Power and Promises: Where Does Our Power Come From?
by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter
His promises are the basis for the power we claim to be Revolutionaries in His name.
He promised us Eternity.
I’ve done some extreme(ish) things in my time – scuba diving the Blue Hole in Belize, or with 100’s of hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos. Hiking the Himalayas. White water rafting class 5 rapids on the Congrejal River in Honduras. And while God never promised to provide physical protection, He does promise unshakable spiritual protection to those who seek Him. Even death itself cannot separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). If you fear the Lord, you have His word that you do not need to fear anyone else.
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28–31)
He promised us Freedom.
Jesus stated uncategorically the He is the truth that sets us free – the source of truth and the perfect standard, the perfect model, of what is right to show us how are to live – not to give us freedom to do what we want, sinners that we are, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve Him, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God desires for us to be.
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32, NLT)
He promised us Joy.
Joy not in the way the world defines joy. The joy of the world is transient, dependent on things and people and affirmation outside of ourselves. But when our life is intertwined with His, He walks through adversity with us. The joy of living each day with Jesus Christ, as our Source, is ours to have always.
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:9–11)
One of my favorite definitions of joy comes from Henri Nouwen: “The joy that Jesus offers his disciples is his own joy, which flows from his intimate communion with the One who sent him. It is a joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moments from moments of failure, experiences of honor from experiences of dishonor, passion from resurrection. This joy is a divine gift that does not leave us during times of illness, poverty, oppression, or persecution. It is present even when the world laughs or tortures, robs or maims, fights or kills. It is truly ecstatic, always moving us away from the house of fear into the house of love, and always proclaiming that death no longer has the final say, though its noise remains loud and its devastation visible. The joy of Jesus lifts up life to be celebrated.”
He promised us Connection.
It’s no wonder the Bible instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17): prayer is our primary means of communicating with our Heavenly Father. God’s nature is that He knows s more intimately, more fully, than any human ever could. He numbers the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30), and He knows what we need before we ask. God invites us to pray because He yearns to have an authentic, intimate relationship with us.
When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:6–8)
These are the promises of Jesus’ Revolution… and there are more…
