On Sunday, I began a new series entitled: "Becoming the Unchurch." We are looking at key characteristics of the Church in Antioch and how they apply to us today. If we truly applied these qualities to our church I think we would become the "Unchurch" and by that I mean a church unlike what we have grown all too familiar with. I'm afraid we have grown accustomed to church that is simply a weekly meeting we attend but not a life changing gathering where we see and sense the power and presence of God. I don't want that to characterize the the church family at Everett Springs Baptist Church.
Sunday's message focused on "Unbelievable Power." Such power should mark a church that worships the living God. Think about it; God is a God of the unheard of, the unusual and the unbelievable. Does our church life reflect that we worship such a God? It can.
The first use of the word "Power" in the New testament comes from the lips of Jesus when he says: "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29). Wow, would He say that of our churches today? Do we know the power of God? How is that knowledge evident in our churches today?
We considered three aspects of God's "Unbelievable Power" in Sunday's message:
1) The Power of the Cross to change lives (Rom. 1:16 and 1 Cor. 1:17-18)
2) The Power Working through the Church (Eph. 3:14-21 and 2 Cor. 4:7)
3) The Power of the Comforter (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:33 and Rom. 15:18-19)
Our response to the message should include:
1) Realization of our Powerlessness.
2) Confession of our sin (We are not to quench or grieve the Spirit)
3) Participation in the will of God through prayer.
Our prayer is captured by the words penned by Charles H. Gabriel in the song "Pentecostal Power"
"Lord, send thy old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
Thy floodgates of blessing, on is throw open wide!
Lord, send the old time power, thy Pentecostal power!
That sinners be converted and Thy name glorified!"
Praying for God's Unbelievable Power in our Church,
Pastor Mike
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