THIS GOD WE SERVE: “GOD IS POWERFUL”

 

1      Introduction

 

·         What is God like?  Need to have revelation of who He is – What He is like.

·         God made Himself known:  (i) Through person Jesus Christ  (ii) Through Word of God.

·         God is:

(i)            God is holy (Leviticus 20:26)

(ii)           God is love  (1 John 4:16)

(iii)          God is powerful  (Genesis 17:1)

 

·         Genesis 17:1  “… the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God…”

 

a)    “Almighty” (7706 Strongs) El Shaddai = the all powerful one.

·         Powerful; able to perform whatever He wants to do without limitation.

 

b)    “Covenant”:  El Shaddai is also the covenant name for God.

·         (vs2)  “I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

·         The first Bible reference to God as all powerful also refers to Him as God of Covenant.

·         Covenant = binding agreement made between two people, one more powerful than the other, that brought mutual benefits and responsibilities.

·         God the all Powerful One – enters into Covenant Relationship with Man.  (Psalm 91:1)

·         Covenant is a relationship of love, loyalty and responsibility.

 

2      God’s power is unlimited

 

Jeremiah 32:17  “Ah Lord God! behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you.”

 

·         God’s power is revealed in His creation of the Heaven and Earth.

·         “Too hard” (6381 Strongs) = to be beyond ones power.

·         The power of God is beyond the comprehension of people.

·         The Bible abounds in revelation of measures of God’s power.

·         Example:

(i)            Creative miracles  (Power over laws of nature)

·         Creation itself.

·         Multiplication of oil (2 Kings 4:1-6).

·         Multiplication of loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:17-21).

·         Eyes rebuilt in empty sockets (John 9:1-7).

·         Resurrection of Jesus (Luke 24:29-31).

 

 

(ii)           Healing and deliverance  (Power over all sickness, disease, evil spirits, death)

·         Child raised from dead (2 Kings 4).

·         Crippled woman healed and delivered (Luke 13:10-17).

·         Man crippled over 40 years (Acts 3:2-9).

·         Multitudes healed and delivered (Acts 5:15-16).

 

(iii)          Acts of judgement upon sin

·         Flood of Noah’s days (Genesis 6-7).

·         Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).

·         Death of Korah and followers (Numbers 16:29-35).

·         Power of Egypt humbled (Exodus 12:29-30).

·         Destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).

·         Sinners cast into hell (Luke 16:19-31).

 

·         Matthew 25:41  “Then shall he say to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

 

3      God’s power is available to us

 

·         Matthew 28:18-20   The great commission.

·         “All power” (1849 Strongs) = the delegated right to rule and exercise power.

·         God has entrusted to Jesus Christ all authority to rule over heaven and earth.

·         God has entered into covenant with man through faith in Jesus Christ.

·         God has limited His power for a season and chosen to work through people.

·         God makes His power available to fulfil His purpose – nations.

·         Ephesians 1:17-19   Need revelations concerning:

(i)            Jesus Christ.

(ii)           Hope of His call.

(iii)          Our potential.

(iv)         Exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe.

 

·         God puts His Holy Spirit and His power within us  (Ephesians 3:20).

·         Why?

(i)            To live a godly life  (1 Peter 1:5 – kept by the power of God through faith).

(ii)           To witness to Jesus Christ  (Acts 1:8 – receive power, be witnesses).

(iii)          To extend His Kingdom in every area of life.

 

·         Daniel 2:44-45  “… the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

·         God’s kingdom Ž establishment of His will, principles, ways.

·         Every area of life:  Personal / Family / Education / Business / Government.

·         All believers must develop Kingdom mentality – advance, progress.

 

 

4      Power of God is released by faith

 

·         Galatians 3:2-5  “He that works miracles … by the hearing of faith.”

·         Must learn to listen to God – step out by faith.

·         Faith hears, declares, overcomes fears, dares to make a difference.

·         Every believer called to hear, declare, overcome fear, dare!

·         Whatever area of life, you can make a difference!

·         Attitude and expectancy and action  (Mark 6 – Unbelief, no miracle power.  Faith, whole region changed).

·         We are called to impact our region for Christ.