Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Pastor's Ponderings, September 3, 2019

God Has Given Us Authority

At the end of August 2019 and into September 2019, Hurricane Dorian will cost billions and has already taken lives. We pray for those in Dorian’s path, donate to relief organizations and listen for hourly updates. But despite our advances in emergency preparedness, storms like this one remind us of how powerless we can feel during a myriad of life’s circumstances. 

Hurricane Dorian is not the first and will not be the last natural disaster. As the nation feels helpless and captivated as the storm progresses, we can take this opportunity to realize the power we do have in Christ.

Jesus Christ raised the dead, healed the sick, and restored the handicapped (Matthew 8:17) and even commanded the wind and the waves to settle down (Matthew 8:25, 26). Perhaps we do not recognize how much authority and power He has given us because He says that His disciples would do greater works than He did (John 14:12). 

In the Bible, Jesus declared that nothing could harm us when we stay in obedience to Him (Luke 10:19). While we recognize the power of hurricanes, we must also recognize the power that He has given us to work miracles, to heal the sick, and even to command those storms obey us.  This is not to say that we would defeat every problem in life, but with God working with us, we can do great works. Let us walk in obedience to God and allow Him to do His work through us.

Matthew 8:17
New International Version (NIV)
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Matthew 8:25, 26
New International Version (NIV)
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm

John 14:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Luke 10:19
New International Version (NIV)
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.



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