WEBVTT

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 powerful military force that is ready and able to defend us if we are attacked or if there's any

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 kind of warlike crisis. As individuals, we have education, technology, medicine, talented people

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 to provide us with at least some power to face almost any crisis. But in the face of this

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 coronavirus emergency, many people, many Americans have felt powerless. You may have. Sometimes I do.

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 And it's frustrating, isn't it? It's discouraging. Well, I have some good news this morning. On this

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 Easter Sunday morning, I want us to understand that God is in full control of everything. He is in full

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 control of this universe. God clearly demonstrated the unmatched greatness of His power when He raised

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 Jesus from the dead on that first Easter Sunday morning. It was a tremendous demonstration of the

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 mighty power of God. And I want you to listen to this. Take this to heart. God has made this same great

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 power available to us, you and me, as His people. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul prays for Christians to have

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 both a knowledge of and experience with God's power. That's what we're going to look at this morning.

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 I want to invite you to open your Bible to Ephesians chapter 1. We're going to look at verses 16 through 23,

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 where Paul tells us about what and how he has prayed for these Christians. When we get to verse 19,

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 it just seems like Paul gets excited as he prays for them to experience God's power. And the reason I say

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 that is you look at verse 19, he just goes all out to emphasize the greatness of God's power. Let's look at

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 Ephesians chapter 1, beginning in verse 16. I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my

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 prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom

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 and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know

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 what is the hope to which He has called you. What are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints?

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 Now, let's pay close attention to how Paul describes God's power beginning in the next verse, verse 19.

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 And what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might,

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 that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

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 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named,

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 not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head

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 over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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 The goal for us today as we look at this passage is the same as God's goal for the Ephesians,

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 to make sure that we have knowledge of and experience with God's great power.

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 The first thing I want us to consider is a question. Can you point to evidence of the unmatched greatness of God's power?

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 In other words, can you point to evidence of God's power in action?

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 Somewhere in history, in life, can you point to evidence of God's great power?

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 Well, Paul points out two powerful demonstrations that every Christian should be familiar with.

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 Let's look at it again. Number one, He raised Jesus from the dead.

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 That's the great demonstration of God's power that He is focusing on, that He's excited about,

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 and that we need to be excited about this morning.

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 Look at the verses again, verses 19 and 20.

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 The immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe,

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 according to the working of His great might,

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 that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.

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 When God the Father raised the Son from the dead,

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 it was the greatest demonstration of power in all of history.

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 Now think about it with me.

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 You know, most of you, if you're a Bible reader,

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 there are a handful or so places in the Bible

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 where someone was brought back from the dead.

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 Three weeks ago, we looked at a passage in John chapter 11

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 where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

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 Now, what I want us to understand when Jesus raised Lazarus

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 and all the other times that someone was raised to life,

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 what the Scripture is describing is someone coming back to life

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 in the same body, the same person, condition that they were previously in.

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 It was really a restoration of the earthly life of the person who was raised.

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 For example, Lazarus.

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 He died again.

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 Every person that you read about other than Jesus,

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 people who died and Jesus or one of the prophets

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 or one of the apostles brought them back to life,

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 they died again.

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 And they were buried.

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 And their body is in a grave somewhere in this world right now.

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 But the resurrection of Jesus is totally different.

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 When God raised Jesus on that Sunday morning,

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 Jesus had a new, glorified, resurrected body

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 that will never experience pain, suffering, or death again.

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 You know, that's the kind of body that we as Christians

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 will receive one day when Jesus comes back to this earth.

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 We will receive a new, resurrected, glorified body

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 that will never suffer any kind of disease,

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 experience a crisis, never die again.

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 Think about this new body.

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 Think about it in terms of Jesus' new body.

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 After Jesus arose from the grave,

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 people saw Him.

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 They touched Him.

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 They heard Him speak.

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 Some people even saw Jesus cook fish over an open fire.

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 They saw Him eat.

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 Jesus appeared in bodily form

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 to over 500 people

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 in different locations

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 over a period of 40 days.

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 And His appearance, His presence, His power

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 made a difference in the lives of His disciples.

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 After His disciples saw Him,

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 the resurrected Jesus,

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 and later were filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 they were just radically changed.

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 Before His death and resurrection,

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 they deserted Him.

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 They ran away.

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 They were cowards.

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 But after the resurrection,

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 they boldly and publicly declared

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 that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and Savior

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 of all who will believe in Him.

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 Many of those disciples,

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 tradition tells us,

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 died by execution

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 because they would not renounce their faith.

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 They would not in any way compromise

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 their commitment

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 to the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

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 God demonstrated His power

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 by raising Jesus from the dead.

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 But that's not all.

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 That's not where He stopped.

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 We also see that He exalted Jesus

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 to His right hand.

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 Look back again.

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 Those same scriptures.

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 The immeasurable greatness of His power

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 toward us who believe,

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 according to the working of His great might,

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 that He worked in Christ

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 when He raised Him from the dead,

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 and seated Him at His right hand

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 in the heavenly places.

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 The exaltation of Jesus

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 to the right hand of the Father

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 is also a tremendous demonstration

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 of God's power.

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 It also demonstrates the power

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 and the authority of Jesus

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 as He is seated

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 in that place of authority and power

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 there at God's right hand.

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 I want you to look at verses 21 and 22

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 because they describe

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 this authority and power

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 that Jesus now possesses.

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 And seated Him

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 in His right hand

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 in the heavenly places

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 far above all rule

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 and authority

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 and power

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 and dominion

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 and above every name

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 that is named

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 not only in this age

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 but also in the one to come.

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 And He put all things

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 under His feet

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 and gave Him as head

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 over all things

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 to the church.

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 Jesus Christ is alive right now.

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 He's at the Father's right hand.

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 He rules over everything

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 now.

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 And He will forever.

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 We saw last week

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 from Romans chapter 8

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 and verse 31

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 that something else

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 Jesus is doing right now,

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 He's interceding for us.

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 He's praying for us.

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 He's there

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 representing us

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 before the Father.

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 He's there on our behalf.

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 He is for us.

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 And then one day,

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 one day Jesus is going to leave

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 that position

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 at the Father's right hand

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 to return to this world

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 in what will be

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 at that time

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 the greatest demonstration

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 of power and authority

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 that the world

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 has ever seen.

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 Jesus will come back

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 to this world

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 one day.

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 Now let me ask you,

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 do you know,

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 do you have

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 absolute confidence

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 that Jesus Christ

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 was raised

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 from the dead,

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 that He is seated

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 at the right hand

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 of the Father,

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 and that all this

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 was done

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 by God's mighty power?

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 Do you know that?

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 Are you truly

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 worshiping

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 and praising

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 and talking

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 to your living

00:12:16.599 --> 00:12:17.299
 Lord

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 this morning?

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 This past week,

00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:21.799
 someone sent me

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 an article

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 about Dabo Swinney

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 where he was making

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 some comments

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 about the coronavirus,

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 but he also talked

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 about his faith

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 in Jesus Christ.

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 He was talking

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 about this special

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 time of year

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 about the resurrection

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 and about Easter.

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 He said one thing

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 that helps us

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 see something

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 about the greatness

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 of God's power.

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 I want to quote Dabo.

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 He said,

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 over 2,000 years ago,

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:51.139
 we had a major

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 world crisis

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 going on.

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 God took something

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 that was evil

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 and turned it

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 into eternal good.

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 He was talking

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 about the death

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 of God's Son.

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 The death

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 of God's Son,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ

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 on the cross

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 was the worst

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 act of evil

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 that's ever

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 taken place

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 in the history

00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:16.500
 of the world.

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 But what we need

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 to understand

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 is that God

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 had determined

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 beforehand

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 to use it

00:13:25.359 --> 00:13:26.719
 to bring about

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 the greatest

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 good

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 in the history

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 of the world.

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 The salvation

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 of all

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 who will come

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 to Him

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:35.799
 through faith

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:36.480
 in Jesus.

00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.220
 I want to ask you,

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.000
 do you have

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:42.820
 a real relationship

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:45.179
 with the risen

00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:46.919
 and exalted

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.940
 Lord Jesus Christ?

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.259
 Think about it.

00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:52.480
 Do you know Him?

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.399
 Do you talk to Him?

00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.480
 Do you listen to Him?

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.200
 Do you love Him?

00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:00.280
 Do you worship Him?

00:14:00.780 --> 00:14:01.620
 Is He really

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.780
 your Lord

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 and your God?

00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.560
 Do you serve Him?

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 Do you seek

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.680
 to please Him?

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.660
 That's what we do

00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:11.820
 in a relationship

00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:12.320
 with Him

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 if we have one.

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 If you don't have

00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:16.300
 that kind of relationship,

00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:18.580
 I want to encourage you

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 to come to Him

00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:19.980
 right now.

00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:22.080
 There is absolutely

00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.480
 no better time

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.980
 to come to Christ

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:25.680
 in faith

00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.359
 than Easter Sunday.

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 I want to encourage you.

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.479
 Turn from your sin.

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.019
 Repent.

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:33.399
 Change your mind.

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.279
 Put your faith

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.699
 in Jesus

00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:36.399
 that when He died

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:36.939
 on the cross,

00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.739
 He was paying

00:14:38.739 --> 00:14:39.419
 the penalty

00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:41.339
 for your sin.

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:43.739
 Surrender your life

00:14:43.739 --> 00:14:44.079
 to Him.

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.419
 Honor Him

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.419
 as your King

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 and your Lord.

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 The Scripture

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:49.719
 tells us very

00:14:49.719 --> 00:14:50.539
 clearly,

00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:51.620
 plainly,

00:14:52.359 --> 00:14:53.139
 that whoever calls

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.599
 on the name

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.420
 of the Lord

00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:57.120
 will be saved.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.879
 And I want to encourage

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.620
 you to do that

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.620
 if you've never done so,

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.519
 if you're not

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.279
 truly

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.100
 one with Christ.

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:05.980
 It is vitally

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.899
 important this morning

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.480
 that we understand

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.180
 the greatness

00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.360
 of God's power,

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.100
 but knowledge

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.899
 is not enough.

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.800
 We need to

00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:16.019
 experience it.

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.800
 Here's the second question,

00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:19.080
 second major question.

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.480
 Can you point

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.820
 to your personal

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:22.740
 experience

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:24.400
 of the unmatched

00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:25.160
 greatness

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:26.660
 of God's power?

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.800
 In other words,

00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.700
 how have you

00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:31.460
 experienced

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.740
 God's power

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.800
 in your life?

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.280
 Do you realize

00:15:38.280 --> 00:15:39.480
 that the power

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.639
 of God,

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.200
 the power

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.460
 that God

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.420
 makes available

00:15:44.420 --> 00:15:45.080
 to us

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.580
 is the same

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.120
 power

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.680
 that He

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.639
 exerted

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.960
 when He

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.520
 brought Jesus

00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:52.360
 from the grave

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.379
 and exalted

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.020
 Him to His

00:15:54.020 --> 00:15:54.900
 right hand?

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.500
 Look back

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.400
 at verses 19

00:15:57.400 --> 00:15:57.800
 and 20

00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.720
 one more time

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.920
 and let's look

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.639
 at it in the

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.560
 New Living

00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.360
 Translation.

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.720
 I also

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.360
 pray

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.340
 that you

00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.060
 will understand

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.240
 the incredible

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.020
 greatness

00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:09.940
 of God's

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.759
 power for

00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.420
 us

00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.540
 who believe

00:16:12.540 --> 00:16:12.780
 Him.

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.279
 this is the

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.100
 same mighty

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.620
 power

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.799
 that raised

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.539
 Christ

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.059
 from the

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:18.379
 dead

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.319
 and seated

00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:19.679
 Him

00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:20.000
 in the

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.539
 place of

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:20.939
 honor

00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:22.159
 at God's

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.939
 right hand.

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.360
 I want to

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:24.679
 make something

00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.199
 very clear

00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:25.779
 about God's

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.139
 power.

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.319
 God makes

00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:28.899
 His power

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.980
 available to

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.620
 us

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.179
 to accomplish

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.159
 His

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:34.100
 purpose

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.480
 not our

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.720
 own.

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.799
 God does

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.379
 not give us

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.919
 power

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.379
 to go on

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.740
 an ego

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.139
 trip.

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:43.080
 God does

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.480
 not give

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.000
 us power

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.840
 for selfish

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.699
 or worldly

00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.819
 goals.

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.600
 Most of

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.220
 you know

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:51.000
 that God's

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.299
 overall goal

00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.100
 His ultimate

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.639
 goal

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:56.240
 is for us

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.639
 to become

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.299
 like Jesus.

00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.879
 That's what

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.340
 He's working

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.039
 in us

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.179
 every day

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:02.519
 in every

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.000
 situation

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.699
 to accomplish

00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:04.039
 if we're

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.480
 Christians.

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.319
 God wants

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.039
 us as His

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.619
 children to

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.779
 grow spiritually

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.920
 and to

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.299
 develop

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.099
 Christ-like

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.119
 character.

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.440
 And He

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.180
 promises

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:16.240
 us the

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.180
 power to

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.660
 be able to

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.059
 do that,

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.000
 to succeed

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.559
 that.

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:20.899
 You know

00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:21.460
 in the last

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.399
 three chapters

00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.220
 of Ephesians,

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.399
 chapters 4,

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:24.700
 5,

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.240
 and 6,

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.220
 Paul describes

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.779
 some of the

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.460
 ways that

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.399
 God wants

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.619
 to exert

00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:31.539
 His power

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.319
 in our

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:32.899
 lives

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:34.220
 and bring

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.480
 about change

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.700
 in us.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.480
 God does

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.100
 not save

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.600
 us with

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.039
 the intent

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.600
 of leaving

00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.220
 us as

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.779
 we are.

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.779
 When God

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.740
 saves us,

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.840
 He puts

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:46.360
 His Spirit

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.059
 in us

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:48.100
 and He

00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:48.940
 works

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.299
 in us

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.860
 to change

00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:52.100
 the way

00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.400
 that we

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:52.940
 think,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.039
 the way

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.319
 that we

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:54.880
 speak,

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.860
 the way

00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.160
 that we

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.460
 live,

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:56.640
 the way

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:56.860
 that we

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.279
 interact

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.819
 with people.

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.059
 I want

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.200
 you to

00:17:59.200 --> 00:17:59.420
 look at

00:17:59.420 --> 00:17:59.600
 some

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.400
 examples

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.019
 in Ephesians

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.700
 4 through

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.539
 6 of the

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:04.799
 kind of

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.840
 changes God

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.220
 wants to

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.559
 work in

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.059
 us

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.279
 through His

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.759
 power.

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.019
 First,

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:12.919
 God will

00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:13.699
 empower us

00:18:13.699 --> 00:18:14.199
 to develop

00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:14.919
 humility,

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.339
 gentleness,

00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:17.759
 and patience

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.759
 according to

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.240
 chapter 4

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.779
 verse 2.

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.399
 God works

00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:22.939
 in us,

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.240
 enables us

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.599
 with the

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.059
 power,

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.819
 if we'll

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.480
 cooperate with

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:28.599
 Him,

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.599
 to develop

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.279
 humility,

00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.059
 gentleness,

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.699
 and patience.

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.799
 God gives

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.360
 us the

00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.460
 power to

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.160
 use our

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.779
 spiritual

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.500
 gifts and

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:39.500
 talents to

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.779
 be a

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.340
 blessing to

00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:40.900
 other people,

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.559
 to help

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.180
 other people,

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:45.080
 to serve in

00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:45.380
 and through

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.180
 our church,

00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.700
 to strengthen

00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:48.759
 the ministry

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.200
 of our

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.740
 church.

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.500
 Are you

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.000
 using your

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.500
 gifts that

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:52.799
 way?

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.140
 Number

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.360
 three,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:54.900
 God will

00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.200
 give us

00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:55.799
 the power

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.480
 we need

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:56.840
 to get

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:58.240
 rid of

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.180
 ungodly

00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.319
 behaviors,

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.159
 things like

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:03.700
 sexual

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.419
 immorality,

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.299
 greed,

00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.139
 lying,

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.200
 anger,

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.500
 rage,

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.119
 even

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.619
 alcohol

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.240
 abuse.

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.259
 We find

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.059
 this in

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.439
 Ephesians

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:19.019
 chapter 4

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.000
 verses 25

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.539
 through

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.480
 chapter 5

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.399
 verse 18.

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:22.799
 And these

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.079
 are just

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.460
 some of

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.220
 the behaviors,

00:19:24.919 --> 00:19:25.220
 sinful

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.859
 behaviors,

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.819
 that God

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.679
 will empower

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.319
 us to

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:28.980
 overcome.

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.360
 Number

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:30.680
 four,

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.360
 God will

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.000
 empower us

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.380
 to live

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:32.860
 godly

00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:34.220
 lives in

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.240
 our homes

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.420
 and develop

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.240
 healthy

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.000
 family

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.819
 relationships.

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.579
 There's an

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.019
 extensive

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.819
 passage,

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.140
 Ephesians

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:45.220
 5 verse 22

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.839
 through chapter

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.920
 6 verse 9,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.440
 where Paul

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.259
 specifically

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.200
 addresses

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.980
 wives,

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.160
 husbands,

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.759
 fathers,

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.519
 parents,

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.059
 children.

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:59.440
 God wants

00:19:59.440 --> 00:19:59.980
 our homes

00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.339
 to be

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:00.799
 healthy.

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.279
 He wants

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.059
 the relationships

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.539
 in our

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:05.200
 home to

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.859
 be loving.

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.460
 He has

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:07.899
 given us

00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.440
 instructions

00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:10.799
 on what

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.339
 we need to

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:11.759
 do, the

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.720
 mindset, the

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.599
 lifestyle we

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.019
 need to be

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.700
 involved in

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.539
 in order to

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:15.940
 make this

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.319
 happen.

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.119
 It's not

00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:17.500
 easy.

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:17.919
 It's not

00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:18.819
 easy living

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.159
 with other

00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.599
 people, is

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:19.740
 it?

00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:20.960
 But God

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.259
 will give

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.559
 us the

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.379
 power over

00:20:22.379 --> 00:20:23.179
 time to

00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:23.919
 gradually

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:26.500
 grow and

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.880
 become loving

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.740
 husbands and

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.539
 wives and

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.460
 parents and

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.940
 children.

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.300
 Let's look at

00:20:33.300 --> 00:20:33.700
 one more.

00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:34.860
 God gives

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:35.120
 us the

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.640
 power to

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.060
 resist

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:37.200
 temptation and

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.900
 overcome the

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.880
 evil power and

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.560
 influence of the

00:20:39.560 --> 00:20:41.240
 devil in any

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.740
 demonic force.

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.000
 That's in

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.900
 Ephesians chapter

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.560
 6,

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.740
 specifically

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.960
 verse 12.

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.880
 I want you

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.299
 to think.

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.640
 Everything that

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.900
 God calls us

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.299
 to be and

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.940
 do, he

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.620
 supplies us

00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:58.900
 with the

00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:00.180
 power, the

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.640
 ability to

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.079
 do it.

00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:04.559
 Do you

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.220
 really and

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.039
 truly believe

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.380
 that?

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.579
 Well, the

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.480
 answer is

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.160
 found in the

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.759
 way you are

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.500
 using God's

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.960
 power.

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.100
 power.

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.000
 How have

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.720
 you responded

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.860
 to God's

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:22.140
 offer of

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:24.480
 power, to

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.440
 his indwelling

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.380
 spirit who

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.200
 provides that

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.259
 power?

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.279
 Have you

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:32.319
 responded with

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.539
 doubt, with

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:37.319
 denial, or

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.900
 maybe with

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.880
 delight?

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.539
 Let's think

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:40.980
 about it.

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.640
 Have you

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.920
 doubted God's

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:44.340
 willingness to

00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:45.340
 work powerfully in

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.840
 your life?

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.920
 Have you

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.500
 doubted it?

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.940
 Some Christians

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.240
 do.

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.799
 Some Christians

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:54.039
 really live like

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.880
 they are

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.940
 deists.

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.940
 They're

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.519
 practical

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.279
 deists.

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:58.900
 They believe

00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.180
 that God

00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.680
 created the

00:21:59.680 --> 00:21:59.900
 world.

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.259
 They believe

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.579
 that God

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.120
 has saved

00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:02.420
 them.

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.180
 I'm talking

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.539
 about people

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.579
 who really

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.220
 and truly do

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.759
 not expect

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.400
 God to be

00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:09.019
 actively involved

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.460
 in their life

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:10.840
 on a daily

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.299
 basis.

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.299
 God.

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.440
 They believe

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.000
 in God.

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:16.079
 They trust

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.639
 Jesus as

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:16.980
 their Lord

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.480
 and Savior.

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.220
 But the way

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.500
 that they

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.339
 live, the way

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.579
 that they

00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:22.019
 think, they

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.740
 really show

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.159
 that they do

00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.639
 not expect

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:25.359
 God to be

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.639
 actively involved

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.399
 in the details

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.099
 of their life.

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.200
 Let me ask

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.480
 you, do you

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.519
 expect God to

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.220
 work His

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.980
 power in

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.159
 your life

00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:38.060
 on a regular

00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:39.660
 basis, on a

00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.500
 daily basis?

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.900
 Now, some

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.940
 people deny,

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.640
 let me ask

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.920
 you, have

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.940
 you denied

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.220
 God's

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.700
 willingness to

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.860
 work powerfully

00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.380
 in your life?

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.440
 Some Christians

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.120
 do that.

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.500
 They may not

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.080
 think about it

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:58.840
 in these terms,

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.340
 but some

00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:01.880
 Christians, just

00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:02.640
 as some people

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.279
 in general in

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.060
 the world, have

00:23:04.060 --> 00:23:05.019
 a victim

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.140
 mentality.

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.400
 mentality.

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.540
 They think

00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:09.600
 that they're

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.340
 trapped in

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.019
 some kind of

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.060
 unhealthy or

00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.920
 even sinful

00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:15.259
 behavior, and

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.720
 they can never

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.340
 change.

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.200
 Oh, they see

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.680
 other people

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.680
 have changed,

00:23:20.060 --> 00:23:21.519
 but in their

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.000
 mind, they're

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.560
 different.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.800
 Such things

00:23:25.800 --> 00:23:26.540
 have happened.

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.200
 Certain people

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.940
 have betrayed

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.740
 them, hurt

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.779
 them, and they

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.220
 think they're

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.440
 beyond hope

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.220
 when it comes

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.140
 to change.

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.519
 When a

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.160
 Christian thinks

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.740
 like that, what

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.120
 they're saying

00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:39.800
 is they don't

00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:41.060
 think God can

00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:43.800
 or will work

00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:44.640
 in their lives

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.300
 to change

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:45.620
 them.

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.960
 So I want to

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.960
 ask you, do

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.660
 you really

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:52.980
 believe, do you

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.860
 have confidence

00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:55.620
 in the fact that

00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:57.500
 God can change

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:57.779
 you?

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.779
 God can

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.660
 let me ask you

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:00.940
 one more

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.539
 question about

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:01.920
 this.

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.440
 Have you

00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.180
 delighted in

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.099
 God's willingness

00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:09.500
 to work powerfully

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.960
 in your life

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:13.099
 by the way that

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.019
 you cooperate

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.740
 with Him, by the

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.059
 way that you

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.799
 seek to listen to

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.460
 Him and obey

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.799
 Him?

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.559
 You know, that's

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.419
 what we all

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.019
 should be doing.

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:22.019
 That's what God's

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.839
 goal is for us,

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.599
 to trust Him,

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:26.680
 that He has the

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.440
 power to change

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.419
 us, and then to

00:24:28.419 --> 00:24:30.740
 obey Him as He

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.720
 goes about changing

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.659
 us through

00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:35.139
 primarily His

00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:36.940
 Word and His

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.299
 Spirit.

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.119
 You know, God

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.680
 works in His

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.299
 power in our

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.399
 lives in all

00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.119
 kinds of ways,

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.379
 really.

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:45.760
 But the

00:24:45.760 --> 00:24:47.520
 primary ways are

00:24:47.520 --> 00:24:47.840
 through His

00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:48.540
 Word and His

00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:48.860
 Spirit.

00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:50.980
 You know, God's

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.820
 Word, the Bible

00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.560
 that you have,

00:24:53.520 --> 00:24:54.200
 provides us with

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.180
 everything that we

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.240
 need in terms of

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.480
 what we should

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.300
 believe and how

00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:02.060
 we should live as

00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:02.980
 people who are

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.520
 children of God,

00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:04.960
 who want to

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.740
 please God.

00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:08.080
 So let me ask

00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:09.540
 you, are you

00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.620
 reading that Word

00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.440
 regularly?

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:14.580
 Are you

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.520
 obeying what

00:25:15.520 --> 00:25:16.260
 you read

00:25:16.260 --> 00:25:17.620
 faithfully?

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.000
 God's Spirit

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.860
 gives us the

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.840
 desire and the

00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:23.800
 ability to obey

00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:25.720
 God's Word and

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.120
 to please God in

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.700
 the process.

00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.440
 We have that

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:28.920
 desire.

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:31.380
 We have the

00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:32.440
 responsibility as

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:34.320
 Christians, indwelled

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.020
 by the Spirit of

00:25:35.020 --> 00:25:36.080
 God, that's our

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:37.220
 real power source,

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.120
 He is our real

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:39.500
 power source, we

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:39.760
 have the

00:25:39.760 --> 00:25:41.140
 responsibility to

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:42.240
 be sensitive to

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.260
 His presence,

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:45.280
 and then obedient

00:25:45.280 --> 00:25:46.180
 to His leadership.

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.220
 And I want you to

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.160
 think, keep in

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.040
 mind, the Holy

00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:53.160
 Spirit will teach

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:55.080
 and guide us most

00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:57.140
 clearly from what

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.020
 He has already

00:25:58.020 --> 00:25:59.900
 given us in the

00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.260
 Scriptures that He

00:26:01.260 --> 00:26:02.480
 inspired men to

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.860
 write.

00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:05.320
 And we can always

00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:07.480
 be sure that He

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.580
 will never, the

00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.340
 Spirit will never

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.080
 lead us to do

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.560
 something that is

00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.980
 contrary to

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.300
 Scripture.

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:16.980
 before World War

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:19.820
 II, there was a

00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:21.280
 small town in

00:26:21.280 --> 00:26:23.500
 Texas where a

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:25.660
 school fire broke

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:27.180
 out and took the

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:29.580
 lives of 263

00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.460
 children.

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.100
 Now, as you can

00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:34.440
 imagine, in a

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:36.740
 small town, just

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.180
 about every family

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.279
 was touched, broken

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:43.160
 broken by that

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.660
 tragedy.

00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:45.960
 Well, during the

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.000
 war, during World

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.259
 War II, there was

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:50.060
 no money, and the

00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:52.500
 town was not able to

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.039
 rebuild their school.

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.060
 But after the war was

00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:58.500
 over, the town did

00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:02.140
 rebuild, and they never

00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:03.279
 forgot the fire.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.680
 They were able to build a

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.980
 new school that

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.960
 featured what they

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.180
 called the finest

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:13.099
 sprinkler system in the

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:15.700
 world because they were

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:18.859
 determined a tragedy

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.059
 like that would never

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.980
 happen again.

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:24.960
 Well, in the post-World War

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:28.620
 II era, towns boomed, and

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:30.620
 this little town had a lot

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:32.599
 of growth to the point

00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:34.400
 that seven years after the

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:36.799
 school was built, they had

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.160
 to expand the school.

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:41.320
 When they began adding a

00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:45.160
 new wing, they discovered

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:47.160
 something that just floored

00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:49.360
 them, shocked them, they

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.440
 could not believe.

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:54.259
 Their world-class sprinkler

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:56.640
 system had never been

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:58.600
 connected to the water

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:58.940
 line.

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.440
 Can you imagine that?

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:06.460
 A town, a group of people

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:08.140
 who were so concerned for

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.460
 the welfare of their

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:12.720
 children that they

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:16.840
 overlooked hooking up that

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:19.120
 sprinkler system to the

00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:19.720
 water line.

00:28:20.780 --> 00:28:23.960
 That is a parable of how

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:26.720
 many Christians fail to

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:29.960
 hook up to, be sensitive to,

00:28:30.040 --> 00:28:32.180
 and obedient to the Spirit

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.680
 of God, their source of

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:35.660
 power who indwells them.

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:40.640
 A lot of times we fail to

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:44.759
 utilize God's awesome power

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.900
 that He demonstrated by

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:48.900
 raising Jesus and seating Him

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.759
 at His right hand.

00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:52.140
 That's the kind of power that

00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:54.019
 a lot of times we ignore, that

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.120
 we waste.

00:28:57.320 --> 00:28:59.279
 I want you to understand on

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:03.560
 this Easter Sunday, God in

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:05.039
 demonstrating His power by

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.379
 bringing Jesus back from the

00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:08.200
 grave, exalting Him to His

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.700
 right hand.

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:12.059
 God wants to use that same

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:14.440
 power in your life.

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:18.140
 He wants to use it in a way in

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:20.000
 you and through you that will

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.259
 first of all bring glory to

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.740
 Himself.

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:24.940
 That will truly be a blessing to

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.640
 other people.

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:29.440
 And as you glorify God and

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:31.059
 bless other people, you're going

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:33.320
 to find that you're experiencing a

00:29:33.320 --> 00:29:35.640
 lot of joy and satisfaction.

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:39.180
 It's going to be just a byproduct

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.880
 for you.

00:29:41.040 --> 00:29:42.360
 I want to encourage you.

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.759
 Think about this power.

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.160
 It's available to you.

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.660
 But do you want to experience?

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:54.920
 Do you want to experience God's

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:57.280
 power in your life to shape and

00:29:57.280 --> 00:29:59.100
 mold you into the likeness of His

00:29:59.100 --> 00:29:59.440
 Son?

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:03.400
 If you do, trust Him.

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.420
 Obey Him.

00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:11.400
 And be prepared to experience His

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:15.720
 awesome power in your life every

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.140
 day.

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.340
 Let's pray together.

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:23.220
 Father, we are people who are

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:25.960
 powerless on our own.

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:28.940
 When it comes to pleasing you and

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.340
 living the life that you've called

00:30:30.340 --> 00:30:31.039
 us to live.

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:35.579
 But Lord, we thank you that you have

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:37.360
 supplied what we don't have.

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:40.279
 Your great power.

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:45.519
 Help us, Father, to desire it.

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.880
 Help us, Father, to seek it.

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:52.259
 And Father, as you speak through your

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:54.980
 word and your spirit, help us to pay

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.440
 attention.

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.180
 Help us to listen to you.

00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.539
 Help us to obey you.

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:03.380
 Help us to discipline ourselves to

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:05.960
 listen and obey day by day,

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:09.200
 situation by situation.

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:14.960
 Father, on this Easter Sunday, we are

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:18.279
 so thankful for the way you

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:21.740
 demonstrated your power in raising

00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:23.200
 Jesus from the dead.

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.359
 Asking Jesus from the dead.

00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:23.559
 We are so thankful for you.

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:23.940
 Making Jesus from the dead.

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:25.779
 Exalting Him to your right hand and

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:28.779
 promising to send Him back to this

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.920
 world one day where you will make

00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:33.900
 everything right and perfect.

00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:39.099
 But Lord, help us to not end this day

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:44.640
 with just knowledge of your power or

00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:46.500
 even an appreciation of your power.

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:57.019
 Help us, Father, to experience it by living lives that are sensitive to and obedient to your indwelling spirit.

00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:10.119
 Help us, Father, to truly be consciously aware of your presence and trust you and obey you,

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:14.799
 even in the little details of our lives.

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:17.700
 Thank you for this promise of power.

00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:25.519
 Help us, Father, to truly experience it every day.

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:29.700
 And it's in Jesus' name we come. Amen.