Degrees of Power
Degrees of Power: Be honest with yourself. At this time, how much power do you have to make a difference. Power always seems to be reflected in words. I have concluded that there are only three levels of power, and they manifest in words, whether you speak them to someone else or silently say them to yourself.
[1] You could have “no power.” When words are spoken from a hard or ignorant heart – or an unbelieving one, or one in deliberate sin, they have no power. The Holy Spirit will not respond to and anoint these words. You will only limit yourself and in some cases, keep yourself chained to emotions or habits that get you nowhere.
[2] You could have a life of “low power.” Without a close relationship with God, or when you are filled with doubt, or soaked in pride, or habitually feel sorry for yourself, your words carry very low power and not much anointing. Anointing is never your choice. It’s always the choice of the Holy Spirit. He responds to faith, hope and love. Think about that and look at what it is He may not be responding to.
[3] You could, and should have “all power.” This power is already resident in your heart, waiting to manifest itself in the words you speak to others, or perhaps most importantly, you say to yourself. “All power” comes with committed, unrelenting surrender to Christ, and is spoken in the mighty name of Jesus – to whoever will listen and especially to yourself. The Holy Spirit hears and miracle-working power comes. It is the gate to grace. Wise leaders know God only responds with all His power to our surrender, obedience and faith… Then, mountains will be cast into the sea, devils flee, dead men walk, and those you lead will be changed forever. Mark 11:23-24 (NKJV) says, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. {24} Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Dr. Bob
If you would like to listen to my audio book on Marriage Enrichment…
If you would like to listen to my free audio book on Marriage Enrichment (9 chapters) it’s freely available to you.
It’s Time for a Heart Change.
My friend Pastor Bryan Rosenbarger, preaching on Pentecost, said this: “No matter what laws are passed in this land, only the Holy Spirit can change hearts.”
My thoughts: It’s time for hearts to change! Make room in your heart for the grace, love, unity and compassion that the Holy Spirit will bring. Only the grace of God will make the difference. Take time to reflect on Romans 12:2 in the Passion Translation. It says, “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
My new Study Guide/Workbook (June 2019) – Seven New Testament Patterns for Godly Living
Everyone develops patterns of living, both righteous and not. This Study Guide/Workbook will challenge you to compare the patterns of your own life to New Testament patterns for godly living.
“Shall You Not Drink the Cup” Thoughts on John 18:11
This is a heart-searching study. It spoke to my heart. I hope it does to yours.
A Commitment to Endure and to Finish
New for February 2016 – This is a lesson we all need to learn and relearn as leaders. You will find it under “Leadership Attitudes.”
Tiny White Bugs – b
I was sitting at my desk, looking out the window at our beautiful yard and the golf course beyond. A number of months ago we planted a young Hibiscus tree about fifteen feet from my window. It had beautiful orange flowers on it when we brought it home and planted it. After a while, the flowers disappeared. We examined the young tree and found it was infested with tiny white bugs that were feasting off the flower buds. They were destroying the buds before they could bloom into beautiful flowers. The bugs have successfully resisted the spray that’s supposed to kill them. We have determined to keep working to eliminate the bugs, so we can enjoy the beauty of the Hibiscus flowers, even though it will be a battle. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”
Have you noticed that it’s always the little things that seem to affect us the most? Perhaps it’s because they are not easy to notice or identify as the cause of our problems. Have you also found that even when we identify the little things as the problem, they can be difficult to deal with and eliminate from our lives? We may even choose to ignore them because they seem so small and couldn’t possibly cause us so much trouble, yet, they do! I’m Dr. Bob Like the little white bugs on my tree, the issues of life that seem insignificant can be recognized, dealt with and ultimately defeated. Don’t allow something that seems insignificant ruin what has so much potential for beauty in your life. It will take determined perseverance and faith, but with God, all things are possible.
No More Junk Drawers -b
At breakfast with my friend, Pastor Bryan Rosenbarger, we talked about how vital it is that leaders in the church live organized, disciplined lives. Everyone is watching. Pastor Bryan said to me, “Leaders who are disorganized and undisciplined are like junk drawers in a kitchen. Most of us have one or two of these drawers, filled with all kinds of things that were randomly thrown in them.” For the most part, the things in a junk drawer have become part of a mixed up mess of seldom or never-to-be used again items. In Philippians 3:7-8, we read that the Apostle Paul well understood junk, as he wrote this: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. {8} Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ…” A junk drawer, jammed together with neglected and effectively useless items, is a picture of confusing disorder. It speaks of a lack of discipline and perhaps even laziness. We all (and especially leaders) need to clean out our lives of any confusion, lack of discipline or disorder and sometimes, even laziness. I’m Dr. Bob. People are watching. They value, are affirmed and secured when their leaders display steadiness, discipline and order. Eliminate the junk! (more…)
No More Junk Drawers
At breakfast with my friend, Pastor Bryan Rosenbarger, we talked about how vital it is that leaders in the church live organized, disciplined lives. Everyone is watching. Pastor Bryan said to me, “Leaders who are disorganized and undisciplined are like junk drawers in a kitchen. Most of us (more…)
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