PrintSeries: Knowing God Session 6
THE GOD WHO IS POWER
Isaiah 40/13-31
INTRODUCTION:
The question undergirding these studies is something like this; "Who is this God you worship? – Is He the God (known by revelation) or is He the product of our own creation (known by imagination?)
[1] THE GOD OF CREATIVE POWER
a. Bible repeatedly presents God as the 'Creator God' – from Genesis 1/1 to Revelation 21/5
b. Romans 1/18-20 – Creation reveals God’s eternal power and divine nature
[2] THE GOD OF RULING POWER
a. Again, biblical testimony is that God is King, Ruler, Master, Sovereign, Owner
b. He reveals Himself as El Shaddai = God Almighty - actions confirm this truth
*Exodus. 15/6; *Job 37/23; *Ps 65/5.6; *Ps. 106/7,; *Isaiah 40/26.
c.Isaiah 40 affirms God's power over nature (12); nations (15); world (22); rulers (23)
d. How do you reconcile the current lot of world rulers & their opposition to God
[3] THE GOD OF RENEWING POWER
God's re-creating, renewing power most clearly seen in life & ministry of Jesus
*Power over Sin. - Mark 2/8-12— power/authority to release & forgive
*Power over Nature - Mark 4/35-41 - creator speaks to creation & stills the storm
*Power over Demons - Mark 5/1-20 - Legion is set free from demonic forces
*Power over Disease - Mark 5/25-34 - chronic disease was healed by power of God
*Power over Death - Mark 5/35-43 - the raising of Jairus' daughter
[4] THE GOD OF REDEEMING POWER
a. God as redeemer clearly seen in OT account of Exodus –Ex. 15/13
b. But God's redeeming power supremely seen in death & resurrection of Jesus
c. Eph. 1/18-21 - the greatest power demonstration of all time... and eternity
d. Gospel message is about power to save & change lives - Rom. 1/16; I Cor.1/18
[5] THE GOD WHO DELEGATES POWER
a. God gives authority to His Church - but He doesn't give it away - it's always His
b. Jesus ministered in authority of the Father & the power of the Holy Spirit
c. He, in turn, delegated that authority to His disciples, the Church, His new Body
*Matthew 28/18-20; *Luke 9/1,2; *Acts 1/8
d. So the Early Church ministered in authority (Acts 3/6) & power (3/7) of God
e. "In the name of Jesus" i.e. by the authority of Jesus
f. But power is not limited to spectacular signs & wonders
*Rom 15/13 - power to overflow with hope by the Holy Spirit
*Col. 1/11 4. power so that you may have great endurance & patience, joy & thanks.
Read Acts 1/7, 8 What is the difference between “authority” and “power”?
