22 Days with God
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT
Intro: Have you ever faced a moment so overwhelming that you wondered, How will I ever get through this? What if I told you that there is a God whose power and sufficiency know no limits—a God who calls Himself El Shaddai, the Almighty?
The name El Shaddai reveals a profound truth: God is sufficient. He has all the power; therefore, He has enough power.
When we see our personal inadequacies, when we come up against impossible challenges, or when we face uncertain futures, He proves Himself mighty.
Today, we’ll look at three moments in Genesis where God’s sufficiency shines through. These stories remind us that when we are weakest, God is as strong as ever. He will show us His love by exercising His power when we need it most. We will learn how God wants us to understand His name El Shaddai. How can “God Almighty” work in my life?
- God's Power Is Enough When I Do Not Have What It Takes
Gen 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
Imagine having lived on earth for nearly a full century and then receiving marching orders from heaven. (What are your current plans for age 99?)
Abram, at 99 years old, hears God’s words: “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”
Here was a man too old to father children. He’s married to a barren wife. Yet, God promised to make him the father of many nations.
Gen 17:2 “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
Really? How many decades had it been since Abram & Sarai last discussed having a family?
This is the moment when God changed this man’s name to reflect his new identity.
Gen 17:5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”
He’s a 99-year old man with no children!
Q: How could a childless man whose reproductive years had long past ever become a patriarch over many nations?
A: He could not. Apart from outside supernatural help, he would die without an heir.
Abraham did not have what it took to reproduce children at that time in his life.
But that was no hurdle at all for an all-powerful God. In fact, it would be super easy for Him, barely an inconvenience.
El Shaddai would simply re-animate Abraham’s reproductive parts. He would open the womb of Abraham’s 90-year old wife, and in nine months’ time they would welcome the child of promise into the world and into their home!
Takeaway: When you feel incapable, remember that God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness.
A.W. Tozer – “God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.”
- God's Power Is Enough When the Odds Seem Stacked Against Me
Gen 43:14 “And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
Aging Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to face an unknown ruler, Joseph, with their family’s survival hanging in the balance.
He says, “May God Almighty give you mercy before the man.”
Little does he know that “the man” is his long-lost favorite son. He thinks he is sending his family to what would probably be certain death at the hands of a cruel, power-hungry Egyptian ruler. How could they survive without help from God?
Jacob entrusted the impossible to El Shaddai. And God worked. He softened Joseph’s heart which reunited Jacob’s family in perhaps the most stunning moment of providence in all of Genesis.
Gen 45:4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
God is El Shaddai, the Almighty. He not only provides but also orchestrates what seems to be impossible to redeem and to restore.
Gen 46:29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.
Gen 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”
Jacob is not despairing when he says, “now let me die,” he is deeply satisfied. He is relieved and content. God has restored his family at the end of his life when it looked like it was too late.
God Almighty had given them favor before the man.
Corrie ten Boom – “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Takeaway: When life’s odds seem stacked against you, trust in God’s power.
- God's Power Is Enough for the Miracle I Desperately Need
Gen 49:25 By the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above
In Gen 49 Jacob gave his last will and testament of blessing to his sons, and when he got to Joseph he made special note of how El Shaddai would continue to bless this favored son of his.
Joseph’s life epitomizes the transformative power of El Shaddai.
Once a slave and prisoner, Joseph was elevated to Prime Minister of Egypt in a single, God-ordained moment.
Joseph was forgotten in prison by a man whose life he saved. Two years later when Pharaoh needed someone to interpret his troubling dreams, this man, the chief butler, suddenly remembered Joseph.
“There is a young Hebrew who was in prison with me. He interpreted my dream and everything happened just as he said.”
Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”
Gen 41:16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
El Shaddai worked his power in Joseph’s own heart, keeping him humble. “I can’t interpret your dreams but my God can.”
God demonstrated His power by giving Joseph the insight to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Who alone could do so but God?
Gen 41:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Gen 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
Gen 41:40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Gen 41:41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
In v.41:38, Pharaoh recognizes something extraordinary about Joseph—he sees that Joseph is guided by the Spirit of God.
This is a striking moment, as an Egyptian king acknowledges the divine influence in Joseph’s life.
It reminds us that God's power is so evident that even those who don't worship Him can recognize His work in and through His people.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
In vv.39-41, Pharaoh not only acknowledges God's role in Joseph’s wisdom but entrusts him with immense responsibility.
Joseph, who was once a slave and prisoner, is now exalted to the second-highest position in Egypt.
This dramatic turn of events shows how God's power can reverse any situation for those who trust Him.
God not only gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams but also the wisdom and character needed to lead a nation during a crisis.
Takeaway: Trust that God’s power can turn your darkest moments into your greatest testimonies.
A.W. Tozer - “Anything God has ever done, He can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, He can do for you.”
Conclusion: In Genesis, El Shaddai—the Almighty—is revealed as the God who is sufficient in every situation. Whether you feel inadequate, face insurmountable odds, worry about the future, or need a miracle, God power is enough.
Closing Prayer: Almighty God, thank You for being our sufficiency in all things. Strengthen our faith to trust You in our weaknesses, our challenges, and our unknowns. Transform us by Your power and use our lives for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Transcript
And the night before Jesus died, he met with his 12, a small group meeting in an upper room. And then when he rose from the dead, the early church in Acts chapter two met, met in the temple courts together and from house to house. And so we're just following the pattern. And one of the things we say about our small group ministry is circles are better than rows. We're in rows today where you can kind of stay anonymous and receive what your own will allow you to receive.
But in small groups, we sit in circles because it's in those meetings that we gather to be loved, challenged and needed and known. And you need all four of those things in your life. You don't have to be a member of our church, but if you consider this church, family, your home now you can apply to be a part of our small group ministry. We want you to do that and it will help you become a part of us. And so just mark on your ministry card, you want to be a part of a small group.
We are in week three of a four week series called 22 Days with God where we have been examining four of the many attributes or characteristics or perfections of God. And today the topic is God is omnipotent. Omnipotent means all powerful. God is all powerful. And I wonder, have you ever faced a moment so overwhelming that you wondered, how will I ever get through this?
What if I told you that there's a God whose power and whose sufficiency knows no limits? Not only that, he's a God who calls himself El Shaddai, Hebrew for God Almighty. And the name El Shaddai reveals a profound truth for us. And that truth is that God is sufficient. What does that mean?
It means he has all the power. And if he has all the power, that means he has enough power. Yes. When we see our own weaknesses, our own personal inadequacies, or when we come up against impossible challenges, or when we face uncertain futures, God proves himself to be mighty. You know, I had a totally different sermon prepared and ready to go on Monday.
And on Tuesday, I read a verse where God says to Moses in Exodus, chapter 6, verse 3, I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, El Shaddai. And I thought, man, I must have missed it, because when I looked at the first sermon that I had prepared about God being all powerful. It looked a whole lot like the first sermon we did in this series that talked about God being sovereign. I thought, well, that's just redundant. We don't need that.
But if God revealed himself to the patriarchs in the book of Genesis as God Almighty, I might need to go study those moments. And there's like four or five of them. I'm going to give you three in our text today. Today we'll look at three moments in the book of Genesis where God's sufficiency shines through. And he calls himself El Shaddai in those moments.
And these stories remind us that when we are our weakest, God is as strong as ever. And I think that's a word for the crowd today. He will show us his love by exercising his power when we need it most. We will learn how God wants us to understand his name, El Shaddai by going and looking at the places in Genesis where he used it. And then I think this sermon will answer this question for all of us.
How can God Almighty work in my life? So that's where we're going. Let's pray together. Lord, we bow before you in prayer with the church and we ask you to do something that maybe we didn't prepare ourselves to do. Make our hearts and our minds strong.
I pray God that you would give our attention to the spirit of God. Lord. And if our flesh is weak, we know your spirit is willing. And let us hear your truth from the Word. Let us put aside anything that would distract us.
O God, let us be hungry. Sanctify us by the truth. Lord, your word is truth in Jesus name. And a faith filled church said. All right, so I'm gonna give you three truths from these three verses that I've selected.
Where God shows himself to be all powerful in the book of Genesis. Here's number one. God's power is enough when I do not have what it takes. That's what we learn in the first part of Genesis 17.
Here's verse one. When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God, I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be blameless. When I read that verse, it sounds like the starting mark, not the finish line. It's like almighty God goes to a man and says, here's who I am.
Now for the rest of your life, you walk with me and be blameless. Well, how much life does Abram have left? He's 99. Imagine having lived on earth for nearly a full century and then you receive your marching orders from heaven. I mean, can I just ask you, what are your current plans for age 99?
Have you even thought of them? Are they full of activity?
This is what's happening here. And look, don't you think, well, 99 years old in the Old Testament is not like 99 years now. No, it's 99 trips around the sun. It's the same. Here was a man who was too old to father children.
Do we agree?
He's married to a barren wife. That makes it doubly harder. And yet God promised to make him the father of many nations. So what good is the promise of God? Well, here's verse two of Genesis 17.
That same El Shaddai says to Abram, I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Really? Here's what I want to know. How many decades had it been since Abram and Sarai last discussed having a family? He's 99 and she's 90.
I mean, he robbed the cradle, right? But at this point it doesn't matter.
What if I told you this is the moment that God changed this man's name to reflect his new identity? He's just Abram of Ur of the chaldees. Until Genesis 17:5. God says to him, no longer shall you be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham. For I have made you a father of many nations.
Ladies and gentlemen, he's a 99 year old man with no children. How.
How could a childless man whose reproductive years had long passed ever become a patriarch over many nations? That's the question. You know what the answer is? He could not, that is, apart from outside supernatural help. You know, like from someone who calls himself El Shaddai, Almighty God.
Without supernatural help, Abram dies without an heir. It's at this moment I have to remind all of us Abraham did not have what it took to reproduce children at that time in his life. Do we agree?
But that was no hurdle at all for an all powerful God. In fact, it would be super easy for him. Barely an inconvenience.
El Shaddai would simply reanimate Abraham's reproductive parts. Then he would open the womb of Abraham's 90 year old wife and in nine months time they would welcome the child of promise, Isaac, into the world and into their home.
What's the takeaway, Pastor? From what we're talking about, the takeaway is this. When you feel incapable like Abraham felt, remember that God's strength is Made perfect in your weakness.
AW Tozer writes about the attributes of God in a small, dandy Christian classic book called Knowledge of the Holy. Everyone should read it. Here's a quote from Tozer. God is looking for people through whom he can do the impossible. What a pity we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.
When God's power is enough, when I do not have what it takes, and there's something in your life that God wants you to step out by faith, trust him, do something and you don't have it in you. And here's your lesson. And the lesson is El Shaddai, Almighty God. All right, number two. God's power is enough.
When the odds seem stacked against me.
We'll go later in the book of Genesis. Here, Genesis 43:14, that was Abraham. Now we're going to his grandson Jacob. And we read the verse Genesis 43:14 and may God Almighty, may El Shaddai give you mercy before the man that he may release your brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.
What is this declaration about? From Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. Aging Jacob, he's older, sends his son to his sons to Egypt. Because in the region of the world at that time there had been a worldwide famine and everyone was starving to death. And the only place that had a supply of food was in Egypt.
They had a superior administrator who had great vision who said, you know what, we better set some things aside while things are good so that in case there's bad years, we're okay. That's the man from this verse. Jacob doesn't know his name yet he sends his son to Egypt to face this unknown ruler. Do you know that ruler's name? It was Joseph.
And he sends them there with their family's survival hanging in the balance. Remember I just told you God's power is enough. When the odds seem stacked against me, Jacob says, may God Almighty give you mercy before the man. Little does he know that the man is his long lost favorite son who he had presumed was dead because his other sons, other than Benjamin, were wicked men who lied to their father and sold this man into slavery. He thinks he's sending his family to what would probably be certain death at the hands of a cruel power hungry Egyptian ruler.
So Jacob wonders how in the world could they survive without help from God. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man. That's a statement of faith. You see, Jacob entrusted the impossible to El Shaddai. May God Almighty do this.
And without going into all the details of the story I'll just summarize them with. And God worked it out. Yes, and God worked. He softened Joseph's heart, which reunited Jacob's family in perhaps the most stunning moment of providence in all the book of Genesis. The world would call it a coincidence.
We would call it the providential hand of God. So here's some scriptures to back all this up. Genesis 45, verses 4 and 5. And Joseph said to his brothers, please come near to me. So they came near, and then he said, here's the big reveal.
I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now, at that moment, how do you think the brothers felt? I think they puckered up. I think they got really nervous in verse five. But now, do not be grieved or angry with yourselves.
Joseph lets him off the hook because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
God is El Shaddai, the Almighty. He not only provides, he also orchestrates what seems to be impossible. And he does it. He does it to redeem and to restore. God sent me before you to preserve life.
I'm your redeemer, My brothers, a little later, in Genesis 46, 29 and 30, the brothers go back home and they bring old dad and they say, dad, you're not going to believe who the man is. Genesis 46, 29 and 30. So Joseph made ready his chariot and the. And he went up to Goshen to meet his father, Israel. That's another name for Jacob.
And he presented himself to him, and he fell on his neck and he wept on his neck for a good while. It had been 13 long years since he had seen his father. And for those entire 13 years, Jacob assumed his son was dead. This is a resurrection, in a sense. And.
And Jacob, Israel said to Joseph, now let me die. Since I've seen your face because you are still alive, I want you to know that Jacob is not despairing when he says, now let me die. This is a phrase that he means. He's deeply satisfied. He's relieved.
Now I can die in peace is almost the idea. Jacob is relieved. He's content. God has restored his family. And at the end of his life, when it looked like it was too late, you see, God's power's enough when the odds are stacked against me.
God Almighty had given them favor before the man, which was Jacob's request. Do you know who Ms. Corrie Ten Boone was? If you know Jesus, you'll meet her one day. She's in heaven with the Lord.
She wrote, never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. What's the takeaway here? The takeaway is when life's odds seem stacked against you. Trust in God's power.
God was clear to make himself known to Jacob in this moment as El Shaddai. And number three, three out of three. Today, God's power is enough for the miracle I desperately need. Here's the third lesson of El Shaddai in Genesis. And it's really near the end.
Genesis 49:25. Jacob speaks again. He speaks to Joseph. This time he says, by the God of your Father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above. What's that verse about, Pastor?
Well, in Genesis 49, Jacob gave his last will and testament, his blessings to all of his sons and grandsons. It's a long poem, Genesis 49. And when he got to Joseph, he made special note of how El Shaddai would continue to bless this favored son of his. He says, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above. Why did he mention this?
Well, the answer is, if you just go back and read Genesis 37:50, that's Joseph's life story in Genesis, you'll find that Joseph's life epitomizes the transforming power of El Shaddai. And it is nothing short of miraculous. You see, once he's a. He was once a slave and a prisoner. This young man, Joseph, from the prison to the palace, he's elevated to prime minister of Egypt in one single God ordained moment.
God's power is enough for the miracle I desperately need. Let me tell you the story. We fast forward to the last place that Joseph was incarcerated. And he's forgotten in prison by a man whose life he saved. He saved this man because God gave him a dream.
He interpreted it for the man. And this man is later called the Chief Butler. He's the, he's the personal aid to Pharaoh himself. And as the chief butler is getting out of prison because Joseph told him he would because of the dream he interpreted, Joseph just said, hey, I just have one favor. Would you just remember me when you get out and see if you can get me out of these chains?
In prison, the Chief Butler agrees to do that because everybody has good intentions when things are going right in their life. And when he gets back to the palace, he forgets. He gets all inward focus and he gets all about himself and the details of his new life. And he forgets about the guy that got him there. Joseph is forgotten in prison by this man whose life he saved two years later, when two years, 700 something days, Joseph languishes unjustly in prison, is forgotten.
And then Pharaoh needed someone to interpret his troubling dreams. When that happened, this man, the chief butler, suddenly remembered Joseph. I guess better late than never, huh? And let me summarize what the chief butler says. He says, hey, there's a young Hebrew who was in prison with me, and now I remember my failings.
And he interpreted my dream and everything happened just as he said. If you're looking for a dream interpreter, I would start with him. And now we pick up the story in Genesis 41, verses 14 through 16. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon, and he shaved and changed his clothing and came to Pharaoh. Why did he do that?
Because you don't just stumble into the palace with years of bearded, unshaven face and tattered clothing that's not fit for how you approach and appear before a king. I think there's just a quick word there, not about the outward appearance, but when you come on Sunday, you're appearing before the Lord and you ought to. You ought to think about it. You shouldn't stumble in here after your last whatever without giving any thought to who am I appearing before? Is that too much?
Was that too hard? Okay, the verse is there. I just thought I would share it with you. Pharaoh said to Joseph, I've had a dream and there's no one who can interpret it. But I've heard it said of you that you can understand a dream to interpret it.
So Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, now look, before you read this verse, I want to tell you how I would do it. I would have said, you bet your life I can do that. Let me give you my resume and my track record. In fact, how did you hear about me? Oh, you're chief butler.
Well, you have your chief butler back. Because I was able, that's how I would do it. Don't be like me.
That's how I would do it before I read this in the Bible. The sanctifying work of the spirit. Though Joseph says, it's not in me, God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
God was preparing a leader by the terrible days that he spent in prison. And it didn't make him proud, it made him humble. El Shaddai worked his power in Joseph's own heart, keeping him humble. And so Joseph says, I can't interpret your dreams, but my God can.
God demonstrated his power by giving Joseph the insight to interpret both of Pharaoh's dreams. And I want to ask you this question. Who alone could do so but God?
A little later, in Genesis 41, verses 38 through 41. Let's pick up the story there. And Pharaoh said to his servants, can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God? Pharaoh's no believer. He considers himself to be a God, and he is polytheistic.
In Egypt, they had many gods. And now he's honed in on some specific God. And he says that God's inside this man. And then Pharaoh said to Joseph, inasmuch as God has shown you all of this, there's no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word.
Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. Do you think Joseph had that on his bingo card that morning? And Pharaoh said to Joseph, see, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.
You know, there's a proverb about when the king is righteous, the people rejoice. When he's wicked, the people groan.
There's going to be an inauguration tomorrow, and that is not going to fix everything. There is still a need in every pagan nation for men and women in the middle of their suffering to trust in God, to be full of the Holy Spirit, to learn wisdom and to learn power and to learn faith. America still needs Joseph's and Josephine's.
And if God did it for Joseph, he can do it for you. This is important. In verse 38, Pharaoh recognizes something extraordinary about Joseph. He sees that Joseph is guided by the spirit of God. I want to say to you this is a striking moment as an Egyptian king acknowledges this divine influence in Joseph's life.
He can't deny it. He sees it. It's all over, this young man. It's in what he says. It's in his actions.
It's in his demeanor. This is what the filling of the spirit does for people of faith. This wasn't just for a special man in a special time, in a special book. It's for all of us. It reminds us that God's power is so evident that even those who don't worship him can recognize God's work in us and through us, in his people and through his people.
It becomes undeniable in Acts, chapter three. Let me give you the New Testament version of this. In Acts, chapter three, Peter and John are moseying on down to the temple. They come across a paralyzed man. He asks them for money.
Peter says, silver and gold. Have I none. But what I have, I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk. And the Bible says, that man picked up his mat and he went home. I mean, you're gonna go somewhere, right?
You're not gonna stay in a place of begging. Better than money. He got his mobility back. It was a miracle. Well, that didn't sit too well with the religious leaders.
It kind of hurt their enterprise. And so they throw Peter and John in jail for preaching in the name of Jesus. And then they say, you know what? We'll let you out if you promise not to preach in Jesus name anymore. And Peter and John say, we must obey God rather than men.
Do you remember this story at the end of the story? Here's the evaluation of it. Acts 4:13. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus.
What was different about these guys? How could they bring such a miracle? Why do they have this unusual boldness? Why would they rather stay in jail than promise not to speak about this man again? Oh, they were with him.
We can't deny it. Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?
And in verses 39 to 41 that we just read, Pharaoh not only acknowledges God's role in Joseph's wisdom, Pharaoh also entrusts Joseph with. With immense responsibility, I set you over all the land of Egypt. So here, let's review. Joseph, he's once a slave and a prisoner, is now exalted to the second highest position in Egypt. Would you be okay if I would.
For me to call that a miracle, this dramatic turn of events shows how God can reverse any situation for those who trust him. And that's a word for all of us. God's power is enough for the miracle that I desperately need. God not only gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams. That's cool enough, but you know what's better?
He gave Joseph the wisdom and the character needed to lead a nation in a region in crisis. I would want that more. Well, what's the takeaway, preacher? All right, write this down. It won't be on your screen.
The takeaway is trust that God's power can turn your darkest moments into your greatest testimonies. Because that's what he did for Joseph. Trust that God's power can turn your darkest moments into. Into your greatest testimonies.
I'm going to leave you with my favorite tozer Quote of the week. You ready?
Anything God has ever done, he can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, he can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, he can do for you.
In closing today in Genesis El Shaddai, the Almighty is revealed as the God who's sufficient in every situation. So whether you feel inadequate today and your weaknesses are being magnified in your life, whether you're facing insurmountable odds, I don't know what the diagnosis you or your loved one received could be bad. Whether you're worried about the future, maybe your grown children, or maybe you just need a miracle. We've just surveyed three moments where God has revealed himself that he's almighty. And I want to say that God's power is enough.
Let's bow in prayer. Almighty God, thank you for being our sufficiency in all things. Strengthen our faith to trust you in our weaknesses and to trust you in our challenges and to trust you in all the unknowns in our lives. God, our prayer, our collective prayer is transform us by your power and use our lives for your glory. In Jesus name, amen.
It is prayer ministry Sunday, the third Sunday of the month, and we're going to pray for people at the end of our service. I'll come back up in a moment and dismiss us. One of our elders who leads our prayer ministry, Billy Egner, is going to come and he's going to share a word that he and I have been talking about and working on for a few months that we think the Lord may have given him to share with the church and some scripture that may help some of you for our prayer ministry today. So here's Billy.
Good morning, everybody. Like Trevor said, I'm Billy Egner. I am one of the elders here. And before we dive into what I want for you all to do is some self assessment. I want to encourage you that we have lots to praise God for.
And on that ministry card, skip that praise part. And when you come for prayer with the prayer team, bring praises too. We love that. So let's praise God in the midst of some troubles as well. So what I want to do is lead us in a corporate time of prayer against shame and the power of shame.
And so there's going to be some verses on the screen. The first verse is job 15. I read this and it got me wondering as Job presents a defense of sorts to God about his experience. It says, if I am guilty, woe to me. Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame.
And drowned in my affliction. And I wondered if anybody here feels like Job now, where you feel that sense of shame. Other translations have shame as disgrace there. So shame and disgrace kind of go hand in hand, and you'll see that in a few other verses that I'm going to give you. But if you're feeling like Job felt, if you carry that disgrace and shame for something that happened to you, and you feel like you're unworthy to look on God, then this may be something for you today.
Or if you've sinned and brought shame on yourself and you feel that sense of woe and despair, consider praying with me in a little bit. You may believe that your shame is so great that you're enslaved to sin and you can't get out of it. You're never to be freed from it. I think God might have something for you today. Or if you have a sense that there is a part of you that's beyond redeeming, that you're forever damaged.
If it's given you a reason to stay stuck in that spiral of sin, then let's take that to God. There's lots of verses that speak about shame. There's going to be some on the screen. I'll read those, and you can read along with me if that helps you. Or you can just listen.
But just some quick ones if you're under this shame. We're taught that there's no condemnation in Christ. In Romans 1:8, we're taught that godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation in 2nd Corinthians 7:10 and as children of God, we can boldly approach his throne of grace. In Hebrews 4:16, David and the nation of Israel, while they were enslaved, they had every opportunity to relate to your sense of shame and sorrow, and they turned to God. Jesus was mistreated.
He felt no shame except ours, and he turned to God and relied on the Holy Spirit. So if you're in this, I want to tell you your pain is real. It's not something that we minimize at all. And we believe that God can deliver you.
So some verses in Psalm Psalm 22:5 to you they cried out and were saved in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 34, 5 To those who look to him are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame. In Isaiah 54, 4 says, do not be afraid. You will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace. You will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Isaiah 61:7, verse part A says, instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. And finally, in Romans 5:5, we get and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
In Romans 10:11, as Scripture says, Paul's referring back to Isaiah, anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. So as much as God saw what Job was going through and repaired Job's sense of shame and disgrace, I think we know how that ended. Job was doubly blessed. He can repair your sense of shame too. So if you feel this, if this is hitting you, then I want you to pray with me.
So let's go to the Lord now. God, we repent of being deceived into believing in a diminished value of the sacrifice of Christ our Heavenly Father. We have no claim, no right, and no benefit to holding on to shame for which Jesus has already paid at the cross. We have only to repent and believe in your goodness and your free gift offered through Jesus sacrifice. We renounce the lies of the enemy.
We renounce how the lies convinced us of condemnation and have affected our thoughts and emotions. We renounce how those lies have entrenched behavioral sin patterns. And we confess that these lies have no power where Jesus lives. God, we thank you for your gift of healing salvation. We thank Jesus for taking our shame wrath.
And we praise the Holy Spirit for his protection and power that fills God's children.
So if you were praying along with me just then, now I'm going to pray a little bit further and you can just listen.
God, I pray that the burden of shame is released from the people here that need it. And your peace through through the Holy Spirit fills the space in all of those that have asked for it today. God, we thank you for whatever amount of shame that your children have carried.
The weight of your gift of mercy and grace is much heavier than that burden that they've carried. And in the name of Jesus, through his atoning and sacrificial work. We are children and heirs of God's riches that he gives to us. Amen. So if you prayed that prayer of shame against shame with me, I definitely want you to come up and see us as part of the prayer ministry team after the service.
Exercise more faith. If you've been carrying shame at your hip for years, come and get more prayer from us, please. We definitely want to seek God for you. Yes, thank you for that excellent word, Billy. Let's stand together today, the prayer team, you guys and guys come to the front on the third Sunday of every month.
On prayer ministry Sunday we expect to have longer lines so I want to remind our members, come and get prayer, come bring praises, come bring encouraging words. Today I believe God's going to lift off of some of you illness, sickness, shame, all of that stuff and you can come and receive prayer for anything. But this is our designated Sunday where it's a big day for prayer and we believe, look, you take one step of faith walking forward while everybody else walks out and watch what God does to those who trust in him. Father, in Jesus name, we thank you for a great meeting today and for the Lord's day and how it encourages us. I pray you'd bless our church to walk in the spirit, walk in truth and to show the grace of Jesus this week.
Watch over us God and protect us from evil and harm and let us show your love in Jesus name and a faithful church Said see you guys next week.
Come and join us this Sunday at the Great Commission Church for a truly remarkable and uplifting experience. Great Commission Church is not just any ordinary place of worship; it's a vibrant community where faith comes alive, hearts are filled with love, and lives are transformed. Our doors are wide open, ready to welcome you into the warm embrace of our congregation, where you'll discover the true essence of fellowship and spirituality. At Great Commission Church, we are more than just a congregation; we are a family united by a common mission – to follow the teachings of Christ and spread His love to the world. As you step inside Great Commission Church, you'll find a sanctuary that nurtures your faith and encourages you to be part of something greater than yourself.
We believe in the power of coming together as a community to worship, learn, and serve. Whether you're a long-time believer or just starting your spiritual journey, Great Commission Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Our vibrant services are filled with inspiring messages, beautiful music, and heartfelt prayers that will uplift your soul. Every Sunday at Great Commission Church is an opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and connect with others who share your faith and values.
At Great Commission Church, we believe that faith is not just a solitary endeavor but a shared experience that strengthens and enriches us all. Our church is a place where you can find purpose, belonging, and the encouragement to live a life in accordance with Christ's teachings. Join us this Sunday at Great Commission Church and experience the transformative power of faith in action. Be part of a loving and supportive community that is committed to making a positive impact in our world. Together, we strive to fulfill the great commission to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We look forward to having you with us at Great Commission Church this Sunday, where faith, love, and community intersect in a truly amazing way.
Great Commission Church is a non-denominational Christian church located in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We are a short drive from Germantown, Southaven, Collierville, Horn Lake, Memphis, Fairhaven, Mineral Wells, Pleasant Hill, Handy Corner, Lewisburg and Byhalia.
See you Sunday at Great Commission Church!