What is God’s power?

True power, the ability to exercise authority effectively, belongs to God alone. The power of God is shown in the creation (Psalm:148:5), and the sustaining of the world (Psalm 65:5-8). Some of His authority is delegated to mankind (Genesis 1:26-28), but God actively intervenes on many occasions, showing His power in miraculous deeds of deliverance. It was with a mighty hand and outstretched arm that He brought His people out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15), and He demonstrated His power in giving them the promised land (Psalm 111:6).

Jesus the Messiah had all authority given Him by His Father (Matthew 28:18), and He used it to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6) and to cast out evil spirits (Matthew 10:1). He gave authority to His disciples to become children of God (John 1:12) and to share in His word (Mark 3:15).

Jesus came to His ministry in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14) and He did many mighty works (Matthew 11:20). This was evidence of the power of the kingdom of God which came through Him into this world.

In the book of Acts we see the power of the Spirit operative in the life of the church (Acts 6:8). Paul looks back to the resurrection of Jesus as the chief evidence of God’s power (Romans 1:4) and sees the gospel as the means by which that power comes to work in men’s lives (Romans 1:16).

The Qur’an sets Allah forth as entirely distinct from all he has created and later Islamic orthodoxy followed this theme more ardently, believing that the further Allah could be removed from his creation, the greater he was. Of all Allah’s attributes it is his power that most impresses Muslims.

In Matthew 28:18-20 it is clear that Christ’s power sends out his people into all the world to preach the Gospel to every person. He also promises to be with them, wherever they may go. No obedient Christian will ever be alone. God’s power is at his or her disposal!