High Power

Sunday, July 2, 2023 Good morning, Lord Verse of the Day: Romans 12:3 New King James Version For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Memory verse: John 10:27-28...27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Today's reading: JOB 22-24 ACTS 11 Power From On High Have you ever heard the names, Edward Kimball or Mordecai Ham? Unless you have read a lot about evangelist Billy Graham, you probably would not know these names. They are names in a succession-the story about passing faith on to new believers. Edward Kimbal was a Sunday school teacher who led Dwight L. Moody to Jesus. Then, J.Wilbur Chapman came to know Jesus in a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting. Billy Sunday was saved at a Chapman meeting and Mordecai Ham was converted in a Billy Sunday Revival meeting. Mordecai Ham led Billy Graham to the Lord. We believe that God will not empower that which he does not control. As we say that, we have to recognize that we also do not have the right to judge those who have power or do not have power. Those men in that line of succession, we would have to say, were empowered by God to carry His word. It began with a simple Sunday school teacher. With all the glitz and glamour of some of our new churches, we have a tendency to look at older churches and judge them to not be empowered. Some are judged as being cold and not 'in touch' with needs of the modern world. The people who read this are spread through all kinds of churches and this is our challenge to you: Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower everyone in your church-the church where you worship. Then pray for the closest Bible teaching church away from your home church and any others-you can even make a list of churches for whom you can pray. Some churches are in peril these days. We all need prayer, in peril or not. We all need the Power of God working in us everyday so we all need prayer. Remember: The people of a weak church are loved no less than the people of a 'fast'moving' church. There is no Biblical evidence to the contrary. Lest we get caught up in spiritual pride as our church becomes bigger and bigger, we must pray for our brothers and sisters who are struggling-always. There are Sunday school and Bible teachers everywhere who love what they do but most of all love God and love the people to whom they teach the eternal Word of God. Pray that the Word of God is always taught by people empowered by the Holy Spirit-no matter the size or name of church. We are all part of the same Body of Christ. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Start at home in your own prayer time. Ask for a desire to realize more of God's power to grow deeper in your own understanding of Him and His word. To walk among the world with The Holy Spirit-conscious of Him walking before you-asking God to touch folks with His love from your heart. ...because He loves us all... Father in Heaven, Forgive me for getting so selfishly focused and remind me of the kingdom work that goes on other than in my world-empower the work of my brothers and sisters-empower them Holy Spirit! Gracious God of power and mercy! In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen