I miss a lot of the old gospel choruses and hymns we sang in the past. Most had a melody that was easy to learn so they stuck with you; and most were also doctrinally sound and had a good biblical lesson we could apply.  One of my favorite such choruses was He Is Able.  

                “He is able, He is able

                 I know He is able,

                 I know my Lord is able to carry me through.        (repeat)

                 He healed the broken hearted 

                 And set the captives free

                 He made the lame to walk again

                 And caused the blind to see

                 He is able, He is able

                 I know He is able,

                 I know my Lord is able to carry me through.”

     Despite man’s arrogant pride and great technological advancements and an overwhelming amount of information available at the “click of a mouse,” man is utterly unable to save himself or to make himself acceptable to God. Neither is he able to keep himself saved; nor is he able to defeat sin and conquer death. 

     But, God is able!  The apostle Paul writes: “Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).  The word “able” (Greek dunamai) is closely related to the word for “power” (dunamis), both speaking of God’s spiritual dynamics. He is omnipotent (all-powerful). His ability is unlimited and His power “works within us.”   Therefore, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him…”(Heb. 7:25). 

      It begins for us when we respond to the good news (the gospel) about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in payment for our sins (I Cor. 15:1-4), because the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Ro. 1:16).  God “is able to establish you according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…” (Ro. 16:25). 

     Even when the great sorrows and temptations come–and they do and they will–He is able!  “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18).  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (I Cor. 10:13).  In fact, He is able to meet every need of our lives and even enables us to help others. Although the context is speaking of monetary stewardship, the principle of II Cor. 9:8 really applies to all of our Christian life: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 

     Finally, “...I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (II Tim. 1:12).  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).   That leads us toone of the most profound, encouraging statements of the entire New Testament,  Jude 24: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy.”   

     That deserves a hearty, “Praise the Lord, Amen!”  He is able!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave