Empowered for Change: Living in God's Authority

God's kingdom is a powerful kingdom. And that means, hear me when I say this, it's a kingdom full of power. That's deep. I know it's a kingdom full of power and God's people have never been a powerless people. Oh, we've acted like it and we've allowed our culture to get us to think that we're powerless. But we have never been a powerless people because we're their offspring of an all powerful God. [01:04:30] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


The power of God operating through the people of God is the hope of the world. Listen, an impotent church doesn't help. Nothing. Doesn't change anything. But a church who knows who they are. In Christ. And you heard me say before that when I had the opportunity to interact with TL Osborne, who is one of my heroes, I asked him, I said, Dr. Osborne, what's the most important message for the church? Not for the lost, but for the church. What's the most important message for the believer? And without hesitation, he said, tell them who they are. They don't know who they are. [01:06:53] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


The function of power. Hear me when I say this. The function of power is change. That's the function. It's great to know dynamite. But you need to know what the function of dynamite is, right? So the function of power, everyone say this with me, the function of power is change. That's the purpose of power. [01:08:36] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


When we know that we have power. And we know what the function of power is. Everything in our life becomes subject to change. Listen, especially, I think we've always been a politically charged people. But especially in the last, what, eight to ten years. I mean, I know people that have dissolved friendships over differences politically. I know churches that have been separated over political differences. They agree theologically, but they can't agree who to vote for. So they split. We live in a politically charged world. And so I want to use that to express it this way. If you're politically powerful, you're an agent of change. [01:09:49] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


There has to be a transformation in our thought process that when we look in the mirror, we see who God sees and God does not delight. Hear me when I say this, God does not, nor has he ever delighted in the bondage of his people, the brokenness of their hearts, the shattered dreams and their diseased ridden bodies. That's right. Amen. The God of heaven has always taken delight in perfection. That's right. So he sent you the spirit of grace through the redemption of the blood and the cross that made you flawless. And he's made you perfect in his eyes. [01:12:45] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


Redemption has made you powerful, but power can be present and not employed. Is this making sense? Each and every one of us have the power of speech, even when we're silent, but when we're silent, the Bible says this, does it not? Life and death are in the, the what, the what of the tongue. So when we're silent, that power of life doesn't bring any change because the power is present. I have the power to speak. But if I choose, not to employ it, then the power is present. Just like it was in the ministry of Jesus. The power of God was present to heal all, but they wouldn't receive it, right? Power can be present, but not employed. [01:18:40] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


God's power is not something you earn. It's something you receive by faith. Go with me to Colossians chapter 1. Verse 18. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. To those who do not believe, it's nonsense. But to us who are being saved, it is the what? Why would the Spirit call the word power? Because the word when believed brings about change. And the function, the function of power is change. [01:20:26] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power and you will be my messengers, my ambassadors, my witnesses to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces, and even to the remotest places on earth. The reason why we can be his witnesses is because we operate in his power. And we continue to do life the way he did it. And I'm going to circle back to what did I say is the one word you've got to connect with Jesus. Power. [01:25:21] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


God is looking for people through whom he can do the impossible. Is that not good? That's you. That's you, man. This is lighting my heart on fire, man. Here I am, send me. Smith Wigglesworth used to say, and I think I'll get the quote right, that God would pass over a million churchgoers to get to one believer. Why? Because God is on the look for people through whom he can do the impossible. [01:40:10] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)