Discovering God's Power

Thank God, It's Monday: (Part I)

DISCOVERING GOD'S POWER

Genesis 3:17-19

17) To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

18] It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

19] By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

2 Corinthians 13:4

4) For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

Philippians 4:13

13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

            This morning, we are starting a new series called, "Thank God, It's Monday." Perhaps some of you are asking, why Monday? That should be "Thank God, It's Friday." We'll that's intentional. We're talking about Monday because it's the beginning of the work week. In this series, we will emphasize being thankful for our work and making sure we regularly bring God into our workplaces.

            The reality is we all spend a lot of our time working. There are some who work 50, 60, 70, even more a week. Fortunately for us, God has a lot to say about work, which means, the Bible can give us significant guidelines on how we can be successful Christians even in our careers or professions.

            Work is absolutely a part of God plan for us. Right from the creation of the first man, God told him to work:

Genesis 2:15  The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

            Later in the Bible, you would find that work became God's ordained means for humans to provide for their own needs and the needs of others:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For ourselves

10) For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

1Timothy  5:8 - For families

8) If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Ephesians 4:28 - For others with needs

28) He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

            So, work is absolutely necessary. God has created us to work.  Unfortunately, when you go back to Genesis, you will find that after Adam and Eve fell into sin, part of the consequence of it was that work would be difficult. We read this earlier in Genesis 3:17-19. And this is definitely the reason why there is no such thing as an easy job, all have their share of challenges. Now, is it possible that all the difficulties of your job have been taking away all the life in you, or the joy of life in you? Or is it possible that all the difficulties in your job have caused you to loose your Christian testimony? This morning, I want to share to you the fact that this does not have to happen. God has given us the power we need to be able to handle all the challenges we have.

            I believe one big mistake of many Christians today is the tendency to compartmentalize their lives.  They see life like that of a pie and divide them into these little pieces. They have a piece for their work life, and another piece for relationship life, and then they have another piece for their spiritual life.  You see, you can't divide up your life like that.  You can't compartmentalize.  Everything matters.  In our spiritual life, what we are doing today has great significance to what we do tomorrow.  We must allow God's power to permeate every part of our being. Let's talk about how we can appropriate God's power into our day to day lives:

I           IT BEGINS WITH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING GOD:

            The word "power" occurs 57 times in the New Testament. While Jesus was on earth meeting His daily challenges, He regularly displayed the inherent power that belongs to Him being the Son of God. However, the most incredible manifestation of His power came during His resurrection from the dead. And this power is available to everyone who believes in Christ.

            Notice how the apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 13:4 -"For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you."  When you consider Christ on the cross, it's a picture of weakness. During those times thousands of criminals have been executed through crucifixion. Every single one of them had suffered and died. So, there was nothing extraordinary in being crucified. The miracle of the story is found in Jesus, Who was dead for three days, was raised again to new life. Going back to the last part of our key text, Paul highlights the fact that the same power that brought Christ from the dead is available to those who live in Christ.

So we can live power-filled lives when we know God through Jesus Christ.

            The fact of the matter is - it is sin that has separated man from God. Earlier we have said that sin resulted in making life more difficult for us. You see, the resurrection is God's provision to overcome sin in our life. On the cross, Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sin, and then God stepped in and in one big powerful resurrection; God showed that He had the power to overcome sin and death.

            Most often, we as believers fail to realize that the same power available for us. In Ephesians 1, Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians that they will know the power at work in their lives.

Ephesians 1:18-20

18) 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,

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,

            Verse 19 says, "incomparably great power." This could be properly translated as "incredibly great power." The double adjective intensifies the quality of the power. For Paul, to say it's a great power is not enough. It's an incredibly great power. And this is the power God shares for those who say "yes" to Jesus Christ and receive Him as their own personal savior.

II         IT BOOSTS RESOURCE FOR LIFE:

            Having an access to God's power, we as God's children have the privilege to depend on God's unlimited resources in order to survive the challenges of work. In his own personal life, the apostle Paul recognized the presence of some weaknesses (2 Cor. 13:4), and yet God's power in Him gave Him tremendous confidence. He has clearly stated His conviction in Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.          

            Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, a well-known commentator shares his perspective with what Paul has declared:

All of nature depends on hidden resources. The great trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains. The most important part of a tree is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life.

            Evidently, Paul depended on the power of God at work in his life. Here are some resources we can experience in Christ Jesus while we face the pressures at work:

            A. Wisdom - The ability to know the best course of action or the ability to make prudent and sensible decisions.

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

            B. Courage - The ability to face life's challenges without fear.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

            C. Protection - The assurance of security in the midst of a very competitive workplace.

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

            I know time will not allow me to mention everything that God has made available for us. But I believe the key is for us to appropriate these resources. Remember, every believer has all the power within to be adequate for the demands of life. We only need to release our power by faith.     

III        IT BRINGS RENEWAL FOR EVERYDAY LIVING:

            Lastly, the power available for us doesn't have to be a one time experience. This could be a lifetime experience for us. It could be that a full day's work could drain all your strength; and that you would feel you have nothing left for the rest of the week. Let me assure you, God can renew your power. The prophet Isaiah affirms:

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

            In the context of this passage, Isaiah reminded the Israelites to remain hopeful and faithful to the Lord because only through Him can they have the strength to continually soar like eagles. Well, eagles are known to have the ability to fly high above dangerous storms. Likewise, on our own, we are bound to faint and fail, but on the power of God faithful believers can be carried high above all difficulties and allow them to achieve great victories in life.   

            Now the critical question for us is - do we maintain a faithful walk with Christ? You see, Jesus stated it clearly that we need to remain being intimately connected with Him.

John 15:5  "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

            To remain in Him can mean, persevering in believing or continuing in obedience. In other words, we cannot experience the power we need if we are not conscious of living a life of faith and obedience. Think about it. It wouldn't make sense for God to supernaturally renew our strength so we could pursue our own personal plans that runs contrary to His plan for us. He promises to renew our strength, but we have to faithfully remain in Him. Here is a sample of a prayer we can make everyday before we work to reflect our constant dependence on Him. 

My Heavenly Father, as I enter my workplace,

I bring your presence with me.

I speak your peace, your grace, your mercy,

and your perfect order into this office.

I acknowledge your power over all that will be spoken,

thought, decided, and done within these walls.

Lord, I thank you for the gifts you have blessed me with.

I commit to using them responsively in your honor.

Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job.

Anoint my projects, ideas, and energy,

so that even the smallest accomplishment may bring you glory.

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen