Power UP!: May 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Power Of Your Faith

Key Scripture: "Where is your faith?" Luke 8:25

Power Point:

Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the Author and the FINISHER of our faith. I don't know about you but that takes a huge load off my shoulders. For many years, I thought it was all up to me!

What a pleasant surprise to know that the One who died for me, still lives for me. Today He is continuing to do what He did on earth-teach me how to grow my faith.

When the disciples were in that little boat on the lake, they battled the storm they were in, but they found that they just didn't have the physical or spiritual strength to survive. They finally called on Jesus for help. He didn't get angry or irritated; He simply turns toward the storm and spoke "Peace" to it. Then He turns to the disciples and says, "Okay guys, where is your faith?" (Suzanne translation!)

I've heard people say that this was done in a condemning tone, but we know that there is never any condemnation in Christ Jesus! He never puts us down, He pulls us up! We also know, from His own words, that He is "gentle and humble in heart". (Matthew 11:28).

It would be totally out of character for Him to respond that way.

This was a teaching moment. Knowing Jesus, I think He turned to them with a twinkle in His eye, and, in effect said, "Well, we know I have faith, where's yours? You could have done what I did!"

It was Lesson # whatever in "How To Have the Christ Kind Of Faith”. That was His job, and it remains His job today. He will always challenge your faith in order to grow your faith.

If you think about it, the disciples did have faith in Jesus. The first thing they did was to turn to Him, knowing He could, and hopefully, He would help them. They did that knowing that He was powerful, and that He loved them.

They believed in Jesus, they just didn't understand who they were IN Him! And it was time for them to learn that.

Do you find yourself in that place of faith today? You're not at the beginning of your walk of faith, but you're certainly not at the end. You find yourself still attending FAITH 101 classes with Jesus, but you're still hesitant to move out on your own. Opportunities present themselves for faith to arise, and Jesus turns and looks at you and says, "Okay Beloved, where is your faith?" You know Jesus can do it, but can YOU do it?

Can you turn the tables on the enemy?

Can you calm the storms of life?

Can you have the same relationship with your Heavenly Father that Jesus did?

Jesus says we can. We get to walk with Him every day just as the disciples did. Jesus is growing OUR faith by giving us His Spirit to live in us and enable US to overcome the world. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our encourager, our Helper, and He has every intention of answering Jesus' prayers that we would grow in faith until we ourselves do greater things than He did.

The next time you face a trial of faith, remember this, it's your golden opportunity to believe that Jesus is in you, and with you, and through you. You're not alone. His faith is readily available, and perfectly prepared for you any time you need it. You have power over the enemy because you know that Jesus has already defeated him. You will experience the "sweet smell of success", because Jesus always leads you in HIS victory. You can turn the tables on the enemy and create an atmosphere of faith so intense that he will run the other way.

The extraordinary good news in all this is that even if you are not full of faith-He is! And He is full in you! He does not condemn you, and He will not abandon you or leave you to your own devices. He will strengthen your faith and strengthen your heart so that you can take your stand-and walk-by faith.

Power Thought:

Are you in a teaching moment for Faith 101?

Is there something you need to speak "peace" to today?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Power Of Blooming

Key Scripture: "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

Power Point:

The old adage, "Bloom where you are planted" is a good one, and a GOD one. No matter where you are, or what your situation is, God will enable you to bloom there. His grace is sufficient for you, and His power will be manifested and bloom in your weakest areas.

Like Paul, you've probably requested a time or two to be removed from the particular plot of ground you've been planted in. And like Paul, you may have received the answer that God's power is there and you will not only survive but you will flourish.

I think that sometimes we consider God's power only in the realm of the miraculous. We forget that the character of God is the most powerful thing we could ever encounter. What would it be like if in the midst of anger His love was sufficient to overcome it? What would it be like if in the midst of fear, you were convinced of His faithfulness? What would it be like if in the middle of your greatest need, you knew that God would provide?

You would bloom wouldn't you? You'd be giving God something to work with. You’d be giving Him faith in His power to bring you to a flourishing finish.

God defines His power as GRACE in this passage. And it is a power-full word. Sometimes we think it means that we must struggle to just "get through" the place where we are. We are going to have to grit our teeth and pull ourselves together and hope and pray that God will come through. In all actuality, when the storms of life are drenching our hope and the strategies of the Enemy to kill, steal, and destroy us are threatening to pull us under the water for the third time, "His grace enables us to conquer every weakness as we yield to an absolute trust or reliance upon God, trusting His heart when we cannot trace His hand." (NSFB).

The word for "sufficient" means that God's grace is always available to us to enable us to with a "supernatural" ability or miraculous ability to "sustain, endure, or maintain our call-for all He is enabling us to become in Christ." (NSFB).

As a result of the extraordinary powerful grace that God has given to us, we are able to say with Paul:

THEREFORE, (because of God's extraordinary Grace available to me), I was glad to let it happen! I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride and with good cheer. These limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (2 Corinthians 12:10, The Message).

Beloved, if God's grace wasn't sufficient, He would have said so. If you needed to worry about tomorrow, He would have made that clear. If God had wanted the Enemy to win, He wouldn't have sent Jesus to bring us the opportunity for an abundant life. You have the same Spirit of Grace within you that enabled Jesus to conquer every fear, every attack, every plan of the Enemy to destroy God's plan for Him and for you. You have the same Spirit of Grace that propelled Paul to sail on rough waters and turn the tables on the Enemy every time.

BE filled. BE encouraged. BE strengthened. Let Him flow and BE strong enough in you for you to BLOOM where you are planted.

His grace is not only powerful enough to save you. It is powerful enough to sustain you.

Power Declaration:

I will BLOOM today where I am planted. I will not dread, or fear, or allow my weakness to overwhelm me. I will concentrate on the Grace of God for me, and IN me, that enables me to fly above not sink in. God’s grace will SOAR in my weakness. The seeds of His Words in me, are flourishing and they will bring me to a flourishing finish.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Power Of A Way Out

Key Scripture: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." ! Corinthians 10:13

Power Point:

There have been many times in my life when the testing of my faith has seemed to be overwhelming. I have found myself running for the EXIT! "Father, You promised that You would make a way of escape for me. WHERE IS THE EXIT?!?! I am frantically looking for the "EXIT" sign over the door that leads to the way out.

Recently, the Lord gave me a different point of view. He reminded me that He had promised to make "a way of escape". What if the "way" is not HIS doing, but ours? What if the "way of escape" is the same pattern that He has shown us in every other area of Kingdom Life?

Could it possibly be that the WAY OUT is Praise?

Could it possibly be that the WAY OUT is believing the promise He has given you beforehand?

Could it possibly be that the WAY OUT is standing firm?

Could it possibly be that the WAY OUT knows that God is Good and refuses to be moved from that understanding?

Could it possibly be that the WAY OUT is fixing your mind on Him- on His power, and His goodness, His kindness, and His desire to bless you and thanking Him in advance for what you do not see yet?

Could it possibly be that when we praise Him before we find the "Exit", He inhabits those praises? Is it possible that as we praise Him, we change and charge the atmosphere around us and He fills that atmosphere with the brilliant light of His promises of help, deliverance, strength, and JOY!

Is it just possible that as we praise Him, our minds become more focused on Him than on our problem; that as we think on Him, and think on His promises, our spirit renews our minds and makes the perfect way out-straight through the door of HOPE.

We always have a choice Beloved. We can stay "stuck in the mud" and mire of giving up or we can "stand" on what He has shown us, on Who He has promised to be for us, and apply that to our lives. We can choose to no longer just be "hearers" of the Word, but diligent, "walking it out" DOERS!

If you've been looking for the "EXIT" sign, stop where you are and start praising the One Who loves you, and has promised to "help". The number one way that Satan will try to discourage you is to get you to doubt who God is for you- for you personally. Take the time to gather up the armloads of promises He has given you and sink your teeth into them. You can't be an overcomer if you don't overcome the lies you're hearing. "You won't make it through this one!" "There's no way out of this!" Yes, Beloved, there is. You can be thankful for that, and begin to praise Him. With great fervor! He has made a way out for us. Open your mouth and let your spirit sing His praises.

Could it possibly be that the way out depends on us depending on Him?

The EXIT sign is right over the door of HOPE!

Power Declaration:

I know that God fills my praises. When I praise, I begin to love Him more; I begin to realize He intends to be good to me, to help me, and to strengthen me. I remember His faithfulness to me, and I relish the opportunity to see His faithfulness in THIS situation.

Praise is my way out. Faith is my way out. Hope is my way out. I refuse to consider any other options. God is good. He will always be good to me. That settles it!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Power Of Thinking Before You Think

Key Scripture: "Out of the heart, the mouth speaks."

Power Point:

You've probably heard the old adage, "Think before you speak!" It's a good idea isn't it? However, as Christians we're actually told that we need to "think before we think!" If we're supposed to capture all our thoughts and make sure that they are in line with what God desires for us to think- that's really thinking about what you're thinking about, before you think about it!

Confused?

Sometimes I'll find my thoughts taking a wrong turn, but often I don't realize it until I've gone too far down the wrong road. You've probably done that yourself. You may find yourself daydreaming and soon you're having an entire conversation in your head with someone that is not productive at all. You may find yourself getting angry or resentful when actually nothing has happened, except in your thoughts.

The other day, I was experiencing that and suddenly I heard the Lord ask me, "Where will that thought take you? Is it somewhere you want to go?" As a matter of fact, it wasn't. His questions helped me to make a U-turn and get back on the right path.

When your thoughts are uncontrolled, your life will become uncontrolled too. If you do not capture those thoughts before they're allowed to nestle in, you will find yourself heading off in a dangerous direction. The only way Satan can get you un-settled, un-faithful and un-peaceful is through your thoughts. That's his tool of choice. He can cause you to begin to think about what you lack so much that you ignore what you have. He can prompt you to doubt God's promises so that you'll never see them fulfilled. He can cause such chaos in your thought life that you can never find peace.

God promises that when we think as He does, our thoughts will be higher; higher than our problems, higher than our circumstances, and higher than any negativity that Satan can dream up. The key is, we have to think about what we are thinking about don't we? We have to ask ourselves:

1. Where is this thought taking me?

2. Is it taking me somewhere that I want to go?

King David is a good example of letting your thoughts take you where they want you to go. He couldn't get his mind off of Bathsheba and ultimately acted in a very "unkingly" manner. When he controlled his thoughts he was one of the greatest worshippers ever. Billions of people still use his thoughts to form their own prayers.

Beloved, your thoughts are the words you speak to yourself when no one else is listening. Are they taking you where God wants you to go? Are they blessing, and healing, and faith-filled?

Do you want to go where your thoughts are leading you today? If not, turn around and remind yourself of all those wonderful soaring thoughts that God has about you and turn them into prayers. Fill your mind with the thoughts that He thinks about you, about your circumstances and about your future. I think you'll be thrilled with where those thoughts take you.

Power Declaration:

I'm binding my thoughts to the thoughts of Jesus today. I will set the course of every thought so that at the end of the day, my thought life will produce REAL life!

As I order my thoughts today, my tomorrows will be on the right path.