Super Powers

"We saw the new super hero movie. It is a bit disturbing how much they quote scripture and misapply the Word. They have a form of godliness yet deny its power. So sad that all the answers and greater power than any superhero are right in front of them and they don't even care or recognize it."

As a kid I loved comic books. So much so that whenever I made any money from mowing my grandmother's lawn I would immediately ride my bike to the comic store and spend it on the latest copies of all my favorites. It wasn't until I grew in the Lord and understood more of the things of God that I really saw how many spiritual things are hidden in these books. Eventually I made the choice to stop reading the comic books and even burned my whole collection in four small barbecues (but that is a story for another time). 

Now these same spiritual messages are being woven into the movies that are being produced. There are spiritual themes and raging wars between good and evil. I enjoy a good action flick with explosions and well won victory. What gets to me is the exaltation of evil and the err when it comes to God's truth. 

As much as we can imagine when it comes to power and ability it still pales in comparison to the power and ability of God. The movies make these super heroes and the bad guys they protect the world from look like they are in an exalted position but none of them come close to the exalted position Jesus has at the right hand of the Father. They will never come close! 

In John 19 Jesus is face to face with Pilate. During the encounter Pilate tells Jesus that he has the power to set him free or to send him to be crucified. Jesus' response is so powerful that I have to pause and take it in when I read it. He responds by saying that Pilate would have no power unless it was given from above. Wow! We think we are so great and mighty but the only reason we are anything is because of God's sovereign plan. 

The truth is that only God is powerful. Only Jesus is exalted. Only the Holy Spirit is worth being in awe of. When we try to substitute any other it will be out of place and rob us of the true blessing of what is real. So go have fun at the movies and enjoy a good story and some awesome special effects but be sure to have more fun in church praising the God who is over all. 

How have you experienced the power of God in your life? 

The Wrong Kind of Fear

2 Kings 17:33-34 They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. 34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, 

"These two verses caught me. The people here are those brought in from Assyria after the captivity of Israel. The Lord sent lions among them and they feared The Lord because of it yet served their own gods. How foolish! They even sent a priest to teach the people how to serve The Lord and they still made their high places, carved images and their own way of worship. That is why they feared the Lord, being afraid of him sending lions, in verse 33 but did not fear the Lord in verse 34. How many are come into the church that want to dwell as a Christian in title and by proximity? When the devil, that roaring lion, comes seeking whom he may devour they fear the Lord, they listen to the teaching, and yet still serve their own gods, money, sex, self, and do not fear the Lord"

These thoughts speak of our present day condition don't they? I am reminded that in the New Testament it says that people have a form of godliness and yet deny it's power. We know who Jesus is and yet don't serve Him and operate in the power that we should. 

It comes down to having the right kind of fear. 

The wrong fear is being afraid without knowledge. It is a fear that will drive you away from God. Without knowing the loving and powerful nature of God you will see the pressures of life as cruelty and end up distanced from God. 

The right kind of fear is one that is based on the knowledge of who God is. When you know His power and love you will be in awe of Him to a place of respect. You still won't mess with God but you will not be driven from Him. Instead His power and love will draw you to Him. 

Spend time with God in prayer, worship and in His word. As you do you will get the knowledge and will fear no evil. It will produce in you the right kind of fear that is expressed in your service to Him. 

What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave some comments below. 

Day 249 - Where Power Comes From

"First time in our twelve years in the building we had no power during church service."

Last year at our Women's Conference the power went out right as they were going to start the message. Wouldn't you know that when God is about to do something big that the devil comes and tries to pull the plug. The awesome thing is that it didn't phase us at all. We went into high gear and got a portable power generator and small sound system together and still had church. They even had all the ladies turn on their cell phone lights and sing "This little light of mine". God 1 - Devil - 0. 

You don't have to be delayed or defeated by the devil. If he tries to pull the plug on you just keep after it. Go into high gear and do what you were doing a different way. Sing a song while you're at it. The devil is a liar and cannot stop the work of God. Remind the devil he is a defeated foe and is under your feet. You have the victory in Jesus!

If you are a Christian then you have the Spirit of God inside of you. The greatest power of the universe is resident within! No opposition or enemy can stand in your way. 

Have you ever experienced a time where you knew God was about to do something big and it was met with resistance? How can we prepare for opposition? 

Day 225 - The Simplicity of the Gospel

"Church was great. It was a simple and powerful message."

Many times I think we complicate things more than we should. It is a simple gospel. Living is simple. 

It is so simple that it seems foolish. Jesus died so we can live. How? Why? Simple...love. God loves us. That is a powerful truth. He died for us. Powerful! We live because of Him. I may not understand the fullness of it but I believe it. 

Take God at His Word. When you read that God loves you...He does. When you read that you can be blessed, healed, delivered, etc. believe it! You can have it. Declare it and live it. 

Is there a truth that you had complicated that God made simple for you? How has the simplicity of the gospel empowered your life? 

Day 194 - Attitude is Everything

"There was a bunch of traffic so what should have taken us an hour took three to drive."

The frustrations of life can overwhelm us if we let them. With this traffic last year were all kinds of other frustrating factors; the heat, hunger, upset stomach, kids whining and tiredness from the long weekend. We had every reason to have a bad attitude. 

What is amazing is that we have a power that we often overlook. The power is in our choices. We can choose to be frustrated, angry and nasty or we can choose to put on a smile, laugh and take the lemons of life and make lemonade, or lemon meringue pie, I would opt for both. 

Don't let life be a drag. Head up, shoulders back, smile and laugh. I had a friend in a wheelchair who was disabled who had every reason to be down. Every time I would ask him how he was doing he would say "Every day above ground is a good one!" I like his attitude. As long as I have breath in my lungs I will praise God! Take it a step further that if this body is below ground then my spirit is in heaven and I have a new body that will be praising God eternally. 

With that in mind I can handle traffic, hunger, and anything else life throws at me. 

Do you find it easy or hard to choose your attitude? Do you agree with the statement that attitude is everything? 

Day 66 - Agreement of the Heart

"We are not communicating on the heart level. In many ways we are responding to situations that arise and can't seem to make a plan and work it out. After a lot of arguing about the way we felt we were being treated we finally were able to express some things on the heart level and get in agreement about our direction."

It is so important to get past the surface and flesh levels and get to the heart level. If you can connect with someone on a heart level you can get a real involvement and agreement. Marriage, business, and anything else we do that involves others, and that is most of our lives, will go farther and better if we are connected at the heart level. 

It is difficult to connect because it takes vulnerability to open your heart. We know the pain of bearing our soul and having someone mistreat or hurt us. The need is still there and I believe that if we can press through the pain and pressure of vulnerability we will have stronger bonds and better outcomes. 

Communication, love and trust all play their part in this connection as well. It takes work to speak the truth in love and express what is on your heart. It takes overlooked offenses, faith and forgiveness to walk in love. Finally, it takes time and testing build trust. The great thing is that with this powerful trio of communication, love and trust you can open your heart and safely connect with someone else. That is when agreement happens and the power comes! The place of unity is a place of power!

Is there another trait you would add to my power trio in order to connect on the heart level? How has this principle helped you with relationships, marriage, business, etc.?  

Day 50 - True Strength

"I had the privilege to preach the Word tonight. It was a good night. I counted eleven hands and more than that showed up at the altar. I ministered on God our strength."

The world is looking for strength in various forms. Strength in numbers. Strength in money. Strength in fame. Lately they are looking for strength in a serum or a mutation. 

The truth is that we have no strength outside of God. we can build the biggest, richest, strongest empire and still we would be a speck in the universal scale. When you think of a God who speaks and planets exist and who destroys his enemies with the breath of His mouth you realize where true strength lies. 

Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing. Never was a truer word spoken. His advice for us is to remain in Him. It is like a lamp that stays plugged into the wall. As long as it stays plugged in it gives light. If we will stay connected to Jesus we will have the power available to us. 

Have you felt weak and yet God moved on your behalf? What ways has God given you strength?