ALIENS? STRANGERS? OR BOTH: (I Pet 1:1 & 2:11)

In ancient Rome, sculpting was a popular profession. The culture flourished with statues, as nearly every public and private building had numerous gods represented. The market was flooded with sculptors, so quality was sometimes lacking. Less qualified craftsmen would cover their errors with wax, and frequently the customer could not see the flaw. To compensate for this practice, authentic sculptors would mark their statues with the words sine cera--"without wax." Today we frequently use the same term to close letters. "Sincerely"[1]

Many celebrities, politicians, sports stars appear to live authentic lives in front of TV cameras and in the eyes of the public, but when we closely observe their lives we will be shocked by their unreal and double standard lives. For example, infamous personalities, like John Edwards, Tiger Woods and Jesse James who projected impeccable lives while secretly having affairs. All three men have lived in deception and cheated their wives who loved them.

If we are not careful we too can join the list of infamous cheats. As Christians we are called to live authentic lives. Many churches have become showcases for saints rather than hospitals for sinners. It is time we started giving God and others a life that is sine cera. What is authentic? Being authentic means conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief and trust. An authentic Christian is pure in his or her nature like the twenty-four carat gold that we can trust. The apostle Peter, the first church planter wrote two letters to Christians of his time explaining how they can live authentic Christian lives in a society where much fakeness and counterfeit existed and also what makes a healthy Church.

Before we dig deep into I Peter let’s address what a Christian is and what a healthy Church is? A Christian is not some one who attends a Church regularly. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger. Saying prayers doesn’t make you a Christian because people in many religions pray or praying in the name of Jesus doesn’t make you a Christian, because the Lord said, on the judgment day many would come and say Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and in your name perform many miracles? But the Lord would say to them, I never knew you depart from me you who practice evil. (Matt 7:22-23).

A Christian is some one who has been forgiven of his sin and has peace with God through Jesus Christ. A Christian is some one who follows the most important command which is “to love the Lord his God with all of his heart and with all of his soul and with all of his mind and with all of his strength and he loves his neighbor as himself.” (Mk 12:30). All Christians no matter where you are from have been adopted into the family of God, that is the Church universal (Eph 1:5) but you still need to pursue to become an active member in a local church. Mark Dever in “what is a Healthy Church” compares the local church to a healthy family,” This is no dysfunctional family, with family members estranged from one another. It’s a fellowship. When God called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ Our Lord (I Cor 1:9) he also called you into “fellowship” with the whole family.”[2]

A Healthy Church as Mark Dever notes is “A congregation that increasingly reflects God’s character as his character has been revealed in his word.” It is a great thing to belong to the universal Church, but for our spiritual nurture and growth it is important to become a member of a local Church. Find a bible believing Church and become a member of that Church.

In our study of I Peter a bit of background information is necessary to understand, appreciate and apply the content of the letter. So, what do we know about, the author, the theme and the context in which it was written? As the title suggests it was written by none other than the apostle Peter. Peter seems to have been a natural leader, commanding the respect of his peers by sheer force of personality. In every listing of Jesus’ disciples, Peter’s name is invariably first. In the early Church his influence was enormous and acknowledged by all. By virtue of his position, he was easily the most powerful figure in the Christian community. This letter was written around 60 A.D. Peter’s first letter is one of the seven general letters and is addressed to the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor.

The occasion for writing was persecution in the area, and was addressed to Christians who were suffering for being Christians. The letter tries to encourage and equip the readers for the difficult times ahead. The dominant theme is hope: not the wistful optimism that in the end things will turn out all right, which so often passes for hope. The hope found in Peter is the strong hope that rests not on man but on God, the living and the loving God who is known by his mighty acts. This letter must have given the early recipients hope against all hope.

You and I may never fully understand the depth of this letter unless we go through similar persecution or put ourselves in the shoes of those who are suffering for the sake of their faith. One report suggests as of 2010, as estimated by Open Doors UK, an estimated 100 million Christians face persecution, particularly in the Muslim world, North Korea and the hands of Hindu extremism and Islamic terrorism in India, with a rising tendency.[3] If we think we will be spared from persecution because we are living in the USA, we are mistaken. In I Tim 3:12, we read, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The first letter of Peter helps us how to cope with when we are persecuted. Let’s begin our study.

I. ALIENS? STRANGERS? OR BOTH?

Any good letter has three sections, the opening, the body and the closing. The First Epistle according to Peter is a letter, so this too contains an opening, the body of content and closing remarks. After asserting his position as the apostle of Jesus Christ Peter reminds the believers of their position. I Pet 1:1, “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.” He reaffirms their position again in I Pet 2:11, “Beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”

When we read the Bible; at times we skip or gloss over certain words or passages. The Words Aliens and Strangers are some of them. The words aliens, stranger or foreigner occur over 150 times in the Bible. Peter employs these words twice in his first letter. Why did Peter call them aliens and strangers?

Let’s pause and look at the words “aliens and strangers and their intended purpose and meaning. In the Bible the word alien was used to distinguish the natives from the people of other lands and also show separation between the Jews and the non Jews. Peter addressed believers as aliens and strangers to remind them of the troubles of their forefathers in foreign lands. While they endure hardships they were to make the most of their time in that place by engaging the culture instead of isolating from it. But above all he wanted them to know that they were not permanent citizens of this world but belonged another world an eternal one.

Soong Chan Rah in his Book “Many Colors” explains the in-depth meaning of these words. “The words Aliens and Strangers may have a similar connotation but the words do not have the exact same meaning. Stranger means complete separation from the World.

A stranger should have nothing to do with the world, may be even should exhibit hostility toward it. Strangers have no stake or concern with what is going on in the world, rejecting its systems. Aliens however, would not necessarily imply being a complete stranger. In fact, one way of interpreting alien would be as an immigrant. An immigrant or resident alien interacts differently with society than does a stranger to that society. A stranger may seek to completely disengage from the culture, while the immigrant would seek ways to engage with that society. A stranger would take on the posture of Christ against culture while an immigrant may not assume such a hostile position.[4]

How do these words apply to us today? Are we Aliens? Strangers? Or Both? The answer is both, in certain aspects we are aliens and in other aspects we are strangers. Let me explain. From the patriarch Abraham till today the heroes of faith in Christ have always lived as if they were aliens in this world. They have considered themselves as temporary residents or sojourners who are just passing through this world heading to a far more permanent place called heaven. Accordingly they lived simple and unattached lives on earth. It is said of them that they were strangers, and exiles on the earth…they are seeking a country of their own…they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.”(Hebrew 11:13-16)

When we are called to follow Christ we are called to an alien status. We are to live as if we don’t belong here. What a freeing thought that is? It frees us from all the unnecessary burdens we carry and all the entanglements we get ourselves into. It doesn’t mean we should not work or do anything for living and entertainment? In fact we are called to seek the welfare of the city and pray (and work) for its prosperity where in which we will find our own prosperity. We are to be integrated in the society and not to be isolated from it.

Being an alien doesn’t mean that you are so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly use. On the contrary as we wait for our heavenly city we have a job to do to make the earth a much better place to live. The world needs Christians living out authentic lives

We are not only aliens but also strangers. In the early Church people behaved rather strangely, in order to stay away from sin they would totally cut themselves away from the world and live in forests and deserts. The word stranger here doesn’t mean weird and wacky (acting crazy) it means detached or separated. What are we to be separated from? Not from the people and not definitely from the world, but from sin! While we still live in the world we consciously make efforts to detach ourselves from sin. In Hebrew 12:1, we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that finders and the sin that so easily entangles,..”

When it comes to our contribution to the world around us we are to live like aliens and when it comes to sin we are to live like strangers. The early puritans were great examples in maintaining this status of aliens and strangers. As aliens they exhibited great work ethics as strangers they maintained high moral standards. As Peter exhorts us, let’s resolve today to live like aliens contributing to the welfare and the betterment of the society and as strangers maintaining high standards of moral integrity. Amen

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[1] Author: Editor-Raymond McHenry Contributor: Illustration Exchange

[2] Mark Dever, What is a healthy Church? Page 25

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians

[4] Soong Chan Rah, Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church, Page 68

SEEKING GOD!

Let me introduce four categories of people. Some of us may fall into either one of these categories. A conversation between two young people went like this. Charlie: Of course there’s a God! We all basically know there is. Cynthia: I know no such thing. Charlie: O course you do! When you think to yourself and most of our waking life is taken up thinking to our self, you must have that feeling that your thoughts aren’t entirely wasted, that in some sense they are being heard. I think it’s this sensation of silently being listened to with total comprehension that represents our innate belief in a supreme being, an all comprehending intelligence. What this show is that some kind of belief is innate in all of us. At some point most of us lose that, after which it can only be regained by a conscious act of faith. Cynthia: And you’ve experience that? Charlie: No, I haven’t, I hope to someday.”[1]

Charlie represents the first category who asserts that there is a supreme being, controlling everything. They express a desire to experience that supreme intelligence but don’t know how. Cynthia represents the second category that denies any such existence. The Bible calls them “Fools” (Psalm 14:1). In the New York Times #1 Best seller, “Eat, Pray, Love” Elizabeth Gilbert calls, this Supreme Being is GOD. For her calling God “that”(as he is addressed in Indian scriptures) feels rather impersonal, therefore when she prays she won’t pray, like many others do “to the Universe, the Great Void, The Force, The Supreme Self, The Whole, The Creator, The Light, The Higher power or the Shadow of the turning. She warmly refers God as Him.”[2]

Gilbert represents the third category of people who had everything yet are dissatisfied with life, searching for Peace, Joy and meaning for life in “Food, Sex and Religion.” Yet, there is a fourth category of people who believes that God exists, and he needs no proof or convincing. They believe that He is the most loving, kind and above all personal and approachable God. They have experienced Him through their conscious faith in Jesus Christ and are excited to Seek Him First in their lives. I belong to that category! How about you? I would like to make a bold statement; and declare may the year 2011 be a year of seeking God, in our individual lives, families and as a Church. For our study, let’s address the following: Why Seeking God is important? What does Seeking God mean? What are the rewards of Seeking God?

I. WHY SEEKING GOD IS IMPORTANT?

The first commandment God gave to the Children of Israel after they were freed from their slavery in Egypt explains the heart of God. He declared boldly, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” Exodus 20:2-4

This scripture clearly indicates that it was He who delivered the Israelites from their slavery and no one else. God doesn’t play a second fiddle, and he shares his glory with no one else. He strictly warned them not to make idols of any form because he wanted to be their God. What is an Idol? An idol is nothing but an object of worship. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty.

Modern day idols could be Sex, Shekels, and Stomach, or Pleasure, Profession and Position, or Football, Fame and Family. When it comes to think of it there is nothing wrong with them, but when they begin to take the place of God and we are driven by them then it amounts to idolatry. Goals and dreams can consume us. Possessions and property can side track us--unless we first seek God's kingdom and righteousness, and allow Him to breathe into what we make of life.

Why God insists that we must SEEK Him? Seeking God is good for us and not seeking Him can be destructive. God warned Israelites not to consult any other supernatural source for guidance except him alone. Leviticus 19:31 "'Do not turn to mediums or seek out Spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” Times have changed since then, but even with all the technological development there are still certain people consult spiritists and mediums instead of seeking God for guidance. A few scriptures to explain why Seeking God is important.

1 Kings 22:5 "First seek the counsel of the LORD."

I Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

2 Chronicles 14:4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands.”

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Seeking God is a command to be followed but also is something to be cherished. Many in the Bible like, Moses, David, Joshua, the apostles and early Christians have delighted in Seeking God. For many depending on God for their needs was not a lowly thing but was the only thing they ever knew. With all the modern technology and development in the 21^st century we have lost the art of Seeking God.

We have lot of self help books and manuals for “fix it or do it yourself” in the market. One way it is good, we can save a lot of money, but the flip side of it is that we are programmed to think that we ought to fix any and every thing in life, we become self sufficient and arrogant to a point thinking that we can even fix God. Undoubtedly with God given wisdom man indeed is able to fix many things; however there are certain hard core addictive behaviors, the root of depression, fear, anger or a wounded and broken heart can’t be fixed by us. One handy man in Gansevoort New York seems to have realized this message so his business slogan says, “We can fix everything but a broken heart.”[3] Some of us try so hard to fix our messed up lives with our own strength and get frustrated when we don’t see a break through. Others think that their problems are too big like the Mount Everest that even God can’t handle it so they give up in bringing their problems to God.

I have good news for you; there is nothing impossible that you and God can not do together In 1994, just before I got married to my wife I had to climb several mountains, and cross several oceans, see several financial miracles. Here I was all alone sitting in a room far away from my own country, family, and friends in a strange country Holland. I was excited about the prospect of marriage but at the same time nervous and fearful about the unknown future. During that time I was deeply ministered and affirmed by a song by Scott Wesley brown. Listen to the words, “There is no problem too big God cannot solve it There is no mountain too tall he cannot move it. Their is no storm too dark God cannot calm it Their is no sorrow too deep he cannot sooth it. If he carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders I know my brother that he will carry you If he carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders I know my sister that he will carry you He said Come unto me, all who are weary–y And I will give you rest.”

What a powerful and assuring invitation for us to come into God’s presence and receive His rest. Are you tired of carrying your load alone? Are you frightened about the unknown tomorrow? Let me assure you, God dearly loves you. You are accepted by Him. No matter what happens He is powerful to carry you through life’s storms and difficulties. Moses the great leader knew what it was to be carried in the arms of God, so in his fare well speech he said, “The eternal God is a dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut 33:27. When we come to Him he will pick us up in his loving arms.

II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK GOD?

The word seek appears about 128 times in the Bible and most of the time in reference to either God seeking his people or wanting His people to seek Him. In Hebrew and Greek the word seek has a wide range of meanings, search, looking for, striving, ask, to consult. About 33 times it was used “Inquire” In its verbal form it is not one time seeking, consulting or inquiring but to continually seek. Seeking God means earnestly desiring his presence. (Psalm 63:1) “O God you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you my body longs for you.” It means longing for his touch in our body and soul.(Isaiah 26:9). It means keeping God first in all we do.

I believe some of the following will accompany the person who seeks God. He recognizes that he is a created being and God is the creator. He replaces the idols of his heart with the true worship of God. He rejects sin and renounces the authority of Satan in his life. He realizes that he can not live apart from God. He releases all his anxiety to God because He cares for him. He relinquishes his rights and say to God “Not my will, but yours be done.” He rests in the fact that God is trustworthy. He reaffirms his confidence in God’s omnipotence. He releases and receives forgiveness. He resists the temptation to run his life alone.

He refuses to believe the lies of the enemy. He relies on God’s provision for all of his needs. He reaches out to God in times of troubles. He refreshes others as he is refreshed in the presence of God, Isaiah 58:6-8. Great men and women of God in the History are known for their heart after God. Is seeking God a delightful thing for you or is it a chore?

How do we practically Seek God? Make time daily to read God’s Word. Unless you make that as a top priority it will not happen. Find a quite place and talk to your father in heaven in prayer. Jesus said, “But when you pray go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matthew 6:6. There is place for public and corporate prayers in the Church, but Jesus here is encouraging personal and secrete prayer; only between you and God. We need to learn to shut the door to all the distractions such as computers, cell phone, I pods, TV, including children. From time to time set aside a day to seek God possibly away from your home.

Another practical way of Seeking God is bringing our emotional pain to God. We feel emotional pain when we do not get what we want, need, or expect. Many of us are not so good at dealing with our emotional pain. We tend to numb it with all sorts of false comforts or distractions. But when we are seeking God, we bring our emotional pain to him, and tell him how exactly we are feeling and trust that he would heal our hurts and make us whole again.

Let your problems propel you into the presence of God and not to turn you away from God. When we learn to spend time in the presence of God our problems may not necessarily disappear overnight but we are changed and so is our perspective. He may remove your mountain if not He may give you the strength to climb it. Even the great apostle Paul had to settle for the divine paradox. Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9. May we learn to Seek God this year 2011. Amen

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[1] The reason for God Timothy Keller Page 148

[2] Elizabeth Gilbert, “Eat, Pray, Love”

[3] http://www.thumbtack.com/ny/gansevoort/handyman/we-can-fix-anything-but-a-broken-heart

GOD'S POWER:"BEFORE,DURING & AFTER"

Gatorade’s G- series advertisement takes us through three important “Before, During and After phases” of an athlete’s game. Usian Bolt (Jamaican Sprinter) gives us a glimpse into how Gatorade prime helps him prepare to race. Dwight Howard (American Basket Ball player) shows us how Gatorade perform keeps him Hydrated and playing at his fullest potential. Peyton Manning (American Football Quarter back) takes us into post game and shows us how Gatorade recover helps restore his muscles and replenishes his body with protein and carbohydrates. These three athletes have tapped into the power of Gatorade to sustain them before during and after their sporting event. It looks like it is helping them to perform their best (at least in the ad).

We can learn a few lessons by observing the lives of the athletes. The apostle Paul compares the Christian to an athlete and Christian life to a long distance race (marathon) not a short distance sprint. In Hebrew 12:1-1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This scripture indicates that there were a host of Christians who have run with perseverance, completed the race and are now cheering us on to run the race that is cut out for us with perseverance.

Each of us are called to run our own race, we have no business to run some one else’s race. Some are busy running other people’s races while neglecting their own race. "During a class trip to the local pool, one first-grade student misplaced her towel. That night, the teacher received a frantic call from the girl's mother, who said that someone had stolen her daughter's towel. Trying to calm her down, the teacher asked her to describe the towel. 'It's white,' she snapped, 'with Holiday Inn written on it!"'

That’s what running some one else’s race means. Whenever you're tempted to point the finger at someone else, stop and ask yourself, "Have I ever been guilty of this?" This simple practice will not only help you to avoid a judgmental attitude, but it might save you from being hypocritical, as well. We are responsible for our own lives. Before we correct others let’s try to correct ourselves. We are called to run the race but how are we to run? What provision has God made for us before, during and after the race? How can we remain in the race and finish it well?

I. GOD’S POWER: BEFORE DURING AFTER.

Athletes in the sporting world depend on Gatorade or some other energy drink to give them renewed energy before during and after their game. Who gives renewable energy for a Christian? The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” All we need for this life is available in Jesus. We will talk more about this divine power later.

Before we ever began our Christian race God’s divine power made us accept Jesus as our LORD and Savior. For me that transition took place in 1982, for about twenty eight years I’ve been running my Christian race. During this period several times I felt tired and wanted to quit but it was the power of God that has kept me in the race. Have you ever felt weary to live as a Christian in this post Christian world? On earth there is no exception we all grow tired in body, mind, and soul. How can we regain our strength? There is a God given formula called “Wait for the LORD” Isaiah 40:30-31, “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

Two days, before the end of 2010, I was so discouraged, became increasingly irritable with my wife, children and every one else. I decided to go away and spend time with the LORD, so I locked myself in the upper room. For about six hours I was quite in the presence of the LORD, no cell phone, no computer, no singing out loud not even praying just reflecting and focusing on God. By the end of that time my strength was renewed, I found fresh love for my wife, children and the ministry God has given to me. That’s what happens when we tap into God’s power.

When last time did you tap into God’s power by being in the presence of God? Do you have any clue about how awesome and powerful our God is? In the children’s movie “Horton hears a who” the elephant hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can't see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home.” When we look through the eyes of the whos the elephant was huge and gigantic; they couldn’t protect themselves without the help of the elephant.

Similarly, we are so small in comparison to God. The Psalmist clearly puts our position in right perspective. Psalm 103: 14-16, “for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more.” Yet some people have the audacity to reduce this great and awesome God to anything they like or choose to and they call it the higher power. I wonder how that can be possible. You can not put God in a box. God is much bigger. God is all powerful. There is absolutely nothing that God can not do.

The word power occurs nearly 300 times in the Bible and most of the time referring to God’s power. Let’s look at the scriptures that talk about God’s supernatural power.

Psalm 68:35, “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.”

Psalm 147:5, “God is great and mighty in power”

Psalm 65:6 “God is clothed with power”

Jeremiah 10:12, “God made the earth by His power”

Psalm 66:7, “God rules by his power forever.”

Lk 4:14, Luke tells us that “Jesus went about his ministry in the power of the Spirit.”

Luke 4:36, “People were amazed by Jesus’ authority and power.”

Acts 10:38, Jesus had the power to heal and deliver people who were under the power of the devil.”

Mat 28:18-19 after the resurrection Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

I can not live my Christian life a without his strength, let alone to go out and bare witness with my own strength. My best sermons are just babbling if not empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can not convict anyone or lead any one to Christ except by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can not quit any addictions on my own without God’s power. We need God’s power before during after in order to run our race effectively then we can say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Tim 4:7-8) How are you running your race? What are the secrets of tapping into God’s power so that you can receive his strength?

II. THREE KEYS TO RELEASING GOD’S POWER:

In 2 Pet 1:3 we read, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…” This scripture tells us that God’s divine power has give us everything we need for life and godliness, has this power been given to every one or only to God’s Children? If it is only for God’s Children then why some seem to live by that power and while others don’t? Though God’s power is available to every God’s Child many of us don’t even know such a thing exist let alone to know how to activate that power. I would like to share three keys to releasing God’s power in your life.

1. PRAISE USHERS IN GOD’S POWER:

The Psalmist said, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you (Psalm 66:3) We often praise God for His love and grace, but don’t forget to praise Him for his power and worship him for his omnipotence. When King David was trapped in a house that was being surrounded by his enemies he wrote his thoughts in a psalm saying, “I will sing of your strength (power) in the morning I will sing of your love, for you are my fortress my refuge in times of trouble.” David knew from where he can draw strength.

In the same way when you feel like you are trapped by your employer, or people who are out there to harm you; you too can (SOL) Sing Out Loud of God’s power and your will see his power at work in scattering your enemies as he has done it over and over again in history.

B. READING & APPLYING GOD’S WORD

New Year is a good time to make a resolution to read God’s word in its entirety if you haven’t yet already done, even if you have done it, read it again. I can’t over emphasize how important and essential for a child of God to read, meditate and apply God’s word. There is power in God’s Word. Jesus scolded the Sadducees for knowing neither the scriptures nor the power of God.”(Matt 22:29) Great men and women of God in history were ardent readers of the Bible. God’s word can transform lives. George Muller, who was known for his strong faith, confided. "The first 3 years after conversion, I neglected the Word of God. Since I began to search it diligently, the blessing has been wonderful. I have read the Bible through one hundred times and always with increasing delight!" I too take great delight in reading God’s word. I completed the whole Bible several times, each time I read I discover some thing new. It’s about time you pick a Bible reading plan and start reading God’s word from today.

C.THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US.

The final words of Jesus to his disciples were, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Truly, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon a group of timid, doubtful, and fearful disciples and transformed them as world changers. They went out throughout the world boldly proclaiming God’s word and willingly dying for it.

The same Holy Sprit that changed simple Galilean fishermen into world evangelists is available for you and me today. In fact God has promised to pour out his spirit on all people, both men and women, young and the old. We need the infilling of the Holy Spirit in order to lead a victorious Christian life. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26) Gal 5:16, says, “So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

The power of God can be released in a Christian by Praising God, reading and applying His word and by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you tired of living a mediocre Christian life? Are you discouraged by not being able to overcome addictions no matter how hard you have tried? Are you in need of boldness and courage to face the giants? Are you in need of emotional, physical healing? Do you want to be used of God in your ministry mightily? Are you crying out for the salvation of your loved ones? If your answer to all these questions is yes then you need without a doubt the power of God operating in your life. You need the power of God to make you begin an exciting journey with Christ, continue to give you strength during this lives journey and finally lead you into the presence of God when your earthly journey is completed.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen