Power To Spare

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

“POWER TO SPARE”

Invisible beams of evangelism flash day and night across sky and sea, penetrating nations and hearts where missionaries cannot go. Such are the shortwave ministries of ventures like HCJB, TransWorld Radio, and Far East Broadcasting Company.

The FEBC began in 1945 when three Christians pooled their resources and formed a nonprofit corporation to broadcast the gospel through the Orient. One of the men, John Broger, set out for Shanghai searching for a spot for a transmitter. He sailed to Manila to explore the possibility of locating the transmitter in the Philippines.

While completing paperwork for the Philippine government, Broger requested permission for 10,000 watts. Imagine his thrill when officials marked out the amount and wrote: “Unlimited Power.”

But the Philippine government insisted the station go on the air by June 4 or not at all. Meanwhile in the U.hair., the founders frantically tried to raise funds as bills came due. One delay after another tore at the project, but government officials refused to extend the timetable. Nail-biting difficulties arose, and three days before the deadline, transmission problems developed. When June 4 dawned, high-voltage wires crisscrossed the station and workers stepped through ankle-deep water from heavy rains. Broger rushed downtown to make a final plea for an extension. He was refused.

He had no choice but to rush back through cart-congested streets, weaving through traffic jams, racing against the clock. He came to a screeching halt in front of the station, rushed in and shouted, “We’ll test on the air.” The switch was flipped, the transmitters hummed with power, and the winded staff began singing All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.

I. GOD HAS POWER WE EXPERIENCE.

a. God’s power is “exceeding”

Verse 19 (huperballon): surpassing, unlimited, immeasurable, beyond imagination.

The European Baptist Federation met in Budapest, Hungary in 1989. Hungary was still a Communist country, and it was the first time the federation had ever met in a Communist country. The meeting ended with a one-day Billy Graham crusade that filled the sports stadium with the largest crowd ever assembled there. There were eighty-five thousand inside and thousands more outside. Earlier sessions had welcomed church leaders from all over Europe with translations into the various languages and headphones for the listeners. Where, you may wonder, did they get all those headphones? They got them from the army!

Psalm 62:11 (NKJV) God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.

Sergei Nikolaev, an energetic Christian leader in the Soviet Union, said, "Don’t look at the circumstances and don’t look at what you can’t do. Look at your Lord. Call on his power. Trust his timing. Don’t put a period where God puts a comma."

Psalm 20:7 (NKJV) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

b. God’s power is “great”

Verse 19 (megethos): mighty, explosive, beyond measure. This is the word from which we get the English word megaton, which measures atomic explosives. Imagine the great explosive power of God!

How’s your power source? Are you plugged in? In his book Spiritual Stamina, Stuart Briscoe tells the story of a man who bought a new computer. Bringing his new prize home, he carefully opened the box, gingerly took the machine out, studied its manual, and connected the wires. Eagerly he flipped on the power switch--but nothing happened. Puzzled, the man switched the computer off and rechecked all the connections. He rounded up a screwdriver and fastened the wires more securely. He read again the relevant portion of the manual. Satisfied that he’d followed directions, he flipped the computer on--and again nothing happened. As his anger rose the man’s little girl walked into the room.

"Hi, Daddy!" her cheery voice rang out. "What a pretty computer! Can I plug it in?" –Moody

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

c. God’s power is extended to us.

The thing to note is that God’s power is to us-ward; that is, God takes His power and extends it, presents it, makes it available to the believer. How do we know this? Because of what God did for Christ. What God did for Christ He will do for us. God’s power is demonstrated by what He did for Christ.

When Arthur Rubinstein, the famous concert pianist, was in New York, someone invited him to attend church. His answer: "Take me to a church that will challenge me to attempt the impossible." Great people are attracted to great challenges, and that’s why we as Christians who are willing to dream great dreams.