Understanding Power

Understanding Power

Acts 5: ¹² And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

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“Don’t worry. I have your back” one leader told me. Not knowing how the system worked, I still wondered if I was going to get what I wanted. I acted extra “leader-ish.” Days seemed like weeks but the announcement finally came out. I was the new leader. When I saw how powerful the person was who got me the position, I wanted to bring more people to them for promotions and guidance.

• There were times when I did not understand power.
• There were times when I saw power in action.
• There were times when I wanted the power I saw.

Many signs and wonders were performed by the apostles. After a while the people started holding them in “high esteem.” They knew something special was going on and they brought the sick and those who were oppressed by demons. The people believed and all were healed.

• GOD wants me to see HIM as the only source of power.
• GOD wants me to understand that all power comes from HIM.
• GOD wants me to recognize that every request has to go before HIS throne for permission.

Recognizing where true power comes from is a big problem. I mean I used to look at humans with titles, thinking they had power to oppress or help many people. BUT GOD opened my eyes to HIS unmatched power, showing me that there is nothing that is done without HIS permission.

This understanding made me dig a little deeper into a question. “Why do bad things happen?” GOD told humans the answer, but we fail to believe HIM. HE said He threw Satan out of heaven to this earth. When humans sinned, GOD cursed the earth and our relationship with HIM was broken. BUT GOD made a way back to HIM through JESUS. I recognize HIS power and accept it.

• Are you placing all of your belief in humans?
• Do you spend most of your time watching people with titles and degrees, placing your hope only in them?
• Will you turn to GOD and place your total hope in HIM today?

Unpreached

Unpreached

John 14: ²⁹ “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. ³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

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Over the years, I have heard many people speak about sin, marriage, raising kids and money. But I rarely heard about demonic forces, who’s sole purpose is to rob humans of their true relationship with GOD. When I did hear it mentioned, it seemed to be in a context that gave humans some sort of comic-book like super-power to fight the forces of evil.

• Sometimes I feel alone when I speak about demonic forces.
• Sometimes I feel laughed at when speaking about the “ruler of this world” being demonic.
• Sometimes I feel I am not taken seriously when I mention there is a spirit that is against JESUS.

JESUS says HE would not speak to the followers much because the “ruler of this word” was coming and this ruler has “nothing in JESUS.” HIS words spoke more than HIS death. HE spoke about the spiritual blindness humans would fall into.

• To believe in JESUS, means I believe I need HIM.
• To believe in JESUS, means I also believe there is something that would cloud my judgment, trying to skew HIS words away from what HE really said.
• To believe in JESUS, means I believe that I am susceptible to being tricked by lies that seem sound.

It is not popular to mention Satan and a demonic force. I mean movies portray evil as this ugly, weird, alien thing, with blood or green acid dripping from sharp fangs. BUT JESUS saw different. HE saw the need to teach unpopular views so we, who follow HIM, would not be fooled.

HE saw through cravings for comfort, control and lusts for power as distractions away from HIM. HE saw the rich and educated as distractors from HIM as well. HE is the sower of the seeds of love and wants me to believe HE can heal any sickness, fix any problem and grow any person who believes in HIM. I believe in JESUS.

• Do you believe you can be lied to?
• Do you feel you are following JESUS with all your heart?
• Will stop trying to fit into the world and start trying to seek those who need JESUS?

Controversy

Controversy

John 10: ¹⁷ “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

¹⁹ Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. ²⁰ And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

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One person came up to me with a story about “that” person. The claims they made were pretty serious. Another person came up to me in “that” person’s defense, giving me another side of the story. I had a controversial decision to make without all of the information.

• There have been times when I placed in the middle of controversy.
• There have been times when people tried to sway me to one “side” or another.
• There have been times when two opposing crowds were trying to get their way and wanted me to be the deciding factor.

JESUS says some extreme words that caused controversy. HE told everyone that HIS FATHER, GOD, loves HIM because HE chose to die to save all of humanity. Then HE said HE has the power to become alive again. This created a huge division among the Jews.

• GOD wants me to choose this day whom I will serve.
• GOD wants me to take the less popular route and choose HIM.
• GOD wants me to accept the controversy by believing that JESUS is GOD, who became a human, died for my sins and was raised from the dead to regain all power.

Belief in JESUS is very controversial, especially in the days of the “knowledge” by looking something up with technology. Every action GOD does can be explained away by some human observation. BUT GOD refuses to be explained away.

HE seeks me, guides me and shows me HIS power in unconventional ways. HIS power is vast and ways unknown. HE speaks life to those HE chooses. HE enables me to bear fruit. Anyone who opposes HIM will not bear fruit, but breed prideful exclamations that point to themselves. I am glad HE chose me to be on HIS side.

• Where is GOD in your life?
• Is GOD second to your knowledge?
• Can you flip your expertise and place it under GOD?
• Will you become controversial and believe in JESUS, allowing HIM to speak through you today?

Alone

Alone

John 7: After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. ² Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. ⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

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Excited about my renewed faith, I went back to my “friends” to tell them about what GOD was teaching me. “This group of people should be excited about my faith in GOD” I thought as I told them about my journey away from the club scene. No one said anything bad to my face but I noticed communication from them to me was slowly dissipating. I felt alone.

• There have been many times when I felt alone because I believed in GOD.
• There have been many times I have felt alone because I wanted a certain group of people to believe in GOD but they would not.
• There have been many times when I could see the struggles people go through and I felt alone because they would not turn to GOD as the answer.

“Why don’t YOU show YOURSELF to the world if YOU are so great?” JESUS’s brothers implied in their disbelief of HIM being GOD. Even family did not believe in HIM. Was Mary, HIS mother, lying when she told everyone about the virgin birth? No! But they still could not understand just how powerful GOD is.

• GOD wants me to understand that I am not alone.
• GOD wants me to know that HE is with me always.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS power even though many around me will believe in humans over GOD.

Belief in GOD can only be measured by GOD. No human can look at me or someone else and tell how much faith in GOD a person has. BUT GOD knows. HE gives me a measure of faith to believe that HE can and will do anything. HE heals, protects, guides and grows me. HE answers prayers to those who seek HIS face.

Wisdom will be confounded to those who do not believe in HIS power. GOD desires that I place all my faith in HIS teachings and know the battle I face is spiritual. I place my faith in GOD.

• Are you alone in your belief in JESUS?
• Have those around you given up on you because you believe strongly in JESUS?
• Will you keep your faith and pray for everyone GOD sends to you or who HE sends you to?