God Is All-Powerful (Omnipotent)

 Prophet Jeremiah:  “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You! You show unfailing love to thousands . . . . You are the great and powerful God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and You give them what they deserve. You performed miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt—things still remembered to this day! And You have continued to do great miracles in Israel and all around the world. You have made Your Name famous to this day. You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm.” Jeremiah 32:17-21 (NLT)

All power belongs to the true and living God (Psalms 147:5). God is Creator (Jeremiah 32:17), the wise Judge (Jeremiah 32:19), and Redeemer (Jeremiah 32:21). He reveals His power in creating and sustaining the universe (Psalms 65:6; Jeremiah 32:17; Hebrews 1:3), in delivering Israel from the evil Egyptian’s forces (Exodus 15:1-18), empowering Joshua to conquer Canaan (the Promised Land) (Joshua 6:1-27), in the birth of Jesus Christ (the incarnation) (Luke 1:35-37), in Jesus Christ’s death on Calvary’s Cross (1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 23-24), and in the ongoing ministry of the church (1 Corinthians 2:5; Ephesians 3:20). Because God is so powerful, all things are possible with Him (Luke 1:37; Luke 19:26; Mark 14:36), and nothing is too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17, 27). As God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, NLT). “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit” (Psalms 147:5, NIV). Nothing within God’s will, including creation (Jeremiah 32:17) and redemption (Mark 10:26-27) is impossible for God. Apart from God’s power and grace, we can do nothing that is eternal and lasting (Mark 10:27).

David:  I love you, Lord; You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies. Psalms 18:1-3 (NLT)

God is present everywhere with all power and great strength (Psalm 139:3-6, 7-10). Because of God’s omnipotence, the all-powerful God always stands ready to help and answer our prayers in times of trouble and need (Psalm 18:3; Psalm 46:1). As the psalmist declared: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalms 46:1, NLT). Truly, God's protection of His people is never-ending and can take many miraculous forms. The Holy Scriptures confirm that God will never fail to rescue those who wholeheartedly love and trust Him. In the face of utter destruction, we can express our quiet confidence in God's ability to save us. The Holy Scriptures are clear – God is our continuous protection even in the face of trouble and can provide strength in any circumstance.

Job testified to the power God: “I'm convinced You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans” (Job 42:2, the Message). In Psalm 18, David characterized God's power with five military symbols. God is like (1) a rock that cannot be moved, (2) a fortress or place of safety, (3) a shield that protects from harm, (4) a horn of deliverance, a symbol of might and power, and (5) a stronghold high above our enemies. Truly, God is worthy of our complete obedience because He is always faithful in fulfilling His promises and providing our every needs (Jeremiah 32:22).

The Lord God is “strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle” (Psalms 24:8, HCSB). Noting is too hard for God (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:27). In fact, the prophet Jeremiah says to God, “nothing is too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). The apostle Paul says that God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Furthermore, the angel Gabriel says to Mary, “With God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37), and Jesus Christ says, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). The Lord God is truly “Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8).

Moses:  The Lord your God is God of all gods and Lord of all lords. He is the great God, who is strong and wonderful. He does not take sides, and He will not be talked into doing evil. Deuteronomy 10:17 (NCV)

God’s great power does not mean that God can do literally everything. In other words, God cannot sin, lie, change His nature, or deny the requirements of holiness (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 6:18; James 1:13, 17). God cannot do anything contrary to His holy character and love (Jeremiah 32:19). The all-powerful God can only do things that are consistent with His character as God is “compassionate and gracious . . .  slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7, NIV). As believing Christians, we too must use our will and freedom to make choices that are pleasing to God and reflect God’s very character to bring Him glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). The ultimate purposes of all our actions are to bring God glory (see Psalms 29:1-2; Psalms 86:9, 12; Psalms 96:7-8; Psalms 115:1; Luke 2:14; Romans 11:36; Romans 16:27; Ephesians 1:12, 14; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 15:4; Revelation 19:1, 7). God graciously gives His people power for His purposes and plans with a singleness of heart and for His glory (Jeremiah 32:38-41; see also Matthew 6:33).

Apostle Paul:  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

References

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.

Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Carol Stream, IL:  Tyndale House Pub., 1993.