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Ephesians 6:10
Please accept our invitation to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You might find exactly what you have been looking for in worship! Our focal verse in this study is one of the most profound – and misunderstood – verses in Scripture. That Christians are gifted with the power of God is often widely accepted, but little practiced. Paul actually wrote “be empowered in the Lord, and in the mite of the strength of Him.” To understand that this verse is not redundant one must see how God intends for us to use this verse in relation to our position and our power. Since both are often neglected let’s turn our attention to some serious study of God’s power.
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- THE CONCEPT OF POWER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. Everywhere in the OT the idea or concept of power is associated with the might and power of a personal God. Simply the concept of God is the concept of power. We must not think God has power, but we must think God IS power. One major difference between the pagan gods and Yahweh is that they are only gods of nature or forces of nature. Yahweh demonstrates His power by orchestrating and directing history, the events of the world, and of mankind. The OT never presents God as just muscle or strength. We must learn first that the OT reveals God’s plans, purposes, and will ass being carried out, happening, by, because of, and through His power. Exodus 15:6; 13:16-19 use the phrase “with great power and a mighty hand” to show that God is directing history. Psalm 77:1-20 reveals the same thing. We learn God is a personal God demonstrating His personal involvement and interest in mankind through the direction of history.
- THE CONCEPT OF RELATIONSHIP IN THE OT. Read Deut. 3:21-24. Moses uses the words “you have begun to show…” Whenever the true believers of the OT thought of or were reminded of the power of God – they thought of the Red Sea. One writer explains it this way. One of the lessons we learn from the Exodus is that if God had not delivered His people from the Egyptian army they would have been destroyed. Consequently, there would have never been worship to Yahweh. The historical fact/truth of Israel’s deliverance through the parted Red Sea was a demonstration of God’s power to deliver His people from destruction. From this statement you can see how relationship with God is established. What Israel comes to understand is that God has the power to (1) deliver people from slavery; and (2) destroy their enemy freeing them from oppression. Israel’s response to such power is to obey all God commands.
- THE CONCEPT OF RELIGION IN THE OT. One definition of religion is simply “belief in a supernatural Bing to be worshipped and obeyed.” Israel came to understand that pagan religions “worshipped” gods who were impersonal and uninterested in the peoples’ welfare. When religion is seen as a dynamic relationship between a personal God Who interacts with people both individually and corporately interaction between God and people becomes possible and desired. For us as 21st Century Christians these OT truths are magnified in salvation. Our relationship with God is personal and dynamic. He wants to be the Perfect Director of our life supplying us with all blessings in heavenly realms. If He can direct history and the universe, your personal life is not exhausting to Him.
If we can help you understand more about a personal relationship with God call us at (574) 643-9419.
