2. POSITIVE REVELATION

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalm 103:20 "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (KJV)

The Almighty God is over all the mighty ones - angel beings are subject to God's will and word. Angels in their perfect estate, hear intelligently and execute perfectly, God's bidding. Nebuchadnezzar was brought to know God as the Most High in Daniel and he gave testimony:

Daniel 4:34,35 "And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"" (NKJV)

Those in positions of authority should learn from God's omnipotence. Like Nebuchadnezzar, to honour God as supreme, the King of heaven. That all God's works are done in truth (Daniel 4:37; Psalm 33:4 ). He is always faithful and right in what He does. That angels do the bidding of God, and that He delivers those who trust in Him by sending His angel (Daniel 3:28 ). His angels continue their special ministry to the redeemed (Hebrews 1:13-14 ). That He is the God of the miraculous (Daniel 4:3 ). That God's kingdom is everlasting (Daniel 4: 3,34 ). That God in His all-power gives authority and rule to whoever He wills (Daniel 4:17,32 ). That the omnipotent God can cause the downfall of those who walk in pride (Daniel 4:37 ). That God is revealed as the Almighty over all angel beings.

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Luke 11:20-22 "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.22 "But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils." (NKJV)

The Lord Jesus, by this parabolic illustration teaches that God has all-power over Satan and demons. Satan is depicted as the strong man of his house, Satan's kingdom. Demons of Satan possess and demonise men. The God of all-power is demonstratably the stronger, and Satan and demons acknowledge His omnipotence. God's action in dispossessing demons and spoiling Satan's kingdom is a display of the power of God over Satan and demons. The freeing of men from demons and Satan's power is evidence of the coming of God's kingdom.

The Lord Jesus, God the Son, demonstrated that He was stronger than the strong man armed. He was and is Master over the strong man Satan, and continues His routing of Satan through His believing ones (Mark 16:17 ). The Lord Jesus takes away the armour or power of Satan. The Greek noun 'panoplia' is the word translated "armour". It occurs in one other place only in the New Testament, namely,

Ephesians 6:11,13 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (NKJV)

The armour of God is invincible over the forces of Satan. Clothed in it, His people prevail over Satan and his power. The Lord Jesus said the casting out was "with the finger of God" (Luke 11:20 KJV) which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus cast out demons by the "Spirit of God" (Matthew 12:28 KJV). The Father gives "the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13 KJV). Asking believingly His people are given Holy Spirit power to overcome Satan and demons. Clothed with the armour - all-power - of God, they become more than conquerors. Satan and demons are subject to the Almighty and omnipotent God.

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."

There is only one true God, and mankind is under His power. King Jehoshaphat's prayer acclaimed God as having all-power in heaven and all-power over the kingdoms of men:

2 Chronicles 20:6 "and said: "O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? " (NKJV)

	His prayer expressed faith in God's self-revelation of His all-power.
	His prayer acclaims the Lord to be the God of his fathers to whom the land was given for an inheritance.
	His prayer rested on the omnipotent God being able to deliver.
	His prayer named the ancestral enemies of Judah who had been spared and now sought to dispossess Judah (2 Chronicles 20:10-11 ).
	His prayer expected God to give military strategy that would bring victory (2 Chronicles 20:12 ).
	His prayer put God in the rightful place as the real commander and chief to whom they looked in faith (2 Chronicles 20:12 ).
	His prayer to the God of all-power was answered with prophecy of victory by unusual means (2 Chronicles 20:14-18 ).
	He demonstrated faith in God omnipotent by carrying out His unusual battle plan (2 Chronicles 20:20-25 ).
	He commanded rejoicing, and the countries around feared the all-powerful God of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:27-30 ). None can withstand the power of God.

The Lord Jesus pointed to the all-power of God that cannot be thwarted in the saving of people whether they be rich or poor, in answering the disciples' question, "Who then can be saved?" (Matthew 19:25 KJV). Because Jesus had taught the great difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom of God, He said in

Mark 10:24,25 "... how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (KJV)

When wealth is the idol worshipped, and becomes the centre of security, there is no desire to turn to God and be saved, The Lord said:

Mark 10:27 "... With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (KJV)

The God of all-power is the God of all grace, and the gospel of power that is effective in every place and among all people.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (KJV)

What Jesus insisted on, was the truth that what appears impossible with man is possible with God who specialises in the impossible. He can bring into His kingdom both rich and poor, none need despair or be lost. God saves the "whoever" that believes (John 3:16 ).

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalm 135:6,7 "Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. 7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries." (NKJV)

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God's all-power is declared over His visible creation

There is no other being like to Him in greatness and power (Psalm 135:5 ).

C.H. Spurgeon - The Treasury of David, commented, "God is great positively, great comparatively, and great superlatively."

God's exercising of His all-power is the action of His own pleasure. He is not driven by necessity of His own needs. When human beings build houses or make clothes or sow seed for food, first and foremost it is out of the necessity of personal need. God's great action of all-power springs forth from what pleases Him - not necessity but the pleasure of His will, and the beauty of what He created according to the pleasure of His will - reveals not only His greatness but His loveliness - and all remains in the control of His pleasure. God continues to do what pleases Him - demonstrating His all-power and goodness, watering the earth. Beholding the visible creation we can repeat with Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" (KJV)

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God is all-powerful over His invisible creation

Colossians 1:16,17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (KJV)

God the Son is shown to be all-powerful. The not seen angel beings, and authorities were created by Christ, and are sustained by Christ.

Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse," (NKJV)

All mankind has been given, in visible creation, insight into the invisible attributes of God. This revelation of God is "clearly seen" and "understood", that is, by perception able to draw conclusion about God the Creator. This visible information has been constant "by the things that are made." It is a concentrated disclosure of "His eternal power and Godhead". Such is the revelation that it is sufficient to make mankind inexcusable from acknowledgement of responsibility to God their Creator.

Arthur Pink - Pink. Attributes. wrote: "Divine sovereignty means God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things "after the counsel of His own will."

Let us give praise and honour to the Lord God Almighty who occupies the throne of glory:

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (KJV)

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Can you explain why God has all-power over angels?
2. What parabolic illustration did Jesus use to teach how He exercised power over demons? (Luke 11:20 ).
3. Has God given revelation of His all-power over mankind (Deuteronomy 32:39 )?
4. Has God the right to do as He pleases in heaven and earth (Psalm 135:6-7 )?