Where Is The Power?
We have all been without power before, some of us, especially those effected by Super Storm Sandy for quite sometime. It is hard to function without power, for some of us live our life through electronic devices. To cripple this nation all it would take is causing long term power loss. It is wise to prepare for loss of power, to have a generator and a supply of non-perishables.
Have you ever thought the power was out but it was just a cord unplugged, or it was just a breaker problem?
The enemies job is first to prevent us from getting saved, secondly if that does not work is to prevent us from walking in power. We don't have to call the electricity company to find out when the power is coming back on for we would probably be put on hold anyway. The power of God is within us, we just have to learn how to stay switched on and plugged in.
What is our power source?
Electricity is necessary to charge an electronic device for it to have any power. Battery run devices can operate for a time but if it is not re-chargeable, it's power will dissipate. Believer's who are not connected to God, plugged in, burn out quickly. We need constant Holy Spirit re-charging to walk in the power of God. We cannot rely on yesterday's grace to carry us through present day challenges. We can decree and declare all that we want. Just like I can say let there be light, but if the switch is not plugged in, darkness will remain. The blood of Jesus only has power when it is flowing through our veins like electricity flows through the circuits when a electronic device is plugged in. Confession, prayer has no power if we are not united with Christ through the Holy Spirit.
My wife can't stand when people leave the lights on when nobody is in the room, it wastes electricity. This is not a problem as Christians we have to worry about, we cannot overload the breaker box, we don't have to worry about a big electricity bill, the light of Christ, the power of God can remain on at all times. It is when we turn it off that we have to pay a price. Let us stop being turned on and turned off, turned on, and turned off, but rather just be on as John 15 says to abide in Christ, meaning cling to, rely upon, yield to, be submitted at all times.
How do we remain connected?
"The bible says to pray without ceasing," how is that possible? Proverbs 3:5-6 says to "Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge God in all your ways, and He will direct your path." We stay connected to God through continual acknowledgement.
What disconnects us?
In Philippians 3:2 it warns us to watch out for those who preach salvation by works. Meaning those who try to please God by good works, not understanding that God alone is good, so only by, in, and through Him can anything good come forth, as it says in Philippians 3:3-4 "we put no confidence in human effort." Some of us like Paul have accomplished many great things but as he acknowledged, everything apart from Christ is worthless and should be counted as garbage (Phil. 3:8).
What should be the result?
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
We truly know Christ and experience the resurrection of the dead.
Isn't that promise for when we die?
Yes and no. Jesus taught us to pray "Let your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So we can walk in resurrection power now, we can bring heaven to earth. For the bible says the kingdom of heaven is within us. So through faith in obedience to God's word, resurrection power manifests. That means blind eyes are opened, deaf ears c hear, families and communities are transformed.
What is the catch?
It said in Philippians 3:10 we must suffer with Christ. Question, didn't He take our place? Yes, but He said we must take up our cross and follow Him. The cross means "nevertheless not my will but your will God." It is a life of sacrifice which is self-denial, living for the Glory of God rather than ourselves. No matter the pain, no matter the difficulty we except His will above our own.
THE CRUCIFIED LIFE - Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
FIRST THE CROSS, THEN THE RESURRECTION!
Have you ever thought the power was out but it was just a cord unplugged, or it was just a breaker problem?
The enemies job is first to prevent us from getting saved, secondly if that does not work is to prevent us from walking in power. We don't have to call the electricity company to find out when the power is coming back on for we would probably be put on hold anyway. The power of God is within us, we just have to learn how to stay switched on and plugged in.
What is our power source?
Electricity is necessary to charge an electronic device for it to have any power. Battery run devices can operate for a time but if it is not re-chargeable, it's power will dissipate. Believer's who are not connected to God, plugged in, burn out quickly. We need constant Holy Spirit re-charging to walk in the power of God. We cannot rely on yesterday's grace to carry us through present day challenges. We can decree and declare all that we want. Just like I can say let there be light, but if the switch is not plugged in, darkness will remain. The blood of Jesus only has power when it is flowing through our veins like electricity flows through the circuits when a electronic device is plugged in. Confession, prayer has no power if we are not united with Christ through the Holy Spirit.
My wife can't stand when people leave the lights on when nobody is in the room, it wastes electricity. This is not a problem as Christians we have to worry about, we cannot overload the breaker box, we don't have to worry about a big electricity bill, the light of Christ, the power of God can remain on at all times. It is when we turn it off that we have to pay a price. Let us stop being turned on and turned off, turned on, and turned off, but rather just be on as John 15 says to abide in Christ, meaning cling to, rely upon, yield to, be submitted at all times.
How do we remain connected?
"The bible says to pray without ceasing," how is that possible? Proverbs 3:5-6 says to "Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge God in all your ways, and He will direct your path." We stay connected to God through continual acknowledgement.
What disconnects us?
In Philippians 3:2 it warns us to watch out for those who preach salvation by works. Meaning those who try to please God by good works, not understanding that God alone is good, so only by, in, and through Him can anything good come forth, as it says in Philippians 3:3-4 "we put no confidence in human effort." Some of us like Paul have accomplished many great things but as he acknowledged, everything apart from Christ is worthless and should be counted as garbage (Phil. 3:8).
What should be the result?
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
We truly know Christ and experience the resurrection of the dead.
Isn't that promise for when we die?
Yes and no. Jesus taught us to pray "Let your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So we can walk in resurrection power now, we can bring heaven to earth. For the bible says the kingdom of heaven is within us. So through faith in obedience to God's word, resurrection power manifests. That means blind eyes are opened, deaf ears c hear, families and communities are transformed.
What is the catch?
It said in Philippians 3:10 we must suffer with Christ. Question, didn't He take our place? Yes, but He said we must take up our cross and follow Him. The cross means "nevertheless not my will but your will God." It is a life of sacrifice which is self-denial, living for the Glory of God rather than ourselves. No matter the pain, no matter the difficulty we except His will above our own.
THE CRUCIFIED LIFE - Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
FIRST THE CROSS, THEN THE RESURRECTION!
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