Power

One word stood out to me as I read Acts 8:9-25...power. Power can conjure up so many different ideas. Some may think of the switch that turns something on and off, some might think of a car or truck with a big engine, some may think of  strong athlete, if you were a kid in the 80's you might think of He-man, maybe you think of sorcery and witchcraft, or maybe you think of power tools (I can hear the grunting from Tim Allen as I write this).

Power is nothing more than the ability to do or accomplish something. You can measure someone or something's power by what he/she/it does or accomplishes. And for the Texans fans, electrical power is measured in units called watts. :)

Simon, the Samaritan magician, was considered the most powerful guy in Samaria before Philip came with the gospel. Then Philip came, speaking the message of the gospel, but he also performed miraculous signs. (This was also a fulfillment of Jesus' words in Acts 1:8) The signs were so great that even Simon believed the message Philip was preaching!!

If you were not here Sunday, then you should read Acts 8:9-25 really quick.

Simon wanted the power that the apostles had. He was willing to pay big bucks for that power. The problem is God gave the apostles the power, through the Holy Spirit (also according to Acts 1:8), the same Holy Spirit that the people were receiving through the apostles laying their hands on them. Why offer money for a free gift?

I often have the delusion that I have the power to earn God's favor or grace through my performance. The better I do or the more I accomplish, the more power I am displaying, then the more God will love me, right? WRONG!! He already loves me, and his love for me is not going to change based on my performance. But because He loves me and because He has poured his grace out on me, I want to be more like him. The only way to become more like God is to spend more time with God.

Let me say that again...the only way to become more like God is to spend more time with God. Don't try to buy something that is free. Don't try to earn something you can't earn. It is a paradox. In order to live with power, we must become powerless, completely reliant on God. Only when we get to that point can God's power flow through us.

So here is the question: in your quest to accomplish things and earn things and do things, when was the last time you stopped, humbled yourself before God and spent time with him? Maybe in prayer maybe reading His Word, or maybe just sitting and listening for the still small voice?

It might do us all some good to quit running as far as we can as fast as we can and just stop...and be with our Creator.

Completely Powerless,
Gary, Lifegroup Pastor