1-6 "The heavens declare
(CAPHAR = TO INSCRIBE, RECOUNT,
NARRATE, MAKE KNOWN AS A SCRIBE)
the glory (KABOWD = RULING MAJESTY)
of God; and the firmament (RAQIYA
= BEATEN OUT PLATES, REFERS TO EARTH) sheweth
(NAGAD = TO PROFESS OPENLY SO AS TO BRING TO LIGHT)
his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, (OMER
= SPOKEN WORD, PLAN, OR PURPOSE. REFERS TO THE TESTIMONY OF EARTH'S DESIGN)
and night unto night sheweth knowledge. (DAATH
= UNDERSTANDING, INTELLIGENCE) There
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (SHAMAYIN
= HEARD AMONG THE HEAVENS, EXPRESSED AMONG THE CREATED UNIVERSE)
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words (MILLAH
= DISCOURSE, TOPICAL TEACHING) to
the end of the world. In them hath he set (SUWM
= TO CONSTITUTE OR APPOINT) a tabernacle
for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth
as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the
heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid
from the heat thereof."
Isaiah 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, (SHALIYSH
= A THIRD PART OF MEASURE. A THIRD PART OF THE EARTH WAS MEASURED OUT
DRY EARTH, THE REMAINDER IN WATER)
and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?"
Illustrate
How can anyone possibly view God's creation and not see the grand Design
that He used in it's every facet? I and my family were stationed (I am
an ex-airman) overseas in England for about three years, and while there
we decided to make full use of our leisure time in exploring that land.
While there we spent a lot of time in the "Peak District", which
is rife with mountains and caverns. In exploring the caverns we saw beautiful
rock and mineral formations, stalagtites
(hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (coming up from the floor)
so delicately and wonderously created, yet until recently undiscovered
by man. Though man did not
see these wonders until their recent discovery, God was omnipotently creating
them in these lightless caverns for our later enjoyment. Whole ecosystems
had been formed by His loving hands, animals without eyes living just
as full a life as their light dwelling counterparts.
Look at our wonderful earth, formed and
hung so perfectly in the heavens by a loving Creator. If earth were just
a little closer to the sun the polar icecaps would melt, and earth would
be fully covered with water. A little farther away and our oceans would
be non-existent, fields of ice that support no life whether human or animal.
Or look at the trees, with the delicate veins that run through each and
every leaf, carrying nutrients and moisture while converting human waste
(carbon dioxide) to oxygen. God's omnipotent design shows in all of His
creation.
Consider our
atmosphere.
The only other planets in our solar system that resemble earth enough
to support life are Venus
and Mars. But both these planets have atmospheres that are 95% carbon
dioxide and their surfaces are barren rock. On the other hand, the earth's
atmosphere has a ratio of 77% nitrogen to 21% oxygen, which, again, is
exactly what's needed to support life.
Consider
cellular life. The
simplest
living cell has 400 linked amino acids. The probability that it would
form by complete chance is about one in 10 followed by 158 zeros.
To get an idea what a long shot this is, the total
number of electrons in the universe is only 10 followed by 80 zeros, and
the age of the universe in seconds is 10 followed by only 18 zeros!
Consider the eye.
The
eye is an evolutionist's nightmare. In order that you read just one sentence,
100 billion muscles must
move
in the eye itself.
Consider too the recent liberal environmental
scare tactics over the ozone layer, how mankind is slowly destroying this
protective skin over the earth's atmosphere. Are you telling me that the
same God who created our earth in His omniscience had no idea that man
would create spray cans and fluorocarbons? Are you telling me that He
didn't from the beginning plan for this, and take the steps necessary
to help the earth recover? When Mount Saint Helens erupted, spewing ash
and dust into the atmosphere, it punched a hole in the ozone layer ten
times the size of any man allegedly created. Yet years later this hole
is miraculously patched, covered over with the healing hands of our Almighty
God. Don't let liberalism and liberalistic causes rob you of your peace.
God is in control, and certainly knows what He is doing.
Over
All False gods Our God Reigns Supreme
Psalms 95:3-6 " For the LORD is a
great God, (EL = MIGHTY GOD)
and a great King (MELEK = KING,
RULER, PRINCE) above all gods. In
his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is
his also. The sea is his, and he made (ASAH
= TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING)
it: and his hands formed (YATSAR
= TO FASHION, FRAME, SHAPE, MOLD, FORM)
the dry land. (YABBESHETH = DRY
LAND. SEE GENESIS 1.9-10) O come,
let us worship (SHACHAH = TO PROSTRATE
ONESELF IN HOMAGE OR WORSHIP TO GOD, HUMBLY BESEECH IN PRAYER OR ADORATION)
and bow down: let us kneel before
the LORD our maker.(ASAH = MANUFACTURER,
CREATOR) "
When
the gods of evolution,
ecology,
and science
raise their heads, God is still in control.
As humans we continually create false
gods to worship, to put above all else. The gods of racism teach that
those with dark skin are only three-fifths human, yet God in His omnipotence
teaches that we are all created of one blood, we are all equally human.
The gods of evolution teach that man came from an ape, but our Omnipotent
Father teaches that we are to rule the animals, that we are created uniquely
in His image. The gods of psycology and psychiatry teach that we are all
OK, that we can work through our problems with our own strength: our Omnipotent
Father teaches that we AREN'T OK, that we are all dead in our sins, and
that the only way we can work through our problems is with the accepted
sacrifice of Jesus. Will we ever learn?
God
is Omnipotent in Knowledge and Power
Isaiah 40:13-17 "Who hath directed
the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught (YADA
= TO UNDERSTAND OR BECOME INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH)
him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed (BIYN
= MADE INTELLIGENT THROUGH TEACHING)
him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge,
and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as
a drop of a bucket, and are counted (CHASHAB
= COUNTED, ESTEEMED, RECKONED, JUDGED AS)
as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a
very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts
thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as
nothing; (TOHUW = DESOLATE, A DESERT
PLACE) and they are counted to him
less than nothing, and vanity.(TOHUW
= DESOLATE, A DESERT PLACE)"
When we recognize that God alone has the
knowledge and power to know what's going on, and when we learn to quietly
wait for His guiding voice in our lives, we begin to live lives more fully
in tune with those around us. When the great
arms race was on between the Soviet Union and the United States, people
on both sides were in a panic. America alone had enough nuclear explosions
to destroy the world 14 times, and we kept building more to "keep
a detente'" between us
and
them.
When I think of all the money and time wasted on useless building, all
the Bibles that could have been printed and the evangelism that could
have been sponsored, I get sick.
Years later the Soviet Union fell (as God knew it would) and weapons of
mass destruction are being destroyed (as God knew they would). Too often
we become obsessed with the world around us, and become paranoid about
enemies either imagined or real. If you keep your mind on Him, and on
His provisions, you will spend less time worrying and more time relaxing
and trying to live a life honorable in Christ. Your enemies are nothing
before God, and if you are His through faith in Christ, they should be
nothing before you. As the Bible says: "..All
nations before him are as nothing; (TOHUW
= DESOLATE, A DESERT PLACE) and
they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.(TOHUW
= DESOLATE, A DESERT PLACE)"
God
is Omnipotent in The Nations
Isaiah 40:22-23 "It is he that sitteth
upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as
a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes (RAZAN
= KINGS, RULERS) to nothing; he
maketh (ASAH = TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING
OUT OF SOMETHING) the judges(SHAPHAT
= JUDGES, JUDICIAL SYSTEM) of the
earth as vanity."
After the (overly publicized and overdramatized
circus that was) O.J. Simpson trial, the nation was shocked that he was
acquitted when so much evidence seemed to point to his guilt. Though the
liberal media made certain it interviewed black liberal Americans who
praised the decision, the farce of the one year debatical sickened most
Americans. "Judge" Lance Ito allowed his courtroom to become
a long winded rambling farce that, when viewed by most Americans, was
incomprehensible. I was so confused after watching a poorly managed prosecution
that it was no wonder (to me, at least) that the jury found for the defendant.
A lot of time was spent on trying the witnesses instead of the accused
(look, he used the "N" word!), jurors stepped down and one juror
even went on to pose naked for a men's magazine. So after it was all over,
I thought, at least Simpson will pay for his crimes before the Almighty.
But God had other plans, for He controls
events and judges, law and lawyers. Following the Civil Trial of Simpson
he was indeed found guilty, and the riches that he earned are slowly being
taken away from him by a courtroom managed by a real judge. No, Simpson
will not spend any time in jail. But He will pay, at least with his precious
money, for the suffering he caused these families. And if he fails to
repent he will stand one day before God Almighty and pay the ultimate
price for his sins. God is still in control of governments and judges,
law and lawyers, the wicked and the innocent.
We
Enjoy The Benefits Of The
Omnipotence of God When We Trust Him
Isaiah 40:27-31 "Why sayest thou,
O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment
is passed over (HABAR = OF NO EFFECT,
NOT APPLICABLE) from my God? Hast
thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting (OWLAM
= ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, EVERLASTING, WITHOUT END)
God, the LORD, the Creator (BARA
= TO CREATE, FORM, CARVE OUT OF NOTHING) of
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching
of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have
no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon (QAVAH
= TO BIND TOGETHER BY TWISTING, JOIN OR MEET WITH, INTERTWINE WITH IN
HOPE OR CONFIDENCE) the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up (HALAH
= ASCEND, GO UP, ARISE TOWARD EXALTATION)
with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall
walk, and not faint."
Illustrate
I began to trust God's provision the day I lost my job. It was a terrible
week from the perspective of me as a human: I had to quit my job over
ever increasing persecution in the workplace. The boss' son took an intense
dislike to me, and did everything possible to drive me away. Finally,
in sadness, I left that job, and began to look for another. After all,
my family was depending on my income, my children had to eat.
The longer I was out of work, the more
I studied the scriptures, particularly the one above. The Father told
me to trust in Him, that He would provide. Church friends brought food
to our house, clothing, much needed items. Money poured in, though it
was not requested by me or my family. God provided, and we found employment.
Trust in Him. Though all looks lost, trust in Him. He is truely in control!
God
is Omnipotent Over Tragedy and History
Ezekiel 39:1-7 "Therefore, thou son
of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord (ADONAY
= LORD. A SUBSTITUTIONARY WORD FOR YHWH, ADJACENT TO IT) GOD;
Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief (RO'SH
= HEAD, LEADER) prince of Meshech
and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, (SHUWB
= TO CAUSE TO TURN AROUND OR TURN FROM)
and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from
the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And
I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows
to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel,
thou, and all thy bands, and the people (HAM
= TRIBES. A REFERENCE TO THE TRIBULATIONAL ARMIES THAT COME AGAINST ISRAEL)
that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort,
and to the beasts (CHAY = LIVING
CREATURES) of the field to be devoured.
Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken (DABAR
= COMMANDED) it, saith the Lord
GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly
(BETACH = SECURELY AS IF THERE WAS
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT) in the isles:
and they shall know (YADA = TO KNOW
INTIMATELY, PERCEIVE COMPLETELY)
that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy (QODESH
= SANCTIFIED, SEPARATED, HOLY) name
known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute
(CHALAL = TO MAKE PROFANE OR DEFILED,
MAKE COMMON OR USE LOOSELY) my holy
name any more: and the heathen (GOWY
= NON-ISRAELITES OR HEATHEN PEOPLES) shall
know that I am the LORD, the Holy (QADOWSH
= HOLY OR MOST PURE) One in Israel."
We have touched on this before, but God
reigns supreme over all situations, even those which seem tragic. He protects
His people with His mighty hand, so that we have no need to pine and worry
about our enemies: God will triumph for us. This is one of the major reasons
why we, as Christians, should never take revenge on those who harm us.
It's only too human to feel hurt and betrayed when those we thought were
our friends turn on us, back-stab us, or tell lies to slur our character.
Relax! God will take care of it in His own time. You are not God, you
can't even conceive of the power which He holds at His disposal. Wait
on Him, and He will vindicate you.
God's
Omnipotence Is Shown Through His Names
God has numerous "names" or
titles ascribed to Him in the Bible. Most of these names you rarely see,
for Bible translators generally use the generic terms "Lord",
"LORD", or "God" to translate them. In the ancient
world much was known about a person by examining their name. The name
of the individual usually highlighted the character, position, or authority
of the individual. It is no different with our Father. Throughout His
inspired Word He has left us clues by His many names as to His Character,
Authority, Power, and Nature. Let's look at a few of these "Names
of God".
-
EL
or ELOHIYM:
is a name that stresses the strength of God. EL
means Mighty,
and ELOHIYM
means Mighty One.
This name is often used in Scripture when God's Omnipotent Power is
evident, such as in Genesis 1.1
-
YHWH
or JHWH:
which we often call YAHWEH,
meaning I Am.
This name stresses the eternality of God, that He alone is without
birth and without end. The Jews considered this name of God so holy
that they superstitiously would never say it out loud, but would rather
substitute ADONAY
in their daily conversation. Jewish scribes had a special pen that
they used to write the name of YHWH.
The Jews, in misinterpreting Leviticus 24.16, would automatically
put anyone to death who spoke that Holy Name out loud. This name is
used throughout Scripture where the omnipotence of God is stressed
along with His Eternality. In other words, to illustrate that God
is always omnipotent, has always been omnipotent, and will never cease
to be omnipotent.
-
ADONAY:
meaning Lord or Master.
This name is used when the omnipotence of God is stressed over humanity
or over the animal and inanimate kingdoms. See Genesis 15.2 for this
illustration.
These three primary
names of God are compounded
with other names of God to further stress His characteristics and power:
-
EL SHADDAI:
The Hebrew root SHAD is
used frequently throughout scripture to refer to the breast of a woman,
not in any erotic or evil sense, but in the sense of the mother's
provision to the helpless child-infant. The root of EL
SHADDAI leads us to interpret
this name of God as "The all Providing God". On the other
hand, however, the Hebrew root SHADAD
means "To destroy". God s not only a God of provision to
His people, but He is also a God of destruction to the enemy of His
people. Whenever God provides for the safety of His people by destroying
the enemy we see the use of EL
SHADDAI (Genesis 17.1; Joel
1.15)
-
EL ELOINE:
means, literally, The Most
High God. God in His omnipotence
is unique, and this name fully stresses that uniqueness. See Genesis
14.17-24.
-
EL OLAM:
means the Everlasting God.
His omnipotent power will never end.
Next Study: Dm066d, The Fatherhood of God
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