The Power Of God # 1

 The Power Of God # 1

We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise. He who cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure, cannot be God. As God has a will to resolve what he deems good, so has He power to execute His will.

"The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatever the infinite purity of His will may resolve - As holiness is the beauty of all God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power - His mercy would be but feeble pity. His promises is like Himself - infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature!" (Stephen Charnock).

"God has spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongs unto God." (Psalm 62:11). "God has spoken once" - nothing more is necessary! "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Word abides forever."

"God has spoken once" - how befitting His divine majesty! We por mortals may speak often and yet fail to be heard. He speaks but once and the thunder of His power is heard on a thousand hills.

"The Lord thundered from Heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused. Then at Your command, O Lord, at the blast of Your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare." (Psalm 18:13-15).

"God has spoken once" - behold His unchanging authority. "For who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?" (Psalm 89:6). "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have You done?" (Daniel 4:35).

This was openly displayed when God became became incarnate and tabernacled among men. To the leper He said, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing, be healed!" And instantly he was cured of his leprosy." (Matt. 8:3). To one who had lain in the grave four days He cried, "Lazarus, come forth" - and the dead came forth. The stormy wind and the angry waves were hushed at a single word from Him. A legion of demons could not resist His authoritative command.

"Power belongs unto God," and to Him alone. Not a creature in the entire universe has an atom of power, but what God delegates. But God's power is not acquired, nor does it depend upon any recognition by any other authority. It belongs to Him inherently.

"God's power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained. The mightiest of men cannot add so much as a shadow of increased power to the Omnipotent One. He sits on no buttressed throne and leans on no assisting arm. His court is not maintained by His courtiers, not does it borrow its splendor from His creatures. He is Himself the great central source and Originator of all power." (Charles Spurgeon).

Not only does all creation bear witness to the great power of God, but also to His entire independence of all created things. Listen to His own challenge: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell Me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?" (Acts 38:4-6). How completely is the pride of man laid in the dust!

"Power is also used as a name of God, "the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power" (Mark 14:62), that is, at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined in place; as it is eternal, not to be measured in time; so it is almighty, not to be limited in regard of action." (Charnock).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)