Thoughts for Life: #42 God's Almighty Power (last one)

Andrew Murray- The more we strive to take in these thoughts, (see #40 The Source of Spiritual Blessings) the better we will understand why Paul again returns to the working of God's almighty power.

In chapter one [of Ephesians] he spoke of the Spirit's enlightenment to show us that the power that raised Christ is needed to work in us in every moment of our spiritual life. (Google image, Spiritual blessings)

In chapter three [of Ephesians] he goes further and prays that the greatness of God's power according to the riches of His glory may be given to us as an actual strengthening with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

Take time and think what that means! The whole spiritual life can be permanently quickened with divine power. Then the indwelling of Christ in the heart will become a divine reality.

The Church has almost lost the concept of the indwelling of Christ as a continual experience. Before this can become part of our living faith and experience, we must see the greatness of God's power that raised Christ from the dead as part of the inheritance of every Christian. The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance.

Paul realized the importance of the divine power as the one condition of the full spiritual life. The doxology he adds gives God glory just for this one thing—that His love, His righteousness, His holiness—give us reasons to bless His name.

But as the groundwork of all, His almighty power must be our only confidence in all that He is to do in us in carrying out His purpose.

Let us worship and adore him. Every thought of what is to be done in us, in the Church, and in the world is summed up in the promise, "Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us!"

Paul closes all his instruction in the epistle with the conclusion: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10 ). He used the same word in Ephesians 1:19, "according to the working of His mighty power;" and in Ephesians 3:16, "to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."

This power and strength was meant to be the standard of devotion in those Ephesian Christians. It will become the standard of our devotion when we learn to cast all our weakness at His feet and believe with childlike assurance in the greatness of His power toward us. We will then be prepared to experience a life strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

(Chapter 20, pp. 102-104, italics added)

Receiving Power from God

by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984

by Whitaker House

Used by permission

www.whitakerhouse.com

Let's pray-

"Father, according to Your Word I am to work out my own salvation. Thank You for helping me, for working with me! I desire to please You by learning to walk in Your Love that never fails. I choose the way of Love today for You have given me the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with Your love. I ask You to forgive me and deliver me from this selfish, self-centered, self-serving attitude, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I choose to submit to Your Love that endures long, is patient and kind in the name of Jesus my Example and my Lord."
Germine Copeland
Scripture References: Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 13 (AMP)

Today's quote-

~ Germine Copeland- "Never look to another human being to complete you. It is only the Love of God that never fails, and He can meet all your needs."

Today's Bible verses-

Psalm 147:3 (NLT) “He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.”

Psalm 68:5 (NLT) “Father to the fatherless, defender

of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy.”

Psalm 13:5 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my

heart rejoices in your salvation.”

Words of wisdom-

~ How blessed it is to know how needful God's Word is! May we yield to the judgment of it!

~ As nothing equips us better for effective soul-winning than memorized Scripture, let's start with at least learning one-line verses, as I have been doing now for months.

Today's guest post-

Hi, I have Clinical Depression (short video)
Jim Watkins (writer friend of mine)

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!

Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)