Having understood the awesome power of the Great God, we need to rely on Him for the great power He wields. Nehemiah 9:32 “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.” He is the great God, mighty and awesome. Learning to rely on the power of God is an integral part of living the Christian life.
The power of God was also manifested when He brought Jesus back to life and resurrected Him. Ephesians 1:19-21 “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places”.
For the sake of argument, one can say Christ also raised Lazarus from the dead. That’s also the power of God. However, there is a fundamental difference. Lazarus was a mortal who died and was raised up to die again as a mortal. Christ was raised not as a mortal but as an immortal being, who later ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God.
Paul is telling us that God’s power exceeds or surpasses everything and it is unimaginable. God spoke the universe into existence, raised Jesus from the dead, and “placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” He has power far beyond any possibility of being measured. Isaiah 40:12 tells us “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” Paul simply could not say enough about the greatness and majesty of God, and he had difficulty finding the words to express his thoughts about the power of God.
When we have such a Powerful God who loves us, does not rationality dictate that we should depend on Him? The moot question is how can we learn to rely on the enormous power of God? We simply have to trust that He can and He will. First of all, we choose to remember the things that God has done: Psalms 104:4-5 “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Every miracle recorded for us in the Bible should give us encouragement that His strength is more than enough for our needs.
Also, to rely on the power of God, we must learn to cease trusting in our frail efforts and hand our resources over to the One who can do anything. Psalms 118:8-9 tells us “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” Prayer is a vital part of relying on the power of God. When we ask the Lord in full submission the power of the Lord will manifest in us. John 14:13-14 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” No matter how weak or ill-equipped we may at times feel, we can rely on the power of God. Finally Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in