MONTHLY NEWSLETTER With Rev. Dr. C. A. ONITIRI October 2022

Beloved of the Lord:
I welcome you all to this month of October, the 10th month in the year 2022.
In the Bible, the number 10 is mentioned 242 times. Indeed it has a special meaning–It indicates God’s authority over mankind and the divine completion He made. Evidence of this can be seen in Genesis Chapter 1, which recounts the creation story and the phrase “God said” 10 times. One example is in Genesis 1v26:
“THEN GOD SAID, ‘LET US MAKE MANKIND IN OUR IMAGE, IN OUR LIKENESS…”(NIV)
God’s divine authority over creation and the holiness He placed on it is clearly shown in this Chapter of the Scripture.

PART 1: REVELATION 1V8.

Our Scripture for the month of October is taken from the Book of Revelation, Revelation 1v8
“I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA,” SAYS THE LORD GOD, “WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.” (NIV)

In this verse, John identifies Jesus as “THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA” In the Greek alphabet, these are the first and the last letters. This emphasises Jesus as Eternal–the Beginning and the End. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega and everything in between.

Also, in this verse, John further describes Jesus as the LORD GOD,
“WHO IS, AND WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY”
The title “LORD GOD” reminds us that He is our ruler,whom we should show our obedience towards.
As God, He deserves our worship.
Jesus has always existed and always will exist as the Almighty. Before the world was formed, He existed and as we read in JOHN 1v2&3, He was in the beginning with God and He created everything.
v2:”HE WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING”
v3:THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE; WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE THAT HAS BEEN MADE.”(NIV)

Because He is Almighty,nothing is too hard for Him.Towards the later part of the Book,we see enemies that came up against Him,but they could not defeat Him.Indeed the Bible tells us in Isaiah 11v4 that He destroys His enemies with the breath of His nostrils.

Because He is all Powerful, we can trust Him to accomplish for us what we could never do for ourselves.

PART 2: THEME: “THE ONMIPOTENCE OF GOD”

Our THEME for the month is: “THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD “

The Book of Revelation is a revelation from Jesus Christ about Himself. In the Book God gave the revelation of His plan to Jesus Christ,who in turn revealed it to John.
This is very important for:
1–It reveals His evaluation of His Churches 60 to 65 years after His resurrection and ascension to heaven.
2—It discloses future events concerning
The tribulation
God’s victory over evil
The return of Christ to reign on earth and
The blessedness of God’s eternal kingdom.
Revelation 1v1
“THE REVELATION FROM JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE HIM TO SHOW HIS SERVANTS WHAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE. HE MADE IT KNOWN BY SENDIND HIS ANGEL TO HIS SERVANT JOHN.”(NIV)

One of the specific themes of the entire Book is that,we as readers of the Book, understand the OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD.
Revelation 1v8
“I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA” SAYS THE LORD GOD, WHO IS,AND WHO WAS,AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY”

Revelation1v11
“I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA,THE FIRST AND THE LAST…..”(NIV)

Revelation 21v6
“…….I AM ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END….”(NIV)

Revelation 22v13
“I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA,THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THD END.” (NIV)

Scripture confirms GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE by telling us that God does whatever He is pleased to do—PSALM115v3
“OUR GOD IS IN HEAVEN, HE DOES WHATEVER PLEASES HIM”(NIV)
Nothing is too hard for Him–Genesis18v14.
His Word is never void of power–Isaiah 55v11
“SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY,BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT. “(NIV)

Just from these few examples and there are many. We can define GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE by saying that HE HAS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING.
We may include in this the smallest details of the natural world, like the falling of a sparrow–MATTHEW 6V26-30, or the number of hairs that grows on our heads–MATTHEW 10v29-30
Even events that we call random and we say it’s by chance,are really God at work.–PROVERBS 16v33
“THE LOT IS CAST INTO THE LAP, BUT ITS EVERY DECISION IS FROM THE LORD.”(NIV)

God determines what nations dwell in which territory–ACTS 17v26.
He decides what king to rule and when and where--ISAIAH 44v28
“WHO SAYS OF CYRUS,HE IS MY SHPHERD AND WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT I PLEASE; HE WILL SAY TO JERUSALEM, “LET IT BE REBUILT,” AND OF THE TEMPLE, ” LET ITS FOUNDATION BE LAID” (NIV)
He decides whether the purpose of a ruler will stand or fall–PSALM33v10-11.
v10-THE LORD FOILS THE PLANS OF THE NATIONS,HE THWARTS THE PURPOSE OF THE PEOPLES
v11-BUT THE PLANS OF THE LORD STANDS FIRM FOREVER, THE PURPOSES OF HIS HEART THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS. “(NIV)
And He decided that wicked people will take the life of His dear Son,so that we sinners might live–ACTS 2V23-24.
v23-
THIS MAN WAS HANDED OVER TO YOU BY GOD’S DELIBRATE PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE, AND YOU WITH THE HELP OF WICKED MEN PUT HIM TO DEATH BY NAILING HIM TO THE CROSS.
v24-
BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, FREEING HIM FROM THE AGONY OF DEATH, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DEATH TO KEEP ITS HOLD ON HIM.”(NIV)
He decides whether we will travel or stay home–JAMES 4V13-17.

We can see His power is universal: It controls everything in the universe.
LAMENTATIONS 3 v37-38
v37 “WHO CAN SPEAK AND HAVE IT HAPPEN IF THE LORD HAD NOT DECREED IT?
v38-
IS IT NOT FROM THE MOUTH OF THE MOST HIGH THAT BOTH CALAMITIES AND GOOD THINGS COME?”(NIV)

PART 3

How then do we define the OMNIPTENCE OF GOD?

“OMNIPOTENT” derives from the Latin omnis meaning “all” and potens meaning “powerful“
El-Shaddai, a Hebrew name for God evokes His Omnipotence as he Almighty.Indeed, El-Shaddai means GOD MOST POWERFUL OR GOD ALMIGHTY.
COLOSSIANS 1v16
“FOR IN HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED: THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE,WHETHER THRONES OR POWERS OR RULERS OR AUTHORITIES;ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.”(NIV)
There is no greater power in existence than the power of God,and there is nothing in existence that God does not have power over.

Jesus Christ is OMNIPOTENT. The Bible tells us in many passages that Jesus is God. JOHN 1v1,14. JOHN 20v26. HEBREWS 1v8. REVELATION 1v17.

JOHN1v1
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.”(NIV)

REVELATION 1v17
“WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET AS THOUGH DEAD.THEN HE PLACED HIS RIGHT HAND ON ME AND SAID: ” DO NOT BE AFRAID.” I AM THE FIRST ANDTHE LAST.”(NIV)

By definition, GOD IS ALL POWERFUL.
Since the Bible calls Jesus God, this demands then that He must be POWERFUL–JOHN 1v1,14
v14–THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US.WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY SON, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.”(NIV)
Apart from all Scrptures which call Jesus God, Christ’s OMNIPOTENCE is seen most clearly in the fact that He is the creator of all things in existence. The Bible tells us this in the following Scriptures:JOHN 1v3, COLOSSIANS 1v16,
HEBREWS 1v10
“….IN THE BEGINNING, LORD,YOU LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS. “(NIV)

CONCLUSION

OMNIPOTENCE gives life and action to all the divine attributes.
Without OMNIPOTENCE, His love and mercy will be weak pity. His veracity and therefore Hs promises will be empty and His OMNISCIENCE wouldn’t have the power to provide what He knows His people will need.
Without OMNIPOTENT, it would be no use for His OMNIPRESENCE to never leave us or forsake us.

Our God is clothed with OMNIPOTENCE, therefore :
No prayer is too hard for Him to answer.
No need too great for Him to supply.
No passion too great for Him to subdue.
No temptation too powerful for Him to deliver from.
No misery too deep for Him to relieve.

SHALOM
Enjoy a happy and blessed new month.