God's Goodness: Psalm 34:1-22

[34:1] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. [2] My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. [3] Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! [4] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. [5] Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. [6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. [7] The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. [8] Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

[9] Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! [10] The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. [11] Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. [12] What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? [13] Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. [14] Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. [15] The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. [16] The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. [17] When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. [18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. [19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. [20] He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. [21] Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. [22] The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  (Psalm 34:1-22 ESV)

In Psalm 34 (which is an acrostic psalm), David contemplates the goodness of God and how God extends that goodness to those who are His.  He calls people to “taste and see that the LORD is good!”  This means that one must “taste” in order to “see that the LORD is good!” but also that if one will “taste,” they WILL “see that the LORD is good!”  This is my prayer for you today: that you will choose to “taste” God in every since of the word!  Why should we do so?  Consider the following three reasons from this chapter.

I.              God is the Summit, Standard, and Source of All Goodness (34:8)

Before we unpack the expression of God’s goodness in this chapter, we should first consider what it means to say that God is “good.”  The tricky thing about defining God’s goodness is that any definition of goodness must begin with God because He alone is good.   Jesus responded to the rich man in Mark 10:18: “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone.”  This passage means that God is the apex, or summit, of all goodness.  We could further say that He is not only good; He is goodness itself. 

God is also the standard of all goodness.  Whatever God is, is good because God is that.  “The original Saxon meaning of our English word God is “The Good.” God is not only the greatest of all beings, but the best.”[1]  What ever God is, does, says, or approves of is the essence of goodness.  See why I say it is tricky?  And in the end, anything that we call good must square with what God calls good or we are wrong.

But since we must try to define or describe God’s goodness in some way, a helpful description is that God’s goodness refers to His benevolent disposition to act for the good of His creation.  It is His benevolent disposition to give, to help, to save, to show concern, to show grace, to show mercy, to show kindness, to redeem, to graciously provide, etc. It is a benevolent disposition to act for those who belong to Him and even to act for those who are His enemies. 

Finally, the Bible also teaches us that God is also the source of all goodness.  [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV) He is the fount of every blessing.  This brings us to our next point:

II.            God Expresses His Goodness to All People in Some Ways (34:6,18)

This passage describes how God hears and saves the poor, oppressed man and is near the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit to save them (6,18).  Now while that should be a profound encouragement to those who are poor, oppressed, brokenhearted, and crushed in spirit, what I want to point out is that this is but one example of God’s goodness towards all people.  Not all poor people love God, but He looks out for them in some way.  Not all brokenhearted people love God, but He looks out for them to some degree. 

God’s goodness is expressed to all people in some ways.  Everyone who ever draws a single breath experiences the goodness of God.  [9] The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9 ESV)  Later, in the same psalm, the psalmist says, [15] The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. [16] You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15-16 ESV) Every drop of rain, ray of sunshine, breath of air, morsel of food, ounce of drink, meaningful relationship, joy, etc. is an expression of God’s goodness to mankind from their Creator. 

Commenting on God’s goodness to all people, Arthur Pink said, “The goodness of God is seen in the variety of natural pleasures which He has provided for His creatures. God might have been pleased to satisfy our hunger without the food being pleasing to our palates—how His benevolence appears in the varied flavors which He has given to meats, vegetables, and fruits! God has not only given us senses, but also that which gratifies them; and this too reveals His goodness. The earth might have been as fertile as it is without its surface being so delightfully variegated. Our physical lives could have been sustained without beautiful flowers to regale our eyes with their colors, and our nostrils with their sweet perfumes. We might have walked the fields without our ears being saluted by the music of the birds. Whence, then, this loveliness, this charm, so freely diffused over the face of nature? Verily, the tender mercies of the Lord “are over all His works” (Psa 145:9).” [2]

III.         God Expresses His Goodness to His People in All Ways (34:1-22)

Though God’s goodness is expressed towards all people in some ways, it is directed to His people in all ways.  This passage establishes that the benevolent disposition of God is expressed to His people in a special way, a way that is not expressed to all people.  To establish this truth, I first want to point out who His people are in Psalm 34.  In 34:5, they are described as “those who look to him.”  In 34:7,9, they are described as “those who fear him.”  In 34:8,22, they are described as “those who take refuge in him.”  In 34:10, they are described as “those who seek the LORD.”  In 34:15,17,19, they are described as “the righteous.” And in 34:22, they are described as “His servants.”  In short, they are those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. 

It is monumental that in 1 Peter 2:1-3, Peter quotes Psalm 34:8 to describe our conversion.  “[2:1] So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. [2] Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—[3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV) Peter describes being saved, being converted, being a Christian, being atoned for by the work of Christ as having “tasted that the Lord is good.”  This is because the supreme expression of God’s goodness toward His people is the cross of Jesus Christ.  The goodness of God moved Him to send His own Son as a substitute for His people and to have Him crucified and resurrected for them. 

Next, I want to point out the various ways that God’s goodness is expressed to this group of people who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.  “Those who look to him” are radiant and their faces will never be ashamed (5).  “Those who fear him” are protected and delivered by the angel of the Lord and will never lack (7,9).  “Those who take refuge in him” are blessed (happy) and will never be condemned (8,22).  “The righteous” experience the constant, watchful care, attention, and protection of the Lord, His eyes and ears always being toward them (15,17,19).  “His servants” will be redeemed (22).  And “Those who seek the LORD” will never lack any good thing (10). 

Now when it says that God’s people will never lack any good thing, notice that it does not mean they will be free of affliction (19).  It means that though the afflictions of the righteous will be many, they will ultimately be delivered.  In other words, that God’s people will “lack no good thing” includes bad things that will be turned for good.  This is exactly what Paul says in Romans 8:28-39, that God is working all things together for our good.  There the “good” that Paul is talking about is our being conformed to Christ’s image.  Sometimes severe mercy is required to conform us to that image.  Sometimes a gracious wound is required to free us from certain sins or to bring us into a deeper walk with the Lord.  And, since that is our ultimate good, God will be sure that we lack no good thing! 

These benefits are only available for His people.  The LORD acts quite differently to the wicked (16, 21-22).  Their memory will be cut off and they will be eternally condemned.  Their affliction will not be turned for good; it will slay them.  Every good thing that they experienced will turn out to be a slap in the face to their Creator because they refused to be thankful to Him for it and give Him appropriate glory.  If that is you today, come taste and see that the Lord is good! 

I’d like to close with what this psalm is calling each of us to do.   There are three admonitions given here in light of God’s goodness to His people.  The first admonition is found in 34:3: “Oh, magnify the LORD.”  This means to praise God and to declare how great He is to others out of humility and gratefulness for His goodness toward us.  

The third admonition (I’m saving the second one for last) is found in 34:9: “Oh, fear the LORD.”  What it means to fear the LORD is unpacked in verses 11-14: to keep our tongue from evil, our lips from speaking deceit, to turn away from evil and to do good, and to seek peace and pursue it.  It is by faith (because fear of God is an expression of faith in God) agreeing with who God says that He is and what He approves of as good.  Now isn’t it strange that we are told to fear a God who is good?  It shouldn’t be, because as Lewis so eloquently put it, “He is good, but He is not safe.”  This is why there is unique combination of fear and wonder when people experience the presence of God in the Bible.  We see it being both a dreadful and a wonderful thing at the same time.  We see this mentality of, “I shouldn’t be here, but please let me stay!”  We are to fear Him and want Him at the same time! 

And finally, the second admonition is found in 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”  This means to look to, to take refuge in, to seek, and to fear God, and in so doing become one of His righteous servants.  This Psalm is calling each of us to taste God and so become one of His people who see that He is good in all that He does.  I want to remind you of what we said at the beginning, that this verse is tell us that one must taste in order to see that God is good, but also that if one tastes, they will see that God is good. 

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[1] Pink, Arthur W. (2010-04-05). The Attributes of God (p. 62). Kindle Edition.

[2] Ibid.

The Only Wise God: Romans 16:25-27

We will begin today with a little review.  So far we have learned of God’s incommunicable attributes of being independent, immutable, eternal, and omnipresent.  We have also learned of some of God’s communicable attributes of being omniscient and omnipotent.  Today we will continue with another one of God’s communicable attributes: that God is all-wise. 

[25] Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages [26] but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—[27] to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 ESV)

I.              Recognizing the Wisdom of the Only Wise God

In this passage, God is called “the only wise God.”  We will give attention to other elements in this passage later, but the majority of our time will be spent focusing our attention on those four words.  Let’s unpack this description of God and consider why Paul would describe God this way.  The first idea we see here is simply that God is wise.  What does that mean to say that God is wise?  The contributors of the ESV Study Bible offer the following explanation of God’s wisdom: “God always knows and chooses the best goals and the best means to accomplish those goals.”[1]  To put it more simply: God’s being wise means that He always knows the best thing to do and the best way to do it.  If God is omniscient, as the Bible clearly teaches, then this must be true. 

I would compliment this description of wisdom by also stating that wisdom is when one’s perception of reality is in fact reality and they are acting accordingly. Perception is not always reality, and we can act foolishly at times because our perception of reality is so far removed from reality.  Furthermore, wisdom goes beyond knowledge, so wisdom must be more than simply knowing the best goal and how to accomplish it.  It must also be acting in accordance with that knowledge.  This makes wisdom as much a moral quality as it is an intellectual quality, for to know the best thing to do and how to do it and then not to do it would be more than foolish, it would be sinful.  Likewise, to know the best thing to do and how to do it and then to do so would be not only wise, but also good. 

Second, God is not only called wise, but “the only wise God.”  Why is God the “only” wise?  Let’s consider again that wisdom is when one’s perception of reality is in fact reality and they are acting accordingly.  God is ultimate reality and there is no gap between God’s perception of reality and reality.  We could say that only God’s perception of reality is entirely accurate.  Only God sees things as they truly are, and being omniscient, only God truly knows what the best goals are in any situation and what the best means to accomplish those goals are. 

This is why the scriptures distinguish between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of this fallen world.  [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

[20] Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. [22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

[26] For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ESV)

The illustration given here in Romans 16:25-27 of God’s wisdom is God’s plan for the ages through Christ (the eternal plan of God in the gospel). When Paul contemplates this plan, He is moved to praise God specifically for His WISDOM.  He says this “gospel” or “preaching of Jesus Christ,” reveals the mystery that has been kept secret for long ages.  It discloses what God has been pointing to in the prophets: that the nations are being brought into the obedience of faith through the gospel.  So basically the redemption that God has planned from eternity past and how God has and is bringing it about makes God infinitely wise to Paul.  We see this exact same progression in Romans 11 (11:33-34), Ephesians 3 (3:1-12), and Colossians 1-2 (2:3). 

How does God’s plan for the ages (that centers on the work of Jesus Christ) supremely display God’s wisdom?  Let’s return to our description of wisdom as God’s knowing and choosing the best goals for history and the best means to accomplish that goal.  Some of God’s goals for history are receiving the maximum amount of glory possible and also having a people for Himself whom He can display that glory to and who can enjoy Him forever.  The best means to accomplish that goal was the work of Jesus Christ on the cross in God’s wisdom.  When you stop to think about it, the cross kills these “two birds with one stone” so to speak.  The work of Christ allows God to be both just and justifier of the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26).  Attributes of God that seem in tension with each other are resolved at the cross.  God has a people from a rebellious race without compromising any part of Himself.  Also, the work of Jesus on the cross not only pays for man’s rebellion, it solves the problem of human rebellion: it grants new hearts by faith.  

II.            Relying Upon the Wisdom of the Only Wise God

It is not enough just to recognize God’s wisdom.  We must also come to rely upon it. The wisdom of God is the bedrock of stability in a Christian’s life.  It is at the bottom of why we can trust God in everything.  There is much to be said about God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and sovereignty.  But it is the wisdom of God that guides each of these attributes towards the best goal for history and for each of our individual lives.  

So how do we rely upon God’s wisdom rather than our own?  The first way we do is simply by trusting God in all His dealings with us.  Romans 8:28-29 is either true or it is not: [28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  God is working ALL THINGS together for His glory and our good in such a way that to do anything differently would be a world that was less glorifying to God and worse for us.  This means that every trial, temptation, heartache, sickness, pain, etc. is an opportunity to trust the wisdom of God. 

And this is where we struggle!  We want to question God’s infinite wisdom with by our finite perspective.  We are quick to forget the words of Isaiah 55:8-9: [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Or perhaps Deuteronomy 29:29: [29] “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

A second way that we rely upon the wisdom of God is by fearing God.  This is the consistent message of the wisdom literature.  Psalm 111:10: [10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!  Proverbs 9:10: [10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Thirdly, we rely upon God’s wisdom through praying to God: [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

A final way we rely upon God’s wisdom is by getting into God’s Word.  The Bible is the mind of God revealed to us so that we may learn to trust Him, fear Him, pray to Him, etc.  No pursuit of wisdom will yield the fruit that a serious relationship with God in His Word will. 

What stability, what faith, what humility, and what peace we would enjoy if we would be a people who trusted in the Lord with all our hearts and leaned not upon our own understanding!  May you come to know in trust in the only wise God today! 

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[1] ESV Study Bible, 2512

God is Omnipotent: Genesis 18:13-14

There are many things that I wish I could do but simply do not have the ability.  I’ve always wanted to be able to dunk a basketball, but at 5’9” and white, it is simply not going to happen on a ten-foot goal.  God knows no such limitations.  There is nothing that “God cannot do” if He so desires to.  We are speaking here of God’s omnipotence, which refers to the truth that God is able to do whatever He pleases (all His holy will).  When we considered God’s independence, we were emphasizing His freedom to do whatever He pleases.  In God’s omnipotence, we are emphasizing God’s ability to do whatever He pleases. 

In Genesis 18:13-14, God Himself affirms His ability to keep His promises to Abraham and Sarah.  In response to Sarah’s laughter over God’s promise of a son in their old age, God says the following: [13] The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ [14] Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14 ESV)

Today, I want us to consider why we should believe that God is omnipotent from the pages of the Bible and what difference believing and knowing the omnipotent God should make in our lives. 

I.              The Reality of God’s Omnipotence (Genesis 18:14)

The question, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” is rhetorical and is meant to be a declaration that nothing is too hard for God.  This is a declaration of God’s omnipotence.  Again, He is not limited in any way in His ability, or power, to do what He decides to do.  He is all-powerful.  He does not grow tired or weary (Is. 40:26-31).  He is “able to do all His holy will.” [1]  There is no obstacle that is too great when it comes to what God purposes to do and how God purposes to do it. 

In this passage, the obstacle that appears “too hard for the LORD” to do is causing Sarah to have a child when she is beyond childbearing years.  18:11 confirms, “the way of women has ceased to be with Sarah.”  We learn in Genesis 17:17 that Abraham is nearly 100 years old (99) at this point and Sarah is 90 years old!  This obvious reality is why both Abraham and Sarah to laugh at the news that they will have a child.  But their age and inability to procreate was no obstacle to the God who is omnipotent.  Nothing is too hard for God.  It is interesting that to this couple that God affirms His omnipotence, God had revealed Himself as “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1). 

Scripture is full of illustrations and declarations of God’s omnipotence.  Creation is one of the most riveting examples of God’s omnipotence.  That nothing existed but God was no obstacle to Him speaking everything into existence out of nothing.  Hebrews 11:3: [3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Or think of the awesome power of God displayed in the flood of Genesis 6-9 or the confounding of languages at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11.  Another mighty display of God’s power is the events of the Exodus in Exodus 3-18 (burning bush, signs, plagues, paring of Red Sea, manna, water from the rock, etc.).  Or what about the battles of the Old Testament, where God’s people were clearly out matched or out numbered?  Jonathan summarized the reality of God’s omnipotence in the battles of His people in 1 Samuel 14:6: [6] Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”  When God is part of the equation, Goliath is no match for puny David!  When God is part of the equation, 1,000 Philistines are no match for a man with a donkey’s jawbone!  When God is part of the equation, 135,000 Midianite soldiers are no match for Gideon and 300 Israelites.  No warrior or army of any size is an obstacle to God. 

Not even the sinfulness and rebellion of God’s own people will be an obstacle to God restoring and redeeming them.  When God promises restoration and redemption for His people in Jeremiah 32, He points to His omnipotence as the guarantee that God will in fact do everything He is promising to do.  “[27] “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 ESV)  God then proceeds to promise a day when God will make an everlasting covenant with His people and restore them forever.  How would He do this?  He would do something even more incredible than causing a 90 year old woman to conceive by her 99 year old husband.  He would cause a virgin to conceive and give birth to God the Son.  When Mary asked Gabriel how this could be, Gabriel reminded Mary of God’s Omnipotence:    [35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. [36] And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:35-37 ESV) The virgin born Son of God would establish His identity of being God’s promised Messiah through wielding the omnipotent power of God throughout His earthly ministry (miracles), and God the Father would establish His identity by exercising His omnipotence in raising Him from the dead. 

Conversion is also a manifestation of the God’s omnipotence.  In Mark 10:23-27, Jesus described how difficult it is for a rich person (or any other person for that matter) to enter into God’s kingdom.  He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (25).  His disciples then ask, “Then who can be saved?” (26), to which Jesus responds: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”  I believe that what Jesus is saying is that salvation is impossible with man, but that God can do the impossible and save sinners, even rich sinners.  There is no obstacle that can stop God from saving the most wicked sinner because with God all things are possible. 

The end of history will also witness the omnipotence of God displayed as He reins judgment upon the earth once again in a time of great tribulation (Rev. 6-19), concluding with the final judgment (Rev. 20).  His power will then further be displayed in bringing about a new creation (Rev. 21-22) where His redeemed people will dwell with Him and enjoy Him forever.  Simply put, the story of the Bible presents us with a God for whom no obstacle can stand in the way of what He wants to do. 

II.            The Rewards of Knowing the Omnipotent God (Genesis 18:13-14)

In our base text, we also see that there are certain rewards to knowing and embracing the truth of God’s omnipotence.  In Genesis 18:13, God asks Abraham “Why did Sarah laugh…?” and the implication seems to be that she would not have laughed if she had truly believed that nothing was too hard for God.  Both Abraham and Sarah laugh, apparently in disbelief that God could give them a child at their age.

Now, there is both an appropriate way to question God and an inappropriate way to question God.  Admittedly, we are taken back at miracles like this because, outside of God’s intervention, situations like this are impossible.  It was not possible, outside of the work of God, for Sarah to have a child at her age.  The text makes that plain (18:11).  So it is not inappropriate to question how God is going to do something that is impossible.  Mary does this in Luke 1:34.  What is inappropriate is to question if God can do the impossible in disbelief.  Our questioning becomes inappropriate when we begin to think that any task is too great for Him to accomplish.  God has already revealed Himself as “God Almighty” to Abraham and Sarah and their laughing implied that He wasn’t “All-mighty.”  

God’s question here implies that truly believing that God is omnipotent will produce a different inner disposition in God’s people.  This inner disposition is what I mean by reward.  Belief in this attribute should cause senior citizens not to laugh at the prospect of having a child.  Belief in this attribute will cause puny shepherd boys to take on giants.  Belief in this attribute will cause God’s people to live in ways that will cause an outside world to shake their head and question their sanity!  The rewards of embracing the reality of God’s omnipotence are radical faith, hope, and confidence in God’s people.  There is no obstacle I will ever face that can stop God from accomplishing His purposes and promises in my life! 

Consider the application this truth has for missions.  Jesus commissioned the church to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and Jesus Himself guaranteed the success of the mission due to His own omnipotence (Matthew 16:18, 28:18).  It is because all power and authority belong to Him that He can say with certainty that He will build His church and nothing will prevail against it!  So believing this should erupt in fearlessness in sharing my faith and even going to hostile mission fields. 

I think the most obvious way that this fleshes out is in our prayer lives.  How grand should our prayer requests before such an omnipotent God?  Ephesians 3:20 calls God, “him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.”  This attribute should revolutionize our prayer lives. 

“Nothing is too hard for Him. If God were stinted in might and had a limit to His strength we might well despair. But seeing that He is clothed with omnipotence, no prayer is too hard for Him to answer, no need too great for Him to supply, no passion too strong for Him to subdue; no temptation too powerful for Him to deliver from, no misery too deep for Him to relieve. “The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psa 27:1).”[2] 

Speaking of the power and majesty (greatness) of God, J. I. Packer says, “But this is knowledge which Christians today largely lack: and that is one reason why our faith is so feeble and our worship so flabby.  We are modern people, and modern people, though they cherish great thoughts of themselves, have as a rule small thoughts of God.  When the person in the church, let alone the person in the street, uses the word God, the thought is rarely of divine majesty.

A well known book is called Your God is Too Small; it is a timely title.  We are poles apart from our evangelical forefathers at this point, even when we confess our faith in their words.  When you start reading Luther, or Edwards, or Whitefield, though your doctrine may be theirs, you find yourself wondering whether you have any acquaintance at all with the mighty God whom they knew so intimately.”[3]

Christians who really wrap their heart around this truth that without God they can do nothing and that with God nothing is impossible would shake the world with their prayers and would live with the kind of radical confidence that Paul speaks with in Romans 8:28-39:

 [31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

This is the God who is before you today.  Stand in wonder of Him!  Come and surrender to the One who has and is exercising His omnipotent power today in overcoming your sin and rebellion by bringing you here to hear about the good news of His Son Jesus Christ. 

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[1] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 216

[2] Pink, Arthur W. (2010-04-05). The Attributes of God (p. 55).  . Kindle Edition.

[3] J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 83