"The Power is Out"

This Sunday morning I am more thankful than usual for batteries in laptops. About five minutes ago the power went out here at the church because of a storm passing through. I immediately went into “plan B” mode in case it doesn’t come back on. I haven’t gotten much further than that. As I was texting Kim to tell her, the words “the power’s out at the church” just didn’t sound right for some reason. Uh-huh. I’m going to camp out on this term for a bit. :^)

          I try to place situations into a God perspective; desiring that He teach me something new or remind me of the great things He has already done. I don’t do this as much as I should, but this morning is one of those times. The power of God in the church is so much more essential than any power that man can create! Any powerful thing that takes place in church is a by-product of HIS power being manifested in our presence. This is why His actions are termed “SUPER-natural”. This Sunday morning, we will experience the supernatural power of God!

        On the flip side, man-made power is not reliable; it can go out. It can be manipulated by conditions as we are experiencing this morning; a storm. When we are in our homes and the lightening starts to light up the sky, the thunder makes you heart pound and the wind begins to pick up, we say, “I hope the power doesn’t go out.” Many times, sure enough, usually before you can remember where you put the candles from the last time, everything goes black. Man-made power is unreliable. 

But when we are in our walk through our lives and the lightening starts to flash on the horizon, the thunder’s roar causes our hearts to pound, and the winds begin to pick up, man-made power – our power – is futile as well. But here is God’s Emergency Broadcast Instruction:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – Jesus, John 16:33

    Let’s not forget that wonderful gift that we get from JEA each month. It, too can make your heart pound! Man-made power is not free.  But the power that is in us, God’s power, has been paid for in full! When we move into God’s neighborhood we get free utilities!

Water:

“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” – Jesus, John 4:13-14

Light:

“The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.” – Psalm 118:27

And POWER:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of HIS mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead...”Paul – Ephesians 1:18-20

So whether the “power” comes back on soon this morning or not; I know THE power is never going to go out.