How big is your God?
Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Intro: Amen. How many people here love the Lord? Amen. How many people here believe the Lord can do all things? But do we truly believe that?
I know this week; actually this past month has been very hard for many of us.
Many of us have it tough.
Many are going through different types of struggles, trials and tribulations. Some have it harder than others but we all seem to be facing something.
Fred is in an employment transition.
Barbara is working long hours
I’ve been sick.
If we really took inventory many of us are at a place where we can only turn to the Lord for help because things have gotten to a point where he is the only place to turn.
Can anyone relate to that? Getting to a place where the only real answer is trust the lord. Pray about it. Go to Him
Many times when someone comes to me and is sharing with me their burdens I tell them you need to turn to God. Trust Him. Most people acknowledge this truth. But I often wonder of its just because they don’t have any other response. But that they were hoping I could give them some better answers. Or some practical answers
Sometimes I wonder of people aren’t just saying to themselves when I say. “you must really go to the Lord with this” if they’re not saying ok yeah right.
But the reality is there are so many things in our life only he can handle.
And there isn’t anything in life he can’t handle
There is nothing too big for God
We know that we say amen to that but do we really believe that?
Do we really believe he is able to handle all things?
With that in mind today I want to look at the scripture and see Gods ability. What he has done in the past.
I. He is able to kill our Giants
a. Many times we face giants in life
i. Where your facing a overwhelming situation
ii. The odds are against you?
b. This is what we see in the scripture with David and goliath
1 Samuel 17:4-11 (NIV)
4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.
5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels;
6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
i. Here we see a giant who had the who nation of Israel scared
1. He was big he was scary
ii. But a little boy comes to face this giant with a sling shot.
1. Goliath was mad
1 Samuel 17:43-44 (NIV)
43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 "Come here," he said, "and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
iii. David responds
1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
iv. The battle is won
1. He takes his rocks slings one at Goliath
2. And the game is over
v. Sometimes we face goliath like odds
1. Almost overwhelmingly huge
c. But God is able
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Application: When you are facing insurmountable odds, don’t despair….with God strength there is nothing we can’t overcome
II. He is able to see us through
a. Sometimes life takes twists and turns
Ever feel
Alone
Betrayed
Lost
Have no answers
b. How many know the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors
i. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers
1. They were jealous
2. They were going to leave him for dead
3. Instead they sold him into slavery
He must have felt
Alone
Betrayed
Lost
Have no answers
ii. He becomes a servant if potiphar
Genesis 39:2-4 (NIV)
2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
1. Has everything going for him
2. He becomes
3. Then he is accused of attempting sexual relations with the wife of his master
4. Then he is sent into prison
He must have felt
Alone
Betrayed
Lost
Have no answers
iii. God lift him up in the prison
Genesis 39:20-23 (NIV)
20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
iv. God lifts him up to the highest place in all of Egypt
Genesis 41:41-43 (NIV)
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
c. There are times we need lifting up
i. We feel betrayed
ii. We feel left alone
iii. We are feeling down and out
iv. But God can turn our lemons into lemonade
Because he is able to do acceding abundantly above…….all that we can even ask thinks or imagine
Application: When your world seems to be crashing in, don’t despair….stand tall do the right thing and be confident in Gods ability to help
III. He is able to care for our needs
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
a. The biggest stressor in life for many people is money
i. Why
ii. Because you need it to survive.
iii. Without it we have issues
iv. So we stress out about it
Question: Anyone ever stress out about money?
b. Ever stress out if you will be able to meet the basics of life?
c. The scripture say he will supply
i. All our need
ii. Not some
iii. Not part
iv. But all
Matthew 14:15-21 (NIV)
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Application: We need to trust in his ability to turn a little into a lot.
Closing: There something special about God and His ability. We may be facing Giant odds, we may be facing despair, we may be facing financial issues
I also wonder if there isn’t a few people here who are just excited about God’s super abundant grace and power in their lives. I wonder if there are a few people who want to come up front and give God all the praise that he deserves.
Question: How big is your God? Mine is real big.
