Lesson 4 

1. This lesson will stress the awesome, unlimited, infinite power of God. We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as eternal and all-knowing.

• Our God is not a weak, feeble, finite God.

• He is omnipotent (all-powerful).

the creature." ( Stephen Charnock)

2. This immense power of God is not acquired, nor does it appear upon any recognition or contribution by any other authority or power.

• God's power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained.

• The mightiest of men cannot add nor take away even the smallest amount to God's power.

 3. One of His names is "El Shaddai." (Gen. 17:1; 35:11).

• This means "God Almighty."

• He is described as the Almighty God numerous times as the One with vast, unlimited, infinite power. (Gen. 18:14; Job 42:2; Isa. 26:4; Rev. 19:6; 21:22).

• 1 Chron. 29:11; Psa. 147:5

• Psa. 148:1-5; Rom. 4:17.

1. A good place to begin this lesson is in Matthew 19:16-22, 23-26).

• Literally, it would be impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

• This is a hyperbole.

• Jesus is saying it will be very difficult for a rich man to be saved.

• It is not impossible for men even the rich to be saved.

• There were rich in the early church. (1 Tim. 6:17-20).

• He sets forth "with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26).

2. This statement is also a hyperbole.

1. This statement has some exceptions.

• It is impossible for God to lie. (Heb. 6:18).

• It is impossible for God to be tempted. (Jas. 1:13).

• It is impossible for God to tempt others. (Jas. 1:13).

2. Sometimes atheists deny an omnipotent God or a God at all by attempting to set aside God's unlimited power.

• Questions like these are asked.

• Can God make a rock so large He cannot lift it?

• Can God make a person stronger or wiser than Himself.

• If one answers "no" to these questions, it is then alleged God is not Almighty and God does not exist.

3. These questions are trap questions and overlook some important facts.

• God is infinite in all of His qualities.

• To be less than infinite in even one attribute, is to be less than God.

• This means that God cannot change for the better or the worse.

• No attribute of God can annul or cancel another.

• Though God is all-powerful, His perfect purity keeps Him from sinning.

• Though God is all-powerful, His perfect purity will not permit Him to tempt man to sin.

• God's infinite power permits Him to do whatever is possible to do.

• It is not possible to create a rock so large He cannot lift it; so it is impossible for God to create a rock He cannot lift.

• It is not possible for God to make one wiser or stronger than Himself; so it is impossible for God to create one wiser or stronger than Himself.

• God cannot do what is impossible.

• A triangle is three-sided, so God cannot make a four-sided triangle.

• Some imply if God had more power He could make a four-sided triangle.

• This is an absurd assumption. What is four-sided ceases to be a triangle.

• Some say God cannot make a ball that is white all over and black all over, so He is not omnipotent.

• This is once again affirming an absurdity.

• The inability of God to do this is not an implication of His deficient power.

• God cannot do what cannot be done.

• It is a contradiction to say a ball could be all white and all black.

• It is not correct to say God cannot do the things mentioned.

• It is more in harmony with the truth to say simply that such things cannot be done at all.

• The infinite could never be stronger or wiser, but even if one made that false assumption the smarter and wiser infinite one could not do what is impossible to do.

 1. God's omnipotence is manifested in creation. (Psa. 89:11,12; 33:6; Gen. 1,2; Isa. 45:12).

• Imagine the power required to speak the vast, unlimited universe into existence.

• The world, even the entire solar system is a tiny speck in the universe.

• There are billions of galaxies and the visible universe is billions of light years and all of this is a small part of the universe.

2. God's power is revealed in preservation.

• It is by the power of the Almighty (through Christ) that "all things are held together." (Col. 1:17; Heb.1:3).

• Both man and beast would perish and if there were not herbs for food, and herbs would wither and die if the earth were not refreshed with fruitful showers.

• God is called the Preserver of "man and beast." (Psa. 36:6).

3. God's omnipotence in miracles.

• The parting of the Red Sea demonstrates God's unlimited power.

• God could heal leprosy. (Matt. 8:1-3).

• The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful exhibition of the infinite power of God.

• God's power is seen the redemption.

• It is by God's power that men are saved. (Rom. 1:16).

• By "the exceeding greatness of His power" those who are "dead through...trespasses and sins" are "made alive." (Eph. 1:19; 2:1).

• It is by the immense power of God that there will be a resurrection. (Jno. 5:28,29; Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:35- 58).

5. God's unlimited power is manifested in prayer. (Eph. 3:20).

• He is "our refuge and strength" and will help all who draw near to Him to overcome temptation. (Jas. 4:7,8).

• God has the power to forgive every sin in Jesus. (1 Jno. 1:7,9).

6. God's power is seen in destruction.

• It will be by His power that the world will be destroyed. (2 Pet. 3:10).

• God is "able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28).

1. Truly there is none like the Almighty God of heaven.

• There is nothing too hard for God!

• There is no prayer 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.

2. "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."