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.
3 If you’re able to accept the will of God in your life when it doesn’t match your will...power of God!
V Not who you were ...strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience ; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Col 1:11-12 (NASB)
A The only way we grow/mature as a believer is by yielding to the power of God in our lives.
1 "I’ve not changed in 50 years." Let’s pray for you!
a We think of the power of God opening the Red Sea, sun standing still for Joshua, Elijah calling fire from heaven, Paul raising the dead.
b When God makes me hold my tongue-that’s a miracle. Bless those who curse you-that’s a victory.
2 I’m more patient, forgiving, giving, faithful than I was before...power of God.
a Hope assures us we’re not who we’re going to be, Hallelujah! I’m also not who I was.
b If you’re a better person...give thanks to God, because it’s His power made manifest in you that transformed you!
3 If you’re not who you were...power of God!
VI Put down the bib & pick up a towel We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power , which mightily works within me. Col 1:28-29 (NASB)
A (IL) Bibs are for babies, towels are for servants
1 If God has used you to teach, change another characteristic into the image of Jesus...power of God.
a Kids, friends, family, coworkers...power
b Helped others to grow...power
2 If God’s used you for the good in the lives of others...power of God
a Given donut, free tickets, stamp, oil change, etc.
Conclusion
A Without the power of God...
1 Don’t grow, become more like Jesus
2 Not motivated to help others
3 Not content
B Not flamboyant-it’s subtly miraculous...evidence of God’s power.
C God’s power is present...we just miss it
1 Eyes of faith
a Stop taking it for granted
b Stop chalking it up to cause & effect
c Stop assuming it would have happened anyway
2 God’s power is at work in us/through us
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My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
