Experiencing The Changeless God | Experiencing God Bible Study Series Pts 3 | Mike Prah
EXPERIENCING GOD SERIES KEY VERSE
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
SUMMARY
- The immutability of God (His quality of not changing) is clearly taught throughout Scripture. God is unchangeable and unchanging!
- We live in a world where there are reasons for fear, anger, sadness, disgust, surprise, and remorse. God’s unchanging character should give believers great assurance and comfort to trust and live in total dependence on His unchanging nature.
- The unchanging God is dependable!
The Bible Affirms God’s Immutability (Unchanging Nature)
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever.” Malachi 3:6 (LB)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
“God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change His mind. When He says something, He does it. When He makes a promise, he keeps it.” Numbers 23:19 (GW)
“Israel's majestic God does not lie or change His mind. He is not a human being—He does not change his mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29 (GN)
- The immutability of God (God’s unchanging nature) is related to His omniscience and His omnipotence. God sees all things, knows all things, and can do all things. When someone changes his/her mind, it is often because new information has come to light that was not previously known or because the circumstances have changed and require a different attitude or action.
- Because God is omniscient, He cannot learn something new that He did not already know. So, when the Bible says God does not change His mind, it means He knows what is going to happen even before it happens and has ordained ahead of time His purposes. Plus, His infinite power can take care of the situation regardless.
- God does not change because of changing situations.
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like Me.” Isaiah 46:9 (NLT)
We Can Rely On God's Ultimate Promise of Eternal Life Because of God’s Unchanging Nature
- The greatest change we’ll ever experience is what happens to us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, pardon, and eternal life.
- God’s unchanging nature makes the case for us to trust in His unchanging promise of eternal life. God is dependable.
- A. W. Tozer, in his book The Pursuit of God, says, “Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus.”
“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 1 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
“As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (GW)
“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 (NLT)
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6 (GW)
“Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change” James 1:7 (GN)
“O Lord, you have always been our home. Before you created the hills or brought the world into being, you were eternally God, and will be God forever. You are God without beginning or end. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.” Psalm 90:1-2 (GN/LB/NIV)
GOD’S UNCHANGING NATURE
While situations change in life, we can rely on God’s unchanging nature which is revealed in His promises, Purposes, Provisions, Personality, and Prophecies.
1. God’s Promises Are Unchangeable
- God’s unchanging nature is evident in His promises. Because God is unchanging and unchangeable, He can be trusted to fulfill His promises.
- The Promise Maker is a Promise Keeper!
- The unchanging God is dependable!
“God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change His mind. When He says something, He does it. When He makes a promise, he keeps it.” Numbers 23:19 (GW)
“Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (GN)
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:15 (NIV)
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 43:2-3a (LB)
“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; He will not resent it.” James 1:5 (LB)
“If we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.” 1 John 1:9 (LB)
“Because of His glory and excellence, God has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)
REFLECTIONS
- How does knowing that God's promises are unchanging make you feel?
- What do you think about when you reflect on the Bible’s descriptions of God’s unchanging promises—"stable, abiding, enduring, eternal, consistent, continuing, imperishable, invariable, lasting, and the same forever”?
2. God’s Purposes Are Unchangeable
- God’s unchanging nature is evident in His purposes. Because God is unchanging and unchangeable, He can be trusted to fulfill His purposes for our life
- The Promise Maker is a Promise Keeper!
- The unchanging God is dependable!
“People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen.” Proverbs 19:21 (NCV)
“Man proposes, but God disposes.” Proverbs 19:21 (LB)
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)
“Surely the Lord’s power is enough to save you. He can hear you when you ask him for help.” Isaiah 59:1 (NCV)
“The Lord is the Eternal One of Israel. He does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being, so he does not change his mind.” I Samuel 15:29 (NCV)
REFLECTIONS
- How does knowing that God's purposes are unchanging make you feel?
- What do you think about when you reflect on the Bible’s descriptions of God’s unchanging purposes—"stable, abiding, enduring, eternal, consistent, continuing, imperishable, invariable, lasting, and the same forever”?
TO BE CONTINUED
Experiencing The Changeless God | Experiencing God Bible Study Series Pts 4 | Mike Prah
3. God's Provisions Are Unchangeable
- God's unchanging nature is evident in His provisions. God always provides for His children
- Because God is unchanging and unchangeable, He can be trusted to provide for His children.
- When you put your faith in Christ, God commissions himself to protect, provide, and care for you.
"Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." James 1:17 (NLT)
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread" Psalm 37:25 (NIV)
3 Truths About God's Provision
I. God May Provide Differently Than We Expect
Ask God to provide for you, but be open to His answers in whatever way He deems fit because He knows what is best for you.
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8 (NIV)
"Let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
"My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
II. God Provides More of Himself
Our greatest need is for more of God, and this is something He gladly gives us.
God graciously guides us into a greater realization that our ultimate need is for more of His word, more of His ways—more of Him.
"Seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
III. God Provides Finally For His Children In Eternity
"You are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NCV)
This life is but a vapor's breath. The next life, the age to come, is where all of God's provision and care for us will ultimately make sense and come together as a whole.
- We may not always see answers to our prayers in this life, but we will receive them fully in eternity.
- Some days God's provision and care may seem distant, but it will be ever-present in eternity.
- We long for our world to stop raging and be at peace, but ultimate peace will only come in eternity.
"God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him. It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see" 1 Peter 1:4-5 (LB)
REFLECTIONS
- How does knowing that God is unchanging make you feel?
- What do you think about when you reflect on the Bible's descriptions of God's unchanging qualities—"stable, abiding, enduring, eternal, consistent, continuing, imperishable, invariable, lasting, and the same forever"?
While situations change in life, we can rely on God's unchanging nature revealed in His Promises, Purposes, Provisions, Personality, and Prophecies.
Experiencing The Changeless God | Experiencing God Bible Study Series Pt 5 | Mike Prah
4. God's Personality Is Unchangeable
- Because God's personality is unchanging and unchangeable, He can be trusted to fulfill the essence of His character and attributes. Every name and character of God is a blessing he shares with His children.
- The unchanging God is a dependable God!
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
"You, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation." Psalm 102:12 (NLT)
- The psalmist makes this argument about God’s personality. Though my condition has been changed, though I have been cast down from an exalted position, though kingdoms rise and fall, yet You never change. Your purposes will stand forever, and Your promises will be fulfilled. Your character is the same.
- As You have been the hearer of prayer in past times, you will be now. As You have intervened on behalf of Your people in ages past, so You will be now. As Your people in the past have been encouraged to come into Your presence in affliction, so they may come to You now.
- We will have no ground for hope if God changes. If he formed purposes only to abandon them. If He made promises only to disregard them. If today He was full of mercy and goodness, and tomorrow a God of justice and wrath.
- The psalmist here brings to his own mind the fact that God is an unchanging God. That He always lives; That He is forever the same.
"In the beginning, God laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain … But You remain the same, and Your years will never end." Psalm 102:25-27 (NIV)
5. God's Prophecies Are Unchangeable
- Because God's prophecies are unchanging and unchangeable, He can be trusted to fulfill His purposes, promises, and provisions for our life.
- The unchanging God is a dependable God!
"For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever." Malachi 3:6 (LB)
"I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from the Scriptures before everything has come true." Matthew 5:18 (GW)
- No book has been so attacked as the Bible. Yet no book has done so well as the Bible.
- Jesus was serious about the eternal quality of His written Word. We must never dismiss even the smallest part of Scripture. Jesus affirmed the absolute trustworthiness of Scripture and that they are free from error (inerrancy).
"O Lord, your word is established in heaven forever." Psalm 119:89 (GW)
- The meaning here is that the word—the law—the promise—of God was made firm, established, stable, in heaven, and would be so forever and ever. What God had ordained and affirmed in Scripture would always remain true; what He had promised would be sure forever.
"God is always honest and fair, and His laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever" Psalm 111:7-8 (GW)
- "God is always honest and fair." God never does anything to maintain or support wrong. None of his acts can be interpreted as having been done to tolerate injustice, fraud, deceit, oppression, murder, or immorality. The reason God allows humans who He created as free agents to do these things without interference is no evidence that He approves of them.
- God's disapproval of wrongs (immorality) is shown by his declarations, His threatenings, and the punishment he caused on the wicked.
- "His laws can be trusted ." All his commandments are trustworthy. They are to be relied on and are worthy of confidence.
- "They are true and right and will stand forever ." The Hebrew word means sustained, or supported. They will not fail or fall. The great principles of truth and righteousness will stand, and whatever is founded on those principles will endure forever (cf., Luke 16:17; Matt. 24:35: Ps. 19:9).
REFLECTIONS
- How does knowing that God is unchanging make you feel?
- What do you think about when you reflect on the Bible's descriptions of God's unchanging qualities—"stable, abiding, enduring, eternal, consistent, continuing, imperishable, invariable, lasting, and the same forever"?
While situations change in life, we can rely on God's unchanging nature revealed in His Promises, Purposes, Provisions, Personality, and Prophecies.