How do you assess the power of God? What do you think of God when you think of His power? Have you been a recipient of His power in any way? What can it be or do to anyone that rely on Him? Or, are you simply not privy to it? These are questions as believer you can answer. If you cannot answer them at the moment, you should gear yourself to answer them in the days to come. For the power of God to a believer is not hidden but acutely available. The more we recognize and lay aside our encumbrances, weaknesses and the thoughts of finite wisdom the more we rely on His power. To say His power is amazing may appear superfluous given that no believer of God disputes it. But if it is not working toward and in us, it is nonetheless a statement to ponder upon. Like I said, God’s power is amazing. Its incomprehensibility is comprehended from the following. “Then God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3).
How can God just do that? For all the wisdom of men present there has not been anyone that can understand His power; nor was or is there a thing present that can replicate it. There is none that can explain its working nature. It is perhaps of this anonymity that it appears for many as surreal and imaginary. But, is it? No man was present when He called for the light to appear in order to bear witness!
There are two or three ways to say His power is amazing and beyond man’s understanding. Firstly, it could be by just saying “because God said so” as we go on our ways. Second, we could immerse in the bandwagon effect of those who superlatively improvise to reap from His power. These ways can keep us acquitted before fellow church-goers, although they do zilch for our good; perhaps, they tie us to a group. Too many church-goers today are satisfied with either of them or both. And their joy, peace and comfort are only superficial, short-lived and without sheen. Hence, they even go on to pretend concerning His power. However, there is a third way. It is allowing God to work His power in and through us. You see, this way is not controlled by us. It is God’s desired way and we oblige to it. It requires handing over ourselves to Him and let Him do with us as He pleases. It is only at this juncture that we become privy to His power. Then, we can truly say of His power “because God said so” as well as avoid the bandwagon effect concerning it and be the effect of it.
When God said ‘let there be light,’ He said it with the certain knowledge of what is going to come and how it is going to suit His purpose. To this day the work of His power did not fail Him. What does it say to us? Firstly, that believing Him is not a strange idea. Then, that His power always works toward us to bring a tangible outcome. Therefore, if we rely on it, He does wonders in our life. You see, His power can change anything, cause anything and remove anything. It does not require any artistry from us, but sheer obedience and devotion to Him. If we desire things to happen in our life and in the lives of our loved ones, we ought to rely on His power. A people once did it and God responded. “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you’” (Josh. 10:8). Take these words to heart and by faith you can relive the moment that gave victory. You will see that His power is amazing. Once God gives assurance, He makes sure by His power that that which He said takes place. It acts in various ways and at various times that we reap joy, peace and comfort. Israel did not win by their artistry, but by being equipped with God’s courage and since He threw large hailstones on the enemy and made the sun and the moon stand still by Joshua’s plea. At times God does things for us that we have never seen before and perhaps will never see again. Do we have the imagination for it?
David had that imagination. He did not foresee and construct what events would take place when, but knew God in His power would. And so, he reigned as king in His service. “Six were born to him in Hebron, and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years” (1 Chron. 3:4). There were ups and downs in his reign, yet he completed the years God appointed him in honor. He chose to be weak before God so that God’s power would bring forth the perfect result. He could have done otherwise, but his obedience and devotion to God were such he knew he was not equipped to do well against various tasks of life. So, he relied on Him in this fashion: “For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless” (Ps. 141:8).
If we take refuge in God, all things are possible for Him toward us. We can be absolutely sure His power performs for us; we can expect it to perform while we do not know what might be. Let us look at three scenarios and check ourselves to see if we match with any, all or none.
1. Falling in the line of His wrath. “A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies” (Nah. 1:2). An adversary or an enemy of the Lord is one that works against His truth and ways. He leads life with finite wisdom not having regard for His unfathomable power; his sin is not removed. He does not revere Him nor care for those that revere Him. He lays obstacles that His people stumble in their service to Him. He ridicules and questions their way of life.
2. Entertaining unbelief. “And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching” (Mark 6:6). Unbelief is the chief cause for God to withhold His power toward a person. A person who believes God exists, but does not hold on to it accurately is with unbelief. He has a faint idea of God. He is savvy not to reject God and His all-powerful nature, but not too savvy to trust Him with his life. He desires God to do great things for him without fully relying on Him. He is someone who on the inside seeks opportunities of the flesh.
3. Having double standards. Jesus said, “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23). The Jews were unfair to Jesus. One cannot say God is all-powerful and pick and choose the works He does. Living with double standards is living apart from the truth. It does not bring God glory, but defames Him before men. It never allows one to witness His profound power.
If we do not fall within the above scenarios, we have no other obstacle to be recipients of God’s power. Our life progresses by His power.