evans, our god is awesome: god's omnipotence

According to QI, “Human beings are born with only two

inbuilt fears: the fear of loud noises

and the fear of falling. All other

fears are abnormal and have to be

learned”Thursday 17 February 2011

Proverbs 8:13The fear of the

LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and

arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

Thursday 17 February 2011





Psalm 147:10-12 His delight is not in the strength of the

horse, nor his pleasure in

the legs of a man, but the LORD takes

pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.






Psalm 147:10-12 His delight is not in the strength of the

horse, nor his pleasure in

the legs of a man, but the LORD takes

pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the

LORD is the beginning of

wisdom; all those who

practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures

forever!


The Omnipotence

of God


Om·nip·o·tent [om-nip-uh-tuhnt]–adjective1. almighty or infinite in power, as God.2.having very great or unlimited authority or power.


http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/God

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/God

For us this means there is nothing that God cannot do.This is not simply ‘raw power’ but...“God’s omnipotence includes the exercise of his choice to use his unlimited power to reflect his divine glory and accomplish his sovereign will.”

Evans


God’s omnipotence has a moral base - he does not use power simply to impress - he uses power to accomplish his perfect will.

In the Gospel of Thomas there is a story of Jesus bringing clay birds to life - this is totally out of keeping with the way our omnipotent God uses his all surpassing power.


In fact the Gospel of Thomas describes the life of the child Jesus, with fanciful, and sometimes malevolent, supernatural events, comparable to the deceiving / tricking nature of the god-child in many Greek myths. This act also attributed to Jesus in Qur'an 5:110 although in the Quran it is not as a child.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/005.qmt.html#005.110

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/005.qmt.html#005.110

1. God’s Power is Unlimited

God is infinite - and his power is unlimited.

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.


1. God’s Power is Unlimited

God is infinite - and his power is unlimited.

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.

Psalm 62:11

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:“Power belongs to you, God,

Psalm 147:5 -Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.


1.a. Creative Power

All that was made or ever will be made came from God, Psalm 89:11,The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.

God has created things and parts of the universe which we have not even discovered yet.

Evans suggests that men have used science to take the place of God and of his creative power - they will not give credit to God.


Evans goes on to suggest that true science is really about observing the consistency of God - men discover something give it a law and accredit it to nature - all they are doing is observing the consistency of God.

Evans suggests that he can lift a one ton weight - but only if you change his environment from earth to the moon. He suggests we have done the same with God, made him in our own environment and therefore limited his power.

God belongs to a different realm!

Mariusz Pudzianowski

Has won the title of world’s strongest man on at least 3 occasions


1.b. “Out of Nothing” Power

Ex nihilo means “out of nothing”

God’s power is so limitless that he creates without raw materials.

Evans comments that we never create anything in this way, nor has science ever been able to achieve it in the laboratory.


1.b. “Out of Nothing” Power

Ex nihilo means “out of nothing”

God’s power is so limitless that he creates without raw materials.

Evans comments that we never create anything in this way, nor has science ever been able to achieve it in the laboratory.

Romans 4:17 - as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Real power, God’s power, means he makes things from nothing


1.c. Effortless Power

No straining, no groaning, God does not get weary or tired - see Isaiah 40:28


1.d. Self Generating Power

God never needs anything outside of himself to generate or sustain his power - he generates the power for all his actions within himself.

Psalm 33:6, 9

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.


God shows this in the conception of Jesus - Mary is a virgin - yet the power of God comes upon her and what was impossible is made possible - Luke 1:26ff - v.37, For nothing will be impossible with God." (New NIV: For no word from God will ever fail.”)

Mark 10:17-27 - a rich man comes to Jesus and goes away sad - how can the rich enter the KOG / be saved? - v.27 “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”




Does it take more effort for God to create an ant

or to create the universe?




Does it take more effort for God to create an ant

or to create the universe?

God spoke...and it was so


2. God’s Omnipotence isBroad in Scope

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 created the universe - anything else is well within his capability - he has power over nature, that is why we often (mistakenly)equate nature with God.


2. a. Power over NaturePlenty of examples: Pharaoh - Sodom & Gomorrah - Noah - Jesus!

God not only creates - he sustains nature as well - Heb 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Sustaining includes gravity, the right speed of rotation, the right angle of tilt, the sun being the right distance...from earth


2. b. Power to give LifePsalm 139 is full of the omni - presence, niscience and potence of God

v.13-14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Ears, eyes, legs - all are in the right place because God made you that way.

Evans says this is the problem with abortion - it destroys what God has made


2. b. Power to give LifePsalm 139 is full of the omni - presence, niscience and potence of God

v.13-14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Ears, eyes, legs - all are in the right place because God made you that way.

Evans says this is the problem with abortion - it destroys what God has made

What does thismean about children who

are born with some type of

‘deformity’ or ‘abnormality’?


2. c. Power over the Enemy

Jesus had power over demons - Matt 8:28-34 -

Two men out of their mind, violent - had been trying to destroy the men - they did destroy the pigs - but the men were healed and set free


2. d. Power over Illness

There are so many examples of this!

[One might ask why so many people doubt God’s healing power today - and seem set on disproving it?]

Luke 9:11 - but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.


2. e. Power over CircumstancesJeremiah 32 tells of God’s power over circumstances - Jerusalem is about to be destroyed and overrun - yet God tells Jeremiah to buy a field.

This did not make sense to Jeremiah - though he sees God is all powerful, v. 27 - and then god tells him he will bring the Israelites back to the land - so it was not a pointless deed but one showing God had power.


2. f. Power over Death

Every person who has ever lived on the planet will be raised from the dead - for the judgement before Christ.

Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb

A doctor might say a person is dead - but the word of Christ will bring them back to life, either in this life or the next.


3. God’s Omnipotence isPurposeful

You do not get all you want not because God cannot do it, but because God uses his power for his purposes - he does what is best to magnify himself and bring glory to his name.

Consider Abram and Sarah - an 84 year old woman gives birth, why? Because in God’s plan he was raising up a nation - born again in 1948. Can God make 84 y.o. Women get pregnant - yes - does he - not often!


Rev 19:6 - God’s sovereignty and power are linked - “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

To get God’s power you must be tied to his will - God exercises his power within his will.

Heb 5:7 - During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Mk 14:36 - “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Jesus did not want to die on the cross - yet he saw the need to tie the power of God with the will of God for his life.

I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times,what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Isaiah 46:10

The question becomes are you submitted to - and in, the will of God?


4. God’s Omnipotence isPersonal

Eph 3:19-20

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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,

In biblical terms omnipotence = he is able


4.a. He’s able to save

Heb 7:25 - ...he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

2 Tim 1:12 - he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Evans comments: You cannot lose your salvation!

Our salvation is stable in the hands of God, secure in him.


4.b. He’s able to meet needs

2 Cor 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


4.c. He’s able to heal

Matt 9:27-29

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said,“According to your faith let it be done to you”;


4.d. He’s able to deliver

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Daniel 3:17

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

Daniel - in ch. 6 - “...has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “...My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”


4.e. He’s able to keep you

Jude 24 - To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy

How do we see this happen?

Eph 6:10 - be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

God is able to make us strong - but we need to be committed to him and his will - then you see him breaking through.

Remember:

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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Don’t be half hearted and expect to see the power of God - be committed to his will


Four things to know

1. God is looking for a fully committed heart in order to show his power - 2 Chron 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.


2. You must have faith - Mk 9:22-23

“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

3. Be Humble - 1 Peter 5:5-6 -

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.


4. Wait upon the Lord - Isa 40:28-31

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.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Churches should be full each week of people testifying to the omnipotence of God - people who have power to love the unlovely, heal te sick, see bills paid etc.

Why aren’t you seeing the power of God in your life?


Responding to God’s Omnipotence

1. Are you trying too hard and not letting God manifest his power - is your walk too much about self and not enough about the power of God?

2. When did you last see God move in power - why did it happen, what were the important factors in it?


3. Are their situations or people that you have given up on as impossible? It is time to repent and in a new spirit of faith and prayer to believe in the omnipotent power of God.

4.Read Isaiah 40:28-31 and personalise it.


evans, our god is awesome: god's omnipotence

Spiritual

unlimited power

limitlessofgods power

raw power

thereal power

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presencethe god

omnipotent god

theeverlasting god