Tag Archives: power

Power and influence (Galations 2:6-10), November 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Galatians 2:6-10

Set – Job 28; Galatians 2

Go! – Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Galatians 2:6-10
6 It makes no difference to me (or to God for that matter) if people have power or influence. God doesn’t choose favorites among His children. Even the so-called pillars of the church didn’t contribute anything new to my understanding of the good news. 7 But it quickly became obvious to them what God was doing: He had entrusted me to carry the good news to the uncircumcised, just as Peter was called to preach to those who were circumcised. 8 God was at work in the ministry of Peter, as emissary to the Jews, and was also moving and working with me in my ministry to the outsider nations.
9 When James, Cephas (whom you know as Peter), and John—three men purported to be pillars among the Jewish believers—saw that God’s favor was upon me to fulfill this calling, they welcomed and endorsed both Barnabas and me. They agreed that our ministries would work as two hands, theirs advancing the mission of God among the Jews and ours toward the outsider nations, all with the same message of redemption. 10 In parting, they requested we always remember to care for the poor among us, which was something I was eager to do.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you remember the first thing Paul said in these verses today? “It makes no difference to Me if people have power or inflence.” What you consider earthly power means nothing to Me. Suppose you are the leader of a group of people, what does that mean? They follow only as long as they desire to follow you. Can you really make them do what they do not want to do? No. You might impose some kind of consequence if they do not act as you wish, but they still do not have to follow.

If enough people choose not to follow, they can revolt against whatever power you think you have and overthrow you with pretty significant consequences. Take a look at what has happened to dictators and tyrant in the past. At some point, kingdoms have fallen and all they thought was theirs disappeared. Power, even over an individual, can be very fleeting.

And no matter how much power you think you exert, take a look at My power and compare it. Can you create a hurricane? Can you cause lightning to flash from the sky? Can you unleash the torrents of floods from the sky? Can you cause the rains to stop and bring devasting drought to the land? Can you shake the earth and cause man’s most sturdy structures to crumble? Can you unleash the power of the volcano and pour out molten rock across the landscape changing the shape of the mountains?

No matter how powerful you think you are, you’re best is nothing. Consider the power of the sun. I made it and all the other stars in the sky. They shine and give their light at My command. They move across the sky in perfect order because I spoke them into place and gave them the precision no person could give them. I set in place the perfect balance of warmth, water, predators, and prey so that you could exist on the tiny planet you call home, only one of billions of planets within My universe.

Only now are you beginning to understand the vast reaches of the universe I created with it billions of stars in billions of galaxies across what seems like the limitless expanse of space. But I know its limits because I created it. I spoke the words that began time and space long ago and I will one day bring and end to it with a command to My Son to go and get His bride, the church, those of you who believe in Him for salvation.

Does your power and influence in this place matter to Me? Not in the least! But My power in you can make all the difference in the world for you. I can help you make it through any circumstance. I can give you joy and peace in any situation. I can transform you into the person I created you to be. My power and influence in your life can demonstrate to others that I am still alive and well on planet earth, doing My will among those who continue to serve Me. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God places people in power (Daniel 4:19-37), September 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 4:19-37

Set – Daniel 4; Psalms 81

Go! – Daniel 3-4; Psalms 81; Revelation 17

Daniel 4:19-37
19 As the interpretation of the king’s dream became clear, Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar) became visibly upset for a while. His thoughts troubled him. The king noticed, and he spoke to Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar: Belteshazzar, don’t let my dream or its meaning alarm you. Tell me what you know.
Belteshazzar: My lord, I wish the dream described those who hate you and its meaning concerned the fate of your enemies! 20 The tree you saw in your vision, the one which grew tall and strong so that its top reached up to the sky and could be seen from one end of the earth to the other, 21 the tree whose leaves were beautiful and fruit plentiful and provided sustenance for everyone, the tree under which the wild animals came to rest in the cool shade and in which the birds built their nests on its sturdy branches— 22 that tree is you, O king! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown tall and reached the sky; your authority and power extend to the end of the earth. 23 But that is just one part of your dream. The king saw the messenger, the holy watcher of heaven come down from heaven and declare, “Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave its stump intact, its roots in the ground, strapped down with iron and bronze, surrounded by the tender grass of the field; let the dew of heaven fall heavy on it every night and make it wet, and let him live among the wild animals off the plants of the earth, until seven times have come and gone.” 24 Here is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree the Most High God has issued against you, my lord and king. 25 You will be driven away from all that is human and live in the company of wild animals; you will be forced to eat grass like oxen, and night after night the dew of heaven will fall on you and make you soaking wet. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes. 26 The watcher’s order to leave the stump and roots of the tree intact means that your kingdom will be restored to you when, and only when, you acknowledge that Heaven alone is sovereign over the earth. 27 So, O king, please accept my advice to you. Make a clean break with your sins and invest in what is right. Bring an end to your wicked deeds and show mercy to those you have beaten down. If you do, perhaps your future will be different and your prosperity will continue.
28 But King Nebuchadnezzar forgot Daniel’s advice, so everything Daniel had predicted happened. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was strolling across the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, 30 the king uttered foolish words:
Nebuchadnezzar: Isn’t Babylon a great city? I have built this royal residence from the ground up with my own might and ingenuity to honor my own majesty.
31 The words had scarcely left his lips when another voice thundered from heaven.
Voice: King Nebuchadnezzar, these solemn words are for you. The kingdom has been taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from all that is human, and you will live in the company of wild animals. You will be forced to eat grass like oxen. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes.
33 Instantly the heavenly decree against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from all that is human and began to eat grass as oxen do. The dew of heaven fell and drenched his body. In time his hair grew as long as the feathers on an eagle and his nails grew long and curved back on his hand like the claws of a bird.
Message: 34 When these days of exile came to an end, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven and came to my senses. I blessed the Most High God and praised and gave glory to the One who lives eternally:
“His reign will endure forever;
His kingdom will last from generation to generation.
35 Among all the people of the earth,
there are none who compare.
He does as He wishes with the armies of heaven
and those who live on earth.
No one can stop His hand from acting;
no one dares to ask, ‘What have You done?’”
36 It was in that moment that I came to my senses. Soon my honor and splendor were restored as Daniel predicted, and the former glory of my kingdom returned. Those who had served me before, my advisors and officials, sought me and returned me to the throne of Babylon. In time my kingdom and power grew even greater than it was before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, acknowledge the true King of heaven. I praise, lift up, and glorify Him because all He does is true, all His ways are just, and He is able to cut down those who strut about in their pride.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Many like Nebuchadnezzar assume their power and position comes because of their own greatness. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Every leader has their place only because I allow it. I give promotions and I take them. I put people into power and I can remove them. Nebuchadnezzar forgot that most important piece of information even after Daniel reminded him as an interpretation of the dream I gave him.

Nebuchadnezzar found out quickly how dangerous taking credit for my work can become. He found himself living in the wild, eating grass, acting and looking more like an animal than a man. Those who refuse to acknowledge My handiwork in their lives often appear the same to Me because I look at your heart, not at your outward appearance. All of the rhetoric about giving in to your natural instincts and succumbing to your base desires makes you no better than Nebuchadnezzar when I banished him to the fields.

I made you to rise above the other animals of the fields, though. I made you with a moral choice. You do not need to lower yourself to the level of the animals of the field. You are human. My highest creation. You can live the way I want you to live…with My help. Choose to be the human I made you to be. Rise above the base wickedness Satan would pull you into with his lies.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The power of His Spirit is love (Ephesians 3), June 7, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 3
Set – Psalms 18; Ephesians 3
Go! – Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalms 18; Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3
1 All this is exactly why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed, His representative to the outsider nations. 2 You have heard, haven’t you, how God appointed me to bring you His message of grace? 3 And how the mystery was made known to me in a revelation? I briefly wrote about it earlier. 4 When you read what I have written, you will be better able to understand the depth of my insight into the mystery of the Anointed One, 5 a mystery that has never before been shown to past generations. Only now are these secrets being revealed to God’s chosen emissaries and prophets through the Holy Spirit. 6 Specifically, the mystery is this: by trusting in the good news, the Gentile outsiders are becoming fully enfranchised members of the same body, heirs alongside Israel, and beneficiaries of the promise that has been fulfilled through Jesus the Anointed.

7 I became a servant and preacher of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace as He exercised His amazing power over me. 8 I cannot think of anyone more unworthy to this cause than I, the least of the least of the saints. But here I am, a grace-made man, privileged to be an echo of His voice and a preacher to all the nations of the riches of the Anointed One, riches that no one ever imagined. 9 I am privileged to enlighten all of Adam’s descendants to the mystery concealed from previous ages by God, the Creator of all, through Jesus the Anointed. 10 Here’s His objective: through the church, He intends now to make known His infinite and boundless wisdom to all rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. 11 This has been His plan from the beginning, one that He has now accomplished through the Anointed One, Jesus our Lord. 12 His faithfulness to God has made it possible for us to have the courage we need and the ability to approach the Father confidently. 13 So I ask you not to become discouraged because I am jailed for speaking out on your behalf. In fact, my suffering is something that brings you glory.

14 It is for this reason that I bow my knees before the Father, 15 after whom all families in heaven above and on earth below receive their names, and pray:

16 Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit 17 so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together 18-19 with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.

20 Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, 21 to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Once again I want you to examine Paul’s prayer. He understood what makes My children different from the rest of the world. He asks that I fill your souls with the power of My Spirit and make love the rich soil where your lives take root. And that you will have the power to understand that My love surpasses anything you have ever experienced in your lives.

You see, the old song that says love makes the world go ‘round got it right. The phrase really is true. Everything I do comes about because of My infinite love for you. The discipline I must give to help you mature, the good gifts I bestow on you, the sacrifices I make for you, everything that I do comes from My spirit of love that drives Me. I am love.

You can experience that love and even demonstrate that love to others when My Spirit lives in you. Some will tell you it’s not possible to live that kind of life, but My word tells you different. My word tells you to be holy, because I am holy. I don’t give you commands you can not keep. But you can only keep them by the power of My spirit in you.

I told you when I was with you I would send My Spirit to live with you and live in you to empower you for right living. So many want to let My Spirit live with them, but not in them. Don’t let that be you. Let Me take control of your life. Listen to Me constantly. Let Me guide your every move. Let Me direct your thoughts. As Paul talks about in his letter to the Romans, let Me transform your mind so that you think like Me.

The transformation comes by letting Me fill you completely. Dying to self and living for Me. It’s that becoming a living sacrifice Paul tells you about in that same letter. Letting go of the selfish desires that come to you and listening to what I have in store for you. Pushing away the desires that the world says you should just automatically satisfy and disciplining yourself to live as I would have you live.

Can you do it? Yes, with the power of My Spirit in you. I will help you succeed. I will strengthen you. Just stop and ask Me. I will show you how. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.