Thoughts from Pastor Tim - October 28

Dear Church Family –

Thanks for a great day in church this past Sunday!  We talked about the sense of powerlessness that many American Christians feel, and yet, the reality of God’s incomparably great power for us who believe!

Because of the depth and breadth of God’s Word, there is always more to be said than we can digest well in one sermon.  So, here’s some of the things I left out Sunday .

Joe Stowell wrote (in a daily devotional book that Judith and I have been reading lately, titled. Strength for the Journey),

“Have you ever felt that if God were to show up as regularly as He did in the lives of people in Bible times that you too could be a spiritual hero?

"…a lot of us are seduced by ‘spectacular’ forms of spirituality.  We miss the fact that God’s presence is most often expressed in quiet, unseen movings of the Spirit below the surface of our situations.  Rather than continuing to faithfully take the routine steps toward God in our pilgrimage, we wait by the side of the road hoping for a holy handout.  We opt for the quick hit, the rush of spiritual adrenaline.”

 “Recently I time-tabled Abraham’s life and noted that God ‘showed up’ only about once every 15 years.  Abraham had no Bible, no small group fellowship, no exhilarating worship services, but his steadfast faith is celebrated in Hebrews 11:8-19.

 And Billy Graham, commenting on the verses we looked at Sunday said,

“Did you know that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you and me today?  The moment we receive Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts.  He gives us supernatural power to overcome temptations, to smile through tears, to experience joy despite life’s burdens and trials.  The Holy Spirit will raise you from the mundane, the monotonous, the hopeless; He will raise you out of your spiritual lifelessness and transform you.

“In fact, imagine what a difference it would make if people understood that Christ is risen and the Holy Spirit is given?  What a transformation would take place in our families!  What a reversal there would be in our culture’s deteriorating morals!  What a lessening of tensions we would see between individuals, groups, and even nations!  And what a new purpose and power we would experience if we caught the wonder of the Biblical truth that Jesus is alive!

“Believe and share the truth that can fuel this transformation: Jesus is alive!”

God’s incomparably great power comes to those who trust and obey.

For the power of Christ, the Word, and the Cross – Pastor Tim