God’s Power A (Listen or Read)
CHAPTER TWO: GOD’S NATURE
I will sing of Your power…
I will sing aloud of Your mercy.
(Ps. 59:16)
What is God really like? Is the ultimate destiny of the majority of
the human race tragic? Our only hope as a race and as individuals lies in the nature of God, and more specifically, in His power and love. In this chapter, we will focus on the Scriptures relating to His nature–His power, love, fatherhood, and will. Does He have all power to do what He wills? Does He truly love all humanity impartially, or does He have favorites? Is He, as the Creator of all, also Father of all? What is the difference? What is His will for humanity? Will His will be accomplished?
Of all these questions, the most critical to our hope are those relating to His power and love. What is the extent of His power? Can He really do what His heart would like to do? If God is not in truth Almighty, then there is no God in the truest sense, and we are destitute of all hope. Yet, even if we believe Him to be Almighty, what hope does that bring us if we doubt His love for any of His creatures?
His Power
Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
(Mt. 22:29 KJV)
Notice the importance of knowing the Scriptures in relation to the power of God. It is a serious error not to respect this relationship. Without a firm belief in God as the “Almighty” (the one who can do all His will), the knowledge of Scripture is of little value. We must be convinced, like Paul was, that what God promises, He is able to accomplish (Ro. 4:21). This is what credited Abraham as righteous (Ro. 4:22). Have you taken to heart what Scripture declares regarding the power of God?
¨ Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Ge. 18:14).
¨ Whatever His soul desires, He does (Job 23:13).
¨ You can do everything…no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You (Job 42:2).
¨ He does whatever He pleases (Ps. 115:3).
¨ Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven, earth, sea, and in all deep places [heart] (Ps. 135:6).
¨ Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand (Is. 14:24).
¨ The Lord has purposed, who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, who will turn it back? (Is. 14:27).
¨ Through Your power Your enemies shall submit to You.… All the earth shall worship You (Ps. 66:3-4).
¨ Is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? (Is. 50:2).
¨ My word shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please (Is. 55:11).
¨ You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. There is nothing too hard for You (Jer. 32:17).
¨ Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jer. 32:27).
¨ He does according to His will in heaven and earth; no one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “what have You done?” Who can be saved?…with men it is impossible, but not with God; with God all things are possible (Da. 4:35; Mk. 10:26-27;). (See also: Mt. 19:26; Lu. 1:37; 18:27).
¨ Predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will (Ep. 1:11).
¨ He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Ph. 3:20-1).
¨ God’s purpose is unchangeable [immutable—NKJV] (He. 6:17 NAS).
¨ He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (He. 7:25).
¨ I will put my laws into their minds and hearts…for all shall know Me (He. 8:10).
¨ Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith (He. 12:2).
References: See Bibliography page.
