A Life of Power
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Introduction
In the last few weeks, we have been talking about a Life Worth Living. We saw how people are always trying to make their lives worth living by filling it with activities, fun, adventure, romance, good works, and other things. Jesus told us in John 10:10,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
New Century Version Chapter 10
but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.
So the foundation of a life worth living is a life that is submitted to Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we know that God told us in Deuteronomy 6:4-5
This means that God intends for us to live our lives in a way that utilizes our will, our physical strength and abilities, and our emotions for the glory of God. Therefore, God intends for a life worth living to be a life of purpose, of power, and of passion.
Two weeks ago, we spoke about a life of purpose.
It is important that you know what you are doing and where you are going in life, but it is more important to know WHY you are doing it and why you are going there.
We saw that everything we own was created with a certain purpose; in the same way, we were each uniquely created by God with a special purpose.
We are happiest and most fulfilled when we allow God to reveal his purpose for our lives—the reason he made you and me.
And then we looked at ways in which we can find God’s purpose for our lives.
Today, we look at the next key to a life worth living: a life of POWER.
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Feeling Powerless
Feeling Powerless
How many of you have ever been in a situation where you felt absolutely powerless?
You didn't know where to go or what to do.
It didn't seem to matter—there was no way you could change or escape the situation.
Have any of you felt powerless recently? Maybe even at this moment?
Maybe there is a situation or circumstance in your life that is really bad.
Your job is terrible.
Maybe you don't have a job.
A bad relationship with another person.
Maybe there is something in your life that you are struggling with.
Temptation to sin.
A bad habit that you cannot stop doing.
Maybe you just feel that nothing you do seems to matter.
I have noticed that so many people walk around with an attitude of defeat.
Nothing is good in their life.
There is no reason to try to make things better.
The best they can do is to try to forget their situation through drugs, alcohol, or some other thing.
They feel powerless and ashamed.
This is especially true for young people.
Looking for Power
Looking for Power
Many people try to feel powerful by forcing control over others.
Emotional manipulation
Flattery
Guilt
Fear, threats
Insults, tearing you down verbally
Withholding love and attention until you submit
Financial manipulation
Bribery--Buying with money or gifts
Gaining control of resources so that others are dependent on them.
Others spend hours in the gym to build powerful bodies.
Some are obsessed with images of power.
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., with big motors.
Guns and missiles.
Swords.
They want to join the military or the police or be a firefighter.
The uniform evokes images of power and respect.
Others fantasize about a world in which they are powerful.
Books, television, and movies
Experiencing power through the adventures of imaginary heroes.
Video games
Some are into war games.
One friend of mine played a game where he took part in different battles in world history.
If he dies in battle, he just reloads the game until he is victorious.
He feels powerful.
Others like the fantasy games.
Using magic, fighting with swords, even becoming some strange warrior creature with super strength.
While we think of these games as something for kids and teens, it’s amazing the amount of hours grown adults will spend sitting in front of a computer or on their phone playing games.
Men and women in their 30s, 40s—and even older—are completely addicted to these games.
It makes them feel powerful.
Social Media
Talk about spending hours!
“Liking” and “following” people.
According to Facebook, I have 2594 friends.
I have 30 more who want me to be their friends.
I have about 40 more people who want me to like their facebook pages.
I was watching something on TV recently, and this person’s career was listed as something like “social influencer.”
She has a YouTube channel, and basically companies pay her to makes videos where she tries their products and advertises them on her show.
I post videos on YouTube for the church or to share things with family and friends.
But so many people simply make videos to get others to watch them.
They reenact scenes from movies.
They voice their opinion on EVERYTHING.
They make instructional videos on how to change a lightbulb or build your own nuclear reactor.
Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pintrest, Tiktok
All these places online where you can create a whole new identity.
You can be an online celebrity.
Famous and important.
You can be powerful
People try to practice magic and the occult in order to gain supernatural power.
In Croatia, we were told about a coven of devil worshipers who gathered at night in the cemetery near our house.
Someone right here in Perryville told me that a girl she used to work with is a Wiccan.
Zenetta and I even have a family member who used to practice witchcraft and demonology before coming to Christ.
They are looking for power to literally control reality.
Why are we so concerned with power?
We want POWER because we feel POWERLESS.
W feel out of control of our lives and the world around us.
We want that control.
We want things to make sense to us.
When we feel we are not in control, we will do almost anything to gain some sense of power in our lives.
Do you know a common reason why people develop anorexia or bulimia?
Because it is their way of having complete control over something, namely their bodies.
They become obsessed with their appearance—their perception of their bodies becomes distorted so that they are never skinny enough.
Anorexics are demonstrating to themselves their strict discipline over their bodies by ignoring their hunger.
Bulimics indulge in their cravings, then vomit it out.
If we are so concerned with power, how do we find power for living?
First, we have to realize that we, in ourselves, have NO power!
On our own, none of us will ever be big enough, strong enough, or powerful enough to make a lasting change in our lives.
Any appearance of power we might have in our lives is an illusion.
Even those who seem to have supernatural powers through the occult are in fact powerless.
Demonic forces pretend to obey so that they can manipulate and gain control over these people.
In fact, we are all under the control of other powers.
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
We have all been born into slavery to sin, and we do not have the power in ourselves to break free from Satan’s control.
Realizing we have no power in ourselves, we need to turn to the One who has power even greater than the devil’s.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Even Jesus, who is God, set aside his godly nature to work on earth as a man. Therefore, the power by which Jesus did his miracles on earth was by the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
So when we turn our lives over to Jesus, he does more than just show us his power. He offers us his Holy Spirit so that we can receive his power in our lives!
Power to resist temptation.
Power to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
Power to be Jesus’ witnesses and boldly tell others about what Christ has done in your life.
Power to pray and believe that God will hear and answer your prayer!
Even power to do miracles!
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Remember this: If you have accepted Christ as your savior, then God is your father. The Creator of the Universe is your father. All-Powerful, All-knowing, Omnipresent Jehovah is your dad!
When I pray, it is with confidence that God will hear my prayer and meet my need every time. Why?
Is it some personal pride of how holy I am or that I deserve to get what I want? NEVER!
My confidence is in the goodness of my father.
I constantly try to listen to his voice so I can know his desire for me.
When I pray, I try to pray in line with his will. And I usually do not try to tell God how to answer the prayer!
I think that someone smart enough to create a whole universe can figure out the best way to handle my need.
When Jesus returned to Heaven, he promised his disciples that God would sent them power. But he told them to wait in Jerusalem until that power came.
And what happened on the day of Pentecost?
The Holy Spirit came with fire!
The disciples were transformed.
Cowardly Peter was preaching to thousands.
Ordinary people became prophets.
They healed the sick, raised the dead!
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
This last verse reminds us that the most important thing is not demonstrations of power to make us look strong, but rather remembering that we belong to Jesus and can now spend eternity with him in heaven.
So if you feel powerless, like your life is out of control, quit trying to control it. Give your life into God’s hands. He has the power to put everything in order. And you have to trust him, because he might have to do some frustrating things in your life in order to get you where you need to be. But he will also give you the power to endure, and the power to be victorious over the situation.
Do you want power? Trust in God’s power.
Do you feel weak and powerless? God’s got the power, and he wants to give it to you.
Are you struggling? That means you are probably still trying to fix whatever it is.
Give it to God. God’s got the power, and he wants to help you overcome.
Submit yourself and your situation completely to God.
He has sent his Holy Spirit to live in you.
If that spirit is in you, then believe it or not, YOU HAVE POWER!
It’s time to believe it, and live in that power.