Saturday, February 1, 2025

 THE POWER OF GOD


Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS


HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?  What is the factor that causes the earth to stay in orbit?  What holds the planets and stars in their places in the sky? We find out from the Word of God exactly how all this happens.


THE ABILITY OF GOD?  He made the earth and all creation by His power.  Jeremiah 10:10, 12-13 tells us, “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God, and an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation.” “He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion. When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causeth the vapors to ascend from the end of the earth: He maketh lightenings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.”    


In John 1:3 we read, “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”  In Colossians 1:12-17, Apostle Paul proclaimed, “Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet (able) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Who hath delivered us from, the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in the heavens, and the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”  


Before Jesus’ birth, Mary, mother of Jesus, was told by the angel Gabriel before the conception how it would be possible. In Luke 1:34-35, Mary asked, “How shall this thing be, seeing I know not a man?”  Verse 35 tells us, “And the angel answered and  said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Jesus as Son of God, then became the Son of Man, a title He openly called Himself.  The Prophet Daniel speaks in Daniel 7:13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” The Creator reduced Himself into a tiny speck.  Jesus, as Son of God, then became the Son of man, a title. Jesus had power in His crucifixion.  John 10:18, Jesus says. No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I  have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again.”


In Philippians 2:5-9, Apostle Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus.  Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and gives Him a name which is above every name.” Here in this portion is “Seven Downward Steps,” Jesus went through.  II Corinthians 13:4 says, “For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth through the power of God.”    


Ephesians 1:8, Apostle Paul speaks about Jesus, “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence (means “wisdom applied”). Ch. 1:19-20, states “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. And set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.”  


God has power for us to become sons, this is provided.  In John 1:11 it tells us, “He (Christ) came unto His own, and his own received Him not” (Speaking of the Jews). Vs. 12 says, “But as many as received Him to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name.” Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Also in I Corinthians 1:18, Paul tells, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.”


POWER MANIFESTED WHEN GOD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT - Acts 1:6-8 -”When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus answered and said, “...It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” The “times and seasons” are revealed after we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Vs.8 says, “But ye will receive power after that the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”


Apostle Paul suffered terrible trials.  In II Corinthians 6:3-10, He lists many hard times. In verses 3-10, Paul details His experiences as he moved in the will of God, “ Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions in necessities, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings and fastings, By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned” - on and on until vs. 10. In verse 7 particularly it uses the words “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness.”  We don’t have power in ourselves, but Ephesians 6:10 gives us the answer, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  


In II Peter 1:2-3, the Word speaks to us, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord. According to His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” The Amplified Text says, “For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for a dynamic spiritual life and godliness through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”