Gods Almighty Power
God’s Almighty Power
Neville Goddard 12-02-1968
God’s almighty power and wisdom expresses itself most characteristically in the acceptance of what the world calls weakness or foolishness.
Matthew tells the story of one who – Knowing himself to be the personification of God’s creative power and wisdom – questions himself, saying: “If you are the Son of God, turn this stone into bread.” (Matthew 4) Then he quoted the 8th chapter of Deuteronomy, saying: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ “Here we discover that his hunger is no longer for bread made with flour, but for the hearing of the word of God, with understanding. The conflict recorded in this chapter is taking place in the mind of the individual, although it appears to be happening on the outside. Standing on the pinnacle, his adversary quoted the 91st Psalm, saying: “If you are the Son of God cast yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels power to lift you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.'” Then, quoting the 6th chapter of Deuteronomy, he replied: “It is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
In the third and final temptation he is shown all of the kingdoms of the earth and their glory, when the adversary said: “All of these are yours if you will bend down and worship me.” Again, quoting the 6th chapter of Deuteronomy, he replies: “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ “Then the adversary departs, and the great ministry begins. Who is the Lord your God, that you should worship and serve? Your own wonderful human imagination, he who is one with the God who created the world. The richest definition of God given to us in scripture is: the Father of the Lord our God. I discovered I was God’s son by experiencing scripture, but the son and God the Father are one!
Both the Father and the Son are defined as power, with wisdom added to the Son. In the Book of Mark, the high priest asked: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” and he replied, “I am, and you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power.” Power is capitalized in this passage, as it is the name given to God. In the Book of Luke, he is first called the Blessed, then Power, I am called the wisdom of God. Matthew tells of one who knows God has unfolded within him, and all of the characteristics of God as belonging to him – but he is puzzled and puts himself to the test. Scripture tells the story as though another being appears; but when God unveils himself, you question yourself, saying: if this is true, I should be able to do anything, for all things are possible to God. But I must not tempt the Lord. The only way is to trust him. So again let me repeat: God’s almighty power and wisdom expresses itself most characteristically in the acceptance of what the world calls weakness or foolishness.
When I was drafted, and we as a country were at war, in the eyes of the world I was foolish to believe that I could be honorably discharged without going to war. As far as the world was concerned, I was in for the duration, but I didn’t want any part of it. I firmly believed that Jesus Christ was my own wonderful human imagination, that he was one with God, and that all things were possible to him. I knew I could not compel God to do anything. That He would act only as I imagined!
Trusting God, I slept as though I were honorably discharged and out of the army. I did everything in my mind’s eye that I would do were it a physical fact, and fell asleep in that knowledge. Then, in vision, I saw my discharge paper with the word “Disapproved” crossed out and the hand of God write “Approved” above it in bold script. And when I heard the words: “That which I have done, I have done. Do nothing!” I did nothing. Nine days later I was honorably discharged and back in my home in New York City.