Sunday, July 3, 2011 - Powerful Stuff

     You'd think Satan would get tired of distracting us from the power we have in Christ with the same old  song and dance. There's no new sin under the sun, yet he repackages his wares for each new generation to make them feel new, improved, and impervious to detection. However, cheating is cheating whether you move a boundary line so your sheep have more field or cheat a client in some dazzling, no paper trail way. Adultery is adultery whether it's a king on the roof who spies a bathing beauty or a fling that starts on the Internet. Lying, stealing, fraud, lust, greed, covetousness, pride, power hunger, judging, addiction, worry, apathy, and dependence on anyone other than God are all the same sins Satan re-packages for the sophisticated citizen of 2011. 

     He even approves religious wrappings such as church attendance, service, and prayer - as long as it's the misdirected brand of prayer that accomplishes nothing. 

"Do not be like them (those who think prayer means babblng numerous words to be heard or those who pray to impress others -see Matt. 6:5-7), 

for your Father knows what you need before you ask HIm." 

Matthew 6:8 

Satan's purpose is to use anything and everything in his bag of tricks to keep us from getting to God on our knees in total surrender and humility: time, pride, substitutes, busyness, sacrifice, religion, duty, action, ministry, money, and sin or saint-like action. Why? To keep us from destroying his power over us and others. 

"The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. 

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

     Imagine a church filled with believers who finally "get it" and hit their knees in humility, surrender, faith, with a willingness to change and be changed, and a determination to be united and to let God have His Way in the core of their beings. 

"My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." 

Psalm 121:2

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God (rather than animal sacrifices), 

fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; 

I will deliver you, and you will honor Me." 

Psalm 50:15

That's powerful stuff.

Father, we've hidden from humility and run from life-altering prayer too long. May today be different. May we humble ourselves, ask forgiveness as needed, open ourselves to anything You want to do in us, guard our hearts from Satan's sales tactics, and trust in You alone for everything. Let Your Power reveal itself in Your people today. Release Your Spirit in all who are willing for where two or three are gathered in Your Name, there You will be! 
In the Name of Jesus Who prayed intently in humble surrender to Your Will
Inspired by Live Loved by Max Lucado
photo from google images