Posts
Everybody Wants POWER,
but they don’t know where to find it.
There is that nature in us that often feels powerless and out of control. We can’t control our spouse, parents or children. We can’t control our health. We can’t control the weather. We can’t even control our future and we often find ourselves experiencing the consequences of failing to exercise power over temptations that come our way. We will do wrong things and not know why. We don’t know not to stop doing these wrong things. We especially hurt when someone comes and exercises a power or authority that we cannot resist because we did something wrong or they simply have a power advantage over us.
We have to have a bigger car, house, television, etc. because we want to have more power! We want a position in my job or in the community so we can control others. We demand recognition as a person of power or influence. When we don’t get it, we feel that we have no control and powerless.
Problem
In reaction to that feeling of powerlessness, we do all sorts of things trying to find some power. Often times, we will seek power in the wrong ways. Instead of accepting that maybe we don’t need that power or it is not good for us to have or could even pose a greater harm than good, we will push ahead in determination that we are going to have power over that person or situation.
People frequently seek the wrong kind of power. People don’t know what the real POWER is that they seek and need and whether the power we seek is appropriate for us. We have a faulty definition of power that thinks it is in having control over individuals or groups or some situation. In the process of trying to address that need for some sort of power in our life, we will engage in behavior that is self-destructive or harmful to others. Most people define having power as being in government, having lots of money or being famous as an entertainer or athlete. Our thoughts about power seem to escape the most serious issue of where we are most powerless.
Power is not about controlling other people or persuading them to follow you. Power is not in having lots of money or fancy possessions. Power is not in being stronger or able to fight and prevail over someone else. Power is not being able to beat someone else in a competition. Power is not even being able to get a lot of people to worship you as you entertain them.
The area where we need more power, but have no clue how to get it, is the power to control our own life and do what is right and not do what is wrong. We constantly find ourselves in situation after situation where we have done something we realize (after we did it) that we should not have done or did not really want to do in the first place, but didn’t exercise the restraint to keep us from doing it.
The real problem is the problem of sin. We are all guilty of it and can’t seem to get any control over its influence in our lives.
Proof of the failure in Man’s definition and pursuit of power
Government fails! There has never been a government on the face of this earth that has not failed sooner or later. Even the Israelites, God’s chosen people, were frequently taken captive because they turned their backs on God. Christianity has lasted over 2,000 years and thrived in governments that tried to suppress or silence Christians from that country. Every government that has opposed Christ has self-destructed. No one has had more power or influence than Christ. His Kingdom spans over the entire world and through every culture.
Even the United States government owes its very existence and success to the influence of Christianity in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. All of our Presidents have had a high respect for the power of God in the guidance and direction of our nation. All of our court houses and many of our government offices include the Ten Commandments in their artwork. If our government ever abandons its Christian values, it will also self-destruct.
Finances fail!
Riches can disappear faster than the World Trade Center can fall to the ground. Many a person has gained vast fortunes only to die penniless and broke. Movie stars, business owners, investors, sports personalities, the list goes on and on of those who gained lots of wealth, spent it like it would last forever or saw their wealth that they had trusted in evaporate. Stocks have dropped without warning. Business have failed and fortunes been lost. Income has run out and those who relied on it found themselves penniless.
Fame fails!
Famous people are flawed. How many stars, professional athletes, political figures whom have or had some measure of fame and fortune were brought down because they didn’t have the power to do whatever they wanted. Famous people have little if any power. Any movie or television star is directed and told where to stand, what to do, what to say and how to say it. They are simply famous because they are the one you see. Athletes may be powerful in their sport, but they do not have any power beyond self-control. Politicians, if they are wise, realize that they represent the people. They don’t control them. Governments that try to control only open themselves to the rebellion and overthrow.
People fail!
The reason government, finances and fame fail to give people power is because of the sin that rules over the lives of those who have not tapped into the real POWER – Jesus Christ. Even many Christians still sin because they do not exercise the power of Christ in them to restrain themselves from sinning. When they are caught in some sin, they pass it off as though it is nothing different than everybody else in the hopes that they will escape the pain and embarrassment that comes with exposure.
Proposition
Jesus Christ gives us a POWER that surpasses every other power on this earth.
Let me give you some reasons to justify my claim.
1. Government fails. There is no power on earth that has lasted as long, made many lives better or ever been able to conquer the Church that Jesus Christ established over 2,000 years ago.
2. Money cannot buy what Jesus gives away freely.
3. Fame is fleeting. Consider how many famous people have gotten in to trouble and become discredited.
4. Death cannot conquer Jesus Christ. For those who believe in Jesus, they will die physically, but no one can take their eternal life away from them.
Jesus Christ gives us the POWER to recognize the temptations before we give in to them and the POWER to say “NO” to those temptations before they become sin.
Jesus Christ gives us the power to be more productive in our jobs.
Jesus Christ gives us the power to love our families in a better way. That builds healthier families, stronger marriages and better citizens in the community.
Jesus Christ gives us the POWER to live eternally with Him and God, the Father, in Heaven.
There is no real POWER outside of Jesus Christ and building your relationship with Him builds His POWER in you.
