The Power of God
Deuteronomy 2:25,”This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.”
When the Israelites were delivered by God from their Egyptian captors they were sent by God to take posession of the land that He had promised. After backsliding on God the Israelites were made to wander in the wilderness during this time God was with the Israelites giving them great victories, as long as they followed Him. During the Israelites forty years of wandering their name was established, and with it the renown of God. In this chapter we see that most if not all people in the known world had heard about God and the victories of His people.
For centuries the fame of God spread throughout the land, and the “dread” of His people was known by all. Obviously, we don’t want to have people that fear us, but we have made a complete U-Turn in the last century or so; and the people of God are mocked because they have started believing in a god with limited power. When the people of God are mocked and made fun of it is only a short time before God becomes a byword.
I have said before, and I’m sure I will in the future that one of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Acts chapter 4 when Peter and John are arrested and taken before the Jewish High Council for preaching the name of Jesus. While talking to the High Council Peter and John astonish them because of their boldness, and then the High Council recognizes them as “having been with Jesus”. If we stay close to God through His word and prayer, then people will notice in us a difference that sets us apart; and they will be in awe of how boldly we proclaim God.
That is how we can continue to bring the “dread” of God to this world; not that people should dread us, but they should dread releasing the power of God. I have no power on my own, but God has ultimate power, and unless we tap into His power then people will continue to see us(and God) as insignificant!
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Father, I thank You for giving me power through Your Son, and I ask that You would give me the wisdom to use that power in a way that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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The image above can be found at:http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/p/o/w/powergod.htm
Yes, You Can Ministry 