The Almighty Power

Sermon:

Most of us, at one time or another, have flown in a commercial jet. They are powerful. You sit there at the end of the runway waiting for the pilot to spool up or rev up the engines, and you hear that whine, that loud whine as they get going and then the pilot releases the brakes and off you go, being pulled back into the seats. You feel the power of those jet engines. A simple act of kindness has power, too. I remember once I was in the Marine Corps coming home to Fort Worth from being overseas and I was seated in an aisle seat. The man, older gentleman, next to me, seated next to the window, got to talking and he was the president of either the University of Florida or Florida State. In any event, I was in my uniform and he asked me if I’d like to sit by the window when we came in to land and we felt that power when the pilot uses the engines to reverse thrust and slow us down. I’ll never forget that little act of kindness. It was a thrill for me to see outside and witness that power of those engines. But while I remember the power of those jet engines, I especially remember his act of kindness. I have no idea whether he was a Christian or not or even religious. I never corresponded with him, don’t even know his name. But I remember the power of his kindness.

That’s power. That’s the true power of God. But God’s power is not limited to the acts of kindness you and I do for each other.

1 John 5:18-21

We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them. 19We know that we are God’s children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true;£ and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.£

The power of God protects us from evil and as John said “the whole world lies under the power of the evil one”

This doesn’t relieve each of us Christians, followers of Christ, of the responsibility of telling others about the power we have been given, even if “the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” In fact, we must double and re-double our efforts to make the world aware of the love of God, the power of God, through simple acts of kindness.

But even the evil ones powers are derived from God. Remember what Jesus Christ told Pilate in our Bible reading for today?

Jesus Christ said to Pilate; “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above;

All of the world leaders have no power except that that they have been given from God above, The Almighty Power.

Put what Jesus Christ said to Pilate in perspective. Here’s Rome, the all powerful Empire…Nation…in that time, about like America is now, America the lone superpower in the world, and Jesus Christ is telling our leaders, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above;

All power, here in America, then in Rome, all over the Universe with its awesome display of power sometimes, all of that natural power, all of that political power comes from God.

Even leaders of another faith, for example Osama Bin Laden, have no power except that which is given to him and his followers by God. Why does God give them power over others? I don’t know. It’s a mystery to me. Why would God allow Satan to run loose on the world for the time being? I don’t know but the Bible speaks of us being remnants, always remnants.

You know what remnants are, don’t you? Those are the pretty pieces of cloth that a person who is skilled in the fiber arts, making a quilt, a beautiful quilt that keeps us warm on a cold winters night, that beautiful warm protecting quilt is made up of remnants of cloth woven together by a master weaver.

As Paul wrote to the Romans in Chapter 9 beginning in verse 27

“And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved; 28for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.”£ 29And as Isaiah predicted,