GOD’S POWER REVEALED – SEE, HEAR, TOUCH, BELIEVE
Monday morning as I was reading in Acts about the first church and seeing what was happening in and among the people, I couldn’t help but think about what is happening in my own church – and I must confess, it left me feeling very frustrated and angry. I took those frustrations and anger to God and confronted Him with the question WHY? “Why Lord is this not happening today? Why is your power and the power of your Holy Spirit so evident in the early church and seemly so absent in today’s church? Why Lord? Why don’t You reveal Your power to the church today in the same way You revealed Yourself to the church then?” I am glad that God is a patient and gracious God. He didn’t strike me with lightening because of my feelings and questions, but He did let me stew about it for a whole day. Then Tuesday morning in our time together, He answered my questions and showed me His power revealed.
GOD’S POWER REVEALED – SEE, HEAR, TOUCH, BELIEVE
Acts 4:32-33: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”
SEE God’s power revealed in the lives of the early church. Imagine how excited they must have been – they had seen JESUS ALIVE!!! HE HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD, just like He said He would. As a result, they shared all they had, AND they shared Jesus. As a result thousands of new believers were added to the church every day.
Psalm 148:13-14 – “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.”
HEAR the sound of God’s power in praise - Praise going out not only from His people, but from everything in the heavens and on earth
1 John 1: 1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.”
TOUCH God’s Power in the Word of Life. Every time we open our Bibles - we are holding The Word of life. Coming face to face with this awesome and powerful God, revealed in the risen Jesus, we can do nothing more than throw ourselves at His feet and, along with the tax collector, cry out, “God have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
John 20:29 & 31b: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believe… But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”
BELIEVE - claim the power of the resurrected Jesus, the forgiveness of sins that is ours by Grace through faith, and know that because He lives – you too shall live.
Thank you Father - You have showed me that You are indeed an awesome God and that Your power is still evident today. You allow us to see, hear, and touch our resurrected Jesus every day in Your Word, Your sacraments, and Your church and You give us the power to believe. My prayer Father, is that you would make us a people that testifies to, proclaims, and claims the power of the resurrection not only in our churches, but in our homes, our work, and our lives.
Lord Jesus Christ Your power make known for You are Lord of Lords alone. Defend Your Holy Church that we may ever more sing praise to thee.” I pray and claim this in the powerful name of the resurrected Jesus - AMEN!!! (Lutheran Service Book, Pg. 655, vrs 2)
Church Season –
2nd Sunday of Easter
Week ending: April 19th, 2009
Monday – (Old Testament)
Acts 4:32-35
GOD’S POWER REVEALED – in and through the testimony of believers like you and me. Proclaim Jesus
Tuesday – Psalm
GOD’S POWER REVEALED - in and through PRAISE of His Holy Name –in the heavens, in the earth, and in His people
Wednesday –(Epistle)
1 John 1:1-2:
GOD’S POWER REVEALED – In the Word of life – we have seen it – HE IS RISEN
Thursday – (Gospel)
John 20:19-31
GOD’S POWER REVEALED – Stop doubting and BELIEVE
Friday – REFLECT
Read Psalm 46:10 and reflect on what it means to be still in the awesome power of God
Saturday – SHARE
How has God revealed His awesome power in your life lately?
Sunday – Be still - see, hear, touch, and believe in JESUS
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