The Forgotten Power of God

The Forgotten Power of God

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.Ephesians 1:15-23

Have you thought or said one or more of the following: I can’t do it. This will never change. I am trapped by this sin and cannot overcome. Nobody is open. I have shared my faith but people do not want to come to church with me. I have poured myself out and now I am done because brother “so & so” will not repent. Discipline is for the people with the special gift of discipline and so don’t expect me to become disciplined! My kids won’t listen no matter what I try. The household is a wreck and it is impossible to get unified. My wife refuses to follow me because I keep messing up. Or my wife is so prideful NO ONE could lead her! My husband will never change and who would follow him anyway? Sadly, we could go on for hours with statements like this and all get really depressed!

Yet what is the real issue here? You may have forgotten the power of God! Or at the least you have minimized His power. Paul here prays that the eyes of the Ephesian disciples will be opened in order to know hope, to know the glorious inheritance in the saints and to know His incomparably great power– for those who believe! He even goes on to say that all things are under Jesus’ feet and that he is head over everything- “for the church”. What is the church? Men and women who have become sold-out disciples of Jesus! So in context, Jesus has “all authority and everything is under him” for you! Is this your conviction or a passing thought encased in easily forgotten scriptures? Do you live with the hard line conviction and confidence that you have received the power of God? 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Then in a very challenging way he teaches in 2 Timothy 3:5 that those who claim to be disciples yet are only “having a form of godliness but denying its power” are to be avoided!

In times of doubt, trouble, or just plain difficult situations one must find strength in the Lord by remembering His word. Our God never forgets. He makes promises that are kept and He will not go back on them. Ephesians 1:19 is a fact and a promise for all disciples to remember. He has given us not just power…but GREAT POWER! Recently my wife, Helen, had been wrestling with doubts that she could bring visitors to church. Being an amazing disciple and faithful to the Lord for many years and having been very fruitful, these doubts seemed out of place. Yet she struggled. Helen prayed faithfully and consistently for weeks that God would use her to bring people to church and WOW did He answer! Just two weeks ago while we were “scouting out the land” in South Florida Helen boldly shared her faith with a man named Vignalli at the restaurant where we were eating breakfast with Princeton and Joy. Vignalli was so inspired about the conversation that he too began “sharing his faith”. That night at midweek Vignalli came AND he brought a visitor as well! Helen had two visitors the same day. He then came all the way up to Orlando on Sunday and brought another visitor! Then excitingly at our “Bring Your Neighbor Day” which was also the IGNITE service- Helen had 10 visitors come out to church! Most of them now are studying the Bible! What great power did our God show in her life!

So today, let the scripture move your heart! If you are a disciple of Jesus, you received forgiveness of sin at baptism and the Holy Spirit- the deposit guaranteeing redemption- your salvation, Ephesians 1:14! With the receiving of the Spirit of God you have received power… power to overcome, to change, to be fruitful, to love, to be disciplined, to lead and best of all to live the life of a disciple. Thank God for his incomparably great power for us who believe!

He stoops down to make us great,

Matt Sullivan