Thriving Right Now With Power From Your Eternal Dream Home Series

Building Your Eternal Dream Home Series

Thriving Right Now With Power From Your Eternal Dream Home

Jan. 20, 2008 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

SHOULD REALITY

do do

live live

give give

pray pray

fast fast

A The power Paul prays for is not a physical, intellectual, or emotional power.

1 Our physical bodies are decaying. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor 4:16 (NASB)

a Our cognitive & effectual capabilities often deteriorate as we get older.

b He prays for us to be strengthened with spiritual power.

c Our "outer man" is getting older, shorter, weaker, wasting away, etc., but our inner man is renewed everyday.

2 Few of us ever felt the power like they were praying to receive.

a What does this spiritual power look like? Why haven’t I felt it? How can I get it?

b We get discouraged when we don’t "get it".

aa Ruin (start/stop)

bb Marriage, miscarriage, mastectomy

c We want power to believe, trust God; live a godly life; always be happy; overcome the enemy...not piddling, little baby power!

d Powerful-powerless

3 Let’s look at six central Scriptures & how they can help us see/experience God’s power in our life right now.

I Hope that secures Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NASB)

A Any hope you have as a Christian comes from God.

1 Hope is not a result of any effort on your own, it’s a gift from the Holy Spirit.

a If you hope in eternal life, that hope overcomes your fear of death/condemnation.

b If you have hope that brings peace, foregoes the gratifications of this world for the rewards

c Hope that good will overcome evil, justice will prevail, God is sovereign, you are not who you are going to be!

2 If you have hope, you have the power of God working in you.

II Desire to share But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.2 Cor 4:7-10 (NASB)

A If you have a desire to share the Gospel with others, it’s evidence that the power of God is upon you.

1 We have treasure (Gospel) in us (jars of clay).

a The vessels are plain, ordinary, nothing to write home about...but it’s what’s inside!

b We want to share it, speak it, tell people, be a treasure map, X marks the spot.

2 That’s the power of God, because the devil wants you to keep a lid on your jar!

III Praise Him in the storm And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Cor 12:9 (NASB)

A If you have found comfort/contentment in the tough times, then the power of God is upon you.

1 All of us know tough times (in this world you will have trouble- promise).

a When you find peace in the storm...power of God.

b You minister to someone’s thirsty & blistered soul out of your brook of brokenness...power of God

aa Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, death...power of God

2 "Thorns of the flesh"

a Sometimes, God lets those thorns stay

b I believe in healing, gift of healing, supernatural touch of God

c God is in charge of the manner & timing of healing...from some of us our healing won’t occur until we receive our new perfect body until we see our Creator.

3 The power of God allows us to praise Him for our "thorns in the flesh."

IV "Can do" attitude I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13 (NASB)

A If you are confidently content with whatever (everything), the power of God is upon you.

1 The context is Paul saying, "If I’ve got plenty or am in plenty of need...I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength!"

a The source of Paul’s abiding power was the Lord in Him.

b Not positive thinking...faithful thinking

aa A positive thinker: "I can do everything"

bb A faithful thinker: "I can do everything through Him."

2 Whether I have a lot, all I need, less than I need, I can do it through Him.