Ephesians 1:19-20 TPT
"I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!"
"I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!"
Have you ever stopped to think about what Jesus would look like if he were to walk into this room?
I don’t think God left us enough clues to know what Jesus looked like physically, because that wasn’t the important thing. But he did reveal to us exactly the right amount of information about his character, and his values, and his virtues, and His attitudes. Because, these are the things he wanted us to inherit, to imitate, and to develop.
In, "The Character of Jesus," by Charles Edward Jefferson. He says, “The writers deal with only three years out of thirty-three years, and of these selected days the deal only with shreds and fractions.”
He said the gospel writers were not trying to write a biography, because while it may take volumes to write a biography about Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington, or Napoleon, or Alexander the Great it would take far more to write about the life of Jesus. But they tell us exactly what we need to know … that Jesus’ character was one of power and strength.
Look at how strong and powerful people reacted to Jesus. John the Baptist was a mighty man, none mightier had ever appeared in Judah. When Jesus presented himself to be baptized something amazing happens. John had called to repentance, he had faced the greatest men of his day without flinching. John falters, and falls back and says, “I cannot baptize you.” Jesus was powerful! (Matthew 3:13-17)
At another point he walks along the shore of the sea of Galilee and sees two men fishing: he says, “follow me,” and they leave their nets to follow him. Jesus was powerful. (Mark 1:16-20)
Think about the reaction that the Roman centurion. (Matthew 8:5-13)
I think of Russell Crowe when he portrays General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the movie Gladiator.
“The first impression of Jesus is the impression of authority, mystery, power, leadership. He is a man of strength.” (The Character of Jesus, by Charles Edward Jefferson)
This was God in the flesh - look how he is described throughout the Bible.
As the Son of God, Jesus is the Power of God
(John 5:17-19; 10:28-30)
As a man, Jesus’ Power is from the Father
(Acts 10:38)
Jesus is described as Supreme
(Ephesians 1:20, 21; 1 Peter 3:22)
Jesus is Unlimited
(Matthew 28:18)
Jesus is over all things
(John 3:35 Eph 1:22)
Jesus is Glorious
(2 Thessalonians 1:9)
Jesus is Everlasting
(1Timothy 6:16)
Jesus is able to subdue all things
(Philippians 3:21)
Jesus is upholding all things
(Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is salvation
(Isaiah 63:1 Heb 7:25)
Jesus has power to perform miracles
(Matthew 8:27; Luke 5:17)
Jesus enables others to work miracles
(Matthew 10:1; Mark 16:17, 18; Luke 10:17)
Jesus has the power to forgive sins
(Matthew 9:6; Acts 5:31)
Jesus has the power of eternal life
(John 17:2)
Jesus has the power to raise the dead
(John 5:28, 29)
“Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.” John 13:3
That is an amazing statement about the power of Jesus and the authority that God was giving him, and ultimately us.
So how does Jesus use his power?" So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.” John 13:3-5
I heard Andy Stanley speak on this passage at a conference last year. He said that for Jesus, He realized that He was the most powerful person in the room and He chose to use His power and authority for the benefit of the disciples and for us.
What’s your first move when you become a powerful person? Jesus sheds his symbol of authority his robe. Jesus disciples were stunned by his humility. Jesus sheds all his authority (his robe is the symbol) and became a humble servant.
Don’t leverage your power for your own sake, but for the sake of the other people (in the room). Look for opportunities to leverage your power for the other people in the room.
George Washington story - he surrender his power. If decides not to be King he would be the greatest person in the world. Supreme example of a leader that can be trusted with power — he gave it up.
Virtue of Power is defined as-Steadfast, firm, unshakable, sure, never-failing, enduring, abiding, resolute, constant, devoted, steady, immovable, uncompromising.
Think about where we get our power, strength, authority...
• Resources (money, business, equipment, land, controlling interest)
• Position
• Physical strength
• Wisdom, Knowledge, Intellect, Skill
• Influence over someone who is in power
• Family
• Ultimately, they all come from God
As believers, we share in that power. He has placed that power, authority, in you.
Opposite of Power: wavering, unsure, unstable, fickle, indecisive.
In "Wild at Heart", Waking the Dead, and The Way of the Wild Heart, John Eldridge has done the church a great service by reminding all of us, especially men, that we were created in the image of God. And God is powerful, God is a warrior.
See The Way of the Wild Heart (pp. 138-144)
The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name. Ex 15:3 (HCSB)
The LORD will march out like a mighty man,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
Isaiah 42:13 (NIV)
I don’t think God left us enough clues to know what Jesus looked like physically, because that wasn’t the important thing. But he did reveal to us exactly the right amount of information about his character, and his values, and his virtues, and His attitudes. Because, these are the things he wanted us to inherit, to imitate, and to develop.
In, "The Character of Jesus," by Charles Edward Jefferson. He says, “The writers deal with only three years out of thirty-three years, and of these selected days the deal only with shreds and fractions.”
He said the gospel writers were not trying to write a biography, because while it may take volumes to write a biography about Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington, or Napoleon, or Alexander the Great it would take far more to write about the life of Jesus. But they tell us exactly what we need to know … that Jesus’ character was one of power and strength.
Look at how strong and powerful people reacted to Jesus. John the Baptist was a mighty man, none mightier had ever appeared in Judah. When Jesus presented himself to be baptized something amazing happens. John had called to repentance, he had faced the greatest men of his day without flinching. John falters, and falls back and says, “I cannot baptize you.” Jesus was powerful! (Matthew 3:13-17)
At another point he walks along the shore of the sea of Galilee and sees two men fishing: he says, “follow me,” and they leave their nets to follow him. Jesus was powerful. (Mark 1:16-20)
Think about the reaction that the Roman centurion. (Matthew 8:5-13)
I think of Russell Crowe when he portrays General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the movie Gladiator.
“The first impression of Jesus is the impression of authority, mystery, power, leadership. He is a man of strength.” (The Character of Jesus, by Charles Edward Jefferson)
This was God in the flesh - look how he is described throughout the Bible.
As the Son of God, Jesus is the Power of God
(John 5:17-19; 10:28-30)
As a man, Jesus’ Power is from the Father
(Acts 10:38)
Jesus is described as Supreme
(Ephesians 1:20, 21; 1 Peter 3:22)
Jesus is Unlimited
(Matthew 28:18)
Jesus is over all things
(John 3:35 Eph 1:22)
Jesus is Glorious
(2 Thessalonians 1:9)
Jesus is Everlasting
(1Timothy 6:16)
Jesus is able to subdue all things
(Philippians 3:21)
Jesus is upholding all things
(Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is salvation
(Isaiah 63:1 Heb 7:25)
Jesus has power to perform miracles
(Matthew 8:27; Luke 5:17)
Jesus enables others to work miracles
(Matthew 10:1; Mark 16:17, 18; Luke 10:17)
Jesus has the power to forgive sins
(Matthew 9:6; Acts 5:31)
Jesus has the power of eternal life
(John 17:2)
Jesus has the power to raise the dead
(John 5:28, 29)
“Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.” John 13:3
That is an amazing statement about the power of Jesus and the authority that God was giving him, and ultimately us.
So how does Jesus use his power?" So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.” John 13:3-5
I heard Andy Stanley speak on this passage at a conference last year. He said that for Jesus, He realized that He was the most powerful person in the room and He chose to use His power and authority for the benefit of the disciples and for us.
What’s your first move when you become a powerful person? Jesus sheds his symbol of authority his robe. Jesus disciples were stunned by his humility. Jesus sheds all his authority (his robe is the symbol) and became a humble servant.
Don’t leverage your power for your own sake, but for the sake of the other people (in the room). Look for opportunities to leverage your power for the other people in the room.
George Washington story - he surrender his power. If decides not to be King he would be the greatest person in the world. Supreme example of a leader that can be trusted with power — he gave it up.
Virtue of Power is defined as-Steadfast, firm, unshakable, sure, never-failing, enduring, abiding, resolute, constant, devoted, steady, immovable, uncompromising.
Think about where we get our power, strength, authority...
• Resources (money, business, equipment, land, controlling interest)
• Position
• Physical strength
• Wisdom, Knowledge, Intellect, Skill
• Influence over someone who is in power
• Family
• Ultimately, they all come from God
As believers, we share in that power. He has placed that power, authority, in you.
Opposite of Power: wavering, unsure, unstable, fickle, indecisive.
In "Wild at Heart", Waking the Dead, and The Way of the Wild Heart, John Eldridge has done the church a great service by reminding all of us, especially men, that we were created in the image of God. And God is powerful, God is a warrior.
See The Way of the Wild Heart (pp. 138-144)
The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name. Ex 15:3 (HCSB)
The LORD will march out like a mighty man,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
Isaiah 42:13 (NIV)
ACTION STEP: March out into your day knowing you have the power of Christ inside of you! Make plans to show up and get your "Expectors" on at a church this coming Sunday--it is Resurrection morning!
1. Take Responsibility for your Actions-reclaim your power.
2. Take Responsibility for your Thoughts-the narrative in your head.
3. Take Responsibility for your Subconscious mind and Programming-Generational thinking, patterns, woundings and interrupt the pattern.
4. Take Responsibility for Giving Back-go do something for someone else.
I believe in you and you need to believe in you too!
I am counting on you and so are others!
Be responsible for what you have been given--like a sunshiny day with nothing but blue skies!
1. Take Responsibility for your Actions-reclaim your power.
2. Take Responsibility for your Thoughts-the narrative in your head.
3. Take Responsibility for your Subconscious mind and Programming-Generational thinking, patterns, woundings and interrupt the pattern.
4. Take Responsibility for Giving Back-go do something for someone else.
I believe in you and you need to believe in you too!
I am counting on you and so are others!
Be responsible for what you have been given--like a sunshiny day with nothing but blue skies!
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