Worship the Omnipotent God
Notes
Transcript
Good morning,
Today message title is “Worship the Omnipotent God” as we continue in our Worship Series called The Heart of Worship this is number 7 in our series together. If you missed any of the previous messages you can visit our churches website to be able to listen to those message if you like.
We have been looking closer into what Jesus meant when He told the woman at the well in John 4.23
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Truth” means that we are to worship what is true about God. In other words, worshiping “in truth” occurs when we worship in accordance with what God has revealed about himself. That is true worship.
R. Kent Hughes
Last week if you remember we looked at the fact that the Bible reveals God as being immutable.
The immutability of God, as described in the Bible, refers to the unchanging nature of God’s essential attributes and character. This concept is affirmed in several verses throughout the Bible.
“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). This verse emphasizes that God’s nature does not change over time.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it?” (Numbers 23:19). This suggests that God’s words and promises are reliable and unchanging.
“But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end” (Psalm 102:27)2. This highlights God’s eternal existence.
This attribute of immutability sets God apart from His creation, which is constantly changing, and provides great comfort and assurance for believers. And at the same time a frightening reality to those who fall into the category of unbelieving.
So now lets move into today’s Biblical topic of The Omnipotent God.
The term “Omni” is a Latin prefix that means “all” or "of all things". It is used in the formation of compound words. Here are a few examples:
Omnipotent: All-powerful.
Omniscient: All-knowing.
Omnipresent: Present everywhere at the same time.
All three of these terms relate to God which we will be looking closer into in weeks to come.
The term “almighty” appears in the Bible fifty-six times, and it is exclusively used to describe God. This term signifies God’s omnipotence, or all-encompassing power. To comprehend this, we often resort to stating it negatively: there is absolutely nothing beyond His capability. This is an awe-inspiring concept, as it implies that His power is limitless.
God’s omnipotence means that all tasks are equally effortless for Him. Whether it’s creating a universe or crafting a butterfly, no task is more challenging than another for Him. Moreover, every action He performs is accomplished without any depletion or reduction of His infinite power. It’s a testament to His unbounded strength and capability.
Isaiah 40:28 says, “The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.”
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
God’s power is self-sustaining and never requires replenishment. There is no source of strength beyond Him from which He could draw.
Inherent in His absolute power is the right to wield it. God possesses not only the power but also the authority to accomplish anything He desires. However, His actions are always in perfect alignment with His nature. This is why He cannot lie, does not tolerate sin, and why He extends grace and mercy. His will is a reflection of His divine character.
Psalm 115:3 says, “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
Have you ever asked the question, “Why did God do this?” He did it because He wanted to. If that doesn’t seem like a sufficient answer to you, it’s because you don’t understand God. You are thinking of the Almighty as if He were merely one of His creatures.
In Romans 9 Paul deals with the issue of God’s doing whatever He wants, and he suggests that some will raise the question, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” (v. 19).
The answer Paul then gives is probably not going to satisfy those who do not understand God’s omnipotence:
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
In other words, we have no right to question God. The ultimate power of design is the Potter’s right.
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
There are four areas in which God’s power can be seen most clearly.
One is His ability to create something from nothing.
One is His ability to create something from nothing.
Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Verse 9 adds, “He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”
For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Romans 4:17 says He “calls into being that which does not exist.” He created everything without any help and without any raw material.
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Isaiah 44:24 says “I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.”
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
The universe came into existence the moment God spoke: universe. Instantly, there it was.
Think about the power in the created universe. We have the capability to split an atom, and the ensuing detonation could obliterate a large city. Yet, even if human technology could trigger a universal chain reaction, it would still fall short of God’s infinite power. This is because God surpasses all His creations in greatness. He is the originator who created every minuscule atom with its potential power.
A second area in which God’s power can be seen is in His ability to sustain His creation.
A second area in which God’s power can be seen is in His ability to sustain His creation.
Hebrews 1:3 says He “upholds all things by the word of His power.”
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
On the seventh day of creation, God rested, but not out of fatigue. In fact, His rest wasn’t akin to our understanding of relaxation and recovery. He simply halted His creative work. Had God ceased all activity on the seventh day, everything He crafted in the preceding six days would have disintegrated.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
A third area in which God’s power is clearly visible is in His ability to redeem the lost.
A third area in which God’s power is clearly visible is in His ability to redeem the lost.
Indeed, God’s power is even more remarkable in redemption than in creation. During creation, there was no resistance, no devil to overcome, no resounding law to quiet, no death to vanquish, no sin to pardon, no hell to be shut, and no cross to suffer.
What makes redemption truly astonishing is that God chose a group of nobodies, a bunch of misfits and enabled them to baffle those who consider themselves wise and powerful in the world’s view.
First Corinthians 1:26–28 says,
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
The first few chapters of Acts show how the apostles turned the world upside down. It was a clear demonstration of God’s power in redemption.
Lastly, God’s limitless power is visible in His ability to raise the dead.
Lastly, God’s limitless power is visible in His ability to raise the dead.
Someday at the end of the age, God is going to raise from the dead every human being who ever lived, righteous and unrighteous. Jesus said,
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
That speaks of incomprehensible resurrection power.
Who can truly grasp the power to resurrect the dead? Yet, this is exactly what Jesus demonstrated multiple times during His time on earth, culminating in His own resurrection.
In doing so, He became the inaugural example of all who will be raised to eternal glory.
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE
God’s omnipotence is not merely theoretical or academic. It is a truth rich with practical implications. To begin with, belief in God’s omnipotence is essential to true worship.
Second Kings 17:36 says, “But the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down.”
but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.
An understanding of God’s omnipotence is a strong motivation to worship, because for the Christian, God’s power is a basis of daily confidence in Him. When I feel inadequate and unable to do anything, I am reminded of
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 121:1–2 gives us this perspective:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
God made the whole universe merely by speaking it into existence. None of our problems are a match for His great power.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
We don’t need to fight our battles in our own energy; His omnipotent power is available to us. When the adversary comes, don’t fight. Go tell the Commander. He fights for us, and the secret to our victory is relying on His power.
John wrote,
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
There is no need to fear falling away or losing our salvation. Paul wrote to Timothy,
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
For believers what a great comfort, but for unbelievers, the implications of God’s omnipotence are quite different.
An unbeliever is in opposition to God, and for him, God’s power is a threat. It means that his judgment is sure,
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Conclusion:
The omnipotence of God, as depicted in the Bible, is a testament to His boundless power and authority. This divine attribute is not just a theological concept, but a reality that impacts our daily lives. It assures us that there is no situation beyond His control, no problem too big for Him to handle, and no prayer too small for Him to hear.
As we reflect on the all-powerful nature of God, let us be comforted by the fact that this same God, who created the universe and maintains it, cares for each one of us. He is not a distant, detached deity, but a loving Father who knows our needs before we even ask.
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,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
May this understanding of God’s omnipotence inspire awe, foster faith, and encourage a deeper relationship with Him and move us even close to truth genuine worship. Let us live each day in the light of His power and love, trusting in His infinite wisdom and unfailing promises.
For our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. Our God is an awesome God. Amen.