We’re looking for the next couple of weeks at the character of God. Last week we looked at the omniscience of God—-i.e. His ability to know all things. Next week we will look at the “all-loving” nature of God, and today, the omnipotence of God.
The word omnipotent comes from the word “omni”, meaning “total, complete power”. God is not only all-knowing and all-seeing, He is infinite in powerful. The Lord God has power over all things at all times, in every place, and in all ways throughout all time and all creation.
But the point today is to not just to explain God’s character of unrivaled power, but to give you and me supreme and sustained peace. The omnipotence of God is a source or refuge and consolation when we are hurt, confused (by elections or horrible things going on around us!), or have reason to be afraid or think we have no future.
In Job 42:2, Job says of God’s power, “I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be thwarted.” So the first one in history to ever write about God acknowledges the Lord’s unlimited power in carrying out His plans. Another example is Number 11:23, where God reminds Moses that He has all power to complete His purposes for the Israelites, “The LORD answered Moses, ‘Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”
So we worship this incredible God that does not compete with anything or anyone else. God created everything. Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
Today the sun rose, the seasons change, electrons still spin in orbits around a nucleus so fast that they seem to form a solid shell around the nucleus. But it is the supreme power of God that keeps this going on—-He is the source for governing and sustaining the laws of physics itself. If not for the Lord sustaining and governing the creation, it would not be possible for you and me to exist. All of these blessings come from and are sustained by the power of God (Psalm 36:6). The oceans would overwhelm humanity, the tides would cease, all physical matter would cease if God did not prescribe their limits and purposes. (Job 38:8-11).
God is also omnipotent in terms of national and world leadership. God is able to restrain kings, despots and presidents, or He chooses lets them go their own way according to His plans and purposes. But nothing happens without His permission. Hollywood would have us believe that the power of Satan is somehow similar to, or at least approaching God’s power, or maybe even equal to it, but as explained in the book of Job, Satan’s attack on us is limited by God’s infinite power (Job 1:12). While Pilate might have thought that he or Cesar were all-powerful, Jesus bluntly reminded Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."(John 19:11).
And so, here’s the source of my joy: He can help me with anything—-nothing is impossible with God. He can do all that I ask and much, much more than I am able to imagine!
Jeremiah knew this. He proclaimed: “O Sovereign LORD!You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You!”(Jeremiah 32:17). God merely spoke and atoms and all that we call the universe came into being — a universe that astronomers estimate contains more than 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars, or a "1" with 24 zeros after it (1 septillion.) But all the power contained in this entire universe is but a small representation of the unlimited power of God. The combined energy of all earth’s storms, winds, ocean waves and other forces of nature do not equal even a fraction of God’s almighty power. God’s power is inherent in His nature. All power has been His and will continue to be His for all eternity.
And, of course, any power that we have is given to us by God. Because God is all-powerful, He has the ability and strength to do whatever He pleases for those He loves. His power is not checked or limited by any in the created order. People and nations are powerless when confronted by His might. No task is too big for Him. He never fails. And for some reason that I do not totally grasp, He cares for us, and He longs to exhibit His power in our lives. David writes, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers — the moon and the stars You have set in place — what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4, NLT).
Oh to have a prophet in the Capitol in Raleigh and Washington, DC, to remind those that rule over us that God alone is all-powerful—-they are mightily out-matched in terms of might. I can see why man’s pride is so bothersome to God! Leaders that think that have the final word on anything are comical when compared to the dynamite contained in God’s little finger! I firmly believe that our greatness as a nation is equal to the humility of our leaders when they consider the omnipotence of God. It is the arrogance of Mr. Putin and President Xi that will prohibit their nations from ever rising to true greatness—-it will be their fault, not the fault of their people or their lack of natural resources. Our nation may have been great a generation ago, and perhaps it is yet a great nation, but the arrogance of politicians to humbly admit God’s omnipotence after this election should lead us to prayer and fasting for our nation. We did not get the leaders we deserve—-but praise He’s not given us what we merit! We need to humble ask our Creator to changes our hearts as well as the hearts of those the dream of ruling over our democracy.
But more to the positive, no matter what you might be facing, God is able to do the impossible for you and through you. Paul said, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NLT). So why in the world do we worry? One of two reasons: The enemy has convinced us that God is too much like a man, i.e He gets tired, distracted, losses focus, changes His mind, and can’t be trusted. Or we have come to believe that we’re undeserving of God’s help, and therefore we don’t expect Him to do the impossible in our lives. And yes, we are underserving and He knows it! That’s why He sent Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and that’s what Satan tries to get us to forget! Believe it! He loves you and is able to do immeasurably more than you can imagine!
So if God can call all the universe into existence and create from utter nothing every creature on this planet, what does that mean for us right here, right now, this morning? It means that He can restore your broken heart; He turn your from a taker into a giver; He can make the most despicable man into the greatest evangelist; He is able to produce those things in your life that your teachers, coaches, and perhaps even your parents or spouses say you could never accomplish. He is the ultimate source of adrenalin for our youth——not Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg, any Marvel hero or any application on an iPhone.
But I want to close by talking about spiritual oxymorons. An oxymoron, of course, being a contradiction of terms. Here are some examples:
accidentally on purpose
accurate estimate
act naturally
advanced beginner
almost exactly
Jumbo shrimp
alone together
honest politician
The point I want to make is that the Lord cannot act contrary to His holy revealed character (See Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, and Hebrews 6:18) For example God cannot lie. God cannot lie because lying is contrary to moral perfection, and God is entirely holy (1 Peter 1:13-17).
So, the old riddle of childhood wonders: “If God is all Powerful, is able to make a rock so big that He can’t pick it up?” And of course, no, He can’t do that. He also cannot make a square circle, nor can He change history (though many of our legislators are attempting to do that right now). God cannot break His promise, deceive us, or sin. To put it simply, God cannot contradict Himself or perform contradictory actions——such as, “making us love Him, forcing us choose to be righteous… and at the same time making us free to make our own choices.” Either we are free to choose or we are forced to choose. You can’t have it both ways. So when we talk about God’s omnipotent power, He can create, establish, destroy or do as He choose—-HE has all the power. But that does not mean that He is, like a mortal, fickle, capricious or able to contradict His own nature. He is holy, perfect and pure. He cannot perform contrary to His own nature.
So here are the big things to take home about God that should stir your heart:
1. GOD CANNOT LIE.
The book of Hebrews reminds us that, “…it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Aren’t you glad God is not deceiving us or teasing us or lying to us about what He has done, is doing and soon will do concerning His Plan and His Word? Praise God! Praise God—-He is not like us! I can lie—-so can you—-and we DO! But He can’t.
2. GOD CANNOT BREAK A PROMISE.
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips” (Psalm 89:34). God keptHis promises in the past and will keep His promises concerning you, His saints, and His plan of salvation for all in the future? What has He promised you? You can count on it!
3. GOD CANNOT ABIDE SIN.
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."(Isaiah 59:2)
4. GOD’S CHURCH CANNOT BE DESTROYED.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).Despite what you read or hear, His church will remain on this earth until He returns. Our denomination and these edifices might not survive, but His church will.
5.. GOD CANNOT STOP LOVING YOU.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.- John 15:9
In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:8
“..nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:39
Are you not encouraged now? Great is our God and greatly to be praised…