Transcript
Acquiring Power in the Mightiness of God’s Strength By [redacted] As a child my mother made learning biblical scripture fun and enjoyable. As I grew older, however, many of those lessons became more or less practical. Gradually, I found myself envisioning things in a perfect but unrealistic form. In essence, my world view was: I live in an increasingly darkening world. But my person view remained firm. I am a light of this world. “As the children of light glory in the light/so do the children of the night wander blindly in their sight/and in darkness they wander mindlessly/” Now I am positive. It is important, as children of light to remain watchful. And we live in a world filled with dark minded individuals. And for this reason – collectively – we (children of light) must go on acquiring power in the Lord and in the mightiness of his strength. See Ephesians 6:10 put another way, acquiring power in the Lord is equivalent to receiving power to our homes. And sometimes in order to operate or maintain our homes efficaciously acquire power from a direct source. In this way, the appliances in our home help preserve and prepare foods for sustenance. And although power can derive from a number of outlets, there is only one purpose for acquiring it: to make our lives simple. An example of this power in our lives in relation to the biblical scriptures is best described in the Book of Mark 5:25-30: There was a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years. She had been to many physicians who basically used her as a pincushion. She spent all her money and still she was no better. In fact, she only got worse. Then she heard about the miraculous things Jesus had done, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched just his outer garment. This woman kept saying and believing that: “If I touch just his outer garment, I will get well." See Mark 5:28. As soon as she did she was immediately healed. But, at that same moment Jesus felt the power within himself go out of him. He stopped suddenly, turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my outer garments?” Id. at 5:30. However, his disciples were confused because the entire crowd was pressing upon him. The responded, “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you ask, ‘who touched me?’” Id. at 5:31. Jesus simply looked around for the person who had done this. The woman, however, was “frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.” Id. at 5:33. “He said to her: ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well.’” Id at 34. Likewise, when we acquire power in the Supreme Intelligence our faith is out outlet – the source in which we receive said power. The scriptures also explained to me that within human beings is a temple. These writings describe the house of God as the temple: “In the house of my Father are many dwelling places.” John 14:2. More specifically, I Corinthians 3:16 states: “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.” Again, the scripture reminds its readers that: “In union with him you too are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.” Ephesians 2:21. And this spirit, as we understand it, is mind. In order to receive the power and a signal there must be a connection. “And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2. So, acquiring power in a supreme – mind – intelligence is truly essential to our existence. Our faith – concentrated mind – is the key element to maintaining the temple. But there is also an extended requisite for expecting the power in the temple. See Ephesians 6:10, which require the children of God to go on acquiring power... “in the mightiness of his strength.” Even so, Jesus identifies with the Children of God as being the light of the world. See Matthew 5:14. And that light shines on all those in the house; thus, he commanded them to let their light shine before men, so that they may see the fine works and give glory to God in heaven. Id. at 5:14, 15-16. Now, as I stated in the opening of this message: we live in an increasingly dark world. But I have always agreed that light accurately shins out of darkness. See 2 Corinthians 4:6. And he has shone on our hearts to illuminate them by his glorious knowledge. Id. verse 7 goes on the ensure that we have this earthen vessel (body) as a treasure, so that the power beyond what is normal may be God’s and not from us. Verse 8 express how, at times, we are hard-pressed in every way, not knowing which way is best in our financial and personal affairs, but we must not become cramped so much we can’t move. I’ve known so many people who have moved away in search for a better way of life. Then, unfortunately, they return months - years later, worse off than they left. But no one is immune. There are times in my life, as well, that I’ve been perplexed, but not so much to the point there was absolutely no way out. I’ve been persecuted, but never felt abandoned; knocked down, but not destroyed. Likewise, we must realize that if our earthly house is the work of men who constructed them and could be torn down at any event, we must build up our temple, the house of God within – a house not made with hands, everlasting in heaven. See 2 Corinthians 5:1. “For in this house we do indeed groan, earnestly desiring to put on the one for us from heaven, so that when we do put it on, we will not be found naked. Id. at 5:3. “So, we are always of good courage and know that while we have our home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we are walking by faith, not by sight. But we are of good courage [even in this increasing darkness] and would prefer to be absent from the body and make our home with the Lord. Id. at 5:6-8. Children of Light As the children of light glory in the light/ So do the children of the night wander blindly in their sight/ And in darkness they wander mindlessly. In faith we walk alone with no one but God before us/ In prayer we talk alone when everyone but God ignores us/ I hope we see His loving kindness. Moreover, in love we experience our existence as the blissful state of peace. Although in spirit we strive for excellence in a wishful way of thought – to be free from all things that intrinsically define us/ It’s fine to be spiritually inclined, but his spirit will remind us/ For we are the children of God, heirs to his holy kingdom/ With treasure beyond compare, in places we can only dream them/ The Kingdom of God is so close, yet so distant and formless/ My God! I’m so glad that you found us/ Lost in space and time, in a world so bleak, so dull and so disappointing/ You called to me with a voice so calm, so pleasant, with such anointing/ ...We must, as children of Light, be careful; to share the lessons of life with those in dark stages – with no spiritual insight/ We must remain prayerful/
