True Power:

Introduction

God provided

Central Theme: Paul describes the power of God in order for the church to walk in the power of Christ.

The church has possession of the power of God in order for them to walk in the path Jesus has laid.

Relevant Question: Does this power work today? Does the church have the power of God work against COVID-19.

The times we are living carry with them clouds of darkness everywhere we look.

We ask the question will life ever go back to normal?

We have all had to adjust to a new normal everyday. NBA canceled, Schools canceled and Sunday church gatherings have been canceled. To answer my previous question life will be altered.

But in the midst of it all I hear the voice of Jesus

Look at the birds of air they don’t sow neither do they reap, or store goods into barns and your heavenly Father feeds them.

In the midst of times like we are living in with everything canceled our Jesus taught his disciples to look at the birds.

Lines wrapped around stores with limited food. We are at a place that we have never been before. Empty shelves due to a supply chain system that can’t keep up with the demands.

But in the midst of it all

We pray like Jesus and our mothers taught us to pray on the side of the bed before we go to sleep

“Give us this day our daily bread.

But in the midst of everything going on God wants us to understand something

POWER HAS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH

Paul provides a pattern for every preacher. The preacher has to also pray for the people as well. I pray for my fellow laborers who have never preached in times like this before. Paul prayers are centered around concerns related to the church. His first concern was their hope in uncertain times. The early church dealt with plagues, mass hysteria, suffering and death. It was a catalyst for the growth of the church. For the person who is listening to me and coming to church was a place we found hope. Some would say“If I could just get into the house of Lord” () We invoke the word of Lord. Our hope is that the church grows in the midst of all. The church has always had success in dark times.

After that Paul prays for the churches insight into the riches of their inheritance that speaks of the divine privileges of God. God is our wealth. We are God’s wealth. Worship is how God determines value. Worship is determined by how valuable we see God. Worship is not just throwing our hands in the air. Worship is helping our neighbors make it through tough times. You may have to share a loaf of bread.

Finally Paul prayers about the matter at hand the power that God has given to church.

Theologian John Owen makes a statement : We can have no power from Christ unless we live in a persuasion that we have none of our own.

Some of us feel powerful in numbers but we are isolated now. Some feel powerful when science has the answers to our problems. Some education, Some finances, Some if belong to a certain group I feel powerful.

God gives the church his power. The Greek word for power in the text is used only when referring to God’s power. Paul describes his power as “working “ and mighty. The power to overcome any type of resistance, obstacle or barrier that was used in the life of Christ is available now for the church.

CHURCH POWER IS GOD’S POWER

The world is not an evil place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein

Paul