Believe Deep in Your Guts That You're Speaking of the Most Dynamite Force in the Universe
Power surrounds us. Everywhere you look in America you see objects of power that impress and intimidate. The challenge for followers of Jesus is to believe, and to actually experience, that the power of the gospel is more powerful, more impressive, than all other powers at work in this world. The goal is to be able to speak Paul's words, believing deep in your guts that you're speaking of the most dynamite force in the universe:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... (Romans 1:16)
It was rock-solid belief in the unique power of the gospel that gave Martin Luther the courage to stand against all other earthly powers and do what he did with his life. You must have the same deep-in-your-guts, gospel power belief to do what God is calling you to do with your life. It will take suffering to bring you to this conviction. Death and Resurrection, cross then crown, is the pathway to understanding and experiencing the power of the gospel.Let me briefly remind us of some of the "powers" on offer in our culture, powers that look like midget, leg-less ants when stacked up against the Goliath gospel:
- Money
- Titles, Degrees, Positions
- Forbes' list of The World's Most Powerful People
- The United Nations
- Bad news
- The most powerful sports team of any given week
- Skyscrapers
- Disappointment, discouragement, setbacks
- The Atomic Bomb
- Celebrities
- Your past
- Superman
- The Drug War in Mexico
- Goggle, Apple, Amazon...
- Disease
- Death
- Sin committed by you; Sin committed by others
Friends, the challenge here is to wake up each morning and believe that the gospel of our Triune God is more powerful than all other powers you will face throughout your day. Remember, God hasn't given us a Spirit of fear, but of power. Again, it will take life experience, suffering, and grace to bring us to believe this all the way down to our toes. Amen?
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)