Latest / The Daily Word / June 7 – According to the Power Within Us
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good day, Lakeshore family. Welcome to the Daily Word podcast. I'm Robert Rosales and alongside my wife, Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Gastonia location as an extension of our senior pastors, Gil and Debbie Dearman. This podcast is a simple space where we share each day and we open up God's word to pay attention to what he's saying. As a church family, We're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of a religious routine, but out of relationship, through the scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the Life Journal reading plan, and today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. Now, just as a reminder, when I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things uncluttered. Nothing going on in the background, just my Bible, my journal, something to write with, and a highlighter to mark what stands out in the scripture. At times, I'll also lean in on a couple of trusted study tools to help me go a little deeper and stay grounded in the text. I don't do that to replace God's word, but to help me to understand context, kind of slow down and grasp. what I'm reading. We also follow the SOAP method. Scripture, observation, application, and prayer. It's a simple and practical way to not just read the word, but to respond to it. As I'm reading the chapter, if a scripture pops out, a word, a sentence, I jot that down, and then I write down what I observe. What's the observation, and then how does it apply to my life, and then the prayer, that's soap. If you're not using that, it's a simple way. Come on, grab yourself a live journal from one of our campuses and jump in with us. Before we jump into today's passage, let's just take a moment, let's pray, invite the Lord to speak to us as we open up the word, okay? Father God, we come to you in the name of Jesus, and as we open up your word, we ask that you would open up our hearts, open up our spirits. Help us to receive and understand your truth. Cause your truth to come alive in us, God. I pray that you would give us ears to hear and hearts to receive and courage to respond. Speak to us, Lord. We are listening in Jesus' name, amen. Well, today's passage for June 7th is in Ephesians chapter three, and I journaled from the Infantous verse 20. Ephesians 3 20. This is how it reads in the NIV. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. NLT. Now all glory to God who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. That's a powerful verse. Many times I've heard people say, God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think. And that's true, but that doesn't actually finish the verse. The verse says, according to the power that works in us. Catch that, my friend. As a matter of fact, that's the title of my journal entry today. According to power within us. This word, according or according to, it means according as, not out of nothing. In other words, the Greek word behind according to is the word kata, K-A-T-A, and it carries the idea of after the manner of or in respect of. So Paul is not saying, that God acts randomly or independently of what's happening in me, or in you, or in us. He is saying God's working is in proportion to a specific reality, the power that works in us. This verse is not just a motivational statement. It's the climax of Paul's prayer in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 through 21. Paul's been praying that believers would be strengthened in their inner being, rooted in love and filled with the fullness of God. And then he gets to verse 20. It's like the pinnacle. It's the doxology. It's a burst of praise that's grounded in what God is able to do. We could say it this way. God is able to do beyond what you can imagine in a way that matches the level of his power at work. within you. Let me give us a simple, simple illustration. Think of it like electricity. The power plant has enormous capacity. That's God's ability. But what flows into your house depends on the wiring and connections. That's God's power working in you. The limitation is never the source. It's the connection and capacity of the system receiving it. Let me say that again. The limitation is never the source. It's the connection and capacity of the system receiving it. So according to means, God expresses His limitless power through the measurable reality of the Spirit's work in a believer. Friend, let me ask you, let me ask me, are we yielding to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives? What are some ways the Holy Spirit can work in your life? For starters, our daily devotions. Every time you and I invest time with God reading our Bible, turning everything off, turning everything out, just focusing on His word, listening with ears to hear, capturing things in our journals, that's one way where we're giving the power access to the Holy Spirit deep down on the inside of our lives. How about prayer? not only reading and journaling, but praying the word, praying the word over our lives, praying the word over our families. That's another way where we can give the Holy Spirit access to the power that he wants to work within our lives. What about just coming to church services on Sunday and not missing, not just, you know, being weekend Christians, not just showing up a couple of times a month, but every time we gather in the house of God. to worship and to connect and to relate with other people and receive prayer and maybe pray for someone and receive the word from one of our pastors. What are we doing? We're leaning in and we're giving access to the Holy Spirit's power to be at work within us. Friend, don't miss it. And God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works. Within us, this is such a powerful, powerful verse. So Pastor Robert, how does this apply to my life? This is what I wrote down. This is a huge encouragement to me because I can be assured that if I increase my openness, alignment, and responsiveness to God's Spirit at work in me, nothing can limit God's power at work in my life. Come on, somebody say amen. Moving forward, will deepen my inner life with God, align my will with God's will, walk in greater obedience, avoid grieving the Holy Spirit, and step out in faith when led to do so. Above all, I will stay rooted in the love of God. That's how it applies to my life. I think you can take some of that and apply it to your life. Let's pray together. Father God, thank you for speaking to us today through your word. I make a conscious decision to let your power work in me, your word and your spirit. Holy Spirit, help me to do this. Help me get out of your way so that God's power will not be limited in my life. I ask these things in Jesus name, amen. Lakeshore family, as you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and his word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open your eyes to the riches of His Word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word Podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you, and we'll catch you again tomorrow.