POWER

 POWER

Power is the ability to perform a task or do something that requires more than the normal strength.

GOD is all-powerful. Power belongs to GOD.

What power does He make available to us?

How do we access that power?

GOD not only commands us but gives us the ability and the power to live a victorious Christian life.

He acts powerfully on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect towards Him.

He imparts His power to His servants to do His work.

The Power of the CROSS is manifested in selfless love.

The Power of the BLOOD of JESUS is released when I turn to Him in repentance, to cleanse me of all sin. This is the Power of the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

This Power also enables me to release forgiveness to those who sin against me.

The Power of the WORD of GOD is made real in my life when I diligently study the word to submit to it and live out that word.

When I ABIDE IN CHRIST, the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT IN me brings forth the FRUIT of the Spirit in my life.

When the ANOINTING of the HOLY SPIRIT is UPON me, I am enabled to serve GOD through the GIFTS of the Spirit. This Kingdom Power overcomes and prevails over all the powers of the kingdom of darkness.

 

The voice of the Lord is powerful; 

The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:4

• The voice of the LORD is powerful

GOD spoke and the world came into being!

He still speaks and releases His power.

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, 

Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:24

 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.
2 Corinthians 12:9

• CHRIST- The power of GOD.                                                                       The power of CHRIST is made perfect in my weakness

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 

for it is the power of God to salvation 

for everyone who believes, 

for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16

• The Gospel of CHRIST - The power of God to Salvation

 Then they came to Him, 

bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 

And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, 

they uncovered the roof where He was. 

So when they had broken through, 

they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 

"Son, your sins are forgiven you." 

And some of the scribes were sitting there 

and reasoning in their hearts, 

"Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? 

Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit 

that they reasoned thus within themselves, 

He said to them, 

"Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 

'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 

'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? 

But that you may know 

that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-

-He said to the paralytic, I say to you, 

arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, 

and went out in the presence of them all, 

so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 

"We never saw anything like this!"

Mark 2:3-12

 Then, the same day at evening, 

being the first day of the week, 

when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, 

for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, 

and said to them, "Peace be with you." 

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. 

Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! 

As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, 

and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; 

if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:19-23

• • The greatest power displayed by the LORD JESUS 
  and followed through by His followers, 
  is the power of FORGIVENESS!

It is the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of the LORD JESUS, 

Who releases into us the power to forgive.

The choice is left to us, 

whether to release forgiveness or not! 

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

 Now the blood shall be a sign for you 

on the houses where you are. 

And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; 

and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you 

when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13

• The Blood of JESUS - the powerful sin-stain Remover!

 For the message of the cross is foolishness 

to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

• The message of the Cross - The Power of GOD!

 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, 

and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer 

and to rise from the dead the third day, 

and that repentance and remission of sins 

should be preached in His name to all nations, 

beginning at Jerusalem. 

And you are witnesses of these things. 

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; 

but tarry in the city of Jerusalem 

until you are endued with power from on high."
Luke 24:46-49

• The promise of the Father - power from on high

But you shall receive power 

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judea and Samaria, 

and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8

• The power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the LORD

 So he answered and said to me: 

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 

'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' 

Says the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

• The Power of The Holy Spirit 

strengthened with all might, 

according to His glorious power, 

for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
Colossians 1:11

•                               His glorious power - gives us strength for all patience and longsuffering with joy!

 For the kingdom of God is not in 

word but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20

 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Mark 3:15

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, 

and over all the power of the enemy, 

and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19

He has delivered us from the power of darkness 

and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Colossians 1:13

• The Kingdom of GOD is in power

 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, 

He gave them power over unclean spirits, 

to cast them out, 

and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Matthew 10:1

 And He said to them, 

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 

Behold, I give you the authority 

to trample on serpents and scorpions, 

and over all the power of the enemy, 

and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:18-19

• Power over all the power of the enemy - Power over unclean spirits and power to heal all kinds of sicknesses

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, 

and the fellowship of His sufferings, 

being conformed to His death,
Philippians 3:10

 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead

 dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead 

will also give life to your mortal bodies 

through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11

• The Power of the Resurrection of CHRIST

who has come, 

not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, 

but according to the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:16

• The power of an endless life

 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, 

lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

 and of joints and marrow, 

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, 

but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him 

to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:11-13

• The word of GOD is powerful

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, 

He Himself likewise shared in the same, 

that through death He might destroy him 

who had the power of death, 

that is, the devil, 

and release those who through fear of death 

were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:14-15

• The devil who had the power of death is destroyed by the death of CHRIST

 and have tasted the good word of God 

and the powers of the age to come,
Hebrews 6:5

• Those who are enlightened, now taste the powers of the age to come

as His divine power has given to us all things 

that pertain to life and godliness, 

through the knowledge of Him 

who called us by glory and virtue,
2 Peter 1:3

• His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to a godly life

And he who overcomes, 

and keeps My works until the end, 

to him I will give power over the nations--
Revelation 2:26

• To the overcomer is given power over the nations!

 ENTER IN

Outside the gate:

You cannot SEE what is inside.

At the gate:

You can SEE to a certain extent the things and happenings inside the gates.

You may think you are inside. You are not really sure because you know about the LORD and about His Kingdom. You can see the experiences in others.

Enter in:

You are experiencing the blessings of GOD’S Presence and His Kingdom.

You Know in your heart that you are inside!

 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness,

 they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, 

the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; 

for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world 

through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 

they are again entangled in them and overcome, 

the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, 

than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 

"A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

2 Peter 2:18-22

Make sure you continue inside the gate and progress towards the LORD.

Don’t turn back!!

In His Presence:

You are living and progressing in your spiritual life.

You are increasing in the knowledge of GOD.

You are enjoying a vibrant relationship with the LORD!

 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, 

whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple 

which is called Beautiful, 

to ask alms from those who entered the temple;

Acts 3:2

So he, leaping up, 

stood and walked and entered the temple with them-

-walking, leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:8

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 

Serve the Lord with gladness; 

Come before His presence with singing. 

Know that the Lord, He is God; 

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; 

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 

And into His courts with praise. 

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, 

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,

 let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased 

from his works as God did from His.

Hebrews 4:1,9-10

And so it happened to him,

 for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.

2 Kings 7:20

Are you Outside the Gates of salvation?

Are you At the Gate?

Have you Entered His Gates?

Are you living In the Presence of the Almighty GOD?

ESTHER - 4

ESTHER - 4

Chapter 4

Grace and Responsibility

Esther 4:13-14

And Mordecai told them to answer Esther:

"Do not think in your heart
that you will escape in the king's palace

any more than all the other Jews.

"For if you remain completely silent at this time,

relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews
from another place,

but you and your father's house will perish.

Yet who knows
whether you have come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?"

Vashti refused to come to the king
when she was called.

Esther was willing to come to the king
even when she was not called.

Why?

Unlike Vashti,
Esther valued the favor she had found
in the eyes of the king

And took responsibility
to use that favored position
to save the lives of her people.

Do you value GOD’S favor
that is extended to you through the LORD JESUS?

Do you walk in obedience
to continue in that favor?

Do you extend that favor to others?

ESTHER

ESTHER - 1

Lessons from the book of Esther

The spiritual picture

King - GOD

His kingdom - The Kingdom of GOD

Mordecai - The LORD JESUS

Vashti - The rebellious believers

Esther - The bride of CHRIST

Jews - The people of GOD

The seven eunuchs in 1:10 - The seven angels

Chapter 1

Living to glorify GOD

Esther 1:4  

..when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

We can also say that the glory and honor of the kings on earth

is a reflection of an aspect of the glory of heaven.

Esther 1:5

And when these days were completed,

the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people

who were present in Shushan the citadel,

from great to small,

in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

This indicates a complete period of grace during which

all people are invited into the Presence of the King of kings.

Esther 1:7

And they served drinks in golden vessels,

each vessel being different from the other,

with royal wine in abundance,

according to the generosity of the king.

All of us as GOD’S vessels are different from each other.

Spiritual blessings are available to us in abundance

to receive into our individual unique spiritual being.

Esther 1:8

In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory;

for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household,

that they should do according to each man's pleasure.

Each person has a free will

and has to choose whether to receive GOD’S blessing or not.

Esther 1:9

Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women

in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

All our provision on earth belong to GOD.

We also belong to GOD the King.

 Esther 1:10

On the seventh day,

when the heart of the king was merry with wine,

he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas,

seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

At the end of the period of grace

GOD’S servants who are angels are commanded

 Esther 1:11

to bring Queen Vashti before the king,

wearing her royal crown,

in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials,

for she was beautiful to behold.

To bring His bride to show her beauty.

Revelation 21:2, 9-11

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Then one of the seven angels

who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues

came to me and talked with me, saying,

"Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."

And he carried me away in the Spirit
to a great and high mountain,

and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem,

descending out of heaven from God,

having the glory of God.

Her light was like a most precious stone,

like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

The glory of the Bride of CHRIST, the Church,

is a reflection of the glory of JESUS.

This glory is for His pleasure and for the glory of His name.

 Esther 1:12

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command

brought by his eunuchs;

therefore the king was furious,

and his anger burned within him.

When GOD’S people refuse

to respond to His promptings and His beckoning,

His anger is kindled.

The period of grace does come to an end

when there will be a reckoning and judgement.

GOD’S eternal wrath will fall on all the rebellious.

Am I taking the commands and promptings of the LORD lightly?

Esther 1:17

"For the queen's behavior will become known to all women,

so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes,

when they report,

'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti
to be brought in before him,

but she did not come.'

The proof of our willingness to obey the LORD

is our respect to the structure of authority He has set for us.

Esther 1:18 

"This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media

will say to all the king's officials

that they have heard of the behavior of the queen.

Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.

As a wife, are you honoring and obeying your husband?

As a child, are you honoring and obeying your parents?

As an employee, are you honoring and obeying your employer?

If you don’t submit to your husband
and if you don’t honor your wife,

your children will not submit to you nor honor you.

If you don’t submit to your superiors,

your subordinates won’t submit to you.

 Esther 1:19

"If it pleases the king,

let a royal decree go out from him,

and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes,

so that it will not be altered,

that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus;

and let the king give her royal position

to another who is better than she.

When the LORD calls you to Himself, do you come to Him?

 Matthew 22:1-10

And Jesus answered
and spoke to them again by parables and said:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king
who arranged a marriage for his son,

"and sent out his servants
to call those who were invited to the wedding;

and they were not willing to come.

"Again, he sent out other servants, saying,

'Tell those who are invited,

"See, I have prepared my dinner;

my oxen and fatted cattle are killed,

and all things are ready.

Come to the wedding."

' "But they made light of it and went their ways,

one to his own farm,

another to his business.

"And the rest seized his servants,
treated them spitefully,

and killed them.

"But when the king heard about it, he was furious.

And he sent out his armies,

destroyed those murderers,
and burned up their city.

"Then he said to his servants,

'The wedding is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy.

'Therefore go into the highways,

and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'

"So those servants went out into the highways

and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good.

And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

If we consistently ignore or refuse Him,
He will call someone better than us.

If we don’t answer His calls now,
we will not answer His last call.

We will not be taken up to Him when we die.

The whole purpose of our lives is to glorify GOD.

Our LORD JESUS set the example for us.

John 17:4

"I have glorified You on the earth.

I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

Because of her rebellion
Vashti was stripped of the glory of a queen

and became one of the king’s concubines.

She was no more called by name by the king
nor came before the king.

  2 Corinthians 4:6-7

For it is the God
who commanded light to shine out of darkness,

who has shone in our hearts

to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

The glory we reflect

is the knowledge of GOD

in the face of JESUS CHRIST,

Through our good works.

Matthew 5:16

"Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.