Bigger, faster, stronger, better
On the first night of a camp or retreat I usually try to talk to people about the character of God. One thing I always love pointing out is that God is the ultimate being. No one is bigger, smarter, more powerful or more sovereign.
In Ephesians, Paul wanted people to know the following:
… the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
I want you to know the same thing. No matter what, who, where, or when, our God is greater.
He is greater than angels
Sometimes you look through your Facebook news feed and see someone posting about their girlfriend and they say, “She’s an angel!”
Well, in the Bible … almost every single time someone sees an angel … they fall down, terrified, and beg for their life. Now if that’s what people experience when they see your special someone, fine. In reality, however, angels are truly powerful beings.
In Isaiah 6, when angels surround the throne of God and speak, the posts of the temple doors move. They shake the very foundations with their cries.
Now, I’m a very loud person. For those of you who know me, I have never once actually needed a microphone. Somehow, I’m actually louder without a microphone. But no matter how loud I yell, no matter how many mics I have, I probably won’t be able to speak and move any walls.
But angels can. They are powerful. Really powerful. But still not near as powerful as God.
God is their creator. God is their authority. God’s will keeps them in existence. They bow down to God, they obey God, they praise God and do his will.
God is more powerful than angels.
He is greater than demons
In Mark 5, we see demons inhabiting a man, causing him to run around crazy, naked in the woods. The people surrounded him and tried to bind him with chains and the Bible says he was given power to break through those chains. Demons are very powerful.
The story continues, however. Jesus comes up to this man and asks the name of the demon. The demon replies, “We are legion for we are many”. You know what happens next?
They beg for mercy. They asked to be cast out into a herd of pigs instead of being cast out of the country. You know what the Bible says? “So he (Jesus) gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs.”
Jesus is still in charge of all of their activity. He can cast them out wherever he pleases, and they have no say in the matter. He reigns over them, triumphs over them and has the ability to do with them what he wants. God is more powerful than demons.
He is greater than Satan
The Bible warns us about Satan in 1 Peter 5:8. Peter tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he may devour.
Now I’m sure that most of my readers are tougher than me. I can barely pick up a donut. But I don’t care how much you work out and how tough you are – if a lion starts charging at you in Starbucks (or wherever you’re reading this), you’re going to run. You’re going to be freaked out. You understand that the lion is powerful.
The Bible says God is still infinitely more powerful!
In Job chapter 1, we see that Satan has to ask permission from God. In Matthew chapter 4, we see that Jesus withstands the temptation of the devil. In Revelation 20:10, we read that one day God is going to fastball Satan into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever and ever. God is more powerful than Satan.
God's power for you
Remember the verse from Ephesians 1 that I stated at the top of the post? In that verse Paul says that God’s power is “toward us who believe”.
God’s power is towards you when you face worry, fear and doubt. God’s power is towards you when you face the temptation of the devil. God’s power is towards you when you go to do his work and spread his message.
Rejoice!
If God is for us who could ever stop us?