Monday, March 13, 2017

We always need God's Power

We Always Need God’s Power
    Storms down trees and power lines in northeast to be followed by snow!  Our nation runs on power.  So does the church.
    “The sufferings brought by the heat, or cold, or any other inconvenience, the heavy weight of grief or sorrow, may be considered as the eternal decrees of Providence which sends suffering for your own good and proportions it to your strength. In this way, God’s fatherly love and tenderness for you will become evident. It is apparent in the opportunities that He gives you to serve Him in the way that is most pleasing to Him.”  Lorenzo

    1. The world runs on POWER.
    Some like the JWs teach that the Holy Spirit is “just a power like electricity.”  The recent power outage shows us how much we NEED the POWER.  The same is true in the church.
    “...having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”  2 Tim 3:5
    The form and power of  godliness are a package deal.  We normally do not have form of godliness without the power.  Outward forms may be carried on doctrinally but be without power or conviction.  As faith without works is a form without substance, just so is religion without power.  This is a stern warning to us who are committed to proper form. 
    “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.”  1 Thess 5:16-22
    God The Holy Spirit is to be actively present in the life of the church.  Note Stephen.  "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”  Acts 7:51 

    2. Spiritual power is God’s Promise.
    Campbell spoke of: Jehovah the Father, Jehovah the Son, Jehovah the Holy Spirit.  God is One, a united one (echad).  [The Christian System]
    “And while more than 150 specific works of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in the NT, let’s not forget that without the Spirit there could be no Bible - OT or NT.  Kendall declares that the greatest work is the Bible itself, having inspired those who wrote it (2 Peter 1:20-21).”  J.Taylor

It is the Spirit’s Bible.
Copyright every word.
Only His thoughts are uttered.
Only His voice is heard.

    “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."  Luke 24:49
    “For thine is the kingdom, and the POWER, and the glory forever.  Amen.”  Matt. 6:13

    3. Spirit Power For Christian Living.
    Note Paul.  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27
    Therefore, honor The Spirit by asking Him (God) to help you fall out of (worldly) fear and into love with Him.  He is your Comforter/Helper, Guide, Enabler, Renewer, Refresher.
    “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:17-19
    “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”  James 5:10-11
    “While I may stand at the coffin of my first wife and doubt the love of God, it is impossible for me to do so when I’m kneeling at the foot of the cross.”  J.M.Hicks
    “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” Psalms 116:15
     “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV)