What is God like? What kind of God is he? How may we expect him to act toward us and toward all created things? This is a marvelous question that we started to poke our noses in last week’s podcast. A.W. Tozer wrote that “Such questions are not merely academic. They touch the far-in reaches of the human spirit, and their answers affect life and character and destiny. When asked in reverence and their answers sought in humility, these are questions that cannot but be pleasing to our Father which art in heaven. To our questions God has provided answers—not all the answers, certainly, but enough to satisfy our intellects and ravish our hearts. These answers he has provided in nature, in the Scriptures, and in the person of his Son. As sunlight falls free on the open field, so the knowledge of the Holy God is a free gift to men who are open to receive it.” Tozer went on to say, “God has revealed himself to us in three ways. One, He is one God. Two, His attributes are not added-on qualities, but aspects of his essential being. Three, knowing him is both the easiest and most difficult thing in the world. I don’t know about you but knowing God sounds like a fun adventure. That’s why in today’s podcast, our focus is on ‘Why It’s Revolutionary For You to Know What God’s Like.’ All of this on this week’s Light on Life.

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#S3-011: What’s the Value of a Good Name? [Podcast]

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Read the Notes

You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Everyone wants to know the answer to the question: ‘What is God like?’ More individuals have asked this question than any other. Strive to know Him more.

Join the Conversation

Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Share a story where you learned something about God’s nature and character that you didn’t know before. Share your testimony in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

1. Why Possessing Patience Is A Powerful Step to A Faith Filled Life [Podcast]
2. Why Praying in Faith Means to Believe You Receive [Encore Podcast]
3. How You Can Demonstrate Powerful Faith in God [Podcast]
4. Why Taking the Forgiveness Test Helps Your Faith in God [Podcast]
5. Faith and Prayer: Important Lessons to Know [Podcast]
6. Why It’s Important to Flow in Faith’s Domain [Podcast]
7. Scriptures to Feed Your Faith and Combat Fear [Podcast]

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

1. #S11-019: Powerful Jesus Truths about God the Father on High [Podcast]
2. #S11-018: Biblically Secrets to a Healthy Heart in God [Podcast]
3. #S7-045: How Jesus Being Lifted Up Impacts Your Life [Podcast]
4. #S7-043: Are You Willing to Hear the Voice of the Lord? [Podcast]
5. #S7-042: Why Sacrifice Is Your Key to Significance [Podcast]
6. #S7-039: Are You A Passionate Seeker of Jesus? [Podcast]
7. #S6-015: The Value of Knowing the Gift of God [Podcast]
8. #S6-014: How to Conquer Prejudice the Jesus Way [Podcast]
9. #S6-013: What Does It Mean to Be Born Again from God? [Podcast]
10. #S6-012: Nicodemus: Is His Life a Positive Example to Follow? [Podcast]
11.  #S-018: How Not to Be A Minister of Condemnation [Podcast]
12.  #S6-019: Worshipping God: Why the Hour Is Here [Podcast]
13. #S6-020: More on Praising God: Why the Hour Is Here [Podcast]
14. #S6-021: The Big Scoop on Magnifying God [Podcast]
15. #S6-023: Amazing Pointers on the Road to Lifting God Higher [Podcast]
16. #S6-027: Why Jesus Shocking Bread of Life Statement is the Only Way to Heaven [Podcast]
17. #S6-029: Why Mixing Holy and Unholy Is Not a Good God Thing [Podcast]
18. #S6-032: Why It’s Never Wise to Not Obey God’s Will for Your Life [Podcast]
19. #S6-033: Killing Jesus: How to Walk the Talk in the Face of The Rising Tide of Opposition [Podcast]

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

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Prayer

Podcast Notes

• Well again, welcome.
• Let’s pray.

Father God, it’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth that we want to know you better — that we want to know you more. Grant unto us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. We ask for this unveiling in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

• Well, again welcome.
• Let’s pray.

Father God, thank you for showing us who you are in your Word. Open to our hearts to receive this understanding of your ways. There’s so much misinformation in the world. We want to know you in truth and reality. Thank you for doing that in Jesus Name, Amen.

What God is Like: What Jesus Shared in John Fourteen

• In a previous podcast, we shared that there were eleven things Jesus told us in John fourteen about what God is like.
• We covered seven of those in that podcast.

1. In the Father’s house, there are many rooms.
2. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus.
3. If you know Jesus, you know the Father also.
4. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father.
5. The Father and Jesus are ‘in’ each other.
6. The Father does the works.
7. The Father is responsible for the Holy Spirit being in your life.

• When you get a chance, read the chapter and note everyplace where the Father is mentioned.

What Is God Like: If You Love Jesus, the Father Will Love You Also

John 14:21 (ESV) — 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

1. If you show Jesus that you love him by keeping His commandments, the Father will love you also.

• This is how love is displayed — not just in words but in deeds.

1 John 3:18 (ESV) — 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

• The Father is a doer.
• In the beginning, He was moving on the face of the waters.
• He hasn’t stopped moving or doing yet.
• When He rested on the seventh day of Creation, it wasn’t because He was tired and needed a break.
• Jesus was there with the Father at Creation.
• He is a doer as well — He did everything the Father God told Him to do.
• Guess what?
• Now, you are in Christ Jesus and that means you are just like He is — a doer.

James 1:22–25 (ESV) — 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

• If you love Jesus, you will put what Jesus said into operation in your life.
• And, if you do that, here’s what you should know about God the Father, He will love you as well.
• Now, the reverse is not true.
• God will not stop loving you because you failed to do His commandments.
• Love believes right to the very end.
• So, here we go.
• We are on a mission to be Word doers.
• Jesus told us in Luke six what happens to the man who refuses to implement God’s Word.

Luke 6:46–49 (ESV) — 46 “Why do you call me ‘ Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and [hears my words and does them], I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

• Jesus knows this ‘falling of the house, this caving in of the house’ will happen to any man who rejects the Word.
• Jesus love for us compelled Him to share this for our benefit.
• That’s why He told us about this man and what befell him in the first place.
• Love doesn’t want bad stuff to happen to good people.
• That’s why love spoke up in the first place.
• God’s Word is inundated by love on all sides.
• Love shared the message — that’s Jesus.
• Love receives the message by acting on it — that’s you.
• Love approves of the process — that’s the Father.
• Doing the Word is part of the love walk.
• Now, comes the exciting part.

‘he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’

• The Father shows strong approval of all ‘doers of His Word’ via manifestation of His person.
• The word ‘manifest’ is the one we want to look at and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
• The Greek word ‘manifest’ means to provide information, make clear, explain, inform, or make a report.
• It is used of matters that transcend physical sight or mere verbal statement. The word means to reveal, or make known.
• Now, this is a key piece of the ‘knowing what God is like’ puzzle.
• You remember in the opening illustration Tozer said that knowing God is both the easiest and most difficult thing in the world.
• If you will set your heart to put the Word of God in operation in your life, God responds to that by opening more Word to your understanding.
• Now, you know more about God and His ways, and guess what?
• This new revelation means you have more Word to use and if you use it, and not cast it aside, but treat it as the treasure that it is, the cycle of manifestation continues.
• So, we will only know as much about God as we are willing to do what we already know.
• I dare say, we need to get busy because, here in America, we know more Word that we even realize.
• If you want to know God more, do the Word more.
• This mindset gives the prayer every believer should pray in Ephesians one, its answer.

Ephesians 1:16–21 (ESV) – 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of [revelation] in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

• Saying this another way: praying Ephesians one without a ‘putting the Word into operation’ commitment shuts off the Father’s love manifestation whereby He opens more of Himself and His ways to you.
• If you really love God, do what He says.
• Let love have His way.
• Do the Word.

What Is God Like: He is Supplier of Jesus’ Words

John 14:24 (ESV) — 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

1. Jesus words came from the Father.

• So, if you want to know what God is like, listen to Jesus words because they are not His words, but the Father’s.
• We saw in the previous podcast, that the Father was the source of the works of Jesus — He did the miracles through Jesus.
• Not only was He responsible for Jesus works, He was also responsible for His words.
• Words and works go together.
• Works are produced by faith filled words.
• You see this clearly in Genesis where ‘God said, let there be’ — and it was so.
• Words proceeded the works.
• It came before the action.
• Works and words are a package deal.
• Listen to the connection in verse ten.

John 14:10 (ESV) — 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

• Did you hear how seamlessly interchangeable words and works are in this passage?”
• Now, here’s a wonderful reality.
• Your words can come from the Father.
• The Holy Spirit lives in you and He communicates God’s mind to you.

1 Corinthians 2:11–13 (ESV) — 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

• The Holy Spirit knows the Father’s thoughts and He teaches you what’s on His mind.
• Direction can come to your life just as it did in Jesus life from the Father.
• Words can come from the Father to your heart via His indwelling Spirit.
• That’s what God is like — He is a communicator.
• And with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

God as a communicator was one of the first areas of major attraction and focus for me when I first came to Jesus almost fifty years ago now. I used to hear the saints of God testify in church that the Lord told them this and said that to them. I was intrigued — I wanted God to talk to me. I went on for months and heard nothing. After about six months, i was reading the Cross and the Switchblade and in that exceptional God story the Lord kept talking to this country man — sending him into the city. Directing him here and there. As I read that I got frustrated and I cried out, ‘Lord, this is not fair! You talk to all of these other people but you’re not talking to me.’ That’s when he spoke to for the first time — it was sudden. This is what He said, ‘It’s because you don’t know how to listen.’

• So there’s a ‘how’ to listening.
• I didn’t know that!
• There was a lot that I didn’t know being only 6 months old in God.
• At almost fifty years, there’s still a lot that I don’t know.
• Do you want to know what God’s like?
• He’s a communicator.

What Is God Like: The Father Is Greater Than Jesus

John 14:28 (ESV) — 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

1. The Father is greater than Jesus.

• There are some who believe that God and Jesus are the same being but this verse disproves that.
• If the Father is greater than Jesus, how can they be the same?
• The next thing that throws people off about this statement is that we know that the Father is God and we know the same about Jesus His Son.
• Jesus is God as well.
• And with that thought, here is the Question of the Day.
• So if speaking of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and they are all God — how can it be that the Father is greater than Jesus the Son?
• The answer can be found in Philippians two.

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• The scripture says that Jesus emptied Himself by His birth in human form.
• There is a definition of this word which means to lose power or be powerless.
• The word is a verb implying ‘emptying Himself or losing power’ is an action Jesus took.¹
• So can you see that since Jesus emptied Himself how that would make the Father greater than Jesus?
• The divine component is always greater than the human element.
• The spiritual created the natural.

What Is God Like: The Father Is Commander and Chief

John 14:31 (ESV) — 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

1. The Father is Commander and Chief of the Universe. Jesus did what His Father commanded of Him to do because He loved the Father.

• Jesus already alluded to this in John 14:15 and John 14:23 combined.

John 14:15 (ESV) — 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:23 (ESV) — 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

• When we talk about the will of God, we’re referencing the will of God the Father.
• He is the commander and chief.
• Jesus said that He did what His Father commanded Him to do to prove a point.
• He did it so that the whole world would know that He loved His Father.
• We must take a clue from this.
• Do you love your Father God?
• That’s more than a yes or no answer — it’s prove to Him and prove to the world answer.

What Is God Like Old Testament Style

• But of course, we have a big God and a big book inspired by Him wherein He shares quite a bit about Himself.
• We looked at what Jesus said.
• But did you know that the only Bible Jesus had to reference and read from was the Old Testament?
• And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day
• So the following quote from Phil Yancey is on What Is God Like?

“Apart from the Old Testament we will always have an impoverished view of God. God is not a philosophical construct but a Person who acts in history: the one who created Adam, who gave a promise to Noah, who called Abraham and introduced himself by name to Moses, who deigned to live in a wilderness tent in order to live close to his people. From Genesis 1 onward, God has wanted himself to be known, and the Old Testament is our most complete revelation of what God is like.”²

• The Old Testament is the revelation Jesus had of His Father.
• Let’s look for example at one chapter in the Psalms to see what God is like.
• We are in Psalm 103.

Psalm 103:1 (ESV) — 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

• What can we learn about God our heavenly Father from these verses in Psalm 103?

What Is God Like? He Is Holy

• God is holy — that’s what the Psalmist declared — bless His Holy Name.
• The name of a person stands for the person.
• Name and person are interchangeable.
• So, when the scripture states that a ‘good name is more to be desired than riches and fine gold’ just know that a good name belongs to a good person because they are equivalent.
• So God and His Name are one — both are holy.
• But, there’s more to the story.
• Everything connected to God is holy.

Psalm 99:9 (ESV) — 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

• The Lord God is holy, you can check that box.
• And, His dwelling place is as well — did you hear the Psalmist — worship at His holy mountain.
• The Lexham Survey of Theology has this statement on the holiness of God.

The holiness of God speaks to God’s existence as completely separate from his creation and, at the same time, to his pure and utterly incorruptible nature.³

• This statement gives us a clearer picture when we talk about separation.
• We all know that sin is a separator — it distances us from God.
• But, the Father’s personal holiness is a separator as well — it distances Him from us.
• But don’t stop there!
• There’s more to the story — there’s Jesus!
• Jesus bridged the separation gap — it’s a marvelous reality.
• Of course we are talking about what God is like.
• Everything God is connected to is holy.

Psalm 11:4 (ESV) — 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

• Why is the Temple of the Lord holy? — because God abides there.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV) — 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

• The Spirit of God is speaking corporately.
• The whole church is God’s Temple.
• Well, if God dwells in you and everything He is connected to is Holy, what does that make you?
• It’s no stretch therefore for us to see that we should ‘bless His holy name’ as the Psalmist proclaimed
• What is God like?
• The Psalmist continues.

What Is God Like? He Is Loaded

Psalm 103:1 (ESV) — 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

• God’s benefit package is out of this world.
• Note the word ‘all’ – forget not ‘all’ His benefits.
• That means there’s a lot of benefits — God is loaded with them.
• Note the word ‘benefits’ as well.
• Benefits is plural — you get the point.
• What are some of these benefits?

1. Psalm 103:3 (ESV) — 3 who forgives all your iniquity…

• Note the word ‘all’ — how many iniquities does He forgive? — All.
• All means there’s nothing excluded.
• Your sin is forgiven — all of it.
• Since it is, you’re free — go and sin no more.
• So what is God like? — He’s a forgiver — He’s a restorer.
• Next, note the personal pronoun ‘your.’
• He forgives ALL ‘your’ iniquity.
• This makes this God’s forgiveness personal.
• Sin is sin, that’s a fact.
• But, God doesn’t rank them.
• You know it’s not what sin you have committed that counts.
• It’s what you have done with Jesus that matters.
• So here’s an individual, maybe this is — deep in sin — has a spiritual rap sheet piled up with atrocities, the Father God says, ‘I forgive them all’ — ‘I forgive all your iniquities.’
• I know you love Jesus.
• Those who are forgiven much, love much is what Jesus said.

Luke 7:47–48 (ESV) — 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

• So, God your heavenly Father forgives all your iniquity.
• That’s what He is like.
• What are some more of God’s benefits?

1. Psalm 103:3 (ESV) — 3… who heals all your diseases,

• Key on the word ‘all’ — here it sits again.
• How many diseases are included in the word all?
• All of them — that means ‘all’ — all means all.
• Do you have a condition? — all means all.
• The same heavenly Father God who forgives ALL your iniquities is the same God who heals all your diseases.
• You can be confident in the word ALL.
• Not one sin does He hold against you and not one disease won’t He heal.
• All means all — all sins — all diseases.
• All — that’s what God is like.

Matthew 4:23 (ESV) — 23 And he [Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

• When Jesus went throughout all Galilee healing every disease — healing every affliction what was He doing?
• He was showing you what God’s like.
• People think God is mean — they think He’s putting cancer on people — that’s not what He’s like at all.
• He’s full of benefits — that’s what God is like.

Psalm 103:3–5 (ESV) — 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

• God your heavenly Father redeems your life from the pit: the pit of despair — the pit of discouragement — the pit of sadness — the pit of loneliness — the pit of hell itself.
• That’s what God is like.
• Now that you are out of whatever pit you found yourself in, now what?
• God your heavenly Father lifts you higher than the pit by crowning you with stedfast love and mercy.
• Think about it now — He has already forgiven you ALL your iniquities.
• Think about it now, He has already healed you of ALL your diseases.
• So why do you need mercy? — you’re healed and forgiven — you’re already in pretty good shape.
• Why do you need mercy?
• It’s easy — in case you screw up again.
• The Bible tells us that healing is a mercy.
• Why do need mercy if all your diseases are already healed?
• In case things get screwed up in your body again.
• God your heavenly Father takes care of you.
• He loves you more than you know.
• That’s what God is like.

Now Father God, there is so much more to you than what we have shared here. You’re big — so big — so vast that the heavens cannot contain you. Open our eyes more and more so that we can see just how big you really are. Until then, we are going to act like you’re big, talk like you’re big and speak of all things as possible to you.

• Why It’s Revolutionary For You to Know What God’s Like
• You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

The Benefits of Prayer

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