The Awesome Power of God
God's power is incomparably great and is demonstrated in the Bible through miracles and wonders, and is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the awesome power of God, illustrating how God performs mighty acts with just His finger, as seen in the plagues of Egypt and the creation of the universe. He contrasts God's limitless power with human limitations, highlighting that while humans can only be in one place at a time, God is omnipresent and omnipotent. Stegen points out that even Pharaoh's magicians recognized God's superiority when Moses' miracles outmatched their own. He urges believers to understand and tap into God's power, which is essential for overcoming life's challenges and living victoriously. The sermon calls for Christians to be plugged into God's power, as it transforms lives and impacts those around them.
Text
In Exodus 8 v 1-5,16-18, 20,21,24 we read of what God did and He did all these things through His finger. God is Spirit. He has no physical hand as we do and so He uses a language we can understand and that is the body that we have. There were three funerals yesterday. A person cannot be in three places at once and so I could only go one of the funerals but God is not like that. He comes down to our level by using the example of the finger. It is only a small member of the body. Do you see how great God is? He did all these wonders only using His little finger. The river turned to blood; there were insects everywhere and He didn't have to exert Himself. Moses was given two tablets of stone written on by the finger of God. For the first time in history God wrote something for men that they could understand. God in heaven wrote a letter for people to keep.
In Psalm 8 v 3 and 4, it says that God created the heavens and earth just with His finger. Only a few of the stars are visible. The light of some stars has not yet reached earth. What is son of man that you care for him? Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and asked him to let the Israelites go so that they could go and worship God. Moses was the first person to perform miracles. Why did God do this? It was so that Pharaoh would know that God exists. Moses took his staff and the dust became gnats that stung the people and animals. The river turned to blood. Pharaoh's magicians also turned the river into blood but then they could not turn it back into water again. Pharaoh's magicians could do some signs but when they made their sticks into snakes, Moses' snake swallowed their snakes. The power of God was much greater than their power.
Heathen's often recognize the power of God better than Christians do. Lukewarm Christians compromise and fail to discern good and evil. God's power is incomparably great and God manifested His power in delivering the people from Egypt. First it was through miracles that Moses did and then when Jesus did miracles and drove out demons, the power of God was manifested. Ephesians 1 v 15. By the mighty power of God, Jesus was raised from the dead and Satan was placed under His feet. No matter if who the demon is or whether it is cancer of HIV, Jesus' name is greater than that. This power will cause you to be a victor in this world. Some of the children from DSS have gone into the world because they do not know the power of God. A parent is afraid for his child because he doesn't know the power of God. Paul prayed for the Christians that their eyes would be enlightened. The three young men in the furnace of fire knew the power of God.
Is that your life or do you get irritable or men fall for a girl because she is wearing trousers? If this is what God did with just His finger, how much more can He do with His full strength. You need to be plugged into His power in the same way as an electrical appliance is plugged into the electricity. If you just go to church and do not have His power, you will be twisted. Are you plugged into God? If you are, people around will feel it.
Sermon Outline
- God's Power in the Bible
- God's Power in Our Lives
- Recognizing God's Power
- The Power of God in Jesus Christ
- Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles and driving out demons
- He was raised from the dead by the mighty power of God
Key Quotes
“He did all these wonders only using His little finger.” — Erlo Stegen
“If you just go to church and do not have His power, you will be twisted.” — Erlo Stegen
“Are you plugged into God? If you are, people around will feel it.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We need to be plugged into God's power to be victors in this world.
- We should not compromise and fail to discern good and evil, but rather recognize God's power in our lives.
- Faith in Jesus Christ is essential to experiencing God's power and being a victor in this world.