May 2024
The 13 Attributes of God
Pastors,
Please feel free to submit a teacher from your local assembly receive the Fl District teacher of the month award. Submit photo and short bio to the CM Email: Fldistrictcm@gmail.com
Please submit any upcoming events you would like announced by emailing kherbst@firstpent.org
Section 1 News
2024 Youth Rallies
8/9 - District Back to School Rally - First Apostolic Church Milton - Pastor Webb - Speaker: DJ Hill, YM President
9/27 - First Pentecostal Church Pensacola - Pastor Kinsey - Speaker: Petru de LaGarza, FLYM District
11/2 - REC Event more into tba
Bible Quizzing Update
May Tournament Information:
MAY 11, 2024 AT 9:00 AM
Hosted by:
Christian Life Center (Pastor Joe Campetella)
5300 Belle Terre Pkwy
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Material Coverage:
Beginners through Acts 8:19 (150 verses)
Juniors through Acts 10:20 (233 verses)
Intermediate throughs Acts 10:16 (352 verses)
Experienced through Acts 12:25 (439 verses)
The 13 Attributes of God
Western culture has shunned the number 13 for centuries, believing it is taboo. Friday the 13th is considered the unluckiest day. It is unfortunate to have thirteen guests at a table. Hotels often omit the number 13 from floors and rooms to this day. Although Western culture has demonized the number 13, it is Biblically significant for it is the number of the attributes of God.
An attribute is the inherent character, characteristic, or quality of a person or thing. Attributes govern the way a person acts or conducts themselves.
However, unlike a characteristic or quality, which requires development, an attribute is fully developed and perfected. God has fully developed perfected attributes.
We have the same characteristics, but these attributes need further development. A close examination of the 13 attributes of God allows for a deeperunderstanding of God himself, and we discover that God can transcend time, space, and circumstances. T
ranscendence enables one to overcome the enemy with heavenly resources. It brings God into our lives to work out His perfect will.
The Significance of the Number Thirteen
Twelve is the number of lines that border a cube, but to connect all the twelve into the center, you need the thirteenth line.
The thirteenth line defines the center. You can see this principle many times in the Word of God. There were 12 tribes of Israel; Jacob, their father, was the 13th line defining the center.
There were 12 disciples; Jesus, The Messiah, was the 13th.
Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value. Therefore, by adding the numerical values of each letter, one discovers the numerical value of a word. The word “love” in Hebrew has a numerical value of 13 [AHAVA].
Hence, the love chapter of 1st Corinthians 13 is not an accident. The word “one” in Hebrew numerically means 13 [ECHAD]. If you add love and one, you get the number 26, the exact numerical value of the Jewish name for Jehovah, YHVH.
The thirteen Attributes are, in fact, thirteen principles that govern all Jewish beliefs. Exodus Chapter 33, verses 13-14 states,
“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, That I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
The Thirteen Attributes Explained
Moses asked God to “Shew me now thy way,” and God did just that.
“And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:5-7).
When the cloud descended on Mount Sanai, the bible calls it “thick darkness.” Then Moses entered the “thick darkness where God was.”
When you are in thick darkness, you are never alone. God wants to meet you there. It increases your faith, strengthens your relationship with God, and binds you deeper into the body of Christ.
We need to learn to cherish the thick darkness and the trials it brings so we might become strong in the Lord and overcome.
The Lord gave Moses 13 attributes in these scriptures, revealing his true character. Looking closer, we understand how they relate to us.
Every time you see the capitalized word “LORD” in scripture, it refers to Jehovah. Whenever repeated twice in the exact text, it always refers to the dual nature of mercy: both acts of kindness to make provision to help His people and forgiveness of sins so we can escape eternal judgment.
YHVH [LORD] is the first of the 13 attributes. God is self-existent and complete, and His character is faithful to every covenant He has made,proving His word is true to a thousand generations.
YHVH [LORD] is repeated in the text. This repeat emphasizes God’s unchanging integrity. The Lord extends mercy after a person repents of their sin. Man’s sin does not alter the nature of God.
God [EL, the Hebrew word for God] is mentioned next. He is the creator; asthe creator, he has the right to show mercy. He is all-powerful; therefore, he is not insecure, needing to prove his influence by being cruel. He shows his true power through the mercy provided to all creatures according to their needs.
God is merciful [RACHUM]. His compassion and love extend even to a child in the womb. So loving is God that he doesn’t even want you to be distressed. He wants to prevent distress. He, by nature, is a merciful God even before a man sins. God’s forgiving nature did not develop in reaction to man’s sin. His attribute of mercy entirely existed before man ever sinned.
God is gracious [CHANAN]. God showers the undeserving with favor and grace. If you are already in distress, He, in his mercy, will alleviate your distress.
God is longsuffering [EREK APAYIM]. God is slow to anger; He waits patiently for an opportunity to bless you when you repent.
God is abundant in goodness [RAV CHESED]. God is pleasing to the righteous, kind to all believers, and plentiful and abundant beyond all measure.
God is abundant in truth [EMET]. God is good even after scrutinizing your life; He already knows exactly how to fix what is wrong, and He is fair and equitable. He will not do for one that he will not do for you.
God keeps mercy for thousands [NOTZEIR CHESED L’ALFIM]. God’s kindness will extend to your children and all generations. His devotion to your salvation is boundless. It is not just for one; it is for all of us.
God forgives iniquity [NOSEI AVON]. God forgives intentional sins; he forgives sins that are willfully committed.
God Forgives transgression [NOSEI PESHA]. He forgives rebellious sins committed in defiance of his will. He forgives sins of self-will.
God forgives sin [NOSEI CHATAH]. He forgives sins committed inadvertently or without knowing – called sins of ignorance.
God clears [NAKEH]. He cleanses and acquits only the repentant sinner; He pardons only those who repent. He will not clear the guilty or the unrepentant sinner.
The 13 divine attributes of God are all centered on the concepts of mercy and forgiveness.
We need to pray with thanksgiving and gratitude and continually acknowledge the mercy and forgiveness that God has granted us. Additionally, we should seek divine guidance to instill these virtues in our daily lives and share them with others.
It is crucial to recognize that these divine attributes of mercy and forgiveness can only benefit us if we give them to others – to show kindness to all we encounter. According to scripture, the merciful will obtain mercy.
Therefore, we must be mindful of practicing forgiveness and kindness to others as it will undoubtedly return to us in kind.
We must incorporate these 13 divine attributes into our daily life, and we should endeavor to share them with those we encounter; in doing so, we will see the same virtues of mercy and forgiveness being not only demonstrated as proof of our relationship with God, but it returnsus 100-fold as promised by Jesus (Mark 10:30).
Yours for the Kingdom,
Pastor Brian Kinsey