Written by: Vernon Rainwater in Featured, More Than You Wanted to Know About Worship Design on February 21, 2012

Week 8: February 18-20

Context

Our last weekend of the current series: Choosing God, Circumstances or Temptation.
Pastor Joel has been teaching from John 5: 9-17

And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

Our desire in worship was to enable to the congregation to think about the above story in a personal way, particularly the question Jesus asked: “who is the man who said to you…” What does that question have to do with me?

There is a great conversation recorded in Matthew 16:13 (also in Mark 8:27 & Luke 9:18).

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

It’s a fairly intimidating question: “but who do you say that I am”? How would you answer that?

We plan our worship services around an attribute of God. It is impossible to fully comprehend God, but by focusing on an attribute it enables us to consider the essence of God one bit at a time. We will never fully grasp the wonder and mystery of the fullness of God – but we take in all we can stand – that is always our goal.

Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) has described the attributes in this way:
“Several different methods of classifying God’s attributes have been used...probably the most commonly used classification: the incommunicable attributes of God (that is, those attributes that God does not share or “communicate” to others) and the communicable attributes of God (those God shares or “communicates” with us).”

Charles Spurgeon has also pondered and written extensively on the attributes. Below are some of his thoughts and designations. A broader list can be found at this website, which I suggest for reference without endorsing the site itself.

All the attributes of Christ, as God and man, are at our disposal. All the fullness of the Godhead, whatever that marvelous term may comprehend, is ours to make us complete. He cannot endow us with the attributes of Deity; but He has done all that can be done, for He has made even His divine power and Godhead subservient to our salvation. His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and infallibility, are all combined for our defense.

God is Jehovah. The name of independent being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. As we consider His greatness, we fall down in fear and awe of this One who possesses all authority. Exodus 3:13-15

God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil. Leviticus 20:7,8

God is infinite. We cannot speak of measure, amount, size, or weight and at the same time be speaking of God, for He is beyond measurement. God has no beginning, no end, and no limits. Romans 11:33

God is omnipotent. God has power. Since God is also infinite, whatever He has must be without limit; therefore, God has limitless power. Jeremiah 32:17,18, 26,27

God is good. The goodness of God is what disposes Him to be kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. Psalm 119:65-72

God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him. God’s love not only encompasses the world, but also embraces each of us personally and intimately. 1 John 4:7-10

God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will provide tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom. Genesis 22:9-14

God is Jehovah-shalom. This name means “the God of peace.” God could never give to others a peace that exceeds understanding if He Himself were not perfect, unfailing peace. Judges 6:16-24

God is immutable. All that God is, He has always been. All that He has been and is, He will ever be. He cannot change because He is perfect and will remain perfect. Psalm 102:25-28

God is transcendent. We must not think of God as highest in an order of beings. This would be to grant Him eminence, even pre-eminence, but this is not enough. He is transcendent—existing beyond the created universe. Psalm 113:4,5

God is just. God rules with absolute justice. Not fooled by appearances, God is fair, equitable, and impartial in all of His judgments. Psalm 75:1-7

God is holy. God’s holiness is not simply the best we know made infinitely better. God is absolutely untainted. His holiness stands apart—unique and incomprehensible. Revelation 4:8-11

God is Jehovah-rophe. This name means “Jehovah heals.” God alone has the remedy for the healing of mankind. The Gospel is concerned with the physical, moral, and spiritual healing of all people. Exodus 15:22-26

God is self-sufficient. He is the One who contains all, who gives all that is given, but who Himself can receive nothing that He has not first given. Acts 17:24-28

God is omniscient. God knows all that can be known. His knowledge includes every possible thing that exists, has ever existed, or will ever exist. Psalm 139:1-6

God is omnipresent. God is everywhere—close to everything, next to everyone. “‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.” Psalm 139:7-12

God is merciful. God’s compassion is infinite and inexhaustible. In the mercy of His provision in Christ, He took upon Himself the judgment that was due us. He waits and works now for all people everywhere to turn to Him, not wanting any to be lost. Deuteronomy 4:29-31

God is sovereign. God is in control of our lives. His sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation. To be sovereign, God must be all-knowing and all-powerful. 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

God is Jehovah-nissi. This name means “God our banner.” We may go from triumph to triumph and say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Exodus 17:8-15

God is wise. All God’s acts are done in infinite wisdom. He always acts for our good, which is to conform us to Christ. Our good and His glory are inextricably bound together. Proverbs 3:19,20

God is faithful. Our hope for the future rests upon God’s faithfulness. Because He is faithful, His covenants will stand and His promises will be honored. Psalm 89:1-8

God is wrathful. God’s wrath is never capricious, self-indulgent, or irritable, as human anger often is. Instead, it is a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil. Nahum 1:2-8

God is full of grace. Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid. Ephesians 1:5-8

God is our Comforter. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter.” Paul writes that the Lord is “the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

God is El-Shaddai. This name means “God Almighty.” It is best understood as God who is all-sufficient and all-bountiful—the source of all blessings, fullness, and fruitfulness. Genesis 49:22-26

God is Father. The Creator of the universe cares for each one of us as if we are the only child He has. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). The Spirit of God taught us to cry, “Abba, Father,” as in the intimacy of the family. Romans 8:15-17

God is the Church’s head. God the Son, Jesus, is the head of the Church. The head—as the part of the body that sees, hears, thinks, and decides—gives the orders that the rest of the body lives by. Ephesians 1:22,23

God is our intercessor. Knowing our temptations, God the Son intercedes for us. He opens the doors for us to boldly ask Him for mercy. Thus, God is both the starting point and ending point of true prayer. Hebrews 4:14-16

God is Adonai. This name means “Master” or “Lord.” God as Adonai calls all God’s people to acknowledge themselves as His servants, recognizing His right to command them as the Lord of their lives. 2 Samuel 7:18-20

God is Elohim. This name means “Strength” or “Power.” He is transcendent, mighty, and strong. Elohim is the great name of God, signifying supreme power, sovereignty, and a covenant relationship that He is ever faithful to keep. Genesis 17:7,8

Holiness: This is the attribute that sets God apart from all created beings. It refers to His majesty and His perfect moral purity. There is absolutely no sin or evil thought in God at all. His holiness is the definition of that which is pure and righteous in all the universe. Wherever God has appeared, such as to Moses at the burning bush, that place becomes holy just for God having been there.

Worship in Music

Holy God
Words and Music by Brian Doerksen

Holy, holy, holy God.
Holy, holy, holy God.

You are holy, holy, holy God.
Holy, holy, holy God.

Creating, commanding
Transcendent Adonai.
Defending love, destroying sin
The Warrior divine.
Holy, holy, holy God.

Forgiving, redeeming
From every tribe and tongue.
Arising first, the nail-scarred Lamb,
Salvation’s Champion.

Holy, holy, holy God.
Holy, holy, holy God.

Romancing, pursuing
Reclaiming to restore.
Releasing hearts, transforming lives,
The Lion’s mighty roar.

Holy, holy, holy God.
Holy, holy, holy God.

Your Great Name
Words and Music by Michael Neal and Krissy Nordhoff

Lost are saved, find their way
At the sound of Your great name.
All condemned feel no shame
At the sound of Your great name.
Every fear has no place
At the sound of Your great name.
The enemy, he has to leave
At the sound of Your great name.

Jesus, worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us,
Son of God and Man.
You are high and lifted up,
And all the world will praise
Your great name.

All the weak find their strength
At the sound of Your great name.
Hungry souls receive grace
At the sound of your great name.
The fatherless, they will find their rest
At the sound of Your great name.
The sick are healed, the dead are raised
At the sound of Your great name.

Jesus, worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us,
Son of God and Man.
You are high and lifted up,
And all the world will praise
Your great name.
Your great name.

Redeemer, my Healer,
Lord Almighty,
our Savior, Defender,
You are my King.

Jesus,
Worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us,
Son of God and Man.
You are high and lifted up,
And all the world will praise
Your great name,

It is the attributes of God which teach us of his essence – of who He is, but the names of God make it personal…

While we sang the aforementioned song, we placed these names on the walls all around us. We then considered how the name of God can be a personal point of connection. When Jesus asked the question and Peter answered, “you are the Christ”, it was a personal connection.

Shepherd
Peace
Protector
Deliverer

Jesus
Son of God

Strength
Provider
Father
Victor

Jesus Messiah
Words and Music by Daniel Carlson, Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves

He became sin Who knew no sin;
That we might become His righteousness;
He humbled himself, and carried the cross.
Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Jesus, Messiah;
Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer;
Emmanuel.
The rescue for sinners;
The ransom from Heaven;
Jesus, Messiah.
Lord of all.

His body the bread, His blood the wine
Broken and poured out, all for love.
The whole earth trembled, And the veil was torn.
Love so amazing
Your Love’s so amazing

Jesus, Messiah;
Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer;
Emmanuel.
The rescue for sinners;
The ransom from Heaven;
Jesus, Messiah,
Lord of all.

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world
All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Jesus, Messiah;
Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer;
Emmanuel.
The rescue for sinners;
The ransom from Heaven;
Jesus, Messiah,
Lord of all.
Jesus, Messiah
Lord of all.

Sermon Scriptures:

John 5:9-17
Luke 11:53-54
Hebrews 12:1-2
Matthew 16:26
Acts 4:19-20
Matthew 12:43-45
Philippians 3:13-14