A God Who is Able

Preliminary:

Thank yous

There are two portions of scripture I want to talk about this morning

I invite you to Psalm 62:11 & Rev. 19:1

I want to talk to you a little bit about A God Who Is Able

Psalm 62:11

Lets look at these passages here:

Psalm 62:11 “11 God hath spoken once; Twice have I heard this; That power belongeth unto God.”

Rev. 19:1 “1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:”

The Psalmist reminds us that “power” or “strength” belongs to God. It has the picture of being physically or mentally strong

John the Revelator is expressing power as “the possession of controlling influence; often understood as manifesting influence over reality in a supernatural manner.”

To grasp concepts like God’s power we often have to use negative words.

“One of the greatest and most inclusive of these negative words is the word infinite.”

The term comes from a combination of two Latin words, One means limit and the other is a negative particle meaning not. So, infinite means no limit, or limitless, or without limit.

When we refer to God’s power as “infinite”

we mean that which has no end, no limit, no finite boundary, and thus cannot be measured or timed by any finite standard. It cannot be reached by successive addition or exhausted by successive subtraction of finite numbers, parts or qualities.

“Infinity, rightly conceived, belongs only to God.”

Leslie Wilcox rightly notes: “if we use the word to describe God directly we are speaking of one of His natural attributes. In fact when we think of God as infinite we are usually thinking of one of his natural or absolute attributes.

...It is helpful that for nearly every aspect in which we apply this negative word to God, we do also have a positive word to use. This may help us in understanding. We list them as follows;

Infinite in duration—eternal

Infinite in power-omnipotent, or almighty

Infinite in presence—omnipresent

Infinite in knowledge—omniscient”

When we talk about God’s power we often have to use words like “Almighty” which refers to Gdd’s way of expressing and exercising His will and influence everywhere and over all. WE call the extent of that influence Omnipotence.

The Living God: Systematic Theology, Volume One Immeasurability

The divine immensity is the divine infinity regarded from the point of view of space. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and of His greatness there is no end” (Ps. 145:3; Tho. Aq., SCG I.43, I, p. 169). The medieval Scholastics said that “God’s center is everywhere, God’s circumference nowhere” (cf. Bonaventure, Soul’s Journey into God II, CWS, pp. 69 ff.).

What does it mean for God to be omnipotent?

God's omnipotence means that He is all-powerful; He can do anything He desires to do, everything consistent with His rational, moral nature.

In keeping with this thought of God’s infinite power, God being almighty and omnipotent I want to talk to you about the ability of God.

There are at least 9 ways the Bible shows us that God is Able I want to share those with you this morning.

HERE ARE 9 WAYS THAT GOD IS ABLE….

He is able to make you stand: Romans 14:4.

Romans 14:4 “4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions June 11: Take God’s Hand

Standing up for what’s right is not an easy thing to do. In fact, some people feel it is easier to go with the flow of whatever is popular at the time or avoid the issue altogether. Sadly, this can lead to an entire culture of weak, misguided, and apathetic people. As one person stated, “When forty million people believe in a dumb idea, it’s still a dumb idea. So if you believe in something that’s good, honest, and right, stand up for it.”

He’s able to establish you:  Romans 16:25.

Romans 16:25 “25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”

The Parable of the Acorn

An elderly man was once out for an evening stroll when his feet inadvertently sent a little acorn skittering across the forest floor. He came to the place where it had stopped rolling and, stooping slowly, picked it up. And then, strangely, he held that acorn to his ear. He held that acorn to his ear and, listening attentively, heard it speak.

“In time the birds will come and make their nests in my branches,” it said. “In time I will cast deep shade so that cattle can come and find respite from the midday sun. In time I will provide warmth for a home. In time I will be a shelter from the storm for those who gather beneath my timbers. In time I will form the ribs of a great ship and the storms will beat against me in vain as I carry passengers safely across the storm-swept seas.”

“You foolish little acorn,” said the old man. “Will you be all this? Can you be all this?”

“Yes,” replied the acorn. “Yes, God and I.”*

Though we may not be who and what we once were, we are still not nearly who and what we long to be. - God is Able to Establish YOU

He’s able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before His glory: Jude 24.

(Jude 24-25 “24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Samuel Brengle was once tempted with the thought that, when I got old, the light would fade and the fire in my soul would go out. But these texts came with comforting assurance and power to my heart: "Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isa. xlvi. 4); and, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing " (Ps. xcii. 13, 14).

He’s able to make all grace abound toward you: 2 Corinthians 9:8.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions June 7: Uncertain Times: God, a Rock, and a Hard Place

The question is not if God will prove Himself faithful to you but how. If you panic and run, you might miss the miracle.

You can never understand the faithfulness of God by taking the short view.

PAUL S. REES

God’s grace and faithfulness is relentless

God’s prevenient grace that goes before

God’s saving and sanctifying grace

God’s empowering grace

God is able to make ALL GRACE ABOUND toward YOU

He’s able to keep that which you’ve committed unto Him against that day: 2 Timothy 1:12.

2 Timothy 1:12 “12 For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

He’s able to build you up: Acts 20:32.

A story is told of Bishop Joseph F. Berry, that once while attending a General Conference in New York City, he became tired of the business of the sessions and went out for a walk. He came to a corner where there was a great fruit stand. Literally there were barrels of apples, peaches, plums and various other kinds of fruit piled up in fantastic shapes. Near the fruit- stand stood a little urchin looking at the fruit with his mouth watering. The Bishop asked the boy, "How would you like to have all the fruit on that stand you could eat?" The little fellow looked the Bishop over and then said, "I have lived too long around here to be fooled by such a looking guy as you are." The Bishop said to the owner of the stand, "Give this boy all the fruit he can eat." The boy filled every pocket, the lining of his coat and his shirt bosom, and walked off with all he could carry. The bill amounted to four dollars and sixty cents.

Bishop Berry said he saw in that poor little white-faced boy a photograph of himself as he was spiritually. As the little fellow left he found himself running to the hotel and to his room, and falling down on his knees, he cried, "O God, I will starve no more, I am going to fill up," and he did, "With all the fullness of God."

He’s able to subdue all things: Philippians 3:21.

Phil 3:21 “21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

He’s able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think: Ephesians 3:20.

Eph 3:20 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Brian and Jamie Rauschenberger left a solid and good Church and headed to Haiti as missionaries after both recieved a clear call from God a few years ago. Before they had left the states they had worked hard to establish their support which was supposed to be about 2700 a month. The first month it wasn’t even $100, the third month was about $300 and they were hurting. They had bills due in the states that was taking up more than was coming in. Satan was suggesting to them they had done the wrong thing, they had made a mistake. But Sis. Rauschenberger grabbed a hold of faith, they were down to one meal a day which was rice with sauce over it. She came to Brian and asked “ How much do we need to get ahead one month to pay all bills and take care of a couple of needs on the mission field” He gave her a number and she said she was going to pray for that. It was in his words, “an astronomical number” They were both really fasting and praying for this need. The day came for the report to come in from the states with the numbers of their income. He said, “I remember ripping off that report and running down through the jungle as I showed the family we danced around and cried” The total read exactly to the penny $50 over what she was praying for.

And He is able to save you to the uttermost: Hebrews 7:25.

Heb. 7:25 “25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

I was frustrated with my memory the other night as Bro. Becker was preaching on the four main beliefs of those under the Wesleyan Arminian tradition. I knew the first two before he gave them out, but couldn’t remember the last two

See if any of the young people remember them?

All men must be saved

All men can be saved

All men can know they are saved

All men can be saved to the uttermost.

Conclusions:

I hope you see this morning that whatever your need, physical, spiritual, emotional, material, God is able to meet that need

Our job isn’t to worry about how, it is to trust

and YOU CAN TRUST JESUS, HE NEVER ONCE HAS FAILED TO MEET MY NEED

Trust the God who is Able!!!