5. PAST DEMONSTRATIONS

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (KJV)

The all-power of God as Creator is demonstrated in His creating out of nothing. The Hebrew word 'bara' translated "created" (Genesis 1:1 ) indicated the initiation of the object, not manipulating it after its original creation. The original creations of God include the heavens and the earth and all things therein as first brought into being.

This awesome demonstration of God's omnipotence took place in the undated past. In the present, the universe which God created declares that mighty demonstration of God's all-power, all-wisdom, all-goodness, His all glory (Psalm 19 :1 ). This continuing showing forth of His handiwork makes the Creator God visible to all who would see, only the wilfully blind and spiritually blind, the Satan blinded, cannot see (Acts 28:26-27; 2 Corinthians 4:4 ).

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalm 106:7,8 "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known." (KJV)

There are two reasons given why God delivered Israel in spite of their provocations and unbelief (Exodus 14:11-12 ). Having just been delivered out of Egypt, the reasons for their incredibly rebellious conduct were:

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Lack of understanding

They witnessed the miraculous plagues God wrought against Egypt, but did not perceive or know the nature of God, nor did they comprehend His purposes. Do you also lack understanding of God's dealings with you, because you do not know Him or His intentions, and the place He has for you in His eternal plan?

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Lack of remembrance

How quickly they forgot God's mercies. What is not understood by us will not be retained in our memory. Failure to get to know God's laws leads to questioning His promises and power, and rebellion against His Word easily follows.

Notice that "nevertheless He saved them" - and that for two reasons.

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For His name's sake

God is true to His name, so He in mercy served them and saved them (2 Timothy 2:13 ).

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That He might make known His all-power

What a glorious exhibition of omnipotence it was!

	A word from the Almighty and a dry path through the Red Sea was formed (Psalm 106:9; Exodus 14:22 ).
	The Lord saved them, delivering them out of a humanly impossible situation (Psalm 106:9; Exodus 14:13 ).
	The Lord saved them out of the hand of the Egyptian military might (Psalm 106:11; Exodus 14:28-30 ).
	He had redeemed them by blood (Exodus 12:13 ). Now He redeemed them by power (Psalm 106:10 ).
	The Lord made for Himself a mighty name (Psalm 106:8 Isaiah 63:14; Exodus 9:16 ).

By doing as He willed, and willing to do mighty deeds. God showed by His acts something of His might, giving a glimpse of His unlimited power so that it is seen that all things are possible to Him.

Other demonstrations of His all-power on behalf of Israel are enumerated in:

Psalm 105:39-41 "He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. 40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river." (KJV)

(Exodus 16:12; Psalm 78:24; Exodus 16:4; Exodus 17:6). By His miraculous power He screened them in the desert from the sun, lit up the dark night with His light, fed them by raining food on them, gave abundant water in a parched land, from an impossible place - no good thing did He withhold in displaying His grace and power. With the psalmist let us confess the glorious omnipotence of our God:

Psalm 77:14,15 "You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah" (NKJV)

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1:19,20 "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places," (NKJV)

The greatest disclosure of the all-power of God in the past was the bringing of Jesus Christ out from among the dead, out of the tomb, and exalting Him to all-power at the throne of God (Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-11 ).

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God's All-power Described For us

By understanding "the exceeding greatness" of the all-power of God, we know His power to be incomparable and impossible to rival, the Godhead alone is almighty. The words in these verses (Ephesians 1:19-20 ) used to describe the all-exceeding, all- greatness of the all-power of God are the expression of a rich vocabulary that enlightens and enthrals us.

	The use of the word 'dunamis' "power" emphasises especially God's inherent power.
	The word 'ischus' "mighty" refers to the mighty strength of God that can do anything.
	The word 'kratos' "power" indicates God's power especially present in overcoming force.
	The word 'energo' "wrought" ("worked" in NKJV) expresses the release of the energy of God's all-power.

The awesome truth is that our God is by nature all-powerful. He is never diminished in His strength, always victorious and releases His superabundant energy to benefit His people.

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God's All-power Demonstrated For Us

The decisive demonstration of the all-power of God has already taken place in the raising of Christ Jesus from the dead. That power exerted, was:

	Power that imparted life to a lifeless mutilated frame.
	Power that was equivalent to that exercised in the creation of man (Genesis 2:7 ).
	Power that revitalised the body in all its active abilities.
	Power that retained all the distinctive features of recognition (John 20:14 ).
	Power that glorified the earthly body but kept the marks of His suffering (John 20:27 ).
	Power that exalted Him to the highest honour in the universe (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33 ).
	Power that lifted to the glory enjoyed in His pre-existence with the Father (John 17:5 ).

Meditating on this mighty disclosure of omnipotence is important to believers who would do exploits for God (Daniel 11:32 ).

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God's All-power Directed Towards us

As believers we have the full potential of divine power directed toward us. The same resurrection, lifting, exalting power displayed in Jesus is to be our inward personal experience. Your spirit is so immersed in that power that it is ready to surge forth in your daily experience so that what would be impossible of yourself, becomes possible through the unlimited working of His power.

	His power giving stability in your faintness.
	His power giving strength in your weakness.
	His power giving might in your powerlessness.
	His power giving ability in your inability.
	His power giving victory in your warring.
	His power giving anointing in your service.
	His power giving authority in your warring.

Believing is the conduit that channels the "exceeding greatness" of His power in its operating force into our personal experience, making us living witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. The past has outstanding evidence of God's all-power.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION