Debatable, maybe, but they sure do seem powerful enough. The 2 scriptures I’m talking about I mentioned in my last blog. Yep, another cliff hanger! I know some who read this (Dave) hate cliff hangers. Oh well, I gotta keep these entries short some how. Maybe one day I’ll write a book, but this is as close as I’m going to get to book writing right now. So, the most powerful 2 scriptures, they are found in the first Ephesians prayer. The full 1st prayer is Ephesians 1:17-23. Through some wise advice from Kenneth E. Hagin’s book “Faith Food Devotions” yep, I’m holding strong to my word of faith roots) Kesha & I have been taking out the “you” in the prayer and replacing it with love ones’ names. So it would go like this Eph1: “17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give {love ones’names} the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that {love ones’ names} may know him better….so on and so forth…” It’s also good to go through that prayer with your own name in there. But anyway the power packed scripts are right in the middle of that prayer. They are verses 19 & 20. I might have never caught onto this if I had not been doing this Ephesians study. My pastor in Tulsa did this Ephesians study called “Our Blueprint for Maturity”. This study is stacked. There is so much info in it, well, not just info but great and awesome info. Pastor Bob could make 20 sermons out of “Jesus Wept”. Seriously, the dude is brilliant. Anyway he really brought this point to light so the following is really from his study with a bit of “Jimmy Kick” to it. There are 5 Greek words for Power. Here they are and their meanings: 1. Dunamis – “inherent power”, 2. Energeia – “outward” or “overt power”, 3. Kratos – “ruling power”, 4. Ischus – “endowed power”, and 5. Exeusia – “authority”. The first 4 Greek “power” words are used in verse 19. Eph 1:19 "and his incomparably great [dunamis - “inherent power”] power for us who believe. That [energeia -“overt power”] power is like the working of his [kratos - “ruling power”] mighty [ischus -“endowed power”] strength.” Like Pastor Bob says, that is literally the most powerful verse in the New Testament--I would debate that it is the most powerful verse in the whole Bible. But now add verse 19 to 20. Ephesians 1: 19 "and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” That is a whole lot of power being used at one time. Like I said in the previous blog entry (cliffhanger), that was more power than what was used at creation. Psalm 8:3 tells us that God used His fingers when He created the stars and the universe. Hebrews 1:10 says that God used His hands when He molded the earth. But in the Isaiah 53 prophesy it tells us God busted out the full gun at the crucifixion. In Isaiah 53:1 it says “to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” That’s right, when it came to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God showed the whole “gun” (arm) and guess who had tickets? Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ spoiled principalities and powers; He made an open joke of them. Colossians 2:15 is just an awesome script, it’s the ultimate punkin' of the Devil. Going back to what the beginning of vrs 19 says, “and his incomparably great power for us who believe,” all the power that was displayed at the resurrection is for “US” who believe. More power than what was displayed at creation is for us now! WOW! We who believe have God’s gun cocked, locked, and ready to pull the trigger. Now that is awesome and that is only a part of the whole prayer. Like Pop Hagin advised, add your name or your love ones name in that prayer. Below I put the prayer but I placed my name in it. As you read it think about what it says, the bonus is since I threw my name in there you will be praying it over me. Awesome stuff!!
Eph1: “17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give JIMMY the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that JIMMY may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of JIMMY’S heart may be enlightened in order that JIMMY may know the hope to which he has called JIMMY, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for JIMMY who believes. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Stay blessed y’all, it’s your choice.
Only One has done that for me!
Sorry for the delay, March was one busy month. We had a family vacation to San Fran, Kesha had mock boards, mix in our anniversary and my b-day. March has to be one of my favorite months because of my b-day and anniversary. Anyway I also got to preach @ Cultivate Youth Church so that took some time away from the blog. What a blast! I absolutely love preaching God’s word. This blog is a cool outlet, but I don’t really get to see who reads it. With preaching, the crowd is right there and I can tell by their faces if it’s good or not. Anyway I’m back in the saddle and ready to bang out some “Busted Thoughts”.
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Heading into Easter Weekend we are going to hear that scripture a lot. It really is an awesome statement but stop to think about it. A lot of people have laid down their lives for us. All those in the military are laying down their lives everyday for us. That really hit home the day that I swore into the Air Force. As I took that oath, I realized my life no longer belonged to me. I became the property of the U.S Government. For 8 years my life was laid down for freedom. During the Civil War my great – however long ago- great- grandfather died as a Union soldier fighting for the cause of setting my wife’s great –how ever long ago- great grandparents free from slavery. He laid his life down for someone he had never met. He laid down his life so that now, nearly 150 years later, Kesha and I are free to be married without being considered criminals. My story and my family’s story are just very small drops in a huge bucket of the stories of those who have and are laying down their lives for others. It’s always good to stop and say thanks for those actions. (Don’t respond to this blog entry thanking me for any service, I’ve already received plenty enough.) But with my next statement I want us to really think about this coming weekend. Many have laid down their lives for us, BUT ONLY ONE RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR US. Look @ what Romans 10:9-10 says: “9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” There was a religious group combing through our neighborhood this last weekend. This time they did not stop @ my house for whatever reason but usually they invite people to come celebrate the death of Jesus but say nothing about His resurrection. Do you realize that if Jesus stayed dead we would have no life? Sure for joy He endured the cross, Heb 12:2 tells us that, but the joy was not in the cross but in the victory over death. Last time I checked the gospels during the crucifixion he never yelled out “thank you sir may I have another”. I want to celebrate His raising, His victory, our victory. The next blog I’m going to cover Ephesians 1:19-20 more deeply but for now I’m just going to scratch the surface. Here are the scripts: “19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”. Those 2 scriptures quite possible could be the most powerful scriptures in the whole Bible. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself, I’ll save that for the next entry. So to scratch the surface of Eph 1:19-20, more power was exerted with the resurrection of Jesus than at creation. I have to admit that sounds strange at first but listen, there was no reason for Lucifer (Satan. . . he got his new name @ the fatal fruit buffet) to try to stop Creation. There was no reason for Lucifer to try to stop Adam and Eve from being created because he, Lucifer, had not yet learned that Eve’s seed would stomp on his head. But Satan and & hell had every reason to try to stop Jesus’ resurrection. It’s with that resurrection I have life. It’s with that resurrection I have salvation. It’s with that resurrection I have eternal fellowship with God. Many thanks to those who laid down their lives for us, but THANK GOD FOR THE ONE THAT RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR US. THANK YOU JESUS!
Side note: when you hear this weekend “Greater love has no one than this” remember Jesus laid down His own life in ABSOLUTE LOVE.
Stay blessed y’all, it’s your choice.
jimmy
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Heading into Easter Weekend we are going to hear that scripture a lot. It really is an awesome statement but stop to think about it. A lot of people have laid down their lives for us. All those in the military are laying down their lives everyday for us. That really hit home the day that I swore into the Air Force. As I took that oath, I realized my life no longer belonged to me. I became the property of the U.S Government. For 8 years my life was laid down for freedom. During the Civil War my great – however long ago- great- grandfather died as a Union soldier fighting for the cause of setting my wife’s great –how ever long ago- great grandparents free from slavery. He laid his life down for someone he had never met. He laid down his life so that now, nearly 150 years later, Kesha and I are free to be married without being considered criminals. My story and my family’s story are just very small drops in a huge bucket of the stories of those who have and are laying down their lives for others. It’s always good to stop and say thanks for those actions. (Don’t respond to this blog entry thanking me for any service, I’ve already received plenty enough.) But with my next statement I want us to really think about this coming weekend. Many have laid down their lives for us, BUT ONLY ONE RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR US. Look @ what Romans 10:9-10 says: “9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” There was a religious group combing through our neighborhood this last weekend. This time they did not stop @ my house for whatever reason but usually they invite people to come celebrate the death of Jesus but say nothing about His resurrection. Do you realize that if Jesus stayed dead we would have no life? Sure for joy He endured the cross, Heb 12:2 tells us that, but the joy was not in the cross but in the victory over death. Last time I checked the gospels during the crucifixion he never yelled out “thank you sir may I have another”. I want to celebrate His raising, His victory, our victory. The next blog I’m going to cover Ephesians 1:19-20 more deeply but for now I’m just going to scratch the surface. Here are the scripts: “19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”. Those 2 scriptures quite possible could be the most powerful scriptures in the whole Bible. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself, I’ll save that for the next entry. So to scratch the surface of Eph 1:19-20, more power was exerted with the resurrection of Jesus than at creation. I have to admit that sounds strange at first but listen, there was no reason for Lucifer (Satan. . . he got his new name @ the fatal fruit buffet) to try to stop Creation. There was no reason for Lucifer to try to stop Adam and Eve from being created because he, Lucifer, had not yet learned that Eve’s seed would stomp on his head. But Satan and & hell had every reason to try to stop Jesus’ resurrection. It’s with that resurrection I have life. It’s with that resurrection I have salvation. It’s with that resurrection I have eternal fellowship with God. Many thanks to those who laid down their lives for us, but THANK GOD FOR THE ONE THAT RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR US. THANK YOU JESUS!
Side note: when you hear this weekend “Greater love has no one than this” remember Jesus laid down His own life in ABSOLUTE LOVE.
Stay blessed y’all, it’s your choice.
jimmy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)