Mrs Karen Caviness
Pastor's Wife
Victory Baptist Church
Roseburg, OR
Power Up!
This past Sunday was “Kid’s Super Sunday” at our church. Each child received a cape and a mask. We taught, “Jesus is my Super Hero”. People today seemed to be obsessed with power. Kids watch Power Rangers, we drink Powerade, there are coffee mugs, t-shirts and other products talking about super powers - I’m a grandma, what’s your super power? Yet, we look in the mirror or lie in bed in the darkness of night and feel anything but powerful! But that’s ok because I have good news for you. We serve an ALL-POWERFUL God!
*Ps. 147:5 – Great is our Lord and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
*Jer. 32:17 – Ah Lord God! Behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee!
I love the song that says: Is anything too hard for God? Whose got a problem beyond His power to solve? Are there situations that He’s not the master of? Is anything too hard for God? I say, there is not!
And there is more good news! Our All-Powerful God gives us power.
*II Tim. 1:7 – God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.
1) He gives us power to be saved.
*Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2) He gives us power to become the sons of God.
*John 1:2 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
If I saw someone in a burning car I would do everything in my power to save them from the flames. But if I could save them I wouldn’t bring them home with me to be part of my family! Often we fail to realize that at salvation we received much more than an escape from Hell. God in His love and mercy also adopted us and made us His child. With this adoption also comes all of the benefits of being God’s child.
*Heb. 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
When my children were little if their daddy was in the church office and the door was open, they would run right in and climb up in his lap. Other church members children would stop at the door until they were invited in. As children of God we have the liberty to run right to the throne of grace and boldly seek God’s help in our time of need!
3) He gives us power to be a witness.
*Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
4)He gives us power to be strong.
*Eph. 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
How often have I had a lady who is facing great adversity say to me, “I just don’t think I’m strong enough to make it through this.” The wonderful truth is, you don’t have to be. It is the Lord’s strength that sees us through. It is in the power of His might we can endure the storms of life.
5) He gives us power in infirmities.
*II Cor. 12:9 – And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
How many times have you seen someone, or perhaps have been the one, with cancer or some other physical infirmity whose life exemplifies this verse? Even in their frailty and weakness you could see the grace of God in their life and His power resting upon them. Thank God we don’t have to depend on our own power!
6) He gives us power not to quit.
*Isaiah 40:29 – He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Sometimes we do get weary in well doing. In those times the devil starts to whisper in our ear, “You’ve been teaching that class or running that bus for a long time now. You’ve put in your time; you should step down and have someone else do it for a change. You deserve a break, besides, you’re not as young as you used to be.” If we listen to Satan it won’t be long until we are ready to quit. Instead, we need to look to the Lord for power not to faint. This is my new Sunday morning verse. I have been a bus captain for 18 years now. I must admit, it was a lot easier when I was 37! But when I claim this verse and seek His power and quit trying to do it by my own might, he does increase my strength and keep me going.
You may say, “Well, if God has all this power to give us, why do I feel like such a powerless Christian?” One woman can take a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the whole house and it look so much better. Another woman can take the same vacuum cleaner the next week and go over the whole house again and it did nothing but get her tired. The carpet is still a mess. So what was the difference? They both used the same machine. They both pushed it back and forth all over the carpet. But the second woman never plugged it in. She had no power! And that is how many Christians live their life. They are going through all the right motions but it all seems futile. They aren’t plugged in. They have no power. They are trying to live the Christian life in their own power. It is just a matter of time until they quit. So I say to you ladies, power up! Make sure you are plugged in to the power source. Abide in Christ, spend time in His word, spend time on your knees in prayer. Avoid the things that will break connection to your power source (quench not the spirit).
Our All-Powerful God has power waiting just for you, so POWER UP!
No comments:
Post a Comment