Power of God

Do you believe in the power of God? Do you believe that he is as powerful today as he was when he raised Jesus from the dead? As you consider this question I encourage you to be honest with yourself. Every so often, I believe that it does us well to evaluate our faith level. And if our faith is lacking, we may need to remind ourselves of who God is. We may need to remind ourselves of what he has promised. Paul encourages the Ephesians with these words in chapter 1, verses 18 through 20, which says: 

“I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,”

Have you been enlightened? Do you know the hope to which God has called you? If you do, your faith should reflect it. Paul reminded the Ephesians of their inheritance in the saints and the power for those who believe. He reminded them that this is the same power exerted to raise Christ from the dead. Besides the creation account outlined in Genesis, I can’t think of a greater example of God’s power. This same power is alive and well today. We may not experience it every day. Many of us may have never experienced it. But it is real, and Paul reminds us of that. If you haven’t experienced it, that is okay. I confess that I’ve never witnessed someone rise from death to life with my own eyes, and I suspect you haven’t either. But that doesn’t make his power any less real. I encourage you to know that God has the power to raise the dead today, because as Paul says, “[God’s] power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead”. 

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Though I have not witnessed someone rise from the dead, I have experienced the power of God firsthand. I saw a woman miraculously and completely healed from a stroke in a fifth-world country after she was prayed for. I witnessed the miraculous multiplication of food at a feeding for hungry Haitian children that had more than doubled. I’ve seen several instances of miraculously answered prayer come directly on the heals of the prayer. I know the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work today. Do you? If not, like Paul, “I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe”.

His Workmanship

Do you believe that God created you for a purpose? Before answering too quickly, I want you to really give thought to that question. Do you really believe that God created you for a purpose? Preachers tell us that there is a purpose to our life, your parents may have even said this to you, and even some unbelievers might say it from time to time, but do you believe it? I know that I do, and Paul would agree as he puts it this way in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 which says:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. He even says that God prepared his plan for you in advance. In effect, Paul might be saying that God had a plan for your life before you were even born. If that is true; if God does have a plan for you, then what is it? Well, it is to do “good works”. What that looks like for you may be totally different than what it looks like for me. But the point is that there is a plan. And if there is a plan, are you fulfilling it? If you’re not sure, I encourage you to pray to God and find out what his plan for your life is. It certainly isn’t for you to do nothing. I believe that his plan for your life is to, in some way, impact the kingdom of heaven. I believe that his plan for every believer is to make ripples in eternity by reaching out to our fellow man through the power, love and encouragement of the Spirit.

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Were you created for a purpose? Is there a plan for you life? Yes there is. Your job is to find out what that is. Paul tells us that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. I pray that you seek out what “good works” God has planned for you to accomplish. If you do, you will find no greater pleasure, no greater satisfaction, than being within his will and being used by him for his glory.

Approach God

In the Old Testament, when there were kings who led nations, if someone were to approach a king without being asked by the king, it could mean their death. Even if one of the king’s wives were to approach him without being called, the same rule would apply. But with our God, who is King of all Kings, we are told that we can approach him with freedom and confidence. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 3, verse 12:

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

So in Jesus, and through faith in Jesus we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Just like a child might approach their earthly father, assuming their father is loving and kind, we are also offered the privilege to approach God, who is loving and kind. Paul tells us that we can approach him with freedom and confidence. We don’t have to worry whether he will allow us to approach, and we don’t have to fear that we might catch him in a bad mood and that he might kill us like earthly kings had the authority to do. No, if we have faith in Jesus, we can come to him with freedom and confidence. We must have faith because faith is the first ingredient in producing any true believer. The Bible reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So if you have faith in Jesus, this verse is for you. I encourage you not to take this privilege for granted. We can approach almighty God without fear of being killed for doing so. In fact, we are told that we are invited to come to him; that we can approach God with freedom and confidence.

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In Jesus and through faith in Jesus we may approach God with freedom and confidence. If there is anything weighing on your heart or on your mind, you can bring it to God. We are granted the privilege to approach him with freedom and confidence. The God of all creation wants to be in relationship with you. He offered his son as a way for us to have that relationship. Every time you pray to God, it is only because of that relationship that he will hear you and allow you to make your appeal to him. It is also our privilege to praise him, to lift him up and to worship him. So I encourage you to take advantage of this truth. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Made New

The Bible tells us that when we become a follower of Christ; when we choose to believe that his blood saves us and we accept his gift allowing us passage into heaven, that we are “born again”. We are a “new creation”. Have you ever given thought to what that means? Do you feel like a new creation? When Paul speaks to the new believers in Ephesus, he instructs them on the next steps of being a Christian; he instructs them on the path to Christian living, encouraging them not to live like the gentiles do, but to pursue purity and holiness. He instructs them to live the way that they were taught to live in Christ. It says in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 22 through 24:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

Paul shows us that being "made new” is a process, that it is a learned behavior, and that we have a role in being made new. If you claim to be a believer, then your desire should be to be made new; to put off your old self that is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, as Paul puts it. How? Through the attitude of our minds. I believe, and the Bible attests, that we can train our minds in the process of being made new. That is why we are told to think on heavenly things; to fill our minds with things that are holy, just and right. It is kind of like washing our brains with the things of Christ. So, I guess you could say that being “brainwashed” is a good thing if your brain is washed in holy thinking.

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Paul explains that being made new is the putting off of the old self and the putting on of the new. If you’ve ever been baptized, I’m sure you understand that it reflects the sentiment behind this portion of scripture. But being made new isn’t a one-time event, it is a continual process. The idea is to become more and more like Jesus and less and less like our old self with its deceitful desires. So I encourage you to wash your mind with heavenly things. Every day, allow the Spirit to cleanse your mind and your heart. Begin every day in the mindset of your new self; your new attitude; your new mission. I encourage you to allow yourself to be brainwashed with the attitude and desires of the Holy Spirit.

Don't Leave Naked

You know, I’ve been guilty of it myself. Sometimes I get up in the morning and immediately go through my routine without thinking. I take a shower, watch the news, brush my teeth, and have some breakfast. And if I’m focused, I might pray for a few things that are on my heart, including the day ahead, which is a good thing. But as I’m in the process of putting on my earthly corporal clothing I don’t always stop to ask God to dress me. Ephesians talks about wearing armor. Paul calls it the “full armor of God”. There’s a belt and breastplate, helmet and shoes, sword and shield; everything we need to be protected during the day and even one tool for going on the offensive if we need to. Ephesians 6:13 says:

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

I don’t forget to take my vitamins in the morning which help protect my immune system. I don’t forget to put on my seatbelt when I drive to protect me should I get in an accident. Then why do I, and many other believers, forget to dress in spiritual clothes before we leave the house? Paul warns us to put on the full armor of God, not missing one piece. He says that we should do it so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. The Bible reminds us that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Just like if we don’t password protect our phones or important data it is more vulnerable to thieves, if we don’t protect ourselves by putting on the armor of God we are more susceptible to the schemes of the devil. So, I encourage you not to leave the house naked. Pray to God to dress you in the full armor of God so that you’re protected. The full armor of God; don’t leave home without it.

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We need to put on the full armor of God every day. It may seem silly to literally ask God to dress us with armor, but when we do, somehow our minds and our spirit are automatically on guard. I used to visualize, in my mind’s eye, a knight in shining armor. When things were well with my spiritual walk, the knight was standing strong with armor polished and ready for battle. But when I fell, or was struggling, the knight would appear exhausted and beaten down with dented armor. But what I’ve learned over the years is that dented armor is better than no armor. When we are aware of the devil’s schemes, and have prepared ourselves with the elements of armor that Paul highlights, I believe that we can, and with the help of the spirit will, stand in the face of the devil. So again, I encourage you not to leave naked. Read Ephesians and learn about each element of armor, understanding that each piece has a role in our standing, fighting and ultimately winning spiritual battles.