Full Throttle Power

V8 Power

My first car was a 1975 Chevy Nova. It was the 2-door with a 350 hp engine. By the time I got it (it was passed down reluctantly from my brother for a price) it had some issues. The salt of the New York roads had eaten away some of the metal by the wheel wells. I had replaced the fan and the radiator required water fairly frequently. But the engine ran well. One day I was headed down a long straight away and another car came up behind me, got on my bumper to get my attention, and then passed me, and then slowed down. So, I passed them. Then they, again, got on my bumper, passed me, and then slowed down.

Hmmm. To be honest with you. I had begun to baby the car. I had forgotten about the big 8-cylinder engine in that Nova until this moment…I felt the need…the need for speed. (I do not recommend this nor endorse this decision). I got tired of the game this other car was playing, so this time when the other car slowed down in front of me, I pulled into the passing lane and put the gas pedal to the floor. That 5.7 L engine sprang to life. It pushed me back into the driver’s seat as that car took off. The other car rapidly fell back into the distance.

The reality was that I had what we now call – a muscle car. But, in my mind I had forgotten the power that was contained under the hood of that car. Unfortunately, the same can be said of many Christians. They don’t know the power that we have in Christ and so we live our lives far below the level that God intended for us.

I believe that this year can be a breakthrough year for us if we will learn to live in the power that God has given us. That is what I would like to examine today.

God-Given Power

I suppose it was about a year and a half ago that I began to pray that the power of God would be seen in me personally and in the ministry here at Grace Chapel. I had become hungry by reading the Bible and seeing the writings of Paul,

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 NIV

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:19–20 NIV

But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Although my prayers were personal and focused on ministry the reality is that every Christian should be walking in power. Unfortunately, many people are living lives that 1). lack power

2 Timothy 3:5 NIV

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

or 2.) have become interested in a counterfeit power.

Some have become fascinated with a counterfeit power. Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8 had the people of Samaria fooled but when the real Gospel showed up through the ministry of Philip, even Simon was astonished.

Acts 8:9–13 NIV

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

So, let’s see what the Bible has to teach us this morning Biblical power of God and how we can leverage that power to have a year of Breakthough Power.

Sources of Power for You and Me

As I’ve studied this topic this week, I’ve thought that it would be a great theme to expand on in the future. However, today I just want to focus on the 2 primary sources of power that are mentioned in the Bible – The Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel

Romans 1:16 NIV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Power

The Greek word used here, dynamis, often refers to miraculous works but here, it refers to God’s ability to deliver His people from sin and future judgment.

To say that the gospel is “power” is to acknowledge

· the dynamic quality of the message.

· God is actively at work in reaching out to the hearts of people.

· It is not a lifeless message but a vibrant encounter for everyone who responds in faith.

· The gospel is God at work.

· To really hear the gospel is to experience the presence of God.

The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody commented that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is to open the door of the cage and get out of the way![1]

Salvation

The Greek word used here, sōtēria, refers to deliverance from the final judgment. It also might refer to deliverance from sin and the results of sin: death and alienation from God.[2]

There is a contrast between those who are perishing and us who are being saved. Ultimately all must fall into one of these two classes; there is no other. Those being saved have not yet all the wisdom of heaven, but their newness of life enables them to weigh spiritual things. They perceive the greatness of the gospel, whereas those who are perishing are blind to it. The opposite of foolishness is ‘wisdom’ and we expect Paul to speak of the gospel as ‘the wisdom of God’. Instead, he says it is power (cf. Rom. 1:16). It is not simply good advice, telling us what we should do. Nor is it information about God’s power. It is God’s power.[3]

Power of God

After a powerful storm of nature strikes an area, many homes experience a power failure.

“Where were you when the lights went out?” then becomes the topic of conversation. The storm’s ferocious hands, winds, and water are hurled at earth like a demon loosed from hell. It takes men years to connect the various parts of our land with electrical lines linked to sources of power. In one devastating night, all of their work can be swept up and scattered into a chaotic mess. For days, weeks, months, and even years after, many people have to make a change in lifestyle. Old habits are not easily broken: reading at night, cooking on an electric stove, getting cold drinks from the refrigerator, turning on the heat or air conditioning, just to name a few. Not having any power causes great hardships for many.

There is a great feeling of dependency on others at times like these. Among the people who are able to help are those who work for the power company. They can fix the problem to restore the power. And once the power is restored again, everyone feels grateful and has a new appreciation for the power they once took for granted.

This is also true in the spiritual realm of life. There are a variety of storms that come our way that can cut us off from our Source of spiritual power. Sometimes circumstances are at fault, but usually the blame for not having power to live the Christian life lies with us. Without God’s power, we find ourselves severely disabled.[4]

Reconnect to the power of the Gospel. Read it! Eat it! Ruminate on it! Breakthrough!

The Message of the Cross

Within the Gospel are the incarnation, crucifixion, and the resurrection. Did you know that even the Muslims believe that Jesus was born to a virgin? Many people have died, but none of them could be the spotless sacrifice for man’s sin. And, only one has ever been resurrected. This is powerful!

1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The gospel message is more than a true story and a good way to live; it is “the very power of God.” Only with such power can the gospel message redeem sinful people and transform them into God’s people.[5]

The cross does not attract the world; the people of the world think it foolish.[6] This past week as I was with the Roever Association at a program they called, “Finishing Well”, I meet men who had reached the pinnacles of accomplishment – a general, an Army Ranger, and a Navy SEAL who all had reached the pinnacle of this world’s achievement and realized it was empty without the power of the Gospel.

Cindy and I talked on the way home about how important it is to place our identity in Christ. Man’s primary struggle is his pride and his desire to place himself on a pedestal. When we realize that place is for Christ alone, we begin to experience Breakthrough Power in our lives.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the second of the primary sources of power in the Christian’s life. As a Pentecostal church this is one of our fundamental truths and something we talk about frequently. This is why Ty Buckingham came in October for our Holy Spirit Conference. A few powerful verses about the Holy Spirit are…

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t Be an Elephant!

Cindy and I had the opportunity this week to be among 50 other veterans and people who have hearts for veterans. The program was called “Finishing Well” and encouraged these veterans and their families to continue to allow God to do amazing things in their lives and pass it on to others. One of the speakers shared a story that you may have heard but is good to be reminded.

[A man] was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.

“Well,” he said, “when they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size of rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Do you understand the Gospel?

Can you present the Gospel?

Are You Living a Righteous Life? (A life according to the Word of God)

Is the Holy Spirit Active in Your Life?

Experience Breakthrough Power in Your Life!

I want to give you one last scripture…

Ephesians 1:18–19a (NIV) 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe…

Cindy and I were introduced to Dr. Delgado this past week. He challenged each of us with 4 steps to maximize potential. I want to challenge us this morning in the same way but with focus on this breakthrough power through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit..

1. Accept personal responsibility – nothing happens without your volition

2. Believe that you can – believe in faith (remember it is intellectual, emotional, and volitional) that you will have power to transform your life.

3. Clarify what you want to do – What is your plan to know the Bible more? What changes do you need to make?

4. Start now – Begin in prayer. Let God’s power transform you from the inside out.

Let’s pray.

[1] Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 70). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ro 1:16). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[3] Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 49). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[4] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2001). Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (pp. 109–110). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

[5] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). 1 & 2 Corinthians (p. 29). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

[6] Mangum, D. (Ed.). (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (1 Co 1:18–25). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.