Prayer Study Week Four Lesson One

 “One and Only God”

As Christ followers we believe that God is the One and Only True God. There is none like Him. He is unique in that He is Omniscient (all-knowing); Omnipresence (all-present); Omnipotent (all-powerful). No other god or person or angel or anything has these attributes. These are what make God ~ God. It is important that we learn what these words mean so that we can understand why prayer is so important and must be a part of our lives as His children.

Don’t let these words overwhelm you. Allow God’s Holy Spirit, through this lesson, help you understand more of God’s worth. Allow Him to open your heart to true worship of the Holy One. I am beginning to understand more and more about Him and it thrills me. He will thrill you, I know He will.

The Omniscience of God (All-Knowing)
Read Psalm 147:5 (NIV) and write out the verse below.


Underline or highlight the last part of the verse, “His understanding has no limit.” Now read it aloud. This is the meaning of the omniscience of God ~ His understanding has no limit.

God perfectly and eternally knows all things. He knows the past, He knows the present and He knows the future. It is in this knowledge that He perfectly and eternally understands each and every situation you and I encounter.

Read Isaiah 40:27-31. Focus on verse 28. Write out what you learn about God in this verse.


This passage is one of my favorites. Verse 28 describes God and gives us reason for our worship. It tells us that God is everlasting; God is Creator; God is tireless; God’s understanding is limitless.  It describes the omniscience of God. You and I must place our faith in His complete and perfect understanding because He is the everlasting, Creator, tireless and infinitely understanding of all things.

“His understanding no one can fathom.” We can truly worship God by realizing that our understanding is limited and God’s understanding is limitless. When you and I can grasp this and lay our human understanding and reasoning down, God can do His work in our lives. We begin to understand more and more. In this knowledge and understanding of God’s omniscience we can truly worship Him.
For so long I felt like I needed an answer to all my questions. But, when I lay this notion aside and accept that His understanding is complete and mine is not, I feel a freedom like none other. You see, there is no need for excuses. I don’t need to explain everything and can rest in the fact that God is perfect in His understanding.

Read Romans 11:33-36 (NIV) and fill in the following blanks:

Doxology
Oh, the _______________ of the riches of the _____________ and _________________   of God! 
      
How __________________ His__________________, and His ______________ beyond tracing out! 


 "Who has ____________ the ___________ of the Lord? Or who has been   His _________________?" 


 "Who has ever _______________ to God, that God should __________  him?" 

For _________ Him and ________________ Him and ________ Him are all things. To Him be the ______________ forever! Amen.

God’s judgments are based on His perfect wisdom and knowledge. You and I will never match that. We are not the Lord’s counselor, He’s our Counselor. There is nothing, nothing, nothing we can give to repay God for all He has done for us. Our existence is because of Him. We must honor and respect Him in how we lead our lives. Worshiping God includes our acknowledgement of His omniscience.

Let us worship the omniscience of God!

The Omnipresence of God
This attribute of God describes His absolute filling of the whole universe in all its parts with His presence everywhere at once. All of God ~ God the Father ~ God the Son ~ God the Holy Spirit ~ Three in One are present everywhere and at all times. When we accept Him as our Lord, our Leader, we receive all of Him. We don’t receive one billionth of Him. He is all present in every believer’s life.

Let’s look at a few verses that describe God’ omnipresence. Read the following portions of scripture and describe the omnipresence of God you find in each on:


Psalm 139:7-12




Jeremiah 23:23 -24



God is always present. He is everywhere. Without Him, this world, the universe, you and I would cease to exist. It is hard to get our limited minds around this truth. But, it is truth! God is nearby and far off. He fills heaven and earth. He is always present when we need Him. He is never absent.

“God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever-present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1

In Hebrew the word “ever-present” is “nimsa meod” and literally means “speed, completeness and might. It means God is to be found in all circumstances and He responds with speed, completeness and might when we seek Him”. 

Let us worship the omnipresence of God!

The Omnipotence of God
The omnipotence of God describes God’s ability to do whatever He wills. When you and I decide to do something, the decisions of others may get in the way. Nothing, nothing, nothing thwarts God’s will. God’s will is only limited by His nature because He cannot do anything contrary to His Holy nature as God. For example, He cannot sin, nor can He ignore sin. He does not contradict Himself. God is not controlled by His power, but has complete control over it.

WHOA!!! I feel smoke coming out of my ears! Do you? This is so hard for me to get my limited mind around. It’s no use trying to get my human mind to figure out the omnipotence of God. That’s like trying to sweep up all the sand on the sea shores with a whisk broom and a dust pan.  It is by faith that I allow His Holy Spirit to teach me what the omnipotence of God is. By the Spirit of God I learn that God is all-powerful and His plans and purposes will prevail.

Read Job 42:1-3. What does Job say about God’s plans?


Does anyone obscure God’s counsel?


Do you, like Job; speak of things you do not understand? Explain.


If you read the whole book of Job, you will see that God was never out of control. God’s plans and purposes for you and I cannot be thwarted. That is comforting news, if we view His will as perfect.

Why do we often prefer our will over God’s? If you believe that God is all-powerful why do want to do things our way?

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.”  Revelation 19:6-7a

   

Let us worship the omnipotence of God!

Prayer Journal
Go to your Prayer Journal and take the time to worship the One and Only God. Thank Him that He is all-knowing ~ all-present ~ all-powerful. 


Worship the omniscience of God. Worship His perfect and eternal knowledge. Place your faith and hope in the fact that He knows your past, present and future. 


Worship the omnipresence of God. Worship His presence in everything and everywhere. He fills the heavens and earth. Allow Him to fill you with His presence through the power of His Holy Spirit. 


Worship the omnipotence of God. Worship God’s infinite ability to do all He wills. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. Allow Him to fill you with His power.




Discussion Questions
1. As Christ followers we believe that God is the One and Only True God. There is none like Him. He is unique in that He is Omniscience; Omnipresence; Omnipotence. Describe what each of these mean and how you can apply them to your life. 


2. God perfectly and eternally knows all things. He knows the past, He knows the present and He knows the future. It is in this knowledge that He perfectly and eternally understands each and every situation you and I encounter. Do you believe this about God? Why or why not? 


3. God can and does whatever He wills. When you and I decide to do something, the decisions of others and our own limitations may get in the way. How is knowing that God is all-powerful helpful in a believer’s life?