Power And God

Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (NIV)

We all want and think we need power. When a windstorm or other weather phenomenon takes out power lines and we lose electricity, we understand our need for electrical power. We take electricity for granted and only see the evidence of it in what electrical power physically produces. Electrical power is invisible. In the same way, the power of God and God are invisible. We sometimes take God for granted and unfortunately, we often have faith in God based upon visible evidence of God in physical results produced. For persons who have little or no faith, the results produced by God are seldom connected to God. For persons of little faith, it is as if they see a motor running but refuse to believe there is an invisible electrical power in a cord or battery connected to the motor. Because God is invisible, people tend to not believe in Him or tend to doubt Him. For some persons, lack of faith ensues when they are not able to see the power of God manifested in some form. However, God is not in Heaven to manifest Himself for us, we are put on earth by Him to manifest His will in our lives.

What is striking about electricity is that it is, like God, invisible. Of all the modern inventions and scientific developments, electricity has made the greatest impact upon the world. Our lives depend upon the power of electricity. Electric power heats us, cools us, powers our tools, runs our appliances, flows through all our transportation systems, and runs our computers and media devices. The power of electricity or electric current is only a potential power in a wall socket. Actually, the power in a wall socket is not realized until a connection is made to the wiring in the socket. In the same way, God rests in our lives and remains unused until we connect to Him.

In the natural world of electrical current, in every electrical appliance or in every electrical device that makes use of electricity, there is resistance. When there is no connection to an electrical power source, there is, in scientific terms, infinite resistance. In the same way, when we do not connect to God, we represent infinite resistance to His will and desire for our life.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15 As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." (NIV)

In a light bulb, the resistance of the tungsten filament is what causes the heating of the filament. When the bulb's filament gets heated to white hot, the white-hot tungsten gives off light. However, when there is no power permitted to flow into the light bulb there is no heating. In the same way, when we permit the love of God to flow into our lives then our spirits are warmed up by His presence and we give off the glow of His power within us. With God, some of the worst circumstances are and can be used to His glory when we let His power flow into us and through us. In all circumstances, we are to let His light shine out from our lives.

2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (NIV)

In electrical devices, we have been able to find a way to use the resistance of the device to use the electrical power. We have been able to craft the nature of the resistance in wires, tubes, transistors, computer chips, and other electrical components into products for our benefit. We have only been able to use the inherent resistance of physical matter in these ways by the use of our human will. Likewise, we are able to deal with our built-in resistance to God by the use of our human will. Neither electricity nor God ever invades except in the case of lightning, that for some persons, represents an invasive act of God. When we use, submit, and act upon our resistance and weaknesses to the will of God, God is glorified.

In life, if we did not have enough built-in resistance to doing God's will, there is also Satan who comes to make our life even more difficult and extreme. Satan makes our life extreme by increasing our resistance to the flow of God's love in our heart. However, we are not helpless in this matter. God's power within us is a power of victory if we plug into it. God's power is a victorious power that annihilates the resistance Satan wants us to put up against God. Just the knowledge that God's power is a victorious power over the darkness of Satan is enough to bring His light into any darkness.

1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV)

Power is the ability to do, act, or produce. Notice that in this definition of power that power is expressed only in a passive form or as an "ability" to do, act, or produce. With God and within ourselves, there is always a potential or passive form of energy to do, act, or produce. There may be times in your life when you think all your power is gone. However, Satan deceives us, and Satan lies to us to try to convince us we have no power.

In the physical world, there is an expression or exhibition of various forms of energy. The expression of energy is an active definition of power. The power of God is within every person on earth every moment. Beyond the last moment of life, power of God through Christ lifts us up into heaven. In our Christian faith, when it seems all power is lost and we stand at death's door, we stand not at the door of no more power, but at the door of infinite power. What we must remember is that we do not have to come to the last moment in life to have the power of Christ's love flow though us. We can have the power of His love now, merely by opening the door of our heart upon which He tenderly knocks.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (NIV)

When we think of power, we also can see that power is an active ability or faculty like the power of hearing or the power of thinking. God has given us power over our thoughts and over our life. God is glorified when we exercise the power He has given us to turn our life over to Him. God is also glorified by our willingness to follow His leadership and guidance for us.

There is no secret to finding, having, keeping, and using the power God. The power of God is so accessible that children are more able to tap into it than adults. Children are more able to access His power because children instinctively believe. This is why Christ said we must be as little children.

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV)

In contrast, the human and worldly idea of power is connected to strength, vigor, force, or will. Some persons who refuse to bend to the will of God act as they do because they do not see an active display of His strength, vigor, force, or will. In their arrogance, they refuse to believe in the reality of God's love because they have not permitted His love to come into them with any strength, vigor, force, or will. Because God chooses to not invade our lives but chooses to come into our lives only by invitation, we must not be arrogant and refuse to invite Him in. Christ comes to every person who wants Him. Christ comes into the life of every person who opens the door of their heart to let Him in.

If you have not committed your life to Him, if you have not given all that you are to Him, and you want Him as your Lord and savior…if you want Him to be real to you...if you want to find Him again, I want you to put your hand over your heart this minute. With your hand over your heart, tell Him you are sorry for the life you have lived. Then reach out to Him and touch His outstretched hand. Accept Him into your heart and life. Tell Him you love Him and you accept Him.

Precious Lord Jesus, call again to this reader. Reach out again to this reader's heart. No matter what the circumstances might be, reach through those circumstances and touch this person so they will hear you calling their name. Amen.