Omnipotent

​There are two unsolvable problems all humans face: sin and death. The reality of sin is the inability of any person to refrain from doing something wrong or evil, whether it be lying, stealing, cheating, etc. The reality of death is we all age and eventually die. The beauty of Christianity is that it solves both of those problems.

Meditation
Genesis 17:1—When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless.
           
The Bible does not use the word omnipotent, a Latin term that means “all-powerful.”[1] However, we find evidence for the God of the Bible being so in three ways. First, the Hebrew Word ‘el Shaddai in Gen. 1:17 is translated Almighty. God describes Himself making an all-powerful claim. He is free from any external factors or forces to accomplish His will.[2]*

Second, we observe God’s omnipotence through His actions. He creates all life and the universe (Genesis 1), and performs astounding miracles throughout Scripture to include:
·     Sarah bearing Abraham’s child at age ninety (17:17).
·     Predetermined events and destiny (Psalm 139:16; Acts 17:26).
·     Judgment upon Egypt through plagues and parting the Red Sea (Exodus 7-11, 14:21,22).
·     The sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14).
·     Jesus’ rising from the dead (Mark 16:6).
           
Third, we see God’s omnipotence through people’s testimony. “Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). In Jeremiah 32:17 we read, “Oh, Lord God! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!” Matthew 19:26 states, “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Knowing this about God should encourage us that the basis of our faith is not on the wisdom of man but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4,5). It should encourage us that He has everything under control. We need not be frightened or overwhelmed by evil or death. He provides a solution to both through grace and forgiveness provided by Jesus and by promising us eternal life (John 3:16; 1 Co. 6:14). It should encourage us that no power can stand against us or prevail against God’s hand (Romans 8:38,39).  Stuart Briscoe noted in Spiritual Stamina:
"If God’s power were only as great as your need, what a puny God he would turn out to be! If God’s might and strength were only as great as your imagination, what a desperately limited God he would be!  No, the power and strength of God available to the believer is not according to human need or imagination, but in direct accordance with his majesty and glory."
Finally, it should encourage us to live well as the Apostle Paul proclaimed in Colossians 1:11,12, “May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.”
           
So let us boldly proclaim, “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20,21).
 
Inspiration
This is the gospel.  The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever.—David Platt in Radical
 
©2024 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/omnipotent
[2] Erickson, M. J. (1985). Christian theology. Baker Book House.
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* For brevity, I am not discussing power qualifications like God doing what is contradictory or absurd to His nature.