Names of God: 200+

I love the wikipedia logo. So many languages, so many words. It reminds me of our study on the names of God.

There are somewhere between 200-600+ names for God in the Bible. It depends on whether you consider similar names to be one or multiple names.

We're more than half way through our study this week and if you've been enjoying studying the names of God as much as I have then you have been having a great time!

Let me encourage you to continue studying the names of God even after this week is over. You can use the same process we've been using all week.

1. Find a name for God.
2. Read the chapter in the Bible where the name is found.
3. Think about what the chapter is saying about that specific name for God.
4. Consider how that knowledge about God will affect your prayers, your daily life, or your worship of God.

We are blessed to be a blessing!
=)
pastor arlen

Names of God: God My Shepherd

Today, we wrap up our study on the Names of God. This is a name that most of us are familiar with. We've all heard messages either at memorial services or in church about how God is our shepherd. Take a moment to review what you've heard about God being our shepherd and then read our chapter today for additional insights.

Click here to listen and read Ezekiel 34.

Consider how God relates with us, His sheep...

• I will search for them.
• I will look after them.
• I will rescue them.
• I will gather them.
• I will bring them into their own land.
• I will pasture them and tend them.
• I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.
• I will bind up the injured.
• I will strengthen the weak.
• I will destroy the sleek and the strong. (Self-reliant vs. God reliant)
• I will shepherd with justice.
• I will judge.
• I will make a covenant of peace.
• I will bless them.
• I will provide for them.

Did you see yourself in that list? God desires to minister to you and build His relationship with you. Will you continue to seek God for everything you need? Will you refuse to be self-reliant, and instead rely on God. Don't even rely on what you see, but walk by faith?

Do you know God? If you know Him and His character, can you trust Him?

If you are just beginning to realize who God is, pause for a moment and pray something like this:

Dear God,
You are amazing. I never really understood who you are or how much you care about me until now. Please help me to develop my understanding about you and my relationship with you. Forgive me for wandering and straying from your perfect standard and plan for my life. Help me to walk with you and to walk by faith. I trust you with my whole life, every part, every decision, and when this life is over, I trust that you will welcome me into your everlasting kingdom. Thank you for you incredible love for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!!!

Now, don't stop. Continue to walk with God. Continue to learn more about Him.
At Christ's Church at Kapolei, we encourage you to take steps of faith like these...
1. Connect with God at a church worship service.
2. Begin to serve each other on a ministry team.
3. Love each other in a small group setting.
4. Touch the world through reaching out and world missions.

Take the next step of faith and see where God will lead you!

Blessings!
Pastor Arlen

Names of God: Living God

When I was in High School just learning about the Christian faith, I was a fact guy. I loved to hear facts about why Christianity was different from other religions. One fact that separates Christianity from other religions is the resurrection.

Jesus' resurrection from the grave is a fact that can be proven by historical documents and eye witness accounts.

Jesus' resurrection is also the prime example that God is a living God. Read today's chapter and consider what a difference it makes to follow a living God.

Click here to listen and read Jeremiah 10.

God is alive. He defied and continues to defy the idols and gods of this world (which are really just objects or deities made by man). You may feel like God doesn't hear your prayers sometimes, but He's alive and He's listening. Sometimes we have to be persistent in praying and seeking because if we will be persistent, God will show up. He just might show up in a way we weren't expecting.

How else will this truth about the Living God affect your prayer, worship, & devotion?

Take some time to pause and pray today.

Blessings to you that you might be a blessing to others!
=)
pastor arlen

Names of God: Holy One

Holy... Holy is an often misunderstood word in the Bible. What does it really mean? We'll learn a bit in today's name.

God's holiness refers to a couple of themes.

First, His holiness refers to His character of purity and hatred of evil and immorality. We often hear about God's love and his grace, but love and grace area always balanced by God's holiness. Yes, God loves, but he also desires his people to be pure and undivided in their devotion to Him.

The second meaning for holiness is something that is separate and different in a sacred way. God is different than anyone and anything we can see in the world. He acts differently than any of the idols and gods of other nations. The idols and gods of the other nations are just selfish or angry or jealous personalities.

As you read today's chapter, consider how our God is different from what you might expect or different from other religions. Be sure to also note the moral standard that God calls us to.

Click here to listen and read Isaiah 43.

Take a moment now, if you haven't already, to pause and thank and praise God for being so different than other gods.

God truly deserves our worship and he has done so much for us that He deserves us to live holy lives for His glory. Take a moment to consider how you might live a more holy life in all you do today and tomorrow. Write yourself a note in your Bible to remind you.

Blessings!
Pastor Arlen

Names of God: God of Israel

Today's name for God occurs 195 times in the Bible. And although, we may not be Jewish people from the nation of Israel, we follow the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and today's description about God is still very applicable to our lives as Christians.

Click here to listen and read 1 Kings 8:1-30.

If you have ever doubted that our God is a personal God, today's name should put those thoughts to rest. The fact that God chose a group of people to call His own is incredible and gives us hope that He is personally interested in us.

In this passage, King Solomon is dedicating the newly built temple in Israel and God's presence fills the temple and indicates his presence with His people. Let that truth fill your heart, that God loves you and desires to be ever present with you as you worship Him. Some things have changed since the time of King Solomon. We no longer have a temple in Jerusalem to go to. But with Jesus' death, the Most Holy place where God's presence dwelt has been opened and we have all been given a backstage pass to meet with God as we worship, pray, and listen to His voice.

Throughout the Old Testament, God's people continued to recount the Exodus from Egypt. That event was a picture of the Lord's salvation for his people. Here again the people remember that it was the God of Israel who delivered them. God proved in the Exodus that He was greater than the gods of Egypt, even greater than any other god or idol. Gain confidence in God and comfort that He is your God. Nothing is too difficult from Him and He is to be worshiped because He is greater than any other god.

One final direction for our prayers needs to be for the nations. Solomon's prayer is worth quoting and praying ourselves...
41 "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name- 42 for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

Blessings!
Pastor Arlen