Category Archives: Power

Battles, Bible, Power, Scripture, Strength, Weakness, Worthless

WEAK AND WORTHLESS

GALATIANS 4:9

“But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?”

No one wants to be seen as weak and worthless. I know I sure didn’t. When I was in junior high and high school, I had a weight-lifting coach who had an incredible strength building regiment. I loved lifting weights. I wanted to be the biggest and strongest guy on the team, so I worked hard in the gym. It paid off, and I was able to gain the muscle I wanted to compete on the football field.

Paul isn’t talking about “bulking up” physically. He is, however, talking about those weak and worthless things in our lives that rob us of our spiritual strength. He was warning the Galatians about going back to their former way of thinking, to the things of their former lives that were without any spiritual good. The Greek word for “worthless” literally means like a beggar. Who wants that?

APPLICATION

We have all heard about drug addicts who go through rehab, learn coping skills to deal with their addiction, get better, get released and then almost immediately return to their former way of living. They return to those weak and worthless things. We are warned about that. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” You can’t return to the old way of living.

So, what do we do to prevent this from happening? I love how Paul puts it in his letter to the Philippians. In 3:14 he says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That’s it! We press on. Just like I had to do those bench presses and shoulder presses and leg presses to build physical muscle, I have to press against anything that tries to pull me back into my former way of thinking or living. That pushing back will build spiritual muscle.

I don’t want to become some spiritually muscle-bound Christian who doesn’t know how to apply what I know. I want to be fit for the kingdom and actually in the battle. How about you? Are you ready to “get fit” for Jesus? Are you ready to lay down anything from the past that is weak and worthless? Let’s do it.

Father, pump me up spiritually so I am able to fight the battles that are headed my way.

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Bible, Power, Promises, Redemption, Scripture

PUT IN IDLE

GALATIANS 3:17

“What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.”

A lot of people have no idea how to use a clutch in a vehicle unless they have driven a manual transmission car or truck. Pushing that clutch down takes the vehicle out of the gear it is in and allows the driver to shift to a higher or lower gear. It is also pushed when you want to come to a stop so that the engine does not stop. Putting a vehicle in idle essentially makes it powerless while that clutch is depressed.

Okay, enough about auto mechanics, lol. The reason I used that example is because of the word “nullify” in today’s verse. It is the Greek word katargeo. It means to make completely inoperative or “to put out of use,” according to TDNT. Paul is telling the Galatians that the Mosaic Law which came 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham does not throw that promise into idle. It does not make that promise powerless. Those promises are still in effect.

APPLICATION

How does this apply to us? As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, The Seed, we are still tied to those promises made to Abraham which came to fruition through Jesus. Just what were those promises? In Genesis 12:1-3 we read, “1 Now the LORD said to Abram,

‘Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’”

So, how does this promise apply to us? It was through the line of Abraham that Jesus came. Just go to Matthew 1:1-17 and read the genealogy of Jesus. It culminates with this statement in verse 17. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.”

That’s why God’s promises to Abraham are not thrown into idle by the Mosaic Law. His promises were kept to Abraham through the birth and eventual death of the Messiah. Because of Jesus all the nations of the world have been blessed with the offer of salvation. Have you claimed that promise for yourself? Have you offered that to anyone else?

O Lord, nothing can render You powerless, nor any of Your promises.

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Bible, Miracles, Power, Salvation, Scripture, Testimony

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MIRACLE?

GALATIANS 3:5

“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

The closest thing I have seen to a miracle was the birth of my two children. If you have never experienced that, it is truly amazing. How can a living being come from within another living being? How can that little being start breathing air for the first time? How does that little baby know to begin to breastfeed from their mother? It is truly a miracle that happens thousands of times every day.

In today’s verse, Paul continues to ask questions. This time he asked them whether God, Who gave them the Spirit and works miracles among them, did this by the Law or through faith. We know the answer is through faith, right? But what kind of miracles did God work among them? Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers says this. “The Greek means not so much ‘causes miracles to be wrought in your midst’ as ‘implants in you miraculous powers.’ The power to work miracles is regarded as a special faculty bestowed by God upon individual Christians.” 

APPLICATION

While we do not know what specific miracles Paul was referring to, we can make an educated guess based on the evidence throughout the New Testament. We know that Jesus performed miracles to draw the unbelievers unto Himself. I love John’s last verse which says, “21:25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.”

God is still performing miracles today. He is working in and through believers to do these. Unfortunately, many of us in the Western world are too busy trying to explain away these miracles. However, in other parts of the world, we hear of miracles of healings and even the dead being raised. Visions are happening all over the Muslim world. Why? To draw unbelievers to Jesus.

So, every time you share the Gospel with someone, you are being used to deliver the miraculous saving power of Jesus. The Greek word for “miracles” is dynamis, which according to HELPS Word-studies means, “for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord’s inherent abilities.” We are simply the Lord’s tools to perform His miracles, if we are willing to be used. Are you?

Lord, use me to perform whatever You want to do. 

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Admonished, Apologies, Battles, Bible, Confession, Family, Forgiveness, God's Will, Hurts, Love, Power, Reconciled, Restoration, Scripture

SIN IN THE FAMILY

MALACHI 2:10

“Do we not all have one Father? Is it not one God who has created us? Why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?”

Family dynamics are hard. Some families seem to have no troubles at all from the outside. But if you were able to peer into the real family, you would see hurt feelings and squabbles. Why? Why do families, who share the same blood, fight and not get along. It’s simple – it’s called sin. Period! Exclamation mark!

Look at today’s verse. Malachi points out the failure of the people. When he says, “Do we not all have one Father,” he may be thinking about the Shema Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” They were in the same family – God’s family. God had called them His people. But they were sinning against each other which was in effect sinning against God.

APPLICATION

Isaiah 6:5 says, “Then I said, ‘Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of armies.’” That is why we sin against each other. Isaiah saw it. We are all sinful creatures. In our case, as believers, we have the solution to all this sin – Jesus. He has covered our sins. He has given us the power to stop blaming our sins on someone else.

I believe Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:26 applies here. “And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.” Just as we all cheer for our family member who gets that award or makes the game-winning score, we also all suffer when one family member is fighting with another. This kind of in-fighting can kill a family.

There is only one solution to this – return to the foot of the cross. Forgive one another. Reconcile the family. When we “deal treacherously” with each other, whether it was intentional or accidental, the wounds are real and must be dealt with. Come together to Jesus. He can heal all wounds because He was wounded for us.

Father, forgive our in-fighting as family. Help us show love and compassion to each other daily.

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Bible, Dependence, Power, Scripture, Strength

POWERLESS

ZECHARIAH 11:17

“‘Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered, and his right eye will be blind.’”

I was in a hotel room recently that had some power issues. The coffee maker did not work, and the television did not work. They were both plugged in but had no power. I could not figure out how to fix it. So, I called maintenance. They were “Johnny on the spot” and came right up. He quickly diagnosed the problem and got them both working. A man has to have his coffee, right?

The Lord is speaking here in verse 17 today and describing the “worthless shepherd.” The right arm symbolized his strength and power. His right eye symbolized his knowledge or what he thought he knew. Both would be rendered powerless, according to the Lord. Many scholars think this shepherd represents the “abomination of desolation” that is described in 2 Thessalonians 2.

APPLICATION

Where does your power come from? Carl, I have been working out and having gotten so powerful. That is not what I am talking about. Physical strength is important to us, but our spiritual strength is so much more important. You cannot rely on your own strength. One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Is that true of you?

When we rely on Christ for our strength, we do not have to worry about our right arm or our right eye. All our strength comes through Him. All our knowledge comes from Him. Through Him we can work and through Him we can see. Have you ever stopped to think that your powerlessness to face life’s challenges is because you are trying to do it in your own strength? So many of us do that.

It has taken me decades to realize that truth. Sure, I knew it intellectually. But only through the trials of life did I discover just how true it is. Earlier in Zechariah we saw another favorite verse of mine. Zechariah 4:6 tells us, “Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of armies.’” We should all learn to live by that.

Lord, I am powerless without You. Strengthen me according to Your power.

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Advocate, Allegiance, Allies, Bible, Courage, Defense, Power, Scripture, Strength

NO MATCH FOR GOD

ZECHARIAH 10:5

“And they will be like warriors, trampling down the enemy in the mud of the streets in battle; and they will fight, because the LORD will be with them; and the riders on horses will be put to shame.”

One year when my high school football team played a team from Alabama, it was the mismatch of the century. We were a small private school in South Georgia with a small team. We probably had 25-30 players at max. Most of the starters played both offense and defense. But in rode this other team on three busses. They probably had 90-100 players and they were skilled. The final score showed the mismatch (50-3). We literally had no chance against that team.

Anyone who goes against the Lord is mismatched. 1 Chronicles 17:20 says, “LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to everything that we have heard with our ears.” Israel knew their God was great and would be with them in battle, should it come. God is reinforcing those beliefs here through Zechariah.

APPLICATION

God is with us, to fight our battles. His might is mightier than any foe we face. We only lose these battles when we think we are defeated. That team we faced on that field could have lost to us if they hadn’t played to their skill level. We fought hard against them every play. But they knew they had a superior force. Hey listen, we do too.

God is the mighty warrior. I have been memorizing Psalm 24. It’s only ten verses. I love verse 8 that says, “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle.” Do you think God is through fighting His children’s battles here on earth? No way. He fights mine every day. I invoke His power and His strength daily.

I pray you know that He is on your side. He does not turn us into some kind of superhero, but He does give us the strength to face each challenge head on. There is nothing the devil can throw at you that He cannot defeat. He will use you to do that. Trust Him. He is your strength. He is your mighty power. You are His soldier in the battle. Fight on!

O Master and Defender, give me the courage to fight each day. Help me put on the full armor to fight the enemy.

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Abiding, Bible, Choices, Faith, God's Will, Gospel, Power, Salvation, Scripture

TRUE POWER

ZECHARIAH 4:6

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of armies.’”

Oh, do I have stories to tell of my attempts to do things on my own. Whether it was stubbornness about a task I needed to accomplish or my impatience with others resulting in me going it alone, I learned that I need others in my life. I particularly need the one true source of power – Jesus Christ. Amen?

Today’s verse is an often quoted verse. But seldom do people go back to the vision in verses 2-5 to get the full meaning of this verse. Just as the lampstand was fed eternally by the olive trees depositing an endless supply of olive oil, so too would Israel be provided the strength through Jehovah. It wasn’t about military strength or their own physical strength. It was God who would enable them to finish the temple to His glory.

APPLICATION

We need His Spirit. We need His power. It is not about us. It is all about Him. Have you experienced this? I pray you have. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The power of God! For salvation! To everyone who believes!

We find later in the New Testament, another writer stating the same message. 1 Peter 1:5 says about believers, “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Not only does His power save us, but it also protects us. Why would we not want to yield to Him?

Let me let you in on a little secret. God will let you try it on your own. Even though He has drawn you to Him, He will not force you to receive this power. And then when you find out that you can’t do it, He is there. That was my dad’s testimony. He finally realized at 80-years-old that he couldn’t do it on his own. Glory! Hallelujah! You can know that too.

It is Your power, God. It is Your Spirit that gives us strength.

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Accused, Angels, Bible, Forgiveness, Guilt, Power, Redemption, Scripture

FILTHY

ZECHARIAH 3:3

“Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and was standing before the angel.”

I have been filthy! Yep, I have, but I mean that in the physical sense. I grew up working. I have had some pretty demanding and nasty jobs. Few came close to working in the tobacco fields when I was young. When you are handling wet tobacco leaves, the tar from the leaves covers your hands and clothes. I could literally stand my jeans up upon returning home due to the stiffness of the material from being soaked all day in that tar. And I was filthy!

But the Lord is not referring to that kind of filth on Joshua’s garments in Zechariah’s vision. That filth was due to the sins he and the nation of Israel had committed. But I want you to see something in this verse. Even though his garments were filthy, he still was able to stand before the angel. You see, God takes us right where we are – filth and all. We’ll see what happens in the next few verses. Come back and see.

APPLICATION

Are you filthy? Do you have unconfessed sins in your life. Perhaps you are not a believer. In that case, you stand filthy before the Lord. Those sins stain you, just like that tobacco tar stained me. I love the last part of James 1:27. “…and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” This old world will definitely stain you with all the filth that is in it.

So, what do we do about that? We come to Jesus. He has the ultimate cleansing power. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Did you catch that? He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What a promise! What a claim to make.

When we confess our sins as a believer, His blood, which has already saved you, washes it away. And for the unbeliever, His blood does the same. That blood will never lose its power. It never loses its strength. It can cleanse the filthiest sinner and make him white as snow. Have you been cleansed? Come to Jesus.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Abiding, Bible, Choices, Confession, Darkness, Fellowship, Forgiveness, God's Will, Power, Scripture

FROZEN SUN AND MOON

HABAKKUK 3:11

“Sun and moon stood in their lofty places; they went away at the light of Your arrows, at the radiance of Your flashing spear.”

June 21 is normally the longest daylight day of the year where I live. The sun seems to hang in the sky forever. But I cannot imagine the scene in Joshua 10 when the sun literally stood still. “12Then Joshua spoke to the LORD on the day when the LORD turned the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, at the Valley of Aijalon!’ 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day. 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.”

Habakkuk, perhaps, is recalling that story. He knows God has that kind of power. His point in today’s verse is to remind the people of God’s omnipotence. He even holds the sun and moon in His hand and does with them as He wishes. If that is so, then surely, He can handle what they are going through.

APPLICATION

What do you believe? Do you believe God can handle your problems? I told someone this week, “Whatever is over your head is under His feet.” God can and will handle it, in His time. But you must believe. You must trust the God of the universe to carry you through whatever it is you are facing.

My family has been through a lot in the past dozen years. They watched me go through two stem cell transplants for an incurable disease with no guarantee I would pull through. But in the midst of that, we trusted our Lord. We knew whatever happened, He was in control.

The same God who turned His back on His Son and caused the world to go into darkness because of the sin which Jesus took on Him is the same God who will not work in your life as He desires until your sins are confessed and you are in fellowship with Him. Turn to Him today and confess your sins to Him. Let Him wash you clean and work in your life today. Come out of the darkness.

Father, today I bring all my sins and transgressions to You. Forgive me, Lord, and set me back on the right path.

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Bible, Creation, Glorify, Power, Praise, Scripture

NATURE RESPONDS

HABAKKUK 3:10

“The mountains saw You and quaked; the downpour of waters swept by. The deep raised its voice, it lifted high its hands.”

I have said it before, but creation groans at the presence of God. When we keep our mouths shut and don’t extol His greatness, the trees and birds will take up the slack. God’s presence can be seen everywhere around us if we will just look.

Habakkuk is telling us the same thing. The mountains see God and quake. Perhaps there were actual earthquakes or the thunder echoing off the mountains made them appear to quake. The waters sweeping by like the judgment of God on His people. The ocean deep raises its voice, and its waves lift high His name. What a beautiful picture.

APPLICATION

I do not want creation to outdo me when it comes to giving God praise. I want to “out glorify” the trees and rivers, mountains and oceans. I want my praise of my King to be loud and proud. I want the world to know where my allegiance is.

Today, we are so busy worshipping creation that we forget the Creator. So many environmental groups will fight to protect a single salamander in a forgotten stream somewhere but won’t pause for a second to recognize the creative force behind it all.

This Christmas, as you celebrate Jesus’ birth, take a minute and celebrate our great Creator. Thank Him for His presence in all of creation which points us back to Him. But also, glorify Him above all. Don’t let the trappings of Christmas “out glorify” you. Make your voice heard above the clamor of Christmas. Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

I will shout it from the mountaintop that Jesus is Lord. Praise the God of all creation.

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