We have read about all the exploits that the Old Testament saints had done for the Lord and the experiences that they had with Him. We also have the opportunity to read about the wonderful experiences the twelve disciples had during their time with Jesus. However, does it mean that God no longer journeys with us when we are faced with the same challenges and crises in our lives? Has God left us to endure until we go to heaven? What is the relevancy of faith for today? Does it mean that the faithfulness and the love of God was purely historical? Absolutely NOT!Having the right image of who God is will help us to enjoy the inner peace while the rest of the world panics.
Mark 4:41 (NKJV) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
The disciples were amazed that Jesus was able to command the wind and the waves to be calm. Unlike the Centurion, the disciples did not grasp the revelation that the Son of God has authority over all of creation and His word carries power. Jesus is indeed the great I AM and the Word during the time of creation. It is His Word that upholds all things that are seen and unseen.
The Bible tells us that the just shall live by faith therefore Christianity is a lifestyle of faith. It will require us to leave our comfort zone when we are made to walk out in faith to trust Him when the natural environment is extremely unfavorable towards us. God will meet us at our level of faith and assure us with His Word.
Unlike the disciples, we have the full counsel of the Word of God and we have read about how God established a covenant with Abraham and reminded Abram that He is Almighty God or El Shaddai. He is able to bring to pass whatever He promised Abraham.
Almighty (Strong 3841)(pantokrator) means strength or might, especially manifested power, the power to rule or control is literally the ruler over all or the One Who controls all things and Who has power over everything. God Almighty at times is also referred to as El Shaddai (Strong’s Concordance – Greek)
Shaddai (Strong 07706) (Shadday) means Almighty, most powerful. The Name Shaddai conveys the truth on the one hand that He is omnipotent and on the other that He is sufficient. (Strong’s Concordance – Hebrew)
Abraham had a calling to be the father of many nations. He heard the calling from the Lord personally. Abraham had to believe that God has called Him to be the father of many nations and that the promise would come through Sarah. It was an impossible situation because of their age therefore Abraham had to believe that God is truly the God Almighty.
You and I have a calling today. Some of us are called into full time ministry whereas the rest are called into the marketplace ministry. We need to trust that God Almighty has placed us in these ministries with a purpose.
Sermon Series: Experiencing God – Is Our Faith in God Still Relevant Today
全能的上帝
我们已经读到了旧约圣徒为主所做的一切事迹，以及他们与上帝的经历。我们也有机会阅读十二个门徒在与耶稣在一起时的奇妙经历。但是，这是否意味着当我们在生活中面临同样的挑战和危机时，上帝不再与我们同行？上帝让我们来忍受这一切直到我们去天堂吗？信仰对于今天的时代有什么意义？这是否意味着上帝的信实和爱纯粹只存在于历史？当然不是！
正确地认识神是谁，将有助于我们在世人皆惶恐的当儿享受内心的和平。
马可福音4:41（NKJV），他们就大大地惧怕，彼此说，“这到底是谁，连风和海也听从他了”。
门徒惊讶于耶稣能够指挥风浪使其平静。与百夫长不同，门徒们没有明白这个启示，就是上帝的儿子统管一切被造之物，祂的话语带有能力。耶稣确实就是那伟大的自有永有者，也是那创世之初的道。所有可见和不可见的事物皆因祂的道而存留。
圣经告诉我们，义人凭信心而活，因此基督教是一种信心的生活方式。当自然环境对我们极为不利时，我们被迫离开我们的舒适区，凭信心踏出去信靠他。上帝会在我们的信心层面与我们相遇，并用他的话语来使我们确信。
与门徒不同，我们有全备的圣经，并且已经阅读了上帝如何与亚伯拉罕立约并提醒亚伯兰他是全能的上帝。他能够实现他答应给亚伯拉罕的一切。
全能的（Strong3841）意味着力量或伟力，特别是指彰显出来的力量，统治或控制的力量，照字面解释就是万有的统治者，或者那位掌控一切事物的，以及能力超乎一切的。全能神有时也被称为El Shaddai
Shaddai（Strong07706）（Shadday）表示全能，最强大。 Shaddai这个名字传达了真理，一方面指祂是万能的，另一方面指祂是足够的。
亚伯拉罕蒙召成为多国之父。他亲自听到了主的呼召。亚伯拉罕必须相信上帝已经呼召他成为多国之父，并且这应许将从撒拉而出。鉴于他们的年龄这是不可能的，因此亚伯拉罕不得不相信上帝确实是全能的上帝。
你和我今天有个呼召。我们中有些人蒙召从事全职侍奉，而其他人则蒙召进入职场侍奉。我们需要相信，全能的上帝是刻意地将我们放在了这些事工中。
讲章系列：经历神 – 我们对神的信心在今日是否仍然有意义