The Omnipotence of God
- I don't usually think about power – not usually
- but I'll bet the people of Quebec have been thinking about it lately
- power is one of those things you think about only when you don't have it
- when I go to plug something in the wall, I don't even think of the power necessary to make it work
- unless, of course, it doesn't
- think about your own life
- have you ever lacked power?
- if I really preach a good sermon one Sunday - I know that's a real stretch of the imagination - we can all discern that the message had power
- but if a sermon really bombs, you could say that it lacked power
- if you get really angry about something and pick up the phone to give someone a piece of your Christian mind, you want to talk to someone who has the power to make a change, don't you?
- and when your car gets stuck in the mud, and you call CAA, you expect them to send a car that's powerful enough to get you out of the ditch, don't you?
- no four-cylinder subcompacts
- well, let me tell you something
- compared to God, we have no power
- the electrical plug, the supercharged sermon, the supervisor at the company you complain to, the eight-cylinder tow truck, the most powerful person in the world - all are powerless weaklings who don't understand the first thing about real power
- let me say again: you are powerless
- a day after the major earthquake and fire of San Francisco, a newsboy was directing a dazed man through the debris
- as they walked, the boy said something profound:
- "It took men a long time to put all this stuff up, but God tumbled it down in a minute. It's no use for a man to think he can out-power God"
- we know that we lack power
- but did you know that there's nothing that God cannot do?
- we call that God's omnipotence - he's all-powerful
- God has unlimited power to reflect his divine glory and to accomplish his sovereign will
- if you took all the power of the universe - the power of every atom - all that power would be like a single drop in the ocean of God's power
- I want you to see three things that will help us understand our great God and his unlimited power
- three things - not original with me - but three things we need to understand about God's power
- NUMBER ONE: GOD'S POWER IS UNLIMITED
- unlike anyone or anything else, God's power knows no limits
- there is nothing that God can't do
- when the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he told her that she would have a child, even though she was a virgin
- if you know the story, you'll remember that Mary asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
- the angel Gabriel responded with the classic line, "Nothing is impossible with God"
- did you hear that?
- nothing is impossible with God
- to be completely honest, there are a few things that God can’t do
- every one in a while, someone will ask the question: "Can God make a rock so big that he cannot move it?"
- think about it: if we answer yes, then there’s something that God can’t do: he can’t move the rock
- if we answer no, then we’re saying that God can’t build the rock
- either way, we are forced to put limits on God’s power
- what’s the answer?
- the answer is to admit that there are some things that God can’t do
- he can’t do the logically absurd or the contradictory
- God can’t make square circles or triangles with four corners
- he can’t sin
- he can’t die
- God cannot act against his holy nature
- he can’t fail to do what he has promised
- in fact, there are some things that you can do that God can’t do
- you can be illogical
- you can sin
- and you can die
- when we define omnipotence, and say that God is able to do all things, what we mean is this:
- God has infinite power over his creation
- nothing stands out of the scope of his sovereign control
- God’s will is never frustrated
- what he chooses to do, he accomplishes, and he has the ability to do it
- (Psalms 115:3) Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
- a little boy was standing in the church foyer waiting for his family
- the pastor saw him, and decided to quiz him, to see what he was learning in Sunday school
- "Young man, if you tell me something God can do, I will give you a shiny new apple"
- the boy looked up at the minister
- "Sir, if you can tell me something God can't do, I'll give you a whole box of apples!"
- the little boy knew that God can do all things
- he is absolutely unlimited in power
- everything falls under his divine power
- think about it: everything that was ever made or will be made was created by God's power
- (Psalms 89:11) The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.
- God's power is so unlimited that he only had so speak, and he could create ex nihilo, which means "out of nothing"
- we can make from existing materials, but only God can create out of nothing
- read Isaiah 40:28
- (Isaiah 40:28) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
- the other week it was my turn to cook, so I made a dish for the church potluck
- I bet if you knew that I made that dish you wouldn't have had any, right?
- when I finished making the casserole, I looked at the clock and realized it was time to make dinner
- I turned to Charlene and said, "Do you want to order a pizza?"
- after making a measly little casserole, I was too tired to make a simple meal
- God doesn't get weary
- God created the entire universe without becoming even a little tired
- and I can't even make a casserole without stopping for a break
- Tony Evans says, "It takes no more effort for God to create a universe than it does for him to create an ant"
- all he has to do is speak
- (Psalms 33:6) By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
- (Psalms 33:9) For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
- all power comes from somewhere
- but God's power is self-generating
- it's like a generator that always runs and needs no fuel
- God's power is unlimited
- for those of us who believe, what a tremendous comfort this is!
- the same power that God displayed in creating the universe is at his disposal today
- there is nothing that can frustrate his plans for us – nothing!
- there are no maverick molecules that could disrupt his plans
- no matter what is thrown at God, or at us, there is nothing that can withstand his power
- he is almighty!
- I said there were three things you need to know
- the second is this:
- GOD'S POWER IS BROAD IN SCOPE
- I drove past the Ministry of Transportation on Thursday
- what if I pulled in there and told them I needed a new health card?
- they would have looked at me pretty funny and told me that they have no power to deal with such a matter
- now, if I had to pay a traffic ticket, that would be a different matter!
- have you ever spent an hour on the phone, being bumped from extension to extension?
- "I’m sorry, ma’am, that’s not my department"
- after eventually being cut off, you have to conclude that it’s nobody’s department
- well, I have good news for you: we will never go to God and find out that his power does not cover our need
- there is never a time that we will go to God, that he will say, "Sorry, that’s not my department"
- (Jeremiah 32:17) "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
- God has power over nature: just ask Pharaoh
- ask the disciples who were on the boat in the middle of the storm
- ask Noah
- God has power to create life
- parents don’t create children; God does
- (Psalms 139:13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
- (Psalms 139:14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
- God has power over the enemy
- (1 John 4:4) You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
- the devil wants to destroy you, but God has more power than the devil and all his realm
- God also has power over sickness
- Luke 9:11 says that the people brought their sick ones to Jesus, and he healed them
- the Bible is full of examples of God’s healing power
- God is able to heal today
- God even has power over death
- for man, death is the ultimate enemy
- but for God, death is conquered
- whenever Jesus said to a dead person, "Get up," you had better believe that person got up
- only God has power over life and death and everything in between
- God’s power is broad in scope; it is not limited
- whatever is troubling you this morning, you can take to God
- you might think that your concerns are too trivial to God
- they’re not
- (1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- no matter what’s troubling you this morning, God is powerful, and he won’t turn you away
- there’s one last thing you need to understand about God’s power
- GOD’S POWER IS PERSONAL
- I love preaching this morning’s sermon, because it’s so encouraging to me
- and here’s the most encouraging part: the ones who really get to see God’s power are – his people!
- God’s power is available to us as his people this morning
- one of the first sermons I preached at this church was based on the following text:
- (Ephesians 3:20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
- (Ephesians 3:21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
- did you catch that?
- "according to his power that is at work within us"
- if you have trusted in Christ as Savior, God’s power is at work in you as we speak
- and his power is personal
- and he shows his ability in his power to save
- there is no one whose sin is to great for God
- God is able to save even the "worst of sinners" according to 1 Timothy 1:16
- (Hebrews 7:25) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
- somebody has paraphrased this verse to say that God can save from the "guttermost" to the uttermost and to maintain us all the way
- God shows his power in his ability to preserve us
- (Philippians 1:6) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- (John 10:28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
- (John 10:29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
- aren’t you glad that if you’re a believer, Satan can’t snatch you from God’s hand?
- his grip on you is so strong that nothing can break it
- God shows his power in his ability to meet needs
- (2 Corinthians 9:8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
- what a strong verse!
- Paul is talking here about what happens when we honor God in the area of our finances
- he assures us that when we put God in first place, he is able to take care of those bills
- he can pay off those credit cards
- he has power over your mortgage
- God can meet the needs of his people
- (Matthew 6:31) So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
- (Matthew 6:32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- (Matthew 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- God has power even in your weakness
- (2 Corinthians 12:9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
- it’s in your weakness that God’s power best shows up
- I’m not talking about sin, I’m talking about those limitations in your life that you can’t change
- these show off God’s power to his glory
- friends, nothing in the universe can thwart or frustrate God’s plans
- and that power is available to we who are his children
- a little boy was asked by his father to pick up a heavy rock that was in their way
- the boy tried, but couldn’t, and he said, "Daddy, I can’t lift it!"
- the dad said, "Yes, you can"
- the boy tried again: "Dad! I can’t lift it!"
- and the father said once again, "Yes, you can"
- this went on a few more times
- finally, the father put his arm around the boy and said, "Son, you don’t understand. You didn’t use all your strength. You didn’t ask me"
- God can pick up the rocks in our life, but we have to ask him
- he has the power in your finances, your marriage, your job, your family
- he has power over your health and your spiritual life
- but we need to ask him
- "Without me," Jesus said, "you can do nothing"
- let’s ask God to display his power in us right now as we pray
Adapted in part from Our God is Awesome by Tony Evans