God Acts

Entering Into God’s Presence
Knowing God Through His Works and Ways (VERBS)

To Study and Ponder
* The word acts means to exert power; to be in action or motion; to move. How God acts is

seen in his ‘works’, ‘acts’, ‘deeds’

• *  God acts; he is not passive or inactive; he’s engaged in our lives. He is not some distant, abstract, disengaged divine force that sits on the sidelines of our human experience, indifferent to our needs and challenges. He is dynamically engaged and involved with us. As Moses said, “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Deuteronomy 32:4

• *  His acts are powerful
  - Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Psalm 72:18 - You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the

  nations. Psalm 77:14 (Also Psalm 40:5; 65; 107; Rev.15:3)
  - Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a

  mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! Psalm 98:1
  - The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! Psalm 118:15b
  - God parted the waters of the Red Sea (Ex 14), parted the Jordan River, caused the walls

  of Jericho to fall (Josh 6), caused the sun and moon to stand still (Josh 10:12-14), multiplied the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:2-7), cured Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5:10-14), and did many more miracles to show his power and give life to his people. Rev.15:3

• *  God acts with both mercy and wrath:- He destroyed the earth with a flood because of the wickedness of the people, but he saved Noah and his family because Noah was righteous. Genesis 6-9 (Habakkuk 3:2)

• *  God’s acts are to be told to others:- We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done Psalm 78:4b (Ps.71:17, 75:1, 96:3, 145:4-6)

  * God’s acts are unique:- Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? Psalm 71:19

  *God’s acts are loving.
  - Thus the Psalmist prays: But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of your

  own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good. Psalm 109:21

  • -  I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice

    in his great goodness to Israel... Isaiah 63:7a

  • -  God demonstrated his love and care for people through his miracles, such as the feeding

    of the 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44), changing water into wine (John 2:1-11), raising Lazarus (John 11:1-44) and healing people (John 4: 43-5:15 among many others).

    * His acts are creative.

    - You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6

    *His acts are life giving.

    • -  For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. John 5:21 (Also John 6:33)

    • -  The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

Memory/Meditation
Lower Grades: You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:14 (NLT)

Middle Grades: Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? Psalm 71:19 (NLT)

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done Psalm 78:4b (NLT)

Upper Grades: O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Psalm 40:5 (NLT)

High School: I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)