Tag Archives: Power

Who are You?

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Because I have an odd sense of humor, there are certain verses in the Bible that just make me laugh. Today’s reading has one of those passages. Listen to what happens in Acts 19: 15-17 today:

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de JaneiroToday, some people are casting out demons in their name, and basically, they get overpowered, and somehow wind up naked and wounded. But notice what they are told – Jesus I know, Paul I recognize, but who are you?

What a great reminder for us today about where our strength comes from. Jesus. In fact, look at the end of the text, what happens? What happened was made known, and Jesus’ name was extolled (or praised).

In this we can learn a couple of things. First, our strength today comes from Jesus. Not from ourselves. Our talents. Our name. Our fame. Our power. Any of our “stuff.” Our power and strength come today from Jesus.

From Jesus only. Only from Him.

Today, in times of weakness, doubt, fear, worry, don’t turn to yourself.

Turn to Him.

And, in the end, we see that this event is used for Jesus name to be glorified and praised. We see that in this, honor is brought to Jesus.

Just like, today, in your life, even in your defeats, God can and will use it for your good and His glory. He will use this, and all things, for that purpose today.

So, trust in Him today for you strength. And you will not be empty or disappointed!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

When the World Spins Out of Control

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Habakkuk is one of the neater books in the Bible. In this book, the author talks about his list of problems and worries. He talks about all things that worry him, that concern him, that overwhelm him.

Many things. Many legitimate things, many things that caused him worry, pain and confusion. Many things that deeply bothered his soul. Many things that made him doubt, have struggles and have worries.

He talks about them.

And then at the end of chapter 2 he says this:

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

worshipGod is in His temple. God is on the throne. God is at work. God is still alive. God is still working.

God is in control. When the world spins out of control. When life seems going way to fast, going in ways that you don’t like, you don’t understand, you can’t control, remember this.

The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him. He is God. He is Lord. He is at work.

Stay calm. Trust. Even in the dark. Even in the fear. Breathe. Know this.

The Lord is in His temple.

He is in control. Even when life seems to be out of control.

God is in control.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Should We Do?

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Today, you may be facing a variety of things. Today, you may be facing a challenge that looks to great for you. What should you do in that?

Or today may be the most amazing day that you could possibly ever imagine. It may be the greatest day in your life. What should you do?

Or perhaps you are facing some type of illness or sickness. Or someone you love is facing a disease. What should you do?

Maybe you feel guilt over a sin that you committed, something that you’ve done that makes you want to hide your face from God. What should you do?

Listen to what James 5:13-16 says today:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

prayIn each of these situations, in suffering, in praise, in sickness, in sin, in whatever we face, what should we do? We should pray. No matter what it is that we face today, good or bad, joy or pain, challenge or reward, we should pray.

We pray for strength to meet whatever it is that we face.

We pray prayer of praise for the goodness and blessings God has given us.

We pray prayers of confession for the forgiveness we need for sin.

We pray, because no matter what it is that we are going through, not matter what it is that is on our agenda, no matter what it is that is happening, this is the one thing that we all need.

We all need to see God’s face. We all need His grace. We all need His power and love.

We all need Him.

Today, what should we do? Today. We should pray.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Charging Hell with a Water Pistol

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There’s some days when I’m reading the bible and it just says to me – Boom!

One of my professors used to talk about that sometimes when we really believe, I mean, really believe what we can do, or better said, what God can do through us, we will be so fired up that we will want to charge hell with a water pistol.

The odds may look long, but we know that with God on our side, me, you, a super-soaker, and God can defeat the power of Hell.

Today’s passage did that for me.

Look at what happens in Act 17:6-7 today:

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

They dragged the disciples before the leaders and said – these are the ones that have turned the world upside down.

Come on now. That’s it right there.

Don’t you want them to say about us, those are the ones that have turned the world upside down. They have this King Jesus, that they follow and the change the world.

They help heal broken families. They love the unloveable. They help the poor. They feed the hungry. They proclaim the freedom that is found in no other name but Jesus.

They are crazy enough to think that they can change the world. They have turned the world upside down.

Through following Jesus, through His power and life, through proclaiming the gospel, so can we!

It doesn’t have to be the same. It can change. We can change. The world can change. Through Christ and His power, we can turn this world upside down.

We can do it. Today. Through His power. Let’s turn the world upside down. Jesus told us that the gates of will not triumph against His church. Let’s charge hell with a water pistol today. Today, through Christ, we can do it!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Power to Change

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One of the sayings you hear a lot about Jesus in scripture is that He teaches with one that has authority. The wind and the waves obey Him. The religious leaders are shocked and confused by His teaching. The political leaders are left in silence by what He says. The spirits of evil are forced to leave when He commands them.

He doesn’t live, teach, heal, or care as someone “normal.” We all understand that. After all, He is the son of God. We get it. He comes forth in scripture as one called by God, enabled by God, who is the very Son of God.

He is one that has authority. He is one that has power. He is one that brings, above all, the power to change.

Listen to what we hear in Mark 1:27-28:

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Over and over again in scripture, we see Jesus bring the power to change. We see people encounter Jesus, and be changed. We see people convicted of sin, and repent. We see people healed by His touch, His word, His command. We see change occur wherever He goes. All throughout scripture, Jesus brings the power to change.

And He brings that power, not just in scripture, but in our lives as well. He brings the power to change.

We can change. We can be different. We don’t have to be the same. Really. That’s the power and the authority of Jesus. He can change us. He can save us. He can restore us.

He can bring hope, life, and peace. He really can change us. Really.

Today, let’s truly and honestly, give it to Him. Give Him the things that we need to change. That we want to change. That we want to see healing in.

He can do it. And He can do it in us. He is the Son of God. He is life. And He can change us.

Today, may we know the power of life. And may we allow Him to change us more into His likeness.

What’s Stopping You?

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Today’s story out of John 5 is one of my favorite stories in scripture.

We see a man sitting beside a pool where healing is known to take place. It’s a place where the angels come to stir the water the water and healing happens to those that get in the pool first. But, not everyone makes it in.

Some are too late.

Some are delayed.

Some are just not able.

That’s where the text picks up today. Listen to what happens:

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

What I love about this passage is something that we need to be reminded of. We talk a lot about our sin, our weakness, our frailty. We talk a lot about God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s understanding.

Something we don’t always talk enough about is our responsibility. Jesus asked him – would you like to be well? Duh, who wouldn’t? Then get up and walk.

Jesus made it possible for this man to be healed. Jesus didn’t want any excuses this morning, He asked do you want it? Then get up and walk.

The things that had stopped Him in the past stopped him no more. Jesus cleared the deck. Jesus got rid of those things. Jesus made it possible. He stopped what was stopping this man from being healed.

Jesus is greater than whatever is stopping you. Jesus is stronger. Jesus is more powerful. The power of the cross, the grace of Christ, the movement of the Holy Spirit, all these things are greater than whatever is stopping you.

What is stopping you today? From being faithful? From obeying? From living?

Jesus is greater. He is bigger than whatever is stopping you. May we live into the power and life of Jesus.