GOD'S POWER - PART III (JULY 08, 2012)

The Title for this morning’s message is God’s Power which is a continuation of the previous week’s messages.

Our God is a big God who does mighty things.  The level in which the Power of God works is that when all efforts of man end and there seems no hope.  The Power of God will descend from above and starts working.  God will definitely reveal who He is and will do a greater miracle since we are worshipping a Miracle-Working God.

1.    Power in Commitment

II Kings 6:5, 6, 7 - But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”
So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place.  So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.  Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

Over here we see Elisha and the sons of the prophets who went to cut down trees to make their stay comfortable.  And while cutting the trees, the ax head fell into the water.  One of the sons of the prophets screamed that it was borrowed.  God did a miracle through Elisha by making the iron float.  While meditating this passage deep, God revealed an important secret.  The son of the prophets cried because they could not fulfill the commitment of returning the borrowed thing.

Many of us do not have the habit of returning the borrowed item from our neighbors.  We lack in commitments.  Some will forget the borrowed matter knowingly as if they have amnesia.  Are you in a situation where you could not carry out your commitment?  Are you not playing your role of responsibility as a father, mother, teacher, student, master, servant well?  I have seen many parents grieve since they could not leave any property for their children.

When you give the tenth of your wealth to the Lord He will be very delightful to make you rich as well.  Many husbands save money without their wives notice and vice versa.  God wants every couple to have truth and loyalty between them and they should save the money or spend together.  When we follow all these rules and regulations of God, He will never leave your families poor and will bless like Abraham.  God will definitely give you Grace to carry out all your responsibilities.

Prayer:  Lord I am unable to fulfill my responsibilities.  I fail to carry out my duties.  Please uphold my family and make my family precious in your sight.  Please give us your Grace to run my family.  Thank You.

2.    Power in Darkness

II Kings 6:15-17 - And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots.  And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The servant of Elisha was very much afraid of the army with horses and chariots since he saw only with his physical eyes.  But Elisha the prophet was very cool and calm since he saw with his spiritual eyes.  Elisha also prayed for his servant for his spiritual eyes to be opened and God did so by closing his physical eyes.

There was darkness around in the beginning when the servant saw with his physical eyes.  He felt no way of escape from the enemies who rounded up the mountain.  Only a place of darkness deserves light.  That is why God did a miracle and opened his spiritual eyes to pave way for the light.  With his spiritual eyes the servant could see God’s host surrounding them for protection.

At this point, please believe that God’s host is surrounding you and your family too.  Perhaps you might not see with your own eyes but the others surrounding you will definitely see them.  Once a man of God returned through a dark village after finishing his ministry.  He was advised by his fellowmen not to cross that particular route due to the danger of theft and robbery as he was carrying valuable things.  But he was in utter need to return home as soon as possible.  So he started his journey and came home very safe.  The next morning two men seemed to be like robbers knocked at his door and inquired who accompanied him yesterday.  The man of God was perplexed and said he returned all alone.  The robbers could not believe this and asked again and again.  The pastor understood that it was the Angels of God who came with him for his protection.  So believe that God is with you always in your darkness as your Protector.

Prayer:  Lord I am in a situation where I could see only darkness all around.  Please show me your light and make me feel lighter by your protection.  Thank You.

3.    Power in Weariness

Mark 8:2-9 - “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.   Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away.

The people who gathered in the wilderness to hear the sermon of the Lord had nothing to eat and the sermon went on for two to three days.  The disciples told Jesus that they are coming from far off places.  Jesus thought if He leaves them without any food they might get wearied on their ways of return.  So He was in the need of doing something miraculous for those wearied people and that is why He revealed His power.

Likewise at times of weariness in our lives, God’s Power will be well revealed.  When you worry for a certain problem which is unsolved for many years, God will definitely reveal His power over it.  God’s time for a miracle is your time of weariness.  Our God is a big God who does great miracles.

The disciples took up seven baskets of left-over meat.  This shows a perfect blessing.  We are also in the seventh month and the Lord has got a great blueprint concerning you and me.  You still worry because you have not understood God’s purpose behind every sorrow of yours.  The Lord will give you a perfect blessing this month and make your life complete.

Prayer:  Dear Lord I am praying for a certain situation which is worrying me a lot and I find that I could not get a solution for a longtime.  I am wearied because of this.  Please reveal your power and do a miracle.  Thank You.

4.    Power in Nothing

John 21: 3-6 - Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

The disciples went for fishing in the Sea of Tiberias and they did not get anything all through the night.  When Jesus came to them, He asked them whether they have anything to eat and they said they have nothing.  The Lord gave them a different strategy, showed a different area to cast the net.  By this the Lord looked at the disciples whether they obey His words or not.  The disciples did according to the Word of the Lord and caught 153 big fishes which the net could not hold.

When we went to Israel, the guide told us that there are 153 varieties of fishes in the Sea of Tiberias, which means the Lord had given them one in each variety.  Also the disciples went into the sea just 200 cubits off the shore and there is no chance of getting such big fishes in that area.  But whatever God does is a miracle and He will give us best in everything.  In your hopeless situation, God’s power will be revealed.

Prayer:  Lord I believe in your word and submit and obey you.  May your Power work in my life.  Please turn my hopeless situation to a hopeful one.  Thank You.