Sermon Central
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The Power You Already Have
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 15, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: We are victorious through Christ. The same power that raised Jesus to life is at work in our lives. So let us BELIEVE in His power and ACT UPON it.
Eph 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Theme: Verse 18
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know …His incomparably great power for us who believe.
Paul was in prison when he wrote Ephesians. Yet he wasn’t thinking about himself.
• (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians written in prison.)
• He was concern for the believers. And he was praying for them.
Paul’s prayer was not a prayer for anything physical, or for anything material.
• He was praying for something within – something unseen – something spiritual.
• We tend to pray for things tangible – but most of the important things we need are not tangible.
• The man who committed suicide needs, not physical strength or health, but spiritual.
What we really need is not physical power – the power within.
• We need strength for the inner man – we need that faith that can move mountains.
• What is this power like?
Look at the resurrection of Jesus.
• Paul says that’s the model of the power we possess - the power that overcomes sin, death and the devil.
Very often, when we think of power, we think of something dramatic, expressive, and something that comes with a BIG BANG!
• But the resurrection power of God is almost quiet. There was little noise or any big bang.
• You don’t have any sense that it is happening, but it is happening.
We tend to look at the outward – we focus on the violent earthquake that took place (Matt 28:2), the rolling away of the stone, and the terror (or screams) of the Roman guards.
• But all these events FOLLOWED the resurrection. They were results of it, not the thing itself.
• It didn’t take the rolling of the stone, and the overpowering of the Roman guards, to allow Jesus to be resurrected.
• If you think about it, He was already resurrected when those things took place.
The power was there within the tomb, in total quietness.
• Jesus rose from where He was laying and left those grave clothes; it evaporated out of them.
• And then He passed through the great stone at the door of the tomb.
• It was later rolled away by the angel of the Lord to let the women and disciples in (Matt 28:2).
• It wasn’t rolled away to let Jesus out, but to let man in!
The power was the power to gives life! The power to restore life!
• Not the power to shake the earth (earthquake) or the power to roll the stone.
And this is the power we need – the power to face the challenges of life; to say NO to sin and the devil.
• The ability to say, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13)
• The faith to say, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:33), and to say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be done. (Matt 21:21)
DO YOU NEED SUCH PRAYERS? YES, I NEED!
• 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know
…His incomparably great power for us who believe.
• I’m not going to believe what the devil says. I’m not going to believe myself.
• Neither am I going to give up on life, or give up my life!
(1) BELIEVE IN HIS POWER
If He can save you, He can keep you.
If He die to give you a new life, He can surely see you through life.
You see, what I need is not more muscle, more physical strength or health.
• It’s spiritual. It’s the strength of your heart. It’s that which is within you.
Song - Ps 73:25-26
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(2) ACT ON HIS POWER
This power has a peculiar characteristic: It only happens when you begin to act!
When you begin to exercise the gifts that God has given you, then the power begins to flow, not before.
When you take God at His word and do as He says, you see Him performing His part.
Not before. You didn’t feel this power at first.
• You didn’t just wait and wait, until you suddenly feel strong, capable or mighty. And then you move.
