In the Book of Psalms we see that one generation is to declare God’s mighty acts to the next generation. Since this is God’s will, then it must be beneficial.
Psalms 145:3-5:
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
So what is a benefit in declaring God’s mighty acts—in proclaiming God’s mighty deeds—to the next generation? When we declare God’s mighty acts, we remind ourselves and others of what God can do for us today, and we build believing and confidence in God’s Word. God does not get weaker over time, so the same power and might He has shown before, He can manifest today (Malachi 3:6). Two of God’s mighty acts we can declare to help others build believing and confidence in God’s Word are God supplying manna for the children of Israel and God working in Peter and John to minister healing to a lame man at a gate of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let’s consider each one and how it displays God’s power and might.
This first example shows God supplying a need in a mighty way. The children of Israel had been in bondage in Egypt for many years and had been terribly mistreated by their Egyptian masters. God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and promised to bring them unto a good land, flowing with milk and honey; but because of their disobedience, the children of Israel first wandered in the wilderness for forty years before entering the Promised Land. Some scholars estimate that 2.5 million people left Egypt. One need they had during this time was food. Imagine 2.5 million people needing food for forty years while wandering in the wilderness. Does it seem like an insurmountable problem? God had a solution.
Exodus 16:35:
And the children of Israel did eat manna [bread] forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
On a day-by-day basis, God provided manna for the children of Israel to gather and feed themselves until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan. That took forty years! That’s a long-term mighty act we can declare! If God can provide food for 2.5 million people in the wilderness, then what is there He cannot do in the day in which we live? Can you picture yourself sharing this record with someone else to build their confidence in God’s faithfulness to meet needs? This mighty act could certainly build anyone’s believing to receive from God. He still meets our needs today!
The second mighty act we will consider is the healing of the lame man in Acts 3. It shows God bringing about healing in a mighty way. Peter and John encountered a lame man on their way into the Temple. The man had been born lame—unable to walk. Gaining the ability to walk when it never existed in the first place may have seemed impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Acts 3:4-8:
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him [the lame man] with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
The lame man desired deliverance, and God delivered him by way of Peter and John ministering healing. This was not only a healing, but also a miracle since it was instantaneous. This man stood and started walking and leaping—things he had never done before. If you have ever seen a child learning to walk, you know it takes time to learn to walk effectively. Not for this man. Talk about deliverance—he went from a seemingly impossible situation to an immediate healing. What a demonstration of God’s might! When we declare this mighty act, we can build others’ believing and confidence in God’s ability and willingness to heal and deliver. Even in situations that seem impossible, God is there and can bring deliverance.
God supplying the children of Israel with manna and God working in Peter and John to heal the lame man are two of God’s mighty acts that we can declare to help others build believing and confidence in God’s Word. But there are many more! The Word of God is full of God’s mighty acts, and we aren’t limited to just those written. We can declare examples of God’s might that we have personally seen in our own lives as we have lived the Word. Our examples can help others see that God’s power didn’t end with the writing of the Old and New Testaments. God still brings solutions and deliverance to pass today! To read other people’s personal accounts of God’s Word working in their lives, visit GodsWordWorks.org, and enjoy reflecting on God’s power and might.