We have a Mighty God! If God had a name what would it be? Well he does have a name and it is Mighty
God! Isaiah reminds us in chapter 9 how
Gideon the least person in the least family in the least tribe in the whole of
Israel with just 300 men defeated the great and powerful Midianite army. But the battle was unfair! On one side you
had the great Midian army consisting of hundreds of thousands of
men. And on the other side a mere
300. It was never going to be a fair
fight. As with Gideon was the God that breathed the whole of the universe into
being. It was never going
to be a fair battle! I could
remind you of David and Goliath. How on
one side you have a Philistine army led by a giant who no one could beat. On the other side a terrified Israel with a
young shepherd boy as their champion.
It was never going to be a fair fight though, because on the
side of David was the God that breathed the entire universe into being! We could recall Daniel being put into a den
of lions. How on the one side you have
man eating ferocious beasts and on the other one vulnerable
defenceless person. It was
never going to be a fair fight though, because on the side of
Daniel was the God who breathed the entire universe into being. And that Mighty God, Isaiah declares is
coming to live on earth!
Mary is told that she will give birth to this
mighty God. She asks the obvious question, ‘how can that be since I am a
virgin’? ‘Nothing is impossible for God’
comes the angels incredible response.
For we have a Mighty God. And that little boy grew up and calmed
storms, walked on water, bought recovery of sight to the blind, healed the
sick, multiplied food, turned water into wine and turned society upside down
with radical and wonderful teaching. He
was and is a mighty God.
We return to Joan Osbourne’s song and question,
‘What if God was one of us’? What if
this Mighty God is one of us? Well He
is! What are the difficulties we face
today or in the weeks and months ahead?
What sin is it we keep having to confess too? What is a friend suffering with and has
had to come to terms with just having to live with? What things are we
just getting on with because it is just the way things are and we see little or
no hope? Because the battle is
unfair! On the one side we have our huge
insurmountable problems and on the other side we have are broken
powerless selves. It is an unfair
battle though, because on our side is the God that breathed the entire universe
into being!
One of my favourite stories is of Legion. Because
his is the most incredible story of defeat becoming victory. Legion was a nuisance. He had mental health problems. He was demon possessed. He walked around the town, screaming and
crying out, whilst he self harmed with rocks and stones. He frightened children and he disturbed
neighbours. There needed to be something
done. So the towns people removed him
and placed him among the tombs in the countryside. There the cries and shouts were distant and
you did not have to see him self harm and rip his clothes off. Legion would wander back though. So the towns people then had to manacle him
by ankles and wrist but his demonic and chaotic rages even led to him breaking
free of chains. Legion was a wreck. He had no life. He was defeated. Then Jesus enters the scene. Jesus approaches him with a touch and a
prayer. The result? Legion is found in his right mind, fully
clothed and at the feet of Jesus. Defeat
turned into victory. Sorrow into
Joy. Darkness into light. Just as Isaiah had prophesied all those years
ago. We have a mighty God. Legion before meeting Jesus, self harming,
naked, disturbed… beaten. Legion after
meeting Jesus, fully clothed, in his right mind, at peace… running around the
towns of the Decapolis telling everybody what Jesus had done for him. We have a mighty God.
What area this
advent do you need to invite the Mighty God into? What defeats might be turned to victory? If ever there is a picture of defeat it has
been British tennis over the last 50 odd years!
But see the picture above! See
the photos and videos of Andy Murray finally bringing victory. See the joy, see the emotion, see the
celebration. Our Mighty God can do that
for us. What ever it is we face this
advent and next year, know this, that the battle is unfair, because on our side
is the God who breathed the entire universe into being. May you know this Mighty God at work in your
life, and may your defeats be turned into glorious victory. In His name, Amen
many salient points here Ben!I am loving these. x
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