OUR GOD IS ABLE

Our God has infinite power, whereas man is acutely restricted. ’He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.’

( Ephesians 3:20 ) While we are inadequate in our request and thinking, the Lord is not restricted. He is able. His power is available through our faith in Him.

His eternal, inexhaustible sway operates in our day to day life. The boy with his meagre five barley loaves and two small fishes allowed the Lord to miraculously feed many thousands.

You are irresistible in your child-like faith, for ‘No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.’ (Joshua 1:5) Joshua’s heart leapt in joy when God promised him such amazing protection- and Presence. How often have you felt your world collapsing around you, until you remember the illimitable help available from your Lord. Your opponents fade into insignificance when He says ‘I will be with you; nor will I abandon you.’

The life-Giver perpetuated His line. Especially so with Abraham and Sarah. ‘I will bless her, Sarah, and also give you a son by her; then will I bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations, kings of people shall be from her.’ ( Genesis 17:16) The Lord showed Who He was ‘When Abram was ninety nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to Him, ‘I Am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make a covenant between ME and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. (v1,2) Medically it was impossible for such aged partners to conceive and bear a child. However, God showed Himself to them.

The race of Israel was born; Christ our Redeemer was born -in His flesh - from that union.

Paul confirmed this in his letter to the Romans, ‘ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.’ (4:21) God’s performance matched His promise. This must strengthen us when the enemy of souls tried to diminish our trust in His ability to achieve.

The Holy Sp0irit asked the question through Jeremiah,’ Behold, I am the Lord; the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?’ You may have asked that same question when deeply troubled. Satan may have sown seeds of doubt or questioning in your mind. Jeremiah answered you, ‘ Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.’’ ( Jeremiah 32:27,37) Now, there is your reply. Gaze at the heavens; drink in the beauty of His handiwork. He keeps them in their marvellous orbits. No trifling task. Simply GOD.

Three young men in the book of Daniel learned to trust their God when the nation bowed before a golden idol. They were threatened that if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace. ( 3:15 ) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego challenged their heathen king, ’’If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE will deliver us from your hand, O king.’ (v17) In diabolical fury, the king ordered the fire to be heated seven times. They were cast bound into the furnace. The miracle followed. ‘They fell down bound into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace. The king was astonished,’

‘Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?’ ‘True, O King.’ ‘Look!‘ he answered. ‘I see 4 men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the SON of GOD.’ (v25 ) Yes, He is able to deliver and He did. This Scripture has enriched many during times of great stress. Call on your Lord, who is able. Nebuchadnezzar spoke of the visitor as ‘an ANGEL’, For the Lord Jesus Christ was the Father’s messenger. Rightly, he promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Babylon knew the Lord’s power in another remarkable way, concerning Prime Minister, Daniel. He had been thrown into the den of lions, when King Darius, despising himself for his softness and timidity in doing so, came to the den. ’He cried with a lamentable voice to, Daniel, servant of the living God; has your God whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions. ‘Then Daniel said to the king,’ My God sent His Angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him, and also, O King, I have done no wrong before you.’ (6:22 ) God was able to deliver.

‘Our Lord jesus continues for ever, for He has an unchangeable priesthood. ‘

This entitled our Lord to ‘Be able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God through Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.’

( Hebrews 7:25 ) His sacrificial death enabled Him to grant us our salvation , while His unbroken mediation as High priest enabled Him to reach to us in the uttermost extremity. No one can claim to be beyond Christ’s capacity to save; because of these exceptional qualifications as Saviour and High priest.

I remember Bob, as a hard-living man; his language vile; his alcohol a vice. He hated even to hear the precious gospel, hurling his old fruit and vegetables at the speaker as he drove by. Then the Word of the Lord got under Bob’s skin, and he knew the Lord jesus was seeking him. Broken-hearted, Bob found salvation in the Lord. I lived in the same country town, and he wanted to be sure that he was truly saved. He took 6 weeks before he could speak without expletives. Bob had been saved.The new man had emerged. His hunger for God’s word thrilled me. We read the scriptures by the dim light of the town lamp. ‘Is this all true, Harrold?’ ‘Of course, bob, for God says so.’ And so he grew; and I too. Able to save to the uttermost.

Our Lord Jesus promised a remarkable promise when HE said, ‘ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man snatch them out of My hand. ( John 10:28) He reinforced His promise with ‘ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. And thenthe amazing truth, ‘ I and My Father are one.’ (29,30 ) We are secure in this double divine grasp of father and son. No devil or enemy can succeed against the Lord’s powerful hold. In your weakest moment, remember this heartening word of your Lord. Thank Him !

Paul continued His praise of our Lord saying, ‘In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels , nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( 8:37-39) God has embraced us in His arms of love; so infinitely strong; locking us to His heart. Nothing can possibly part us from our heavenly Lover. Calvary proved that, when Jesus christ shed His life-blood for our salvation. .