Archive for the ‘Power’ Category

GOD IS ALL SUFFICIENT

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Day 216

“I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted”
Job 42:2

One of our greatest tensions is between self-strength and God’s strength. Even as Christians we continue to rely on our plans, ways and strength to carry them out. A minister speaking at a Bible School many years ago stated he had a plan to save the world and that all they needed to do was pray and get God interested in it! Although we may laugh at this, we probably do the same thing in many different ways. The heart can be very deceitful.

Job’s eyes were opened to this at the end of his ordeal. Although declared a righteous man by God, there was much more for him to learn. The greater revelation of God’s glory and omnipotence caused Job to declare, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” [verses 5-6]. It was at this moment that Job’s opinions died. He had been presumptuous and said foolish things. His self-strength had ruled and God gave him a quick lesson in Who’s strength he needed.

We need to have our eyes opened. Jesus showed us the way to walk in—”The Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing” [John 5:19]. There are many mountains in our life and rather than facing them in self-strength, He has given us His strength to draw on. Our God has made a way for us and by relying on Him we have assurance of the outcome.

“With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible”
Matthew 19:26

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THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Day 204

‘And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”
Romans 1:4

The cross demonstrates the love of God for us.

The resurrection demonstrates the power of God for us.

The Holy Spirit was at work in the humanity of Christ starting from the incarnation, through His earthy life and in the resurrection. He lived in Him experiencing the fullness of humanity. And He dwelled with Him in His sufferings and death and rose with Him in the resurrection. The Holy Spirit experienced the fullness of Christ in every aspect and when Christ entered the gates of heaven in exaltation to sit at the right hand of God the Father, that same Holy Spirit came to indwell every believer.

Now, through the resurrected Christ “. . .we have received grace …” [verse 5]. Christ is our only mediator with God. This grace is a gift from God, based upon what Jesus Christ has done. We neither deserve nor can we earn His grace. He has chosen us and it is His decision to give us grace. And what God gives cannot be taken away, for He is immutable, never changing in His character. So, we have a reservoir of grace that is ours to use and it is new every morning [Lamentations 3:23]. This is His faithfulness.

Today you have a new reservoir of grace from God. You are equipped with everything you need to live in Christ. The Holy Spirit that experienced humanity in Christ and resurrection power now dwells in you. With Paul, we can say, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection …” [Philippians 3:10].

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel
and the proclamation of Jesus Christ . . . be glory
forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
Romans 16:25-27

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HIS MIGHTY POWER

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Day 172

“Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power”
Ephesians 6:10

There is a very strong self-sufficiency in our nature. We believe there is strength and power to accomplish what we want. That self-sufficient sense of strength and power also leads us to believe we don’t need help. Here is the truth and reality about our life; we have no strength or power of our own. The end result often is failure.

So, where do we get true strength and power? Paul prayed that God give us the Spirit that we might know the greatness of His power which He displayed when He raised Christ from the dead [Ephesians 1:17-20]. This is the reality; that same power that raised Christ from the dead works in us! Yes – resurrection power! Sadly, many Christians do not believe it and don’t experience it. They focus on themselves and their problems. Christ said the flesh sees flesh meaning when you look at your self that’s all you will see. You will not see Christ.

Our Father has sealed our salvation by His Holy Spirit. With that seal He has given us everything pertaining to life, empowering us (strength and power). There can be no failure in Jesus Christ if you live in him, by Him and through Him. He has even given us His resurrection power to overcome the world, the devil, our own flesh and the trials and tribulations of life. What a great God that goes so far to give us HIS strength to live by!

“Now glory to God! By His mighty power, at work within us,
He is able to accomplish infinitely more than
we would ever dare to ask or hope”
Ephesians 3:20

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OUR FRIEND

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Day 156

“No one stood with me, but all forsook me . . .
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me”
2 Timothy 4:16­17

Life is not perfect and Christians soon discover that even relationships among themselves do not always function in perfection. Look at the disciples and how they acted both before and after Christ’s death and resurrection. The scriptures record many conflicts, tribulation, betrayals in friendships. Where were the disciples when Christ hung on the cross?

Paul had two trials in Rome and in both instances suffered the loss of his brethren standing with him. Here he cites that “no one was at my side . . . all deserted me.” Not a single person presented themselves as a witness for his defense. Have you ever suffered the abandonment by friends, betrayal, or those that even became accusers? Very few go through life without this happening. There isn’t anything that can penetrate deeper than this loss. Yet, Paul said, “May it not be charged against them.”

Paul knew two things; the depth of Christ’s love and forgiveness of sin for His people, as exemplified when Peter denied Christ three times; and secondly, he knew through experience that Christ was a true Friend who did not change. Now at the end of his life, God stood with him and gave him strength in his hour of need. So it is with us also that when we stand alone our Savior is there ready to stand with us and strengthen us.

“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live my life in this earthly body by
trusting in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself for me”
Galatians 2:20

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THE POWER OF GOD

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Day 118

“That you may know . . .
His power toward us who believe”
Ephesians 1:19

We have been given a hope and glorious inheritance in Christ. It is Christ in us, our hope of glory. And this hope is firmly grounded in our God’s eternal promises to us. Our lives need to be centered on this hope. It will drive away our sinful tendencies if we focus on His salvation and Kingdom. The glorious inheritance is Christ’s to give us – a place and sharing in His Kingdom. We are the inheritors.

For the hope to be realized and the inheritance obtained; God has given His power toward us who believe. This power is the working of His strength in us fulfilling His purposes. We can rely on His infinite power to help us in life. The words ‘impossible,’ ‘trying,’ ‘if I can,’ ‘do it harder’ should not exist in our lives. It is only when we recognize our weakness can we lean on His strength. We become strong when our total dependency is on God.

Christ loves the church – “He gave as head over everything to the church, since it is His body …” That same power that raised Christ from the dead, exalted Him on high, is not dormant or dead. That power is as much alive today and it will not allow anything to stand in the way, including the full realization of us as believers. Praise be to God for He has equipped us to be completely victorious in life and see our full inheritance.

“Thine is the power”
Matthew 6:13

“He can therefore do all things”
Matthew 19:26, Mark 14:36

“Nothing is impossible for God”
Luke 1:34-37

“He is able to do what He has promised”
Romans 4:21

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HE GIVES STRENGTH AND POWER

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Day 105

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who
have no might He increases strength”
Isaiah 40:29

Self-strength; Self-reliance; and, Self-sufficiency.

Isn’t this our way? It is one of the greatest pitfalls of our nature. There is a funny thing about all our self-strength, reliance and sufficiency; our bookstores have hundreds of titles on ways to solve loneliness, overweight, lack of self-esteem, and every other conceivable human weakness. So, if self-strength, reliance and sufficiency don’t work well for you, there are plenty of authors wanting to help you! Sadly it is not just the worldly books; visit a Christian bookstore and you see the same thing with a religious twist.

God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” [Isaiah 55:8]. Fallen man believes in self-strength. God’s way is in His strength, but it only works in those who are humble and know they are weak and lack true strength. Godly strength comes only in weakness – “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” [1 Corinthians 1:27].

How do we walk in His strength? It is “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” [vs 31]. What a gracious God – He is our strength. He gives us power. He equips us. He cares for us.

“My grace is sufficient for you;
for My strength is made perfect in weakness”
2 Corinthians 12:9

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WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Day 94

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love and of a sound mind”
2 Timothy 1:7

What a declaration! Although Paul was writing this in the context of ministry, the truth of this verse applies to every true believer. It is an extraordinary revelation of how God has equipped us to live our lives here on earth. We are not defenseless, we have nothing to fear. We do not need to be cowardly in the face of the enemy.

God has given us the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us. We have been given power – limitless, never-failing power. It is the power to declare the name of Jesus, to stand up for our faith, to speak righteousness in the midst of unrighteousness. It is a part of who we are as new creations, of our character, and the faith in which we walk. Added to that is love. We are able to love our enemies, love those who hate, love those in need. God has shed His love broadly in our hearts, and now we can demonstrate and live that love in our daily lives.

God has given us a sound mind, and leads us to self-discipline. When things in our lives, relationships, and society come apart and become stressful, where there are pandemonium and emotional outbursts, we can be steady as a rock, levelheaded and focused on the power of love. We become a ‘rock’ to others who need to know His peace in their lives. Yes, God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness so that we can stand in faith.

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,
and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah
is my strength and my song”
Isaiah 12:2

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