God’s Power
God is Omnipotent or all powerful. About God’s powers, the Bible says, “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone” (1 Chronicles 29:12). Jesus declared, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 also 6:13), that is, for the man who is willing to permit God to control his life (Philippians 4:13).
The Old Testament testifies that God gives His power to the weak: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29). Psalm 68:35 says: “You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!”
And the New Testament asserts the same truth. Ephesians 3:20 tells us: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 1:19–20). Paul frequently emphasizes the ability of God to perform what He has set out to accomplish (Romans 4:21; 11:23; 2 Corinthians 9:8).
God’s power is manifest in the following aspects:
Powers to Overcome Sin
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Powers to Salvation
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16; also 1 Corinthians 1:18).
Powers to Witness
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18–20 also Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:7).
Powers to Perform Miracles
“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. . . . By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:12–16).
Powers to Endure Persecution
“The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:7–8).
Powers Over the Flesh
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Powers to Defeat the Enemy
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
Powers Over Death
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). “And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 ).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
