Posts Tagged ‘Empowered’
The Will of God for You
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NLT) I recall that as a young pastor, two questions frequently arose while counseling people. Perhaps the most frequent question was, “How much sin can I get away with…
Read MoreGod’s Purpose: In and Through Us
But you are a ‘chosen race; a royal priesthood’; a holy nation; a people for God’s possession. Your purpose is to announce the virtuous deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. 1 Peter 2:9 (BFE) The challenge of identifying God’s purpose for us is daunting. Also, how does…
Read MorePower and Authority
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Acts 1:8 (NLT) Although the statement “with great power comes great responsibility” entered popular culture through the Spider-Man comic books, it was introduced centuries earlier. There is even a connection with, From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and…
Read MoreInviting His Presence
There are times when we experience the presence of God in a real and powerful way. Perhaps we have had encounters like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NLT). At…
Read MorePresence, Power, and Purpose
They did what your power and plan had already determined would happen. Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence. Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant. After they…
Read MoreIn This World
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) Pain, suffering, and tribulation are not pleasant topics of conversation. It is natural to desire to avoid pain. And yet, Jesus is telling…
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Holiness
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NET) It is time to renew a conversation about holiness. The reactions will vary from “what is holiness?” to “isn’t holiness about not wearing makeup and jewelry, or not going to the theater?” It is a subject fraught…
Read MoreJesus and Torn Jeans
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? James 2:1 (NLT) A poignant scene in the Jesus Revolution Movie was when Chuck Smith (portrayed by Kelsey Grammar) was at the church’s front door, washing the feet of the…
Read MoreMy Favorite Words
You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done. Genesis 50:20 (NCV) One of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater was the “Sound of Music.” In that movie, Julie Andrews sang the song “My Favorite Things.” The favorite…
Read MoreDivine Interruptions
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”…
Read MoreImpartation
To be “anointed” and to have the ability to “impart” are different, but they relate and work together. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor….” Luke 4:18 For us to be anointed means that a “divine enabling” rests upon us. Whatever we…
Read MoreThe Truth, the Whole Truth…
For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:27 (MEV) The apostle Paul was giving his farewell speech in Ephesus. To say that Paul was concerned about what would happen in the church after his departure is not an overstatement. Paul had invested three years of his life…
Read MoreFrom Praise to Worship
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:6 (NLT) I recall a conversation with a friend who has many years of experience as a worship leader. The…
Read MoreSee Clearly
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT) Last week, I went to see the optometrist. As I expected, I needed a stronger prescription. When we were young, many of us most likely took our eyesight for granted. I don’t…
Read MoreTransformed
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) Transformers is a multibillion-dollar franchise of toys, comic books, video games, and movies. The premise is that two alien robot factions at…
Read MoreWe Are the Body
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4–5 (NLT) When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and we accepted his gift of salvation, we became a…
Read MorePressing On
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT) For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.…
Read MoreSpeak Up
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8–9 (NLT) Is there anything complicated in understanding the meaning of these verses? I favor the NLT “Speak up for those who cannot speak for…
Read MoreSpeak Faith
We have the same faithful spirit as what is written in scripture: I had faith, and so I spoke. We also have faith, and so we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (CEB) There is a strong connection between faith and speaking. It is not speech that merely fills the air with sounds; when we speak…
Read MoreSpeak Wisdom
The godly speak wise words and promote justice. The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:30–31 (NET) All wisdom is not the same. Or, stated differently, the wisdom that comes from God far exceeds any so-called wisdom that this world has to offer. The challenge that we face…
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