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
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.”
How Do You Measure Yourself?
I was recently going through one of my journals from 1994. I came across some thoughts I had written down in preparation for a sermon, that I don’t think I ever preached. My thoughts began with this question: “Why am I doing what I am doing and (more…)
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Vapors that Disappear in the Wind
I was sitting in my den watching TV. I wasn’t at all focused on what I was watching. Suddenly, I stopped looking at the TV and thought to myself, “I would really like to have another Mentoring Minute podcast to share on my website, but there’s nothing in my heart to write about.” Then, it happened in a flash. The Holy Spirit simply said, open your Bible and start looking, until you read what I want you to see. Then, start writing.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As I picked up my Bible and randomly skipped from one place to another, I soon I found myself moving from the Old Testament into the Book of John. There, I found a hand-written sheet of notes for a sermon I had preached more than five years ago. I stopped. That’s what the Holy Spirit wanted me to see! I looked at it and thought to myself, “It’s a very good thing to record our thoughts when studying the Bible. When we fail to do this, they become like vapors that disappear in the wind. However, if we take the trouble to record them, they are branded in our hearts.” So I stopped and focused on the notes I had written. Then, I zeroed in on the Scriptures they referred to. Unlike mindlessly watching TV, or even what my notes said, this refocus taught me a lesson worth sharing. It’s the idea that if we allow the world’s tempting distractions to captivate and numb us to the point where we cannot hear from God, we will be without His direction, instruction and power. That’s the devil’s goal for all the garbage he puts before our senses.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) says, “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 a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.” Our part in this is to establish the personal discipline to recognize the distraction these temptations offer and reject them. God always makes a way of escape. Draw near to Him, reject what the world offers and watch what He does in you, for you and with you.
Vapors that Disappear in the Wind-03-28-14
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Don’t Poke the Bear Unless You Can Kill It.
In Judges, Chapter 15:4-5, Samson tied the tails of 300 foxes together in pairs, lit their tails on fire and sent them into the Philistines’ grain fields. It was a foolhardy act of revenge. It was like poking a bear in the eye. (more…)
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A Well-Beaten Path
I was driving home one morning and stopped at a traffic signal. This particular intersection is one I have driven through and stopped at for years. A strip of grass about six feet wide divides the opposing traffic lanes. There is always someone standing there with a sign of some sort, begging for money. (more…)
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My latest Journal Entry: Walking in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit
This is the third in my series of four articles on “Walking in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit.” Its title is “Constant Access to Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding.”
What Determines Your Blessings?
The question is, What determines your blessings? Is it (more…)
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Catch up to Yourself.
I had just returned home from a busy morning. As I thought about what I would do next, I heard the Holy Spirit say to my heart, “Take a break and catch up to yourself” (more…)
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Four Parts to the Fire
Recently, I met with Ryan Stacey, who is my website designer and a professional fire fighter. Our conversation turned to what makes a fire burn. Ryan told me that there are four elements necessary for it to burn. It takes (1) fuel, (2) heat and (3) oxygen to start the fire. Then Ryan said that the final element necessary to give life to the fire is a sustained chemical reaction. Otherwise, the fire will go out. I thought of how this compared to our Christian lives. First, we need fuel, which is our faith in Christ. Second, we need to keep our faith heated up and alive – fired up! Third, we must constantly supply our faith with the life-giving oxygen of the Word of God. Finally, to keep all this working, we need one more element – the presence of the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 3:16 (NKJV), John the Baptist said to those around him, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The first three elements of vibrant Christian living, faith, fire in our hearts and the Word of God, when combined with the Holy Spirit’s divine presence and power, enables us to continue to burn for Jesus. Do you have all four of these working together to keep you fired up for Jesus? Remember, the presence of the Holy Spirit will be the deciding factor on whether you will sustain a fire-filled life of fruitfulness in Christ.
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