Understanding God’s Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np5tyD29NIQ

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

 Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin

Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio

 

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has a malignant meningioma and has been undergoing treatment.

- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being.

         One family member who has just suffered severe adverse reactions
         to medication ending up in chemical burns and resulting with a stay
         in isolation at the burn center in Augusta, Georgia. This family
         member is 87 as of two weeks ago.

        One who has several cracked ribs due to a fall off a bicycle last week.

        One who has had surgery on their nose for skin cancer.

        One who is just out of the hospital due to heart and breathing issues.

        One who is headed for surgery due to a medical condition
        that has gotten more bothersome at this point in time.

- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel and overly high demand.

- Pray for those who have suffered from violent events, that they heal and do not have scarred psyches and that those who have lost their loved ones to violence find peace in the face of fear.

- Pray for comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.  

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

 

**Shannon my daughter’s sister-in-law is today.
**Lukas – my youngest son has a birthday on Tuesday.
**My daughter-in-law Victoria also has a birthday on Tuesday.
**My birthday is on Wednesday this week.

 

Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for those in the hospital or stuck at home suffering illness of all forms. We pray for those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost faith and live in fear and sorrow. We pray for the homeless and the jobless in this world. We pray for the hungry and the malnourished. We pray for the poor, weak, and sorrowful people in this world. We pray in thanksgiving for all the great gifts that You have given us, even if we don’t always realize they are there. We pray in hope and patience for those things that are worrying us in our hearts and minds. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

 

Opening Song: Newsboys ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs05AtP2wd8&list=PLDcNxsEvjauqjDscmk87tajWqX7j-c8pa&index=11

 

 

Sermon: This week we are continuing the study of the Scroll of Romans chapter 1. Paul mentions faith being the primary necessity toward salvation. Without faith we cannot understand all that God the Father has in store for us as we walk in the path that Jesus taught, the path that is faith in action. Paul points out here that faith in God is no longer exclusive to the Jews in Israel, but with everyone, Gentiles included. 

 

Romans 1:16 KJV –For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

NIV –For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

 

Jesus was the first to blur the lines of exclusivity between the Jews and Gentiles. Here is a conversation Jesus held with the Apostles and Disciples that surrounded Him at the time. He’s warning them that there will be many things in life that will pull us away from the path of the faithful. 

 

Mark 8:38 KJV – Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

NIV – If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

 

The ones who listened to the words that Jesus shared would sometimes create confusion for those who did not understand that Jesus speaks of His trial, beating, crucifixion, death, and on into the resurrection. We see this confusion through the words of John the Beloved.

 

John 7:35 KJV – Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

NIV – The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

 

Perhaps as an ironic twist, Paul and Luke were present at that moment and Luke’s writing shares that the Apostles did exactly as Jesus taught, spreading faith through Jerusalem and beyond its walls. We see that here in the words shared by Luke as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. 

 

Acts 3:26 KJV – Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

NIV – When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

 

Paul shares more and more as his letters to Corinth and Timothy portray. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:8 KJV –Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV –He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 1:24 KJV –But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

NIV –but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

2 Timothy 1:8 KJV –Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

NIV –So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

 

Paul portrays the seven troubles in his words throughout his letters, and his letter to Rome is no different. The seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt, would be blockades between us and the salvation proven through righteousness and faith within it. 

 

Romans 1:17 KJV – For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

NIV – For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

 

The most important lesson to learn as a new Christian is that the “righteous will live by faith.” Faith doesn’t rely on our eyes to see God or Jesus. Faith doesn’t rely on our vocation or anything else. In fact, faith is the foundation upon which life should be lived. We see this in the Old Testament Scrolls as well.

 

Ezekiel 18:9 KJV – Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

NIV – He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.

 

The prophet Habakkuk is considered a minor prophet at the time. There are many theories as to who he would be. However, his prophetic words are also considered poetic as the minor prophet portrays what righteousness entails and what it pushes away. 

 

Habakkuk 2:9 KJV – Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

NIV – “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

 

Paul, per his normal methodology in writing letters to these churches, references another of his letters, this one is his second letter to the church at Corinth. 

 

2 Corinthians 3:9 KJV –For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

NIV –If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

 

Paul insists that people realize and recognize what is true righteousness and godliness. This is something each of us would be challenged with recognizing. Whether it is that feature within ourselves or those we surround ourselves with. Studying Scripture requires us to read, repeat, read again, and then apply the Word to our lives as we live them. In doing so, we will be doing exactly as Jesus taught, exactly as God wishes us to manage. It’s not easy. Besides, if it were easy, would we want to pursue our faith at all? Church is more than people in a building singing hymns or listening to the Word. Faith is alive, it is action and reaction, instruction and understanding, knowledge as it leads to wisdom. This is another of Paul’s warnings here. 

 

Romans 1:18 KJV – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

NIV – The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

 

What does it mean to be godless and wicked? Godlessness is, in today’s world, considered as Atheistic. Wickedness is being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This is something that has been warned about throughout all of Scripture, and we see that in this verse from the Old Testament. 

 

Exodus 23:7 KJV – Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

NIV – Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

 

We see even more of this point of view in Paul’s letters to Ephesus, Colossae, and Thessalonica. 

 

Ephesians 5:6 KJV – Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

NIV – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

 

Colossians 3:6 KJV – For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

NIV – Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV –And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

NIV –And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.

 

We hear a lot about the true path faith brings us toward. We don’t always hear that we should study this path, on our own, in groups, and in our congregations. This is the building of righteousness within each of us individually and collectively. Through this, we grow our faith into stronger and stronger understanding and the development of wisdom. 

 

Romans 1:19 KJV – Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

NIV – since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

 

Paul references King David’s psalms, along with the prophet Isaiah’s words as well.

 

Psalm 19:1 KJV – To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

NIV – For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 

Isaiah 40:21 KJV – Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

NIV – Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

 

Paul also adds to his thoughts with those of his pupil, and gospel writer, Luke. One of the things that we often forget about is what we call “witnessing”. This is something that allows us to prove our faith and righteousness more readily because others have witnessed it as such. As shared by several of our outreach ministries, our Evangelist Cal and others we have come across in our lives, we find that witnessing helps us build our faith as much as those who are sharing their personal experiences. This is what Jesus and God have both encouraged in their words and actions throughout the Scriptures, from first to last. 

 

Acts 14:17 KJV – Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

NIV – Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Acts 17:24 KJV – God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

NIV – “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

 

With this next verse, Paul points out that the power of God’s Unconditional love is found not in just the things that are seen with our eyes, but in those things that are not seen. Paul adds that we are all connected with God, physically and metaphysically, mentally, and spiritually.

One of those abilities God has, we call “Omniscience”, which is having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.

Omnipresence is another feature of God. This means being present everywhere at the same time.

The last of the eternal and infinite existence of our Father in heaven would be “Omnipotence” which is almighty or infinite in power, as God and having very great or unlimited authority or power.

We see this in what Paul shares next in this first chapter of the letter to Rome. 

 

Romans 1:20 KJV – For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

NIV – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

Paul references the Torah, or the Law, according the Scripture. 

 

Genesis 1:1 KJV – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

NIV – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 

Paul also references what the Jews call the Nevi’im, which include the next eight scrolls of Scripture, and the Kesuvim, which includes the historical records included in the oral and written history of the Jews. 

 

Job 12:7 KJV – But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

NIV – “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

 

Jeremiah 51:15 KJV – He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

NIV – “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

 

We next must add more insight from the source of Paul’s learning, our Savior Jesus Christ as portrayed in this recollection of the Gospel of Mark.

 

Mark 10:6 KJV – But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

NIV – “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’

 

In our world today, humanity has done a whole lot to challenge the idea of “male” and “female”, and yet the Scriptures describe them in full detail as they should always be seen and known. In order to truly know God, we must acknowledge that moment “in the beginning” of time itself. God’s glory is no small consideration. He created everything in this world before mankind was even created. He created man and then woman to rule over the earth with His guidance. This is something some have issues with, but we can’t deny Him. When we do, we deny everything in existence. 

 

Romans 1:21 KJV – Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

NIV – For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

 

There is one thing that Christians have difficulty understanding in the concept of God’s Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence. One of those is that God is everywhere in all things, seeing, hearing, and knowing everything from every being on this earth. We see this in these verses from the Old Testament Scrolls.

 

Genesis 8:21 KJV – And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

NIV – The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

 

This is an interesting thought as shared by a servant of an outsider king as they described the Jews of the time and how they worshipped God. 

 

1 Kings 20:23 KJV –And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

NIV –Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.

 

This next verse shows how the seven troubles again can cause people to fall off the path of faith and righteousness. Those seven troubles we see vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt. These are seen in plain language here in the historical record of the kings of Israel.

 

2 Kings 17:15 KJV –And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

NIV –They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

 

We see even more of this as we reflect on the words of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. It is one of those important lessons to learn, just how badly people can screw up their lives by following the troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt. 

 

Isaiah 44:20 KJV – He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

NIV – Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

 

Jeremiah 2:5 KJV – Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

NIV – This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

 

Jeremiah 9:14 KJV – But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

NIV – Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.”

 

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

NIV – The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

 

Working hard to drown out the seven troubles with faith and faithfulness, with righteousness, and obedience to His Word is something we all are challenged by in today’s world. Yet, the effort toward building our faith along with our belief will prove that righteousness prevails. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Closing Song: Risen ~ Easter At Saddleback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5sBvDAnNW4

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin

Evangelist Calvin Jennings

Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2023 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to

exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is

created through fear together as the bringers of the

light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.