Courtney Gilmore To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Ephesians 3:20
We know He can do things that we can’t. But how does He demonstrate that power, and do we act like we believe He can do miraculous things?
Creation
He created the whole world, set the laws of nature in motion, made each type of animal different from every other, and made each of us uniquely. This in itself is amazing power!
God stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it. He covers the face of His throne, and spreads His cloud over it. God drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, ant the boundary of light and darkness.
The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens. His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him. But the thunder of His power, who can understand?
Job 26:7-14
Obviously no man can create something from nothing.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deep in storehouses.
Psalm 33:6-7
But, also, how could we even think of creating such things without a reference? It’s quite remarkable that He thought to make everything He did, much less that He had the power to do it.
God has made the earth by His power. He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens.
Jeremiah 10:12
But God didn’t stop showing His power after creation.
The Israelites
He demonstrated His power over the enemy in Egypt and in the Promised Land, making His people victorious. He parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River so they could walk across on dry ground.
God fought for Israel by sending hailstones to kill their enemies, killing more than they did with their swords. He stopped the sun for Joshua so they would have time to finish their battle.
He gave Samson superhuman strength through the length of his hair. Then, even after he lost his strength by telling his secret to the wrong woman, God had mercy on him and gave it back to him one last time. Ultimately, Samson killed their enemies by relying on God’s power to work through him.
Elijah asked the Lord to withhold the rain until he called for it, and God dried up the heavens for him. He even summoned a raven to feed him until the brook dried up where he’d been getting water. Then, the Lord sent him to the home of a widow who fed him. By God’s power, her flour bin wasn’t used up and her oil jar never ran dry. When her son died, God gave Elijah the power to bring him back to life. After three years, the prophets called on Baal for rain, yet none came. But when Elijah called on the Lord to send fire to burn up the sacrifices, and then for the rain, God sent both.
God took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire, and his successor Elisha, also performed many miracles by the power of the Lord.
God rescued David from the giant, Jonah from the belly of a great fish, Daniel from the lions’ den, and his friends from the fiery furnace.
Jesus
Through the power of the Father, the Son was conceived. He healed the sick, the demon-possessed, and the disabled. Jesus also fed five thousand men with just a loaf of bread and two fish. He walked on water and gave Peter the power to walk on it, too. Jesus also had the power to still the wind and the waves and turn water into wine. He rose people from the dead, even Himself. After His resurrection, He ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father. The Lord has power over sin and death. He has the power to forgive and save.
After Jesus died, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us. Through Him, we have power, too. When we fight with His weapons, we have His power. Also, when we rely on His power in hard times, He will help us make it through.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
There is also power in His name, so we can ask for miracles in His name, and He can still perform them.
He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also… Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14
Now, that doesn’t mean we can just attach His name to any ol’ prayer, and He will grant it. Think of it more like an endorsement. If He would sign your name to the end of the request, then it will be given. We can’t misuse the power of His name to get whatever we want. It needs to be within His will, too.
Believe in His Power
Now that you see all the things God has done through His people and everything He can do for and through you, believe Him. Trust in His power for everything you need. He will help you, protect you, equip you, provide for you, and most importantly, He will save you. Place your faith in Him in everything. Ask Him for things big and small, then watch His powerful hand at work.
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 2-4
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