31/7/17 CCP SERIES STUDY WEEK 7 – GOD IS...ALL-KNOWING (OMNISCIENT)

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY

You can listen to all the messages at 

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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOD TO BE OMNISCIENT? 

Wayne Grudem defines God’s omniscience as, 

'God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act.'

We are born helpless and knowing nothing. We go through a process of growth and learning (and forgetting!) throughout our whole lives. We are also extremely distractible, being limited in the range of information that we can focus on at one time. God, however, knows all the things that there will ever be to know equally vividly, or, as our quote from Wayne Grudem, ‘in one simple and eternal act’.  

Ø What does Isaiah 46:9-10 reveal about God’s knowledge of history?

Ø These verses come as a challenge to people who trust idols. How does our knowledge of God’s omniscience keep us from trusting things above God?

Some of the indicators of our trusting in idols over God are: how much time we priorities in reading news, social media, planning, meeting people, writing emails etc. over time spent in prayer.

Ø What does Matthew 10:29-31 tell about God’s awareness of us and what is to be our response to this?

LET’S RESPOND TO WHO GOD IS

Ø Is there any aspect of the bible that you find difficult to understand?

We don’t need to fully understand in order to obey. Let’s allow God’s perfect knowledge, goodness and love to soften us toward faithful obedience.

Ø God knows everything and yet how has He chosen to save sinners?

There are many man-made religions that come up with different ways of earning God’s favour and living the ideal life. If God could have avoided the death and suffering of His Son do you not think He would have!

Ø What does Galatians 2:21 say about the necessity of the cross?

Ø Matthew 6:5-8 teaches us that those who grasp God’s omniscience will pray with good motives and simply. Why is this, and how should knowledge of God develop an amazing prayer-life in us?

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES

God knowing everything humbles us as the light of His glory reveals our great limitations. We can choose to continue to put on a show of greatness or we can embrace our great need, turning in humility and trust toward our great heavenly Father.

Monday: Our thoughts are not always God’s thoughts

It’s easy to believe that our opinions are right. One can presume that God shares our attitudes and decisions. But this is not always the case,

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Many people think of the Christian God as out of step with the modern world. Rather than change their ways to fit in with God they seek to reinvent God and His opinions. Let’s allow God to humble us. 

Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'

Tuesday: Trust in the God who knows

God knows everything and God knows you! Like everyone else you will have things that you would change if you could. You may wonder, If God knows everything and has the power to change it, why am I still facing this? The only answer is to pray and fight the fight of faith to trust in God. Read, meditate and pray out of the following passages, 

Matthew 6:8 "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 10:30 "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Romans 8:28 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' 

Wednesday: Do you know more today than yesterday?

How are you doing in your studying? Are we studying to know God or are we drifting along in life, hoping to pick up whatever comes our way? We all have limited time, so let’s use it to the best ends. A wedding is the beginning of a marriage. After the wedding day one must endeavour to get to know one another. I trust our love for God is motivating us to read, listen and grow.

1 Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

We have a number of books you can borrow from the church or ask a leader for advice.

Thursday: God reveals amazing truths to us

Only God fully knows God,

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

The Spirit wants to reveal God to us and help us understand the great things God has done for us in Christ. Study is important, but true knowledge that transforms requires the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s make it a habit to ask the Spirit to teach us.

Friday: God prays for us with perfect knowledge

Our knowledge is so limited that we often don’t even know what to pray for,

Romans 8:26-27 The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Thankfully, It’s good to know that, The Father knows us and our needs completely; the Holy Spirit knows what God knows about those needs, and prays for us perfectly. Mysterious but true!

Saturday: God wants you to grow in knowledge

We are made in God’s image. As such we can grow in knowledge. Growing in knowledge of God is a great aspiration that is definitely God’s will also. Here are some verses that that you may like to commit to memory:

Psalm 139:1-2 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Let’s make it an ongoing habit to commit scripture to memory and so grow in knowledge of God and the faith. Let John Piper spur us on in this,

‘Let us labour to memorize the Word of God – for worship and for warfare. If we do not carry it in our heads, we cannot savour it in our hearts or wield it in the Spirit. If you go out without the kindling of Christian Hedonism (joy), the fire of Christian happiness will be quenched before mid-morning.’

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24/7/17 CCP SERIES STUDY WEEK 6 – GOD IS...INVISIBLE (SPIRIT)

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY

You can listen to all the messages at 

Link to audio content


COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

The Large Hadron Collider, at a cost of around three billion pounds was built to prove the existence of such things as Dark Matter. Dark Matter has, as yet, never been seen. Its existence is accepted (by many) because of the way things seem to be affected by it. As spirit, God cannot be weighed, monitored or seen – He is invisible except for however He wishes to manifest Himself. God’s existence is accepted, by many, because of the ways things are affected by Him, even, that there is anything at all!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOD TO BE SPIRIT?

Previously we have seen that God is infinite in time (eternal) and infinite in space (omnipresent). As such He has to have a very different existence to all creatures. We are told in the bible that He is spirit.

‘God's spirituality means that God exists as a being that is not made of any matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence.’ (Grudem)

Read John 4:19-26 and discuss:

Ø She linked the worship of God to a particular ‘holy site’. What does Jesus teach us about this wrong (but still popular) view? (v. 21)

Ø How are we to worship God and what does this mean? (v. 23)

Ø What does Jesus say about the nature of God? (v. 24)

Worship ‘in spirit’ is not to be equated with ecstatic experiences or tongues etc. although these can happen; it principally means that our worship must come from a heart made alive by the Spirit and that we expect the invisible, spiritual presence of God with us wherever we meet.

Ø What does 1 Timothy 1:17 say about the nature of God?

LET’S RESPOND TO WHO GOD IS

Ø When can one be tempted, to mistake God’s invisibility for absence?

Ø Anywhere can be a place of meeting with God. How can one endeavor to be mindful, worshipful, prayerful throughout the day?

Ø God is spirit and we have a spirit. As such, He interacts with our ‘inner man/woman’ to strengthen, give joy etc. How often do you ask God to fill you will His Spirit?

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES

Much of what goes on around us is invisible to us. For example, our eyes cannot see much of the electromagnetic radiation that provides our phones and gadgets with information. God is invisible but He is everywhere, working with great power. Let’s allow God to open our spiritual eyes to our ever-present God.

Monday: Faith ‘sees’ the invisible God

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  

Faith is to see as real things that are invisible; things like God or the fulfilment of God’s promises. The Christian life has a lot to do with ‘seeing’ with the eyes of faith that which is invisible. Pray for the Spirit’s grace to see God and trust His promises – God does not have to remain invisible to your spiritual eyes!

Tuesday: Worship the invisible King

Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly, with feeling), worshipping and praying out of this rich text:

1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Do we have this kind of mind and heart that allows what we know about God to overflow in worship? Spend some time praying for worship in your life, those you know and Community Church, that we would worship in Spirit and truth.

Wednesday: Jesus reveals the invisible God

1 Timothy 6:15-16 The blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

No one can see God. As spirit He is invisible, but Jesus reveals the character of the invisible God to us.

Thursday: Earnestly seek the unseen God

This (faith- seeing invisible things) is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible… and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

What do these verses teach us about creation (see also Genesis 1:1)? God wants to inspire large expectation in us as we pray and seek God.

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

God is invisible, but faith sees the creator God as present now. This is what enabled Moses and all people of faith to persevere. He is with us now, with the same power to create from nothing as we pray and persevere in faith.

Friday: The invisible armies of heaven are for us

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed with fear; but often its the routine of life that can cause us to forget or wonder if God is really with us. Let this story remind us that God and His invisible forces are at work all around us.

2 kings 6:16-17 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Saturday: those born of the Spirit

John 3:5-8 “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Regeneration is the secret work of God whereby God the Holy Spirit comes and gives new life to our spirits. We cannot control to whom the Spirit will give new life but we can thank God for His grace in us and those whom we know; we can also pray for grace on those that God has put on our hearts. Pray that God, who is spirit, will grant them new life in their spirit.

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