Day 1 The Character of God– Introduction

The Character of God

Everyone both inside and outside of the Kingdom of God has some idea of who God is and what characteristics He carries. These ideas come from experiences, both good and bad, your culture, family (or lack of a family), various teachings, observation, and the influence of friends and peers. “God” may be some sort of ethereal “idea” or He may be very real to you. But how do you sort out who the God of the Bible really is? Is He harsh and critical in His “perfection”, is He aloof and hard to find?  Is He truly “Immanuel” (meaning God with us) and if He is, how is He found and what can we expect of Him?

This week we will begin to explore the “365 Names of God”, a list and study compiled by John Paul Jackson. All of these names were collected from the Bible and are supported by scripture verses. We must understand that the Names of God are not separate from His actions or His Character; they are all one and the same. His names are who He is and His integrity is untarnished and pure. He is who He says He is and He does exactly what He says He does. He is always becoming what He is becoming, self-generating, self-creating, always the same and yet ever-changing, dependable, the undying expression of true love from eternity to eternity and right now in this present second manifesting and making Himself known to and through His creation.

God is the Great IAM

God revealed Himself to Moses as the Great “I AM”, this was also His message to Israel.

Exodus 3:13-16

Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"  God said to Moses, "I am who I am."(Or I AM WHAT I AM, or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE)  And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'"  God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. ESV

Every problem we face can be traced back to a misunderstanding of the nature and character of God. If we really knew God for who He is, our lives would be completely different. As we study His names, we allow that transformation to begin to take place in our lives. This week will be an introduction, perhaps the first step in your journey in this process

Isaiah Chapter 40 also gives an accurate picture of God to the nation of Israel. It begins in verse 1 with “BEHOLD YOUR GOD”

Isaiah 40:9-41:1

9 Get you up to a high mountain Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!"10  Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.11  He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

12  Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?13  Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?14 Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compares with him? 19 An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.20  He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;23  who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

The 365 Names of God from John Paul Jackson are arranged into 12 categories, we will present a brief selection of scriptures for each of three categories per day for the next four days. Review these scriptures and meditate on them as you go through the day. Pay particular attention to the ones that “stand out” or highlight themselves to you. Even with this brief introduction there is more than anyone can fully understand in a few days. Do not fret, enjoy the journey and expect that God’s revelation of Himself will increase and continually bless your life and your days.

Take note of the name(s) that are significant to you, we will discuss them in our small groups the following week.

Outline for this week is as follows:

Day 2

                         God of Wonders

                         God of Justice

                         God of Symbols

Day 3

                         God of Promise

                         God the Shepherd

                         God of Eternity

Day 4

                         God of Sacrifice

                         God the Reward

                         God of Mercy

Day 5

                         God of Every Creature

                         God the Ancient One

                         God the Warrior

Note: We will not have specific “discussion” questions this week, rather our discussions will be generated from the inspired revelations you get from the scriptures this week