The Power of God

Temple Baptist Church - 8-23-2016

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

 

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Once again, the greatness of God’s house is not found in either its money or its beauty. 

 

1.  Though money can be greatly used to further the gospel, the Bible calls it the “unrighteous mammon.”  So many churches have put their wealth in everything except the furtherance of the gospel while the world remains unreached and lost.

 

2.  Though it is wonderful to be able to have a beautiful church that honors God, too often such churches have squandered God’s money by being overly ornate.  In most of those churches, the Lord is a Stranger because He is not welcome!

 

3.  The glory and praise of the house of the Lord is found in the recognition and worship of its God.  We looked at the greatness and sovereignty of God over the las couple of weeks.  This morning, I want to look at another attribute of God found in David’s praise. 

 

B.  After God’s greatness and sovereignty, we find mentioned first His power.  The reason should be clear: God cannot be great or sovereign if He is not omnipotent!  Ask the average person if God can do anything or all things and their answer would probably be “Yes.”  But this is not a heartfelt perception.

 

1.  The world has a warped view of our wonderful Lord.  The world sees Him as “god” but not as “God!”  If men see Jesus Christ through human eyes and mind, they get a worldly perception of Him.  To be properly seen, the Lord must be seen through the Bible by faith.

 

2.  Often, the believer has such a view of Jesus Christ.  We see Him as “God” when things go right and as “god” when circumstances change and doubts arise!  As faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, so our perception of Jesus Christ must (and I re-emphasis MUST) come from God’s Word.  Our faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Whom having not seen you love!  Whom having not seen you believe!  We must believe what the Bible says about Him in order to perceive Him right.

 

C.  I want to take a short look at God’s power for a few minutes this morning.  Nothing new but always profound and powerful when looked at through the eyes of the Bible.  I actually want to look at four things.

 

1.  God’s Power Kinetically – Let me explain in a simple manner.  Kinetic Energy is simply energy in motion or the amount of energy that is needed to do a certain amount of work such as the energy needed to propel a rocket at a certain speed.  Kinetic Energy is an exact measurement.  (KE = 0.5 x m x v²)  God does things exactly!     I do not want to get into physics but our God is the God of physics.  Let me illustrate biblically.

 

a.  Genesis 1:1-5  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  (2)  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  (3)  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  (4)  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  (5)  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 

b.  Here we see power in action or Kinetic Energy.  God did several things in these verses: He created the heaven and the earth, He created light, and He divided the light from the darkness.  God used the exact power needed to do these things and no more.  Also, when speaking of God’s power, He does not labor physically but speaks or wills something to be done and it is done.

 

c.  God uses His power in our lives every day to get things done in us and for us.  It is God’s power in motion to benefit His children.  God uses all of the power He needs to use and no more than He needs to use.  He supplies all our need, not our want.  Thank the Lord He often gives to us the desires of our hearts because He is loving and gracious.

 

d.  God is active in our lives though we oft times forget it.  God uses His power to feed us, protect us, clothe us.  God is active in our lives for in Him we live, we move, and have our being. 

 

d.  This leads us to God’s Power Potentially.

 

2.  God’s Power Potentially – Potential Energy is energy at rest.  A car that is parked or a motor not started.  Once again, let us look at a biblical illustration.

 

a.  Genesis 2:1-2  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  (2)  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

 

b.  God created the heaven and the earth and all that in them is which was kinetic energy  or power but, on the seventh day rested.

 

c.  By “rested,” He “ended” His work.  He was done and there was no more to be done as far as creation was concerned.  God was not tired, God was not at the end of His power, He was simply done!

 

d.  By God’s Potential Power, He could have created a limitless amount of universes!  But He ended His work because He was finished, not limited!  God’s power was not expended nor was it diminished. 

 

3.  God’s Power Unlimited – One of God’s attributes is that of omnipotence.  It means unlimited power!

 

a.  Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

b.  All power in earth, all power in the universe, and all power in the heaven of heavens where God abides belongs to God.  Psalms 62:11  God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

 

c.  God can do anything, anywhere, at any time, forever.  Luke 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 

d.  God has power over things in heaven.  God has power over creation.  God has power over human government.  God has power over authorities.  God has all power and nothing is impossible with Him. 

 

e.  God is able to meet every need and take care of us in any difficulty.

 

4.  God’s Power Limited – How can limitless power be limited power?  God has no weaknesses; He has no limitations; He has no doubts or worries. There is nothing that He cannot do; nothing that He does not know; there is no place where He cannot be found; and He knows the end from the beginning so we have absolutely nothing to worry about!  Right?

 

a.  Psalms 78:41  Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

 

b.  God’s power can be limited in salvation when men reject Him.  God will not force men to be saved.

 

c.  God’s power can be limited in protection when men defy Him.  Too often, we step outside of God’s area of protection.

 

d.  God’s power can be limited in provision when men do contrary to His Word.  Men fail to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Then the Lord will add all these things unto us.

 

e.  God’s power can be limited in the predicaments of life when men fail to trust Him.  Men step outside of God’s will sometimes when problems come.  These are the times to stay in church, be faithful, and trust.  Never jump ship in the midst of the storm!

 

Conclusion:  God is omnipotent and is to be greatly praised!