OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to AStudyofGod Next 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

The Almighty God

Lesson #3

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The power of God is manifested immediately in the Scriptures. 

1.        He creates (Gen. 1:1).

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

a.       He needs no materials.

b.      He needs no tools.

c.       He needs no labor.

d.      He needs no time.

e.       NOTE:  All the world cannot make a fly.

2.       He speaks and things come into being.

a.       Genesis 1:3

 

And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.

 

b.      Psalm 33:6, (9)

 

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath

 

B.      Man sees the power of God.  Man is impressed by the power of God.  Man, however, cannot fully comprehend the power of God.

 

I.                   THE ALMIGHTY GOD

 

A.     Fifty-seven times God is referred to as “the Almighty God.”  Once He is called the Lord God Omnipotent” (Rev. 19:6).

1.        The book of Job uses the description “the Almighty God” more than any other, 31 times.

2.       The book of Revelation refers to God as “the Almighty” eight times and once as omnipotent.

3.       The only other time the phrase is used in the New Testament is in II Corinthians 6:18.

4.      The first time it is used is in Genesis 17:1, and the last time it is used is in Revelation 21:22.

 

B.      The definition of Almighty

1.        There is only one Hebrew word that is translated “Almighty,” “shadday” (7706).

a.       Strong:  the Almighty

b.      BDB:  Almighty, most powerful, Shaddai, the Almighty God

2.       There is only one Greek work that is translated “Almighty,” “pantokrator” (3841).

a.       Strong:  the all-ruling, that is God (an absolute and universal sovereign) Almighty, Omnipotent

b.      Thayer:  he who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all, almighty God

c.       Vine:  almighty, or ruler of all  (pas – all       krateo – to have strength)

 

C.     God has all might, all power, all strength, and all authority.

Too, He is the source of all might, power, strength, and authority.

 

II.                MANY EVENTS DECLARE GOD’S POWER

 

A.     Creation (Gen. 1)

 

B.      The Flood (Gen. 6-7)

 

C.     The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19)

 

D.     The Exodus (Exo. Exo. 7-12)

 

E.      Fall of Jericho (Josh. Josh. 6)

 

F.      The Miracles of Jesus (The gospels)

 

III.             THINGS OVER WHICH GOD HAS ALL POWER

 

A.     Power over Satan

1.        God controls the power that Satan has over man.

a.       Job 1:12

 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.  So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

 

b.      Job 2:6

 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

 

2.       Ultimately, God will overcome Satan by casting him into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10).

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

B.      Power over the devil’s angels

1.        The angels that sinned were cast down and bound (II Pet. 2:4).

 

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto the judgment.

 

2.       Ultimately, hell will be their eternal dwelling place (Matt. 25:41).

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from ye, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

C.     Power over good angels

1.        The Scriptures tell us that angels are God’s ministers (Heb. 1:13).  They do His bidding.

 

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

 

2.       Psalm 103:20-21

 

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

 

D.     Power over demons

1.        Demons are often differentiated from the devil’s angels.  Demons are the spirits of wicked men released from the hadean realm and allowed to possess human bodies.  (NOTE:  This was done during the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry and during the ministry of the apostles.  After the age of miracles ceased, the demons were no longer released from the unseen realm of the dead).

2.       Jesus demonstrated power over the demons many times in His earthly ministry.

a.       Demon in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28)

b.      Demons cast into the swine (Matt. 8:28-34)

c.       Demon caused one to be blind and dumb (Matt. 12:22-23)

d.      Many demons cast out (Luke 4:41)

e.       Demon cast out of a man’s son (Matt. 17:14-18)

f.        Demon cast out of a Greek woman’s daughter (Matt. 15:21-28)

g.      Seven demons cast out of Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2)

 

E.      Power over rulers

1.        Romans 13:1

 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

2.      “He has a sovereign right arid authority over man. He can do with his creatures as he pleases. Who shall dispute with God? who shall ask him a reason of his doings? Dan 4:45. He does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?' God sits judge in the highest court; he calls the monarchs of the earth to the bar, and is not bound to give a reason of his proceedings. Psa 75:5. He putteth down one, and raiseth up another.' He has salvation and damnation in his power. He has the key of justice in his hand, to lock up whom he will in the fiery prison of hell; and he has the key of mercy in his hand, to open heaven's gate to whom he pleases. The name engraven upon his vesture is, King of kings, and Lord of lords.' Rev 19:96. He sits Lord paramount, and who can call him to account? Isa 46:60. I will do all my pleasure.' The world is God's diocese, and shall not he do what he will in his own diocese? He it was that turned King Nebuchadnezzar to eat grass, and threw the angels to hell when they sinned; that broke the head of the Babylonish empire. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer! Thy pomp is brought down to the grave.' Isa 14:12. Who sets bounds to the sea, and bridles the proud waves.' Job 38:11. God is the supreme monarch, all power is seated originally in him. The powers that be are ordained of God.' Rom 13:3. Kings hold their crowns of him. By me kings reign.' Prov 8:15”

(https://biblehub.com/library/watson/a_body_of_divinity/6_the_power_of_god.htm).

 

F.      Power over man

1.        Man is a being who was created by God (Gen. 1:26-17).

2.       God is the potter and man is the clay in His hands (Jer. 18:1-6).

3.       There are many instances of God’s control over man.

a.       Pharaoh of Egypt (Ps. 136:15)

b.      Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:28-33)

c.       The rich farmer (Luke 12:20)

 

G.     Power over the heavenly bodies

1.        The sun stood still and the moon stayed (Josh. 10:12-13).

2.       It is God who created the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night (Gen. 1:13-19; Jer. 31:35).

 

 

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night…

 

3.       One day God will fold them up as a vesture (Heb. 1:10-12).

 

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.  They shall perish, but thou remainest:  and they shall all wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed:  but thou are the same, and thy years shall not fail.

 

H.    Power over nature

1.        God controls all of the forces of nature:  heat, cold, rain, storms, earthquakes, etc.

2.       Examples:

a.       Thunder, hail, and fire (Exo. 9:23).

b.      God caused the waters of the Red Sea to stand up by using the force of an east wind (Exo. 14:21).

c.       He sent fire to devour Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:2).

d.      The stormy winds and rain (Ps. 107:25)

e.       The snow and ice (Ps. 147:15-18)

f.        Jesus calmed the winds and stilled the sea (Matt. 8:26).

 

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

 

I.        Power over the animal kingdom

1.        God controls the animal kingdom.

2.       Examples:

a.       He brought frogs (Exo. 8:5-6), lice (Exo. 8:16-17), and flies (Exo. 8:24) on the nation of Egypt.

b.      The donkey of Balaam spoke (Num. 22:28).

c.       The ravens fed the prophet Elisha (I Kings 17;6).

d.      A great fish swallowed Jonah (Jonah 1:17; 2:10).

e.       Peter was directed to catch a fish and a coin was in its mouth (Matt. 17:27).

 

J.        Power over sickness and disease

1.        Sickness and disease exploits the weakness of man.   Too, it removes the joy from life.

2.       There are some sicknesses that man has not been able to cure. 

3.       There is no sickness that God cannot heal.  Jesus demonstrated this time and again during His earthly ministry.

a.       Jesus Heals an Official's Son at Capernaum in Galilee (John 4:43-54)

b.      Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit From a Man in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-27) 

c.       Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law Sick With Fever (Matt. 8:14-15)

d.      Jesus Heals Many Sick and Oppressed at Evening (Matt. 8:16-17)   

e.       Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy (Matt. 8:1-4)

f.        Jesus Heals a Centurion's Paralyzed Servant in Capernaum (Matt. 8:5-13)

g.      Jesus Heals a Paralytic Who Was Let Down From the Roof  (Mark 2:1-12)

h.      Jesus Heals a Man's Withered Hand on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:10-13)

i.        Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd With an Issue of Blood  (Matt. 9:20-22)

j.        Jesus Heals Two Blind Men (Matt. 9:27-31)

k.      Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Unable to Speak (Matt. 9:32-34)

l.        Jesus Heals Many Sick in Gennesaret  (Matt. 14:34-36)

m.    Jesus Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man (Mark 7:31-37)

n.      Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)    

o.      Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind by Spitting in His Eyes (John 9:1-7)     

p.      Jesus Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac (Matt. 12:22-23)  

q.      Jesus Heals a Woman Who Had Been Crippled for 18 Years (Luke 13:10-13)  

r.       Jesus Heals a Man With Dropsy on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-4)

s.       Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers on the Way to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11-14)

t.        Jesus Restores Sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho (Matt. 20:30-34)  

 

K.     Power over sin

1.        Sin is one of the enemies of man. 

2.       Jesus came to conquer sin (Rom. 7:23-25a)

 

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

L.      Power over death

1.        Because of sin, man must die.  Death is also one of man’s enemies.

2.       Jesus conquered death by means of His death (Heb. 2:14-15).

 

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

M.   Power over false gods

1.        Other gods do not really exist.  Thus, it is easy to have power over them.

2.       Man, however, believes that they do exist.  God, therefore, demonstrates to man that He is more powerful than man-made gods.

3.       Two examples:

a)      The plagues brought upon Egypt showed God’s power over Egypt’s gods (https://www.answers.com/Q/What_did_each_of_the_ten_plagues_represent).

1)       Nile turned to blood was aimed at Khnum, the guardian of the Nile; Hopi, the spirit of the nile; and Osiris, the giver of life whose bloodstream was the Nile.

2)      Frogs were aimed at Heqt, the god of resurrection, who also assisted women in

childbirth and whose form was a frog.

3)      Gnats and 4. Flies were not aimed at any particular god.

4)     Plague on cattle was aimed at Hathor, the mother goddess whose form was a cow and Apis, the bull god who was the living personification of Ptah ( the creator god ) and the symbol of fertility.

5)      Boils were aimed at Imhotep, the god of medicine.

6)     Hail was aimed at Nut, the sky goddess; Isis, the goddess of life and Seth, the protector of crops.

7)      Locusts were aimed at Isis and Seth again.

8)     Darkness was aimed at Re, Aten, Aturn and Horus: all of whom were sun gods of sorts.

9)     Death of firstborn was aimed at Pharaoh, who was considered a god; and Osiris, the giver of life.

b)     God conquered the god of the Philistines name Dagon.

1)       When the ark of the covenant was placed in the house of Dagon, the first night Dagon’s statute fell with its face to the earth before the ark (I Sam. 5:3)

2)      On the second night, the head and hands of Dagon were cut off and placed upon the threshold of his temple (I Sam. 5:4)

 

N.     Power over enemies

1.        The enemies of God’s people are the enemies of God.

2.       He destroyed the Egyptians (Exo. 14-15).

3.       He prevailed over the Midianites with Gideon’s three hundred men (Judg. 7).

4.      He conquered the Philistines.

5.       He overthrew the 7 tribes in the land of Canaan.

6.      He brought judgment upon the Jews when He destroyed Jerusalem.

 

IV.              THE POWER OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE

 

A.     God’s providence involves God working His will among His creation and bringing His blessings to man without miracles and without hindering man’s freedom of choice.

 

B.      There are many examples of God’s providence in Scripture.

1.        The exaltation of Joseph

2.       The preservation of David during his flight from Saul

3.       The salvation of the Jews in the days of Esther

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     God is powerful.

1.        All power belongs to God.  “Thine is the power…” (Matt. 6:13).

2.       He can therefore do all things (Matt. 19:26; Mark 14:36).

3.       Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:34-37).

4.      There is nothing too hard for thee (Jer. 32:17).

 

B.      God is able!  (https://bible.org/seriespage/2-power-god)

1.        He able to do what He has purposed (Job 42:1-2; Isa. 14:27)

2.       He is able to do what He has promised (Rom. 4:21).

3.       He is able to judge because He can save and destroy (James 4:12).

4.      He is able to destroy body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28).

5.       He is able to forgive sins (Matt. 9:6).

6.      He is able to save us (Isa. 63:1; Ps. 54:1; Rom. 1:16, forever Heb. 7:25).

7.       He is able to defend us, to overcome our enemies (Ps. 59:9-11).

8.      He is able to deliver us (Dan. 3-4)

9.      He is able to protect us (Ps. 79:1; 91:1) or rescue us (Ps. 79:11)

10.    He is able to make us stand (Rom. 14:4)

11.     He is able to come to our aid when tempted (Heb. 2:18)

12.    He is able to establish His saints (Rom. 16:25).

13.    He is able to keep Christians (John 10:29; Rom. 8:31-39), to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24-25).

14.    He is able to keep that which we have committed to Him to the day of His coming (II Tim. 1:12).

15.    He is able to raise the dead (Heb. 11:17-19).

16.    He is able to provide everything for life and godliness (II Pet. 1:3).

17.    He is able to empower us to carry out the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for an Understanding

 

The Almighty God

Lesson #3

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.    Y - N  When you hear the word “Almighty,” to you think “all” mighty?

 

2.    What impresses you about God’s creative power?

 

3.    Which event in the Bible do you believe displays the power of God most significantly?  Why do you think this?

 

4.    God has total control over Satan.  However, Satan has much power over the earth.  Is this somewhat confusing to you?

 

5.    If God ordains the powers that be, what does that mean for us who are under various authorities?

 

6.    Which miracle of Jesus really impresses you the most?

 

7.    Is sin a difficult power to conquer?

 

8.    If God has complete control over man, why does God allow man to have freedom of choice?

 

9.    If God has complete control over man, why doesn’t God intervene in the affairs of man in order to stop the evil things men do?

 

10. In what condition would man be if there was no power over death?

 

11. Does it give you comfort that God has power over our enemies?

 

12. Does God’s providence cause you to stand in awe?

 

13. Are there any limits to the phrase:  “Nothing is impossible for God”?

 

14. What is the one thing that you are glad God is able to do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Almighty God

Lesson #3

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.   Y - N  When you hear the word “Almighty,” to you think “all” mighty?

 

A.   I do now.

 

B.   There was a time when I thought of it more as a title rather than a description of God and the might that He possesses.

 

2.   What impresses you about God’s creative power?

 

A.   The fact that God can speak and bring things into being.

 

B.   Man spends years and years bringing things into being.  In just six, 24-hour days God brought everything into existence.

1.    Exodus 20:11

 

For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day…

 

2.    Think of the magnitude of the earth.

Think of the minuteness of the universe.

Think of the intricate details of all that has been created.

 

3.   Which event in the Bible do you believe displays the power of God most significantly?  Why do you think this?

 

A.   The flood

1.    Power over the animals

2.    Power over the elements

3.    Power to save man under extreme conditions

 

4.   God has total control over Satan.  However, Satan has much power over the earth.  Is this somewhat confusing to you?

 

A.   It is comforting to know that regardless of how powerful Satan may seem, God is still over him.

 

B.   There are times when we ask ourselves:  “Why does God allow Satan to have such sway in our world or within our lives?”

 

C.   LESSON:  One lesson learned from Job is this:  “Man will serve God for naught.”  Man will serve God just because God is God.  Man has no “right” to question God.

 

1.    Job 1:20-22

 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped.  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither;  the Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

 

2.    Job 2:9-10

 

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still

 

5.   If God ordains the powers that be, what does that mean for us who are under various authorities?

 

A.   We must honor God’s selection.

 

B.   We must trust that God knows what He is doing.

 

C.   We must not forget that God also has enabled man to be part of the process in some nations.

 

D.   Those whom God has put in power can be removed.

 

6.   Which miracle of Jesus really impresses you the most?

 

A.   One of the miracles that impresses me is the feeding of the multitudes.  It would have been amazing to watch Jesus break the loaves and fishes and yet it just continued to come forth to feed thousands.

 

B.   The raising of Lazarus is another. 

1.    The fact that he waited for Lazarus to be in the tomb long enough to begin to rot. 

2.    The fact that he was called out of the hadean realm to come back to this world.

 

7.   Is sin a difficult power to conquer?

 

A.   Absolutely.  Sometimes it is the “big” sins that grasps a person.  It is just one lust that Satan exploits.

 

B.   At other times, it is the “little” sins that are hard to conquer:  gossip, cursing, worry, lack of prayer, lack of Bible study, missing worship, etc.

 

8.   If God has complete control over man, why does God allow man to have freedom of choice?

 

A.   One has said that God will not “force” man to love Him.  If he did, then man’s “love” would not be real love.  Love always involves a choice.

 

B.   There are two ways that man could obey God.

1.    He was forced to.

2.    He willingly chose to.

 

9.   If God has complete control over man, why doesn’t God intervene in the affairs of man in order to stop the evil things men do?

 

A.   In order for men not be mere robots for God’s good pleasure, he must be given freedom of choice.  This means freedom of choice in all matters.

 

B.   Man has the freedom to do evil.  Sometimes this evil impacts people who are good and innocent.

 

C.   We have to always have a faith that sees not just this world, but the world to come.

1.    In this world, there is evil.  There will be none in the world to come.

2.    All we have to do is trust God in this world in order to obtain the reward of the next world.

 

10.                In what condition would man be if there was no power over death?

 

A.   Man would be without hope.  Once he was dead, there would be nothing beyond.

 

B.   The only reason to live for God in this world would be because it is a “better” life than one lived in sin.  (NOTE:  Sin, however, has some pleasure.  Why would a man reject pleasure for the Christian life if he is just going to die?

 

11.                Does it give you comfort that God has power over our enemies?

 

A.   Yes. 

 

B.   I am often weak and my enemies are strong.

I am often ignorant and my enemies are wise.

I am often fearful and my enemies are filled with courage.

I am often alone and my enemies are many.

 

C.   God is everything that I am not. 

When God fights for His people, He always wins.

 

12.                Does God’s providence cause you to stand in awe?

 

A.   I stand I awe of it.  To me, it is the greatest manifestation of God’s power.

 

B.   He works in absolute silence.

He does not perform any miracles.

He does not hinder man’s free will.

Every human and every human choice brings to pass the will of God.

 

13.                Are there any limits to the phrase:  “Nothing is impossible for God”?

 

A.   Yes.  God cannot do anything that is contrary to His nature.

 

 

 

B.   Things God cannot do.

1.    God cannot fail to love humanity.

2.    God cannot be tempted with sin.

3.    God cannot sin.

4.    God cannot lie.

5.    God cannot be a respecter of persons.

 

14.                What is the one thing that you are glad God is able to do?

 

A.   I am glad that God is able to save me.  Salvation means that there is something beyond this life.