The Power Of God's Glory Series

September 7, 1997 -- PM

THE POWER OF GOD’S GLORY

Luke 4:1-14

INTRODUCTION:

It is the closing scene in the motion picture, Ben Hur. The sky is disappearing behind the ominous looking cloud formations. The movie camera takes a long shot of three crosses rising out of a distant hill. Then the camera moves in close, closer, to the figure stretched out on the center cross. Lightning reveals a man squirming in silent agony to the rhythm of the flashes. It is raining hard. With each flash of light, the pool of rain water at the foot of the cross grows larger. Suddenly a single drop of blood drips into the pool and scatters. Then another drop falls. And then another. The pool is now tinted light red. The rain comes harder and the pool overflows into another pool immediately below it. The second pool reddens and enlarges, overflowing into still another pool which, in turn, overflows into a small stream. The blood-stained stream flows into a larger stream which meets a river which flows into an ocean.

PROPOSITION: NOTHING LIMITS THE GLORY OF GOD.

Here are five qualities of God’s powerful glory.

I. The power associated with God’s glory is SUSTAINING POWER (Luke 4:2 – Being forty days tempted . . . He did eat nothing).

A. Jesus was sustained by a divine and glorious power to deny Himself and His needs in order to fulfill the purpose of His Father.

B. The very power in Jesus keeps everything intact.

Colossians 1:16-17 -- For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

C. God’s glorious power sustained Jesus to the cross and beyond.

D. It is this power that will sustain you in your hour of need.

II. The power associated with God’s glory is CREATIVE POWER (Luke 4:3 –Command this stone that it be made bread).

A. Jesus had the ability to remake or create from nothing whatever He wished.

B. Satan knew that Christ could create what He wished.

C. All of creation declares the power of God’s glory.

Psalm 19:1-6 -- To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. Where...: or, without these their voice is heard: Heb. without their voice heard} Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, line: or, rule, or, direction} Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Romans 1:18-21-- For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed [it] unto them. in them: or, to them} For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: so...: or, that they may be} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

D. Let the new creation also declare this glory in thankfulness.

III. The power associated with God’s glory is INTRINSIC POWER (Luke 4:6 – All this power will I give thee, and the glory).

A. Intrinsic is defined as "Of or pertaining to the essential nature of a thing; inherent” according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

B. The power of God’s glory is within God Himself.

C. Jesus already possessed the glory Satan offered to give Him. There was nothing Satan could add to Jesus.

John 1:14 -- And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matthew 7:29 -- For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

Revelation 4:11 -- Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.