Perfect Power

Its a real thing. We all know what it is about and have experienced it at times, sometimes exercising it, and sometimes being exercised over us. Sometimes it is a good thing. Sometimes it is a scary thing. As the old saying goes, the reality is that power often corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. At least that is how it works here in our fallen world.

One of ways the unfortunate uses of power show up, is when we are more interesting in protecting our own individual empires, than living under one kingdom together. This happens on all levels, and is pervasive. Power is a tricky thing, perhaps a dangerous thing, in the hands of imperfect people. Perhaps that is why believers are so careful to say that all power, all glory, belongs to God.

Power comes in lots of forms, and it is expressed in lots of ways. Some of them are more helpful than others. Some are never helpful. Others are always appropriate. A lot has to do with which Kingdom we are committed to. In that Kingdom power is used in a very different way than we often use it. Those who do not understand, or live under, the reign of the Kingdom would see the way God uses power as an expression of weakness - largely because they do not see that their understanding of power is actually a statement of fearfulness and weakness. That's why power is used to control, intimidate, coerce, compel - because those who wield it this way are not strong, they are weak and fearful. They use power not as an expression of who they are at their best regardless of the cost, but as a way to attack things that scare us. It is the great irony of power. The more we use it for ourselves, the more we distort and misuse what real power is about. Retaliation and getting even are not appropriate uses of power. Real power is about the ability to remain good in the face of evil.

How God exercises and invites us to experience power is what Pastor Jon invites us to reflect upon. If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library here. If you would like to view the livestream version, you can do so here.

Genesis 1:26-32

NIV

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

NIV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Revelation 5

NIV

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lionof the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign[b] on the earth.”

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

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