The Nature of God

Message Notes


Has anyone here ever had a problem with anger? 

  • Have you ever lost your temper?
  • Have you ever punched a wall?
  • Have you ever lost your temper in traffic?
  • Anger is an emotion that we all experience 
  • Anger is a reaction
  • Anger can be entertaining to watch:
    • Anger on the roads - Story of guy on the road; 
    • Anger on the ball fields
    • Anger online 
  • Anger can be hurtful
    • Words spoken
    • Abuse done
    • Violence and even murder

Does God get angry? 

  • Yes. 
  • There is no difference between the Old Testament God and the New Testament God

To text 

  • Exodus 34:6–7 (NLT) — 6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger (AREK APHIEM - Long nosed) and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”
  • Backdrop
    • Moses’ interceding with God
    • Exodus 32:9–10 (NLT) — 9 Then the LORD said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”
  • Arek Aphiem - Long of nose
    • Just like compassion is connected to the womb, anger is connected to the nose
    • Red of nose, flaring of the nostrils
    • Some people have quick anger, some are REALLY SLOW - Ruth Stockstill
    • God’s is like that 

Sequence of God’s Anger

  1. WANTING
    1. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) — 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
    2. Ezekiel 18:23 (NLT) — 23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live
    3. You must remember that before God’s anger burns, he is compassionate and gracious!
  2. WARNING
    1. “That’s One” - like my dad
      1. Maybe Boudreaux
    2. God sends the prophets - Jonah
      1. When you read the prophets, they seem so bleak, but most of them are only warning! 
    3. God sends the Word
    4. God sends the Holy Spirit to convict
  3. WATCHING
    1. God is looking for the fruits of repentance
    2. Luke 13:6–9 (NLT) — 6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ 8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’ ”
    3. God is watching your life, day by day, month by month, year by year
    4. God is watching nations in the same way
  4. WRATH
    1. His wrath is always JUST
    2. His wrath is rooted in LOVE and HOLINESS
    3. His wrath is stored up - As in the days of Noah, Sodom, Jerusalem
    4. His wrath was poured out on Jesus
      1. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NLT) — 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

There is only one thing required to avoid wrath... Repent! 


The Nature of God

In Exodus 34, God says who He is. Do you take Him at His word, or have you made Him into someone else? Discover the nature of the one true God.

5 Part Series

All the files in the included packages below have been stripped of dates and church branding. Feel free to adjust, change, or tweak as needed. Include your own church logo or swap out the photos.

Full package also available on Dropbox.

Assets & Files

Part 1: The Nature is in the Name

What God says is exactly who He is and He will never change

Part 2: What's He Like

Compassion and grace are the first traits that God uses to describe himself. Let’s not only see others’ needs but act to meet them.

Part 3: Slow to Anger

Even in His anger, God’s patience with us continues to show His steadfast love for us.

Part 4: Hesed Emet

God's love doesn't change. Nothing impacts how he feels for us. Encounter our Creator‘s Hesed Emet.

Part 5: God of Generations

The love, forgiveness, and justice of God is for every generation. His nature lasts for all of time.

Bethany Church

Contact Us

© 2024 Bethany Church All rights reserved