For to us a child is born, To us a son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Today we will take a closer look at the second descriptive name given to the long-awaited Messiah in Isaiah’s prophecy. If you missed the first post on WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, you can find it HERE.
Mighty God
The name Mighty God means, “strong or mighty” and could be translated as “Hero God”. It speaks to God’s supreme power, wisdom and strength.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard stories of God’s mighty power – how He saved the Israelites from Pharaoh by way of the Red Sea, protected Daniel in the lion’s den, and delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from sure death in the blazing furnace. I’ve read of how He’s defeated armies, obliterated nations, silenced kings and wiped out all but Noah and His family in the terrible flood. I bet you’ve heard these stories too.
From cover to cover, the Bible teaches us of God’s great might, both in word and deed. Like me, you probably believe that Jesus is:
- mighty to save,
- mighty to deliver,
- mighty to conquer,
- mighty to protect,
- mighty to provide,
- mighty to strengthen,
- mighty to empower,
- mighty to redeem.
But I wonder sometimes if there’s a disconnect from what we say we believe (based on Scripture) and what we practically believe (in the here and now).
How often do we look at our lives and wonder, “Where’s all that power now?”
The Power of God Today
God is omnipotent, whether we believe He is or not. His power is at work in and around us, whether we see it or not. However, our ability to understand and recognize the power of our Mighty God in and around us will transform every aspect of our lives.
Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us, “For to us a child is born, To us a son is given”. Jesus, our Mighty God, came for us, and has been given to us. God’s mighty power is not trapped within the thin, white pages of our Bibles. His power is real and available to us today.
What now?
So, what do we do with that disconnect between what we say we believe and what we practically live out in our day to day lives?
- Ask for eyes to see.
First, have you ever considered asking God for the ability to see His power at work around you? The apostle Paul constantly prayed that we would have eyes to see our Hero God at work, so I’m following his lead.
Let {us} see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power. Ephesians 1:19 (VOICE)
When you’re watching the news, when you’re in the middle of a struggle, when you’re in conversations with friends, ask our Mighty God for eyes to see His mighty power at work around you.
- Receive and submit to His power within.
Our God is most certainly at work around us, but He is also working within.
Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20 (VOICE)
The same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God is alive in you and me (Ephesians 1:19-21). The word power in Greek means, “strength, mighty work, miracle, and might”. My favorite meaning, however, is found at the root of the word: duna, which means, “to be able“.
Think of it this way: If you are a believer, you have the “to be able” living inside of you. That means you have His strength, His power, and His ability in you. Jesus is your “to be able.”
What in your life seems too hard right now? Where do you need to see God’s power at work in your day-to-day? Let’s you and I place our cares in His capable hands and trust in the might and strength of our Mighty God to see us through.
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