As I was reading through some posts on Facebook, I came across one in which the author said, "I just love saying the name of Jesus!" As I read that, my heart was touched, and I started to wonder how long it had been since I felt that way myself. I remember the power and assurance and faith that just saying His name evoked in me. Nothing was impossible and no fear too threatening and no night too dark. There is power in His name, and how easily I have allowed myself to be burdened with the challenges of life and have forgotten that power.
I began to sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that Name." I felt His calming peace come over me again as my anxieties drained away. So simple, so easy, so peaceful. There is something about His name!
Thank You, Jesus, for being the Name above all names!
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Power
Sunday morning, muggy, temps heading for mid 80's, looking forward to pizza with a friend later today, etc. Just read a piece by Frank Schaeffer in Huffpo dissing Christians and justifying his leftist godless theology. The only acceptable targets these days are Christians and conservatives. What a state our country is in! It would be good if Jesus came back soon! This life is wearying at times, and this is one of them. Oh well, enough of that! On to more encouraging themes!
I was meditating this week on the scripture verse, 2Ti 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." kjv
I was also reminded of this verse, 1Co 4:20, "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." kjv In the first verse, power is coupled with love and a sound mind and contrasted to fear. In the second, power is contrasted to words. So, I began to ask what is this power that is, frankly, so powerful that it can dispel fear and bond with love and a sound mind.
My peeps are pretty much charismatics, desiring and seeking after supernatural displays of God's power through healing, et al. So am I. I've been wondering, A LOT, why it is there is so little power in the church? The organized church is all about words, it seems. Every Sunday a sermon to inspire you to do more, be more, 'fess up, etc. For all the words, nothing changes. The people we pray for don't get well or out-and-out die. We latch on to faith and try to get more or to refine it somehow to receive our desired results. We look for formulas, we read the latest book, listen to the latest expert, and keep asking God what we are missing in our quest. For all of our faith, we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
It all has to do with power, God's power in us. Jesus had it. He didn't have to work up enough faith or use any formulas. My question is, how do WE access His power in us that results in the transformation we are seeking? The Spirit has given us the power, so what is missing?
I was meditating this week on the scripture verse, 2Ti 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." kjv
I was also reminded of this verse, 1Co 4:20, "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." kjv In the first verse, power is coupled with love and a sound mind and contrasted to fear. In the second, power is contrasted to words. So, I began to ask what is this power that is, frankly, so powerful that it can dispel fear and bond with love and a sound mind.
My peeps are pretty much charismatics, desiring and seeking after supernatural displays of God's power through healing, et al. So am I. I've been wondering, A LOT, why it is there is so little power in the church? The organized church is all about words, it seems. Every Sunday a sermon to inspire you to do more, be more, 'fess up, etc. For all the words, nothing changes. The people we pray for don't get well or out-and-out die. We latch on to faith and try to get more or to refine it somehow to receive our desired results. We look for formulas, we read the latest book, listen to the latest expert, and keep asking God what we are missing in our quest. For all of our faith, we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
It all has to do with power, God's power in us. Jesus had it. He didn't have to work up enough faith or use any formulas. My question is, how do WE access His power in us that results in the transformation we are seeking? The Spirit has given us the power, so what is missing?
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