Know the Power

Matthew 22: ²³ That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. ²⁴ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. ²⁷ Finally, the woman died. ²⁸ Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. ³¹ But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

³³ When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

============

Rain poured down in sheets but I kept going. Visibility was low but I could still see. I hit a puddle and the car went into a skid on an expressway loaded with cars and trucks. When the car came to a stop I was blocking two of three lanes because I was sideways. I turned the car straight and kept going.

• Some days I need the power of GOD.
• Some days I face some serious trouble.
• Some days I need something miraculous to happen.

Protection is only a tiny part of GOD’s amazing power. Unfortunately the Sadducees read the scripture and listened only to what they wanted to hear. They tried to trap JESUS instead of being amazed at HIS true power.

• GOD wants me to know the scriptures.
• GOD wants me to know the power.
• GOD wants me to know the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT as the only source of power.

Doubt comes from lack of belief or knowledge of GOD’s amazing power. It leads to questioning GOD in weird ways, like the Sadducees. BUT GOD has the power to overcome my doubt. HE steps in when I am in need and shows HIS might. GOD is truly amazing!

• Do you doubt GOD’s power?
• Do you think GOD is a distant concept?
• Can you stop looking at things from human eyes and search the scripture to learn of GOD’s amazing power?

Names to think about

Isaiah 9: ⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

============

Bleeding and bruised, I walked home with a friend after a bully had sat on my chest. Thought he never laid a finger on me, my attempts to escape caused me to scrape up my arm. Waiting on a bus in the rain made me soaked to the bone. Then the bus came and splashed us from head to toe. There were no dry seats on the bus.

Sitting on the side of the road, I waited for my car to work. I would start it and it would only go about 10 miles before dying. The normally two hour trip took nine. How can I praise during these times?

• There are times where things seem to go wrong by the dozens.
• There are times where things seem to go from bad to worse.
• There are times where things seem to go in a really bad direction and I cannot do anything about it.

External circumstances, bad news or rotten behavior of someone else could cause me to carry the problem the rest of the day. I mean did the bus driver really have to run through the puddle? I ask myself. BUT GOD wants me to focus on something else.

• GOD wants me to think about the “Wonderful Counselor” because HE knows I will have bad days.
• GOD wants me to know HE is a “Mighty GOD” and can handle any situation.
• GOD wants me to believe HE is the “Everlasting FATHER” who provides what I need, when I need it.
• GOD wants me to understand HE is the “Prince of Peace” and I can have peace in this situation and the next.

Looking back on the calamity, I can see that GOD was there all along. HE protected me from being harmed even though the situation that I was going through at the time felt very uncomfortable. HE was always there and still is. HE brings me peace in the middle of the storm and shows me mercy I do not deserve.

• Are you so deep in your storm that you cannot hear GOD?
• Is the circumstance you are in so difficult that you feel lost?
• Can you take a moment to call GOD Wonderful, Mighty and Everlasting without expecting something?