"The greatness of a man's power is in the measure of his surrender." --William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army
"One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: 'Power belongs to you, God'" (Psalm 62:11, NIV).
"His wisdom is profound, his power is vast..." (Job 9:4, NIV).
NB: As Daniel 2:20, NIV, says, "... wisdom and power are his" so we must distinguish but never separate these two: wisdom without power is pathetic; power without wisdom is frightening!
"[H]aving a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Tim. 3:5, NIV). ALL EMPHASIS MINE.
Power is different strokes for different folks, as they say! To some, it's knowledge or expertise (for even Sir Francis Bacon said, reiterating Prov. 24:5, "Knowledge is power"). Knowledge, falsely-so-called, sure isn't though! To some it's money if they had the money they'd know how to use it to change the world; i.e., enough money. To some, it's the power of music, all genres, or rather the power music holds over them--to arouse emotion, to relax, to put in a mood. To others, the only power that counts is political or what can be exerted in an authoritarian or despotic manner to deny people their basic rights, liberty, and justice.
Sometimes husbands abuse their wives in the name of power or employees exploit workers. Some religious extremists hijack their faith and do evil in its name; i.e., ISIS and the Taliban. To religious fanatics (and even Christians were once guilty), they use power to force conversion in some cases or convert through a program of meditations, horoscopes, palm reading, yoga, TM, or other religious rituals and exercises.
To Christians though, power is knowing the Lord and being filled with the Spirit, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:10). There is even power to change our personalities! Jesus said that the power would descend on us to evangelize the world and we cannot do this in our own power but must learn to abide in Christ. The thing about our power is that it doesn't come from a force, but a person who loves us--a personality. Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi wouldn't tell Luke Skywalker that the Force loves him! A Force cannot love! Remember, that force had a dark side; yet God is light and in Him is no darkness. Yet tapping into this love is great power--we overcome evil with good and love is stronger than hate. And this is what's available to all believers if they submit to the Lord and be filled. There is so much untapped power out their from believers who haven't learned to avail themselves of God's power in the Spirit.
Today, we must beware of unchecked political power and the drive and lust to achieve it. As Lord Acton's adage says: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Plutarch also wondered: "Who shall govern the governor?" (Power can go to one's head!) The divine right of kings is not unlimited, but to be checked by the courts and under a system of laws and a constitution to be moral. The thing about power in all secular forms: it never satisfied but only gives an appetite for more power. Only as believers in Christ can we be content to know the transforming power of God in our life and it's energy to overcome spiritual inertia. Once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on and share it with others. The world can never know this contentment and inner joy.
Finally, as believers, we are transferred several things upon salvation: peace of God, in our lives as well as peace with God; pardon from all our sins--past, present, and future; purpose for living as we devote our lives to God's kingdom, will, and glory; and also the power to change because Jesus is in the business of changing lives, and overcome sin, which is so dramatic it's a transformation or miracle in itself.
CAVEAT: IT WON'T ALL COME AT ONCE, THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT MUST BE GROWN AND WE MUST LEARN TO AVAIL OURSELVES OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN DOING GOD'S WILL. Soli Deo Gloria!
"One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: 'Power belongs to you, God'" (Psalm 62:11, NIV).
"His wisdom is profound, his power is vast..." (Job 9:4, NIV).
NB: As Daniel 2:20, NIV, says, "... wisdom and power are his" so we must distinguish but never separate these two: wisdom without power is pathetic; power without wisdom is frightening!
"[H]aving a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Tim. 3:5, NIV). ALL EMPHASIS MINE.
Power is different strokes for different folks, as they say! To some, it's knowledge or expertise (for even Sir Francis Bacon said, reiterating Prov. 24:5, "Knowledge is power"). Knowledge, falsely-so-called, sure isn't though! To some it's money if they had the money they'd know how to use it to change the world; i.e., enough money. To some, it's the power of music, all genres, or rather the power music holds over them--to arouse emotion, to relax, to put in a mood. To others, the only power that counts is political or what can be exerted in an authoritarian or despotic manner to deny people their basic rights, liberty, and justice.
Sometimes husbands abuse their wives in the name of power or employees exploit workers. Some religious extremists hijack their faith and do evil in its name; i.e., ISIS and the Taliban. To religious fanatics (and even Christians were once guilty), they use power to force conversion in some cases or convert through a program of meditations, horoscopes, palm reading, yoga, TM, or other religious rituals and exercises.
To Christians though, power is knowing the Lord and being filled with the Spirit, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:10). There is even power to change our personalities! Jesus said that the power would descend on us to evangelize the world and we cannot do this in our own power but must learn to abide in Christ. The thing about our power is that it doesn't come from a force, but a person who loves us--a personality. Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi wouldn't tell Luke Skywalker that the Force loves him! A Force cannot love! Remember, that force had a dark side; yet God is light and in Him is no darkness. Yet tapping into this love is great power--we overcome evil with good and love is stronger than hate. And this is what's available to all believers if they submit to the Lord and be filled. There is so much untapped power out their from believers who haven't learned to avail themselves of God's power in the Spirit.
Today, we must beware of unchecked political power and the drive and lust to achieve it. As Lord Acton's adage says: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Plutarch also wondered: "Who shall govern the governor?" (Power can go to one's head!) The divine right of kings is not unlimited, but to be checked by the courts and under a system of laws and a constitution to be moral. The thing about power in all secular forms: it never satisfied but only gives an appetite for more power. Only as believers in Christ can we be content to know the transforming power of God in our life and it's energy to overcome spiritual inertia. Once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on and share it with others. The world can never know this contentment and inner joy.
Finally, as believers, we are transferred several things upon salvation: peace of God, in our lives as well as peace with God; pardon from all our sins--past, present, and future; purpose for living as we devote our lives to God's kingdom, will, and glory; and also the power to change because Jesus is in the business of changing lives, and overcome sin, which is so dramatic it's a transformation or miracle in itself.
CAVEAT: IT WON'T ALL COME AT ONCE, THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT MUST BE GROWN AND WE MUST LEARN TO AVAIL OURSELVES OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN DOING GOD'S WILL. Soli Deo Gloria!
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