The Attributes of God: Exploring in Incomprehensible Glories of God Session 5 The Omnipotence of God

Transcription

1 The Attributes of God: Exploring in Incomprehensible Glories of God Session 5 The Omnipotence of God Introduction: Scripture Foundation: Genesis 18:14 (ESV) Is anything too hard for the LORD? Luke 1:37 (ESV) For nothing will be impossible with God. Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV) Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Revelation 19:6 (ESV) Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Omnipotence Defined Biblically: The ability of God to do anything that can be done that is in harmony with His attributes. Pseudo Questions: Can God make a rock He can t pick up? Can God make a square circle? Can God cease to exist? We must define omnipotence as the Bible defines omnipotence. God can do anything He chooses to do, save that which violates His nature. God s omnipotence will always be exercised in harmony with His other attributes. You cannot pit one attribute of God against another just as you cannot compete with yourself. Other things God can t do: 1. God cannot lie. Numbers 23:19 2. God cannot approve of evil. Habakkuk 1:13 3. God cannot change His character. Malachi 3:6 4. God cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

2 5. God cannot entice men to sin. James 1:13 6. God cannot save an unrepentant unbelieving person. I. God s power is infinite 2 A. God possesses all power. a. God is the source of all power. b. Psalm 62:11 (ESV) Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, c. All power seen and experienced in the universe is given by God. d. Hebrews 1:3, He upholds the universe by the word of his power. B. God s power is without limitation. a. Jeremiah 32:27 (ESV) Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? b. There is nothing that power can do that God cannot do. c. God has the power to carry out all His desires. II. God s power is inexhaustible. a. God s power never diminishes. i. God s energy is never depleted. Isaiah 40:28 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ii. God s power comes from the inexhaustible supply of infinite energy. iii. God is forever the same in power. iv. When God rested on the seventh day, it was not because of fatigue but because of completion. b. God cannot give His power away, but He can delegate it. c. God s power is never taxed. i. For God nothing is more difficult than anything else. d. A.W. Tozer, Since He has at His command all the power in the universe, the Lord God omnipotent can do anything as easily as anything else. All His acts are done without effort. He expends no energy that must be replenished. He self-sufficiency makes it unnecessary for Him to look outside of Himself for a renewal of strength. All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being. III. God s power is undefeatable.

3 3 a. Nothing and no one can stand against the power of God. i. Job 42:2 (ESV) I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ii. Isaiah 14:27 (ESV) For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? iii. Isaiah 43:13 (ESV) Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back? b. God effortlessly prevails over human and satanic resistance. c. God s power is greater than all the collective powers of the universe. Job 9:19 (ESV) If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! IV. The magnificent displays of Gods power. a. Creation i. Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ii. By the power of God s spoken word all existence exists. b. Salvation: God s power is seen in His saving power. i. Israel from Egyptian captivity. Exodus 32:11 (ESV) But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ii. Israel in Canaan. 2 Chronicles 20:6-7 (ESV) O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? iii. Israel against the Assyrians 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (ESV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

4 iv. Men from the power of death. 1. Lazarus: John Jesus: Ephesians 1: All of mankind: Revelation 20: V. The availability of God s power. a. Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, b. Isaiah 40:29 (ESV) He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. c. Psalm 105:4 (ESV) Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! d. Philippians 3:10 (ESV) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection VI. The power of God in our lives. a. God is all powerful to save us. Romans 1:16 (ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. b. God is all powerful to save others. c. God is all powerful to send you into service. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. d. God is all powerful to solve all your problems. VII. The catalyst for God s power. a. Faith - Mark 5:36 (ESV) But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not fear, only believe. b. Weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. c. The catalyst for God s power is to continually admit you can t, but believe that He can. VIII. Praying for God s power. a. Lord, let me experience the power of your resurrection. Philippians 3:10

5 Conclusion: 5 b. Lord, show me the meaning of the words, Apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 c. Lord, show me what it means to labor in Your strength. Colossians 1:29 (ESV) For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. d. Lord, show me what it means to be strong in my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 e. Lord, show me how to allow your divine power to produce in me life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3 (ESV) His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,